by Dale Williams » Thu Aug 29, 2013 10:09 am
Nice! Never tried a Carema that old, but have enjoyed a bunch 1978 and younger.
One of my biggest buying regrets was maybe 2003. I was in Zachys, and stumbled across a big display in their "Fine Wine Room." All Italian, mostly early 90s vintages, in $15, $20, and $25 bins. Many wines I never heard of, others I had, sign said all from one cellar. I picked up 8 or 10 assorted bottles ($15 95/96 Ferrando Carema white labels and '93 Barbarescos from solid nontrophy producers, $20 1990 Ferrando Carema black labels and '93 Barolos, etc). Wanted to assess condition. Of course, by time I realized bottles were in great shape and rushed back, all of the best stuff- including the Ferrandos - was gone, though what was left was still mostly bargains, got another mixed case or two. Turned out later talking to a couple of friends who worked at Zachys auction that a major serious Italian collector had died, family wanted whole cellar out. So the Giacosas, Solderas, Biondi-Santis. G. Conternos, etc that made up bulk of collection went to auction, they just priced "little stuff" cheap to move it fast (these days it would have gone to e-auction). There must of been more than a case of the '90 black label there, I really kicked myself for my caution,