I do think that your palate now is relevant, as opposed to how it will evolve. When I first started drinking Bordeaux back in the 80’s it was just another red wine to me, and I was splashing down 82 first growths like a fish while my friends were questioning me for spending $25 + on a bottle of wine. But, I loved those wines back then! I started really buying and storing with the 2000 vintage. Then as the opportunity availed itself I back filled 89’s, 90’s, 91’s, 95’s, 96’s, 98’s. I find my own taste has evolved toward older bottles in many varietals. In fact I haven’t opened any of my premium bottles from 2000 yet. Understand that cellaring is a double edged sword… at 62 I see myself not really buying a lot more bordeaux unless I am thinking of my son. If you are truly aging these wines, you are getting into significant numbers of bottles. If you have varied tastes and are going high end cabs, barolo and getting into Rhone varietals here and abroad… they all age well if you develop an appreciation for older wines. And, Burgundies… the Loire…Spanish wines… these are altogether another entire story. I remember wanting a cellar cabinet with a 200 bottle capacity… and my wife and then infant son both laughed at me and made me buy a cabinet 2-3 x that size. Now that cabinet stands next to one wall in a basement room over run with boxes, racks, shelves, and a refrigerator for the whites, bubbles and rose we might drink in the near future. Wine can be a passion, and also an addiction… when you start thinking serious cellaring do the math and determine exactly how long term you want to commit yourself, and precisely how much space it will require. Especially if your wine interests reach in multiple directions.
Another key thought process is to consider which wines are actually age-worthy, and don’t get too deep into wines that are affordable because they are interesting but perhaps not long term stunners. I know people who went out and bought wines in great numbers because they tasted great at a tasting in the moment, and they found themselves with a cellar full of mediocre wines that fell apart with age. I find that every wine that is great and cellars well… those are what you want in modest numbers to capture verticals… but if you are buying wide ranging verticals in numerous age worthy wines by the case annually, that ends up being literally thousands of bottles of wine over time. Just saying that you might want to focus on specific Chateau and vineyards that you consider personal favorites amongst a broader selection of varietals (Cabernet, Bordeaux, Barolo, Cabernet Franc from both US and Loire, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Riojas, certain field blends and zinfandels, CNdP, Hermitage, burgundy, Pinot, Champagne, Alsace, Port… ) and limit your names and vintages to smaller numbers that can be aged in a reasonable space. If you carefully limit yourself it still winds up being a lot. And, realize you will always be susceptible to enjoying pop and pours, and don’t take wine SO VERY SERIOUSLY… enjoy it.
Ultimately, my suggestion is go get a few really great aged bottles, and then ask yourself whether you think your taste is going to head that way (wines with age)… in multiple varietals. If yes… focus on really good stuff. If you taste them and realize that in certain varietals you don’t like them aged, stand by your tastes and don’t age those wines. Drink them earlier! It is what you like! Unfortunately, and with multiple exceptions, really expensive wines are actually expensive because they are really good.
![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}