Chateau Latour 1959

IF this Chateau Latour 1959 has been stored under perfect conditions, you have a very valuable wine. It should have been stored under 60 F always and best at abot 50 to 55 F. There should not have been temperature variations by more than a few degrees from the average in the short or long term. What is the level of the wine below the cork? If it is in the neck or up to just a little below the top of the shoulder of the bottle, this is normal. If it is near the middle of the shoulder or below, this is a warning signal and would greatly reduce the resale value. Also any evidence of leaking will greatly reduce the resale value.

Michael Broadbent rated this wine with his very rare 6-star rating(his scale stops at 5-star) in 2000. He thought it would continue to mature for about a quarter century.

Under perfect conditions, this wine might bring a few thousand dollars US. You need to consult a major wine auction house rather than an online seller. They can consult with you about the condition of the wine, let you know if they are interested, and give you an estimate of what the wine might sell for at auction. I am guessing you are in the US. If not, let us know so those from other countries can give you suggestions about auctions in your country. Some of the major auctions in the US are Zacky's, Aulden Cellars/Sotheby's, NYWines/Christie's, Acker Merrall & Condit, Edward Roberts International, The Chicago Wine Company. I only have phone numbers for three - perhaps other can fill in the missing ones. Also some will have web stes.

Christie's 212 636 2000 (New York);

Acker Merrall & Lynch (New York) 877 225 3747

The Chicago Wine Company 847 295 8789

Reply to snipped-for-privacy@cwdjr.net .

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Cwdjrx -- I greatly appreciate your reply and the information therein.

Re the level of the wine below the cork -- it is not in the neck; it is in the shoulder, but I do not know exactly what would be called the middle of the shoulder. The level measures about 3/4" below where the neck begins to curve into the shoulder. There is absolutely no leakage.

I am in California and there are several highly thought of wine shops that specialize in supplying private wine cellars in the area. I can take the bottle over to one of them to get an opinion on the level and the condition of the bottle.

My thanks.

Miki

I looked at

. Chateau Latour 1959 in good condition is selling for about US$ 1000 to 2000 per bottle. The lower prices tend to be at auctions and the higher prices at carriage trade wine shops. Some of these wine shops buy their old wines at auction, so they have to mark up the price they paid quite a bit. Most auctions have a seller's and a buyer's premium charge, so you of course get less than the wine sold for at auction. So if you do sell at aucton, be sure to ask how much of the final sale price you will receive. Also keep in mind that, in the US, you will have to pay a capital gains tax. For art objects, wine, and such, this remains at the higher rate that was reduced for most things several years ago.

Reply to snipped-for-privacy@cwdjr.net .

Cwdjrx -- thank you again......for the website and the choices I have. And then there is definitely the capital gains tax to consider, painful as it may be. In California, capital gains tax is 25 percent when selling a house.......I have no idea if it is the same for art objects, wine and such. Donating is a better way to go.........but to what charity would one donate a bottle of Chateau Latour 1959 :)?

I will keep y'all posted on how I come out with my bottle :)

Miki

Cwdjrx -- Thank you again for the website and the choices available for selling. And there is definitely the capital gains tax to consider......painful as it may be. Donating art objects to charity is a good way to go for tax deductions (if one can consider Chateau Latour an art object :) I cannot think of a charity that would have need for Chateau Latour 1959; however, I could donate the wine to a charity auction.

Miki

Newfoundlanders Obsessed With Wine ( NOWW ) would be a good one!

email for details. :-)

] Cwdjrx _ wrote: ] > I looked at

. Chateau Latour 1959 in good ] > condition is selling for about US$ 1000 to 2000 per bottle. The lower ] > prices tend to be at auctions and the higher prices at carriage trade ] > wine shops. Some of these wine shops buy their old wines at auction, ] so ] > they have to mark up the price they paid quite a bit. Most auctions ] have ] > a seller's and a buyer's premium charge, so you of course get less ] than ] > the wine sold for at auction. So if you do sell at aucton, be sure to ] > ask how much of the final sale price you will receive. Also keep in ] mind ] > that, in the US, you will have to pay a capital gains tax. For art ] > objects, wine, and such, this remains at the higher rate that was ] > reduced for most things several years ago. ] >

] > Reply to snipped-for-privacy@cwdjr.net . ] ] Cwdjrx -- Thank you again for the website and the choices available for ] selling. And there is definitely the capital gains tax to ] consider......painful as it may be. Donating art objects to charity is ] a good way to go for tax deductions (if one can consider Chateau Latour ] an art object :) I cannot think of a charity that would have need for ] Chateau Latour 1959; however, I could donate the wine to a charity ] auction. ] Hi Miki,

You can definitely deduct the Latour. What's more, my guess is that you could use the higher of a "fair market valuation" by a specialty realtor and the actual selling price. (Of course to be confirmed with your accountant!)

Who remembers the name of the big annual Napa CA charity auction? This might be a real bomb (in the good, modern sense) there.

And, wouldn't it be kind of neat to know your bottle finished in the hands of some big celeb, and helped a good cause? :)

-E

If you do go the charity/auction route (and CA has several that would be likely candidates and worthy causes), I'll bet that Al & Boots would love to add one of the DC collectibles to the lot, especially since Al gave you the bottle, in the first place. Another idea would be to say "the heck" with the $ value of the wine and host a dinner for the Braunsteins (if Al's health holds up), where you serve this wine. Either way, I think you would be a winner.

Hunt

memiki@aol

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Hi Hunt -- I like both your ideas! It sounds as if you know Al & Boots personally. It would take a lot of memory refreshing for them to remember my husband and me as we go back to the time Al was still connected with the business of Beauty Supplies (if I remember correctly) and before he married Boots. My husband was in a situation to be of some help to Al in his former business. However, I knew Boots before they married and before they met.

It was fascinating to know someone who took such a drastic career-direction change, married, moved away from Los Angeles and founded a vineyard. It took courage and determination and the willingness to take risks. It is an amazing story. From what I recall, it all began for Al with wine-tasting classes at UCLA and a trip to France.

I kept the Chateau Latour because the story behind it was so special......but I am in the process of downsizing from a large home to a smaller one now and need to break somewhat from the past.

Miki

auction,

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Hi Emery -- First, I think I need to bring the Chateau Latour to a wine merchant to get an opinion on the condition of the bottle -- it might not be an absolute judgment, but better than mine. It should not be too difficult to find a charity auction....although Google shows older ones, they will help me to make a connection if I decide to donate.

Thank you for replying to my post.....I appreciate.

Miki

Young Martle -- Seriously ?

Miki

No. :-)

It seemed funny at 6:00 AM