My Bucket List of Wines



By John ~ September 25th, 2009.

As we get older, many of us make our “bucket list” of things we want to do, people we want to see, and places we want to go before we kick the bucket. Even though I don’t consider myself all that old, and hopefully not close to kicking the bucket, I’ve started making some of those lists for myself.

Because I’m a wine lover, one of my lists is a bucket list of wines. Some of the wines on the list I already have, some are wines I’m hoping someone might give me as a gift, and some I’m hoping to be able to purchase if the slump in high-end wine prices continues. But in every case, the wine holds a special place in my mind as I visualize tasting it someday. My list is a work in progress, but here’s what I have so far:

1990 Chateau Petrus2005 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape
1997 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Charles Smith Royal City Syrah
2006 Chateau Dereszia Aszu 5 Puttonyos
2001 Chateau d’Yquem
1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Bordeaux
1996 Chateau Latour Bordeaux
2000 Chateau Margaux Bordeaux
1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Bordeaux
2000 Chateau Pavie Bordeaux
1990 Chateau Petrus
2003 Chave Hermitage
1996 Dom Perignon Champagne
1985 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Richebourg
2003 Guigal Cote Rotie la Mouline
2003 Gunderloch Trockenbeerenauslese Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling
1996 Henschke Hill of Grace
2005 Leonetti Merlot
1996 Penfolds Grange
2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Roberto Voerzio Barolo
1997 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
1992 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port

If you believe there’s a wine I should definitely add to my list, please let me know (and if you’d like to share a bottle of one of these with me, I’d probably be available). As I add wines and especially as I taste wines on the list, I’ll give you an update on whether or not the wine lived up to my high expectations and whether I believe you should put it on your bucket list of wines.

Cheers!


Filed under: American Wine, Australian Wine, California Wine, Dessert Wine, French Wine, General Wine Information, German Wine, Hungarian Wine, Italian Wine, Portuguese Wine, Red Wine, Washington State Wine

Reader's Comments

  1. Evan Dawson | September 25th, 2009 at 7:13 am

    John,

    There’s a mix of new and old world on your list, and I’ll humbly suggest a category of wine that is missing: Brunello. My bucket list includes any Biondi Santi that has at least 20 years of age. Sergio Esposito describes those older Brunelli as “graceful dancers.” Someday I’d like to have my turn on the dance floor!

    Cheers.

  2. John | September 25th, 2009 at 7:32 am

    Great suggestion, Evan. Thanks.

  3. Eric Stern | September 25th, 2009 at 8:14 am

    Hi John,
    Interesting list. So many wines…so little time.
    There are so many other old and new “legendary” wines (at least in someone’s mind) you could add. Eg. Ornellaia, Sassicaia, Pingus. Yet, as you well know, so many more less legendary (or household name), or at least smaller production wines, with likely same or better quality (QPR!). Karen and I barrel tasted the 2000 Margaux…but that’s another story.

    Cheers,

    Eric

  4. Vivek | September 25th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    Great List,
    But I think you should add a few nods to Spain and Italy.

    1999 Biondi Santi
    2004 Clos Erasmus

    I’m surprised there isn’t more Burgundy. And theres no desire to taste 1990 Aussone?

    I wonder what John Rimmerman has on his list, since he has access to so many small producers.

  5. John | September 25th, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    Eric,
    Thanks for your input. I agree that there is almost no limit to what I could put on my list. And I do plan to add to it as time goes on. I’ll have to follow up with you on your teaser about the 2000 Margaux.

    Vivek,
    You are absolutely right. I do need to add some wines from Italy and Spain; and I’m working on that. Regarding Burgundy and the Ausone, there are many other wines that I could add, but I tried to be somewhat realistic about what is financial possible that I don’t already have access to.

  6. Bill | September 28th, 2009 at 11:03 am

    The Screaming Eagle of Wash St: DeLille Cellars Grand Ciel Cabernet Sauvignon, not to mention their Chaleur Estate and my fav Harrison Hill!!!

  7. Bill | September 28th, 2009 at 11:07 am

    A couple of favs from Australia:
    1) Wolf Blass Black Label & Platinum Label…
    2) D’Arenberg’s Dead Arm Shiraz

  8. Bill | September 28th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Okay, here’s one with my family’s namesake: Woodward Canyon “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon.

  9. Bill | September 28th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    One I have heard about but not tasted so it is on my bucket list: “Cote d’Bonneville” Cab Sauv.

  10. John | September 28th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    Bill,
    You have some excellent suggestions. The reason these are not on my bucket list is because I’ve already had the opportunity to taste them.

  11. Gary "Iron" Chevsky | December 26th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Where do I begin to list the greats. Seems like your list is skewed toward Bordeaux. But Burgundy and Barolo are generally recognized as the world’s greatest among wine connoisseurs, and I would have expected to see more of those on the list.

  12. John | December 27th, 2009 at 7:26 am

    Gary,
    You are probably right. In my case I have visited Bordeaux and realistically have more access to the top Bordeaux than either Burgundy and Barolo. But if you are looking to make a gift…
    John

  13. Kham | May 4th, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    Here is a great site to create and share your bucket list.

    http://www.sharebuckets.com

    check it out.