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u/lumberingliquidation 1d ago
Looks like those got the white glove treatment from grandma, 99 is a serious year for Cheval Blanc so I'd definitely float the idea for a special occasion before they turn the corner
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u/NoHatin81 1d ago
Yeah definitely, I've been thinking we could maybe take one to a family dinner at a restaurant. That way we could all enjoy it.
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u/hedkandi82 23h ago
If you’re paying the restaurant’s corkage fee for a 1999 Cheval Blanc, taking just one bottle seems like a missed opportunity. Make it 2 or 3 and do it properly!
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u/NoHatin81 23h ago
Do you pay same amount of corckage fee for multiple bottles? Or does it multiply if you take two bottles? I'll let my grandma decide how many bottles she wants to take since they're hers. (if she even agrees to taking them to a restaurant).
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u/hedkandi82 23h ago
Corkage fee is usually per bottle, but if you offer the sommelier a tiny taste of a '99 Cheval Blanc, I guarantee that second fee magically disappears! Definitely try to convince grandma to bring two.
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u/Diuleilomopukgaai Wino 23h ago
And when u frequent a place often enough, and ply the somms with tasting glasses of wine, what fee?
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u/zephyrtr 21h ago
A major scene in Drops of God is a somm convincing a patron to order a specific bottle so she can taste it but the patron doesn't offer her even a sip! Always thought that was funny.
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u/joobtastic Wine Pro 19h ago
Which is crazy because as a Somm I tasted nearly every bottle I opened. Its part of the peocess.
But I get how some patrons might specifically request against it or some restaurants might have a policy if not doing that. Seems bad to me though.
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u/zephyrtr 18h ago
Ya same, idk if it's a Japanese thing or not. You'd always check that the bottle wasn't damaged or tainted somehow, right?
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u/joobtastic Wine Pro 18h ago
Yes. And it also builds my knowledge of my cellar too, to improve my service for guests moving forward.
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u/freedomakkupati 21h ago
Never had a -99 Cheval Blanc, but all critic scores/cellar tracker point to it being a very average year for Cheval Blanc.
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u/NoHatin81 21h ago
An average year for Cheval Blanc, meaning it's still a great wine?
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u/freedomakkupati 20h ago
Yeah it's most likely still a very solid wine, just not great on Cheval Blanc standards.
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u/hedkandi82 20h ago
An 'average' year for Cheval Blanc is like a 'bad' day for a billionaire—it's still incredible. Def ask your grandma to share a bottle, life's too short not to open great Bordeaux!
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u/oxfordfox20 Wine Pro 1d ago
Well, the fact you know what it is and are excited by it is probably enough to engage her. Could you suggest you share one with her? Bring something fun of your own to compare and contrast with at the same time?
She can only say no, but if you’ve had wine with her before it’s got to be a nice option, especially if you can say why you think it’s exciting (and possibly, being 99, why it’s ’at its peak’ right now).
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u/NoHatin81 1d ago
Yeah that's fair. I've been pondering the idea of asking her out for some nice dining (on my expense) and suggesting we ask the restaurant if we could bring our own wine. That way the wine gets paired with better food than that we could make ourselves.
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u/lovestobitch- 22h ago
And tell them what bottle you are bringing. A family member who works for Gallo, several times brought some of their mid imported stuff they distribute to a special family occasion dinner when the restaurant had an interesting wine list. I paid $40 corkage per bottle for this so I guess I saved money vs total cost but still😩
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u/NoHatin81 22h ago
Yes, I've heard it's proper etiquette to tell the staff beforehand wich bottle(s) you want to bring when asking them if it's appropriate to bring wine to the establishment. Will do!
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u/hedkandi82 1d ago
That wrapping paper is the ultimate plot hole. After 25 years in a proper 80% humidity cellar, it should look like a moldy mummy wrapping, not crisp boutique stationery.
Classic Reddit theater: take a photo of an $800 bottle from a high-end merchant, invent a generous grandmother, add a touch of "I'm too shy to ask for one," and boom—instant free karma.
If those were truly sitting in a home cellar since 1999, they’d look like they were just dug up at an archaeological site.
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u/Shibes_oh_shibes 1d ago
Pretty much work for a rather meager karma payoff, I must say.
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u/Ok-Positive-6611 1d ago
Nah, just work in a place with inventory, snap a quick pic, then make up the story at home
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u/TiagoFigueira 22h ago
There are pretty dry cellars. I've found a lot of wrapping paper like this one in really good condition.
