A store here in northern Sonora has a stock of "distressed" bottles of wines from Bodegas de Santo Tomas in Baja Norte. Apparently there was a roof
collapse in a hurricane several years ago, and these bottles got wet and covered in windblown dust. They were moved to a storeroom and forgotten. The
owner recently re-discovered them and is interested in selling the lot at a heavy discount. The bottles are intact, and other than looking bad, appear
to be in excellent condition.
Can anyone tell me whether these vintages are considered drinkable? Better than drinkable? What might be a fair price per bottle? Can anyone give me a
link/URL with ratings?
They are Bodegas de Santo Tomas:
1994 Cabernet Savignon
1998 Barbera
2000 Barbera
2000 Tempranillo
N.V. Via San Emilio
Many thanks in advance for any help and/or suggestions!
-- K.H.
none of those
sylens - 2-7-2006 at 04:44 PM
won awards for whatever that's worth. other than that, i know nothing.bufeo - 2-7-2006 at 04:54 PM
The '94 was a good vintage. I believe that Dimitri Tschellichef was still the winemaker at that time, and he was responsible for a bunch of fine
wines out of Santo Tom?s.
The operant phrase in your question is "They were moved to a storeroom and forgotten." That could spell trouble. Northern Sonora can get hot and
wine stored in heat gets destroyed.
If you're really interested and the merchant is a true "wine merchant" the owner should allow you to taste before purchasing, assuming you're going to
purchase more than a bottle or two. I certainly wouldn't purchase without a provenance of some sort.
Look at the top of the corks around the foils. See if there is evidence of leakage. Check the ullage (air space inside the bottle) and see
if they appear to be consistant.
I would approach this with a certain degree of skepticism if the storage was dubious, especially the "forgotten" part.
My "provenance" is forty-seven years as a wine consumer, with twelve of those in the wine business as sales manager and general manager of a premium
California winery.
Good luck. This could be interesting. Certainly worth a shot.mcgyver - 2-7-2006 at 06:34 PM
Hey Bufeo! You are the wine man!!
If it does not come in a box labeled Franzia I am lost!
Welcome back from the dark continent.bufeo - 2-7-2006 at 07:23 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by mcgyver
Hey Bufeo! You are the wine man!!
If it does not come in a box labeled Franzia I am lost!
Welcome back from the dark continent.
Thanks, mcgyver, we had an incredible time. Couldn't believe how much the Namib Desert area reminded us of Baja. We'll give you a shout
before we head south in a couple of days. Are you in campo?mcgyver - 2-8-2006 at 04:25 AM
Bufeo: Yep we are here. Sold the Yuma place on Dec 26th and we are now homeless, no bills, getting 9.4% on some of the proceeds, paid off the Tacoma
and thinking of Australia or?????
BTW: Got the Direcway satellite for internet here now, the internet cafe is open at KM 54!!!!!!
