Expert: Paul Wagner - 4/25/2008

Question
Hi,
I was hoping you can help me find out the value of each bottle of cheer!
Seagram's Crown Royal 1963  4929656  Internal Revenue 521013590

Tokaji Aszu 4 Puttonyos 1956  135-14.5M Hungaryan

Bardolino Classico Superior 1983 Italia 560638

Valpolicella Classico Superior 1983 Italia 562584

Laforet Bourgogne Chadonnay  1984 France

My neighbor asked me to find out the value and I do not know a thing about this subject matter. He is elderly and I hope I read his writing okay otherwise forgive any spelling incorrections! Thanks so much for your help!
Patricia

Answer
Hi Patricia

This is quite a list!  The wines are all well past their prime.  The Tokaji might still have a bit of life in it just because it is so sweet, but those were the Cold War years in Hungary, and the wines were not made for long term aging then.  They were made for Russian politicians to drink right away.  

The other wines are way too old.  All of those were made to drink within a few years of the vintage, and they are now browning in color, with no fruit and a thin and weak finish.  Sorry about that.

The Crown Royal should be fine.  Distilled spiritis like this don't chnage much over time, because the alcohol levels are so high.  It won't have improved any, but it won't be any worse.  It's probably worth something like $45 a bottle or so.  The rest would not fetch any price at all at an auction.

Sorry I can't give you more exciting news.  You are a good neighbor!

Paul Wagner