76 Eltz, 95 Prado Enea, 96 Vega Sicilia, 70 Taylors

I have not had this one, but I do have the Schloss Eltz Langenstuck Beerenauslese 1971. It was still holding well a few years ago and full golden in color, but I have not tasted it in several years. Having many

1971 and 1976 German wines of BA and TBA concentration, I believe that, on the average, some 71s may be longer lived than the 76s. Of course at this quality level, exceptions are nearly the rule! I find most of my better auslesen and up 76s from the Rheingau still holding up well, and most of them are still gold to old gold in color. The 71s often are more classic and sometimes better balanced than the 76s. Of course all of these wines have had near perfect storage since shortly after release. Some of the 76 Rheingau and other auslese and above wines go far beyond the usual peaches, apricots, etc and are tropical with much pineapple, mango, and papaya along with loads of honey. If I had to choose only one Rheingau vineyard, it would be Rauenthaler Baiken, but climate must be ideal for this vineyard to reach the top, and of course the wine maker must be good. I still have a single bottle of Rauenthaler Baiken TBA 1949, state. It likely is still holding very well.

When I saw 1996 Vega Sicilia in the subject, I thought of Unico and that someone needed to send a San Francisco whip mistress up to Canada to teach someone not to open such a baby so soon. However, after reading the discussion, I find it is the Valbueno, so perhaps this is not such a great sin :-) .