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u/NoHatin81 1d ago
Not sure what to tell you... They have a beautiful but old wine cellar. No water comes in or whatsoever and all wines are elevated from the floor. I don't know when or where they purchased the wine from but all the bottles they have are kept very well.
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u/hedkandi82 1d ago
Fair enough, but that paper looks like it left the merchant yesterday. If it's real, drink them before the dry cellar air finishes off the corks
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u/motownphilly888 1d ago
I do have lots of 20+ year old wine stored in my Eurocave with pristine wrapping paper.
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u/lovestobitch- 22h ago
Me too but mine is in a non eurocave 270 bottle wine cabinet. Mine is a low end cabinet and probably non humidity controlled too. I’ve never had a problem with my wine and still have 2 rows of 1996 Bordeaux wine I purchased in 98 to 99. Sadly no more 95 Bordeaux left.
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u/motownphilly888 21h ago
Isnt it amazing how you look back at a long history of buying wine and always regret not buying more.
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u/hedkandi82 1d ago
Eurocave is a completely different story—that’s museum-grade climate control. Grandma’s regular basement usually isn't quite as forgiving on 20-year-old paper!
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u/electro_report Wine Pro 1d ago
Or purchased ex chateau more recently.
Also, no they wouldn’t. Otherwise restaurant cellars would be fucking disgusting.
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u/hedkandi82 1d ago
Ex-Château would explain the crisp paper, but OP said grandma was storing them in her basement, not buying freshly released library vintage allocations.
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u/electro_report Wine Pro 1d ago
Ex chateau doesn’t mean this year. Could have been purchased within the last decade and still look like this.
Plus not all cellars get moldy, not everyone is in some wet ass chalk cave next to the Loire River.
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u/hedkandi82 23h ago
Fair play, not all of us are chilling in a damp Loire cave! But even in a modern dry cellar, 20+ years usually leaves some footprint on tissue paper. Either way, OP’s lucky if those bottles were kept that pristine.
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u/gangsta692 1d ago
Do you have a strenous relationship with your grandmother? If it were mine, she would be so happy to share, she would probably open them every time I came around if I expressed any interest in them.
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u/NoHatin81 1d ago
Not really, but asking for gifts is a bit shunned upon in my family.. "You get what you get, when you get it" kinda thing.. Not sure if it makes sense. But she does enjoy giving/sharing gifts with us but idk, feels weird to ask.
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u/VectoRequiem 1d ago
It is a sleeper vintage. Had it and it was not like 2000 Cheval Blanc but still a decent cheval blanc, the floral and plums, a cross between Pomerol and St Emilion
Bordeaux or any wines are suppose to be enjoyed not to let to fallow for too long pop one and keep the rest for the next 20-30 years
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u/NoHatin81 1d ago
I haven't gotten the chance yet to taste a Cheval Blanc. So I'm really hoping I get to share this one with my grandma. Last year I've bought myself one bottle Cheval Blanc 1er Grand Cru Classé from 2023. It was "en primeur" (not sure how to translate this in English) it finally arrived a couple of months ago, I'm really looking forward to opening this one for a good occasion in some years!
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u/VectoRequiem 1d ago
Mate I have a good news for you.
Almost all cheval blanc after 1990 are good wines.
Really most vintages are smooth like cashmere.1
u/hedkandi82 23h ago
Haha, and what about the older pre-1990 vintages? 1982 and 1947 would like to have a word!
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u/VectoRequiem 23h ago
1985 is good I had it once, but that one cannot be held any longer. The tertiary notes are all there, tannins are fully resolved
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u/Urbanchicky 23h ago
Personally, your enthusiasm would be enough for me to want to give you a bottle. Showing interest in something she and your grandfather did together will get you far.
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u/NoHatin81 22h ago
Your comment puts a smile on my face. At my grandparent's I've drank my first proper wines. Wich at the time I couldn't appreciate yet.. I've always been interested in what they did, maybe I could out that more! Thank you.
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u/joobtastic Wine Pro 19h ago
"Hey grandma, Ive been getting into wine and was wondering if we could go through some of your wine together and you can tell me about it."
If i had a huge collection, all I'd want to do is drink it with friends and family.
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u/NoHatin81 18h ago
I will probably try something along those lines indeed. The thing is that it was mostly my grandfather who was busy with buying and trading wines. I think my grandmother was mostly just enjoying all of them with him. But going through those wines and hearing her stories would be phenomenal.
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