Wine collecting is a civilised and healthy passion.
A wine collector is by nature a generous person, since he cannot possibly enjoy his wines without the compassionate company of friends, either to inspire them, or to seek their approval or critique.
A wine collector is by nature a generous person, since he cannot possibly enjoy his wines without the compassionate company of friends, either to inspire them, or to seek their approval or critique.
quoted from CANADIAN LIVING Magazine
September 1978
by wine expert Frank Baldock
to visit Franks's website go here:
www.winexpress.ca
September 1978
by wine expert Frank Baldock
to visit Franks's website go here:
www.winexpress.ca
A good wine collection is more costly than the value of the wines in the cellar, because excellence can only be achieved by elimination . . . of the not-so-perfect bottles.
This elimination process signifies: LOTS OF WINE TASTINGS.
This elimination process signifies: LOTS OF WINE TASTINGS.
For a decade, the various wine groups I belonged to, conducted several tastings per week.
There was the Monday Club, the Tuesday Club, all the way to the Friday Club. In every case they were a different group of wine lovers - - - and I belonged to all of them.
There was the Monday Club, the Tuesday Club, all the way to the Friday Club. In every case they were a different group of wine lovers - - - and I belonged to all of them.
Wine tastigs were fun and often to designed to confuse the participants.
On one unforgettable occasion a screw-cap rhubarb wine from Iowa was voted top among taste-alikes Dry Sherry, Chateau Chalon, Condrieu, Hermitage Blanc a.o.
On one unforgettable occasion a screw-cap rhubarb wine from Iowa was voted top among taste-alikes Dry Sherry, Chateau Chalon, Condrieu, Hermitage Blanc a.o.
At the prank tasting described in the previous slide, the guest of honour was Philippe Casteja, owner of 10 Bordeaux properties including Chateau Batailley in Pauillac and Chateau Trotte Vieille in Saint Emilion.
I called on Philippe recently, and he spontaneously said "Yes I remember that fun evening. Come and visit any time". 35 years later . . . .
I called on Philippe recently, and he spontaneously said "Yes I remember that fun evening. Come and visit any time". 35 years later . . . .
The Tiffany lamps were made to order.
The hand-crafted Tyffany below ground glass windows were lit from their casing behind.
The antlers on the wall stem from deer hunted by uncle Ernst Freiherr von Nadherny, my godfather.
The wooden Quaker chairs in their original style from 1808 came from Quebec.
The hand-crafted Tyffany below ground glass windows were lit from their casing behind.
The antlers on the wall stem from deer hunted by uncle Ernst Freiherr von Nadherny, my godfather.
The wooden Quaker chairs in their original style from 1808 came from Quebec.
My induction as Chevalier to the Grand Chapitre MONACO de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs on 14 November 1998
My induction as Chevalier to the Grand Chapitre MONACO de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs on 14 November 1998
I am in the second row, second from the left
I am in the second row, second from the left
There was a constant wine pipeline from Vienna to Monaco
Here is a stash of Alsegger Riesling from "Mayer am Pfarrplatz", one of my favourite Viennese wines
Here is a stash of Alsegger Riesling from "Mayer am Pfarrplatz", one of my favourite Viennese wines
When I moved away from Lugano Switzerland to London, England, a part of my wine collection was sold at Christies Geneva
In retrospect there were some truly remarkable bottles in my collection.
I wish I still had them today:
Château Haut-Brion 1959
Château Margaux 1966
Château Latour 1970
Château Palmer 1970
even some bottles from the vintage of the century 1961
(well, one of them, the other contenders were 1928 and 1945)
I wish I still had them today:
Château Haut-Brion 1959
Château Margaux 1966
Château Latour 1970
Château Palmer 1970
even some bottles from the vintage of the century 1961
(well, one of them, the other contenders were 1928 and 1945)
Is wine a good investment in financial terms?
No, unless you bought them "en primeur" or "wine futures"
The the price appreciation starts initially steeply but then flattens out to about 3% to 4% a year.
This applies also to the values achieved at the auction of my wine collection in 1984 when comparing them to today's values.
No, unless you bought them "en primeur" or "wine futures"
The the price appreciation starts initially steeply but then flattens out to about 3% to 4% a year.
This applies also to the values achieved at the auction of my wine collection in 1984 when comparing them to today's values.
The value of old and prestigious wines bought in the 1970s have not increased in any remarkable way between 1984 and 2017.
They barely beat inflation for this period, and increased less than the gold price which went from $350 to $1,350.
Wines for cellaring and as an investment should be bought as "wine futures".
Chateau Latour is the most reliable bet.
They barely beat inflation for this period, and increased less than the gold price which went from $350 to $1,350.
Wines for cellaring and as an investment should be bought as "wine futures".
Chateau Latour is the most reliable bet.
The most superb restaurant experience in our lives:
LA PYRAMIDE
mid-1990s
drank 1979 and 1993 Chateau Grillet
stayed overnight
LA PYRAMIDE
mid-1990s
drank 1979 and 1993 Chateau Grillet
stayed overnight
Paris abounds with superb restaurants.
Some stick in our memory forever, such as ARPEGE.
The white Condrieu from Vernay was decanted for us!
This was the first time I saw a dry white wine decanted, and left at room temperature.
Some stick in our memory forever, such as ARPEGE.
The white Condrieu from Vernay was decanted for us!
This was the first time I saw a dry white wine decanted, and left at room temperature.
1996
FETE DES TROIS GLORIEUSES
Château du Clos de Vougeot
The Trois Glorieuses (Burgundy), one of the most beautiful Bacchic festivals in the world, are celebrated on the 3rd weekend of November.
Lots of singing and waiving hands.
FETE DES TROIS GLORIEUSES
Château du Clos de Vougeot
The Trois Glorieuses (Burgundy), one of the most beautiful Bacchic festivals in the world, are celebrated on the 3rd weekend of November.
Lots of singing and waiving hands.
L’Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs
The Ordre Mondial is the section of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs which specialises in and concentrates on wines, spirits, liqueurs, and eaux de vie. It was founded in Paris on 2nd September 1963 and is an integral part of the Chaîne.
The Ordre Mondial is the section of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs which specialises in and concentrates on wines, spirits, liqueurs, and eaux de vie. It was founded in Paris on 2nd September 1963 and is an integral part of the Chaîne.
On the left Claudie Deshays, the first French female cosmonaute - just returned back from space
Centre: Otto von Habsburg
everyone joining in on waving hands and singing "tra la la, tra la la, tra la la . . . "
read more about it:
here
Centre: Otto von Habsburg
everyone joining in on waving hands and singing "tra la la, tra la la, tra la la . . . "
read more about it:
here
MEURSAULT 1885
plenty of it
in the cellars of JADOT
running underneath several blocks of houses of BEAUNE
on the right Doyle Rogers (1937-2019), who was one of our very best wine friends
plenty of it
in the cellars of JADOT
running underneath several blocks of houses of BEAUNE
on the right Doyle Rogers (1937-2019), who was one of our very best wine friends
Canadian Living Magazine published an article by wine writer Frank BALDOCK about what was then considered one of Toronto's important private wine collections.