What's The Greatest CASE Of Wine You've Ever Purchased?

Believe it or not, I've never purchased a case of wine before.

Jeff

It's a tossup between the 2001 Edmunds St John Rocks and Gravel and the 2001 Edmunds St John Los Robles Viejos.

1975 Ch. Lafite @ $374.50 including NY State sales tax. I still have the receipt and 3 bottles.

[David M. Bueker]

2001 Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese

I bought a case of 1986 Gruaud Larose from N. Berkley for $219 back in 1990 and still have 5-6 bottles. I also bought numerous cases of 1983 Lake Sonoma Gewurztraminer for $24/case which were very good but not as GREAT a buy as the Bordeaux. I recently bought (several years ago) 2-3 cases of mixed Champagne, Duval-Leroy Brut and Pommery Brut for $17 & 16/bottle. I still have a lot of them.

I've purchased plenty of 'mixed' cases, but still never purchased 12 bottles of the same wine at the same time. Of course I have plenty of memories of 'great' purchases, but that is more along the lines of the 'great deals' threads that evoke memories of times past.

2010 Pépière Les Briords. Had the last bottle just last night and it made me wish I'd bought 2 cases. It reminded me too of when we visited the place a few years ago. No one was around in the small tasting area or the warehouse. Finally, a young boy appeared and we asked if we were in the right place, was this Pépière. He drew himself up proudly and said, "I am Pépière".

The 1982 Léoville-Las-Cases, for US$16/bottle, plus NY sales tax. I've still got a couple left (I actually bought 2 cases and split one of them with a friend.)

A close second was the 1983 Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle for US$13/bottle.

Possibly even better, although I haven't opened any yet, is the 1995 J.L. Chave Hermitage - the last Chave Hermitage I could afford, at CDN$70/bottle.

I very rarely buy more than three bottles of a wine. I like variety but quite often I regret having not bought more bottles when a wine is particularly good.

However before all my resources got diverted into a house, I bought three or four dozens of Bordeaux from the 1966 and 1970 vintages both of which were excellent. Undoubtedly the best of these was a case of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1970, two or three bottles of which remain. Next was Ch. Pichon Lalande 1966, of which 2 bottles remain.

How I regret not having bought at least one case per year through the 70s and particularly the 80s when there were so many fine vintages

I started again from the 1990 vintage, a dozen each of Haut-Bailly and Lascombes plus some ones, twos, threes and sixes; Lascombes was delicious and is all gone, in spite of the estate's mediocre reputation. I missed out 91 and 92 and mostly did not exceed half-dozens from 1994 and stopped entirely buying Bordeaux after 2004.

I have quite a few Burgs, Rhônes, Loires, Piedmontese, Tuscans, Mosels, etc. but rarely in more than threes.

[Jenise]

I so rarely buy cases that I really don't have an answer to this question. But whatever it was, I probably didn't realize until the 8th or 9th bottle how good a wine it was (in other words, I drank most of them too soon).

I too rarely buy a solid case, most of the times, it will be a mixed case..best case purchases of a single wine would be the 1982 Leoville Las Cases, followed by 1989 Chave Hermitage and 1989 Ch Montrose

A 1983 Chave Hermitage which I still have one or two bottles left. A great, fabulous, delightful, wine and in those days it was affordable. Now the price is ludicrous.

I have only purchased two solid unmixed cases... both champagnes for special occasions. First, a case of Taittenger, La Francais for the toast at my daughter's wedding. And the second, a case of Charles Heidseck Monopole for my 60th birthday party. Neither was an incredible wine on its own but both tasted wonderful at the time and place.

The 1989 Château Léoville-Barton, I'd guess. Perhaps it will be eclipsed by the last one I bought, the 2009 Chateau Dauzac. We'll have to wait and see.

Believe it or not, I've never purchased a case of wine before.

Jeff

I think everyone can believe that, Jeff.

I buy cases or more when I thik a wine I really enjoy has lots of development time ahead.

1998 Vieux Donjon - 24

1995 Les Cailoux - 24

1997 St. Cosme Gigondas - 18

1995 Beaucastel - 18

1996 Santa Duc Gigondas - 18

1995 Selvapiania Chianti Bucerchiale - 18

2004 Lamborghini Campoleone - 18

1995 Chave Hermitage - 12

1989 Meyney - 12 1982 La Lagune - 12

1992 Ch. Montelena

Quite a few more.

Half case of 2000 Carraudes de Lafite for $372. Not that it's a great wine, but I have sold single bottles for almost as much as I paid for the entire case thanks to Lafite mania in the Chinese market.

PS: Most of the cases that I purchase are less expensive daily-drinker wines - Prosecco, Bourgogne, Riesling, etc.

Believe it or not, I've never purchased a case of wine before.

Jeff

I think everyone can believe that, Jeff.

Why is that?

Jeff

1983 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes
1986 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

-Paul W.

I've never bought a case either. Most is six bottles of 2007 Vieux Telegraphe CdP or maybe a mixed case of Marquis Phillips wines back when I was purchasing Australian reds.

1989 Haut Brion

1983 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes
1986 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild

-Paul W.

Envy both of those, Paul. Back when they were released, it wasn't so hard to buy a case (although neither was cheap) but now you can spend the same money and buy in 6s or 3's (I prefer not to buy less than 3 of a wine, so I have the chance to scope out where it is at and ensure drinking at least one or two when they hit drinking plateau).

Took a look at the prices for claret here the other day. I think I paid well under $100 for the 1982 Mouton. The 2009 is listed here at $1,800 a bottle.......

Taken as a whole rather than simply based on price, the greatest case of wine I ever purchased was a case of 1999 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Not that the future price of about $100. or so a bottle doesn't look great in retrospect, but they are also the prettiest bottles I own sporting "an engraved "1999" on the bottle along with an eclipse to mark that significant histoircal event of August 1999".

When I considered selling my Lafite during the Chinese crazies, I took one look at the 1999's and decided I couldn't sell this case. Lovely little buggers they are.

I seldom buy cases (and If I do often am splitting). Probably best buy was a case of 1989 Meyney- drank it, and have bought more since.