Expert: Paul Wagner - 12/22/2007

Question
Dear paul


I read this from you.
Expert: Paul Wagner
Date: 8/26/2006
Subject: Societe Philomatique XIII Exposition de Bordeaux

Question
I have a bottle of wine with what appears to be an old label that reads: Societe
Philomatique, XIII Exposition de Bordeaux,
Nationale/Internationale/Universelle, Diplome d'Honneur..small words that
are difficult to read and then signatures from le Secretaire General and le
President, 1895.  Is there some history behind this?  Is this truly a bottle of
wine?  Does it have any value?


Answer
Hi Kathleen:

The bottle you have may or may not be good wine--you haven't given me
enough information about that.  But the Societe Philomatique XIII Exposition
de Bordeaux did, in fact, meet in 1895, and there were hundreds of awards
given out.  It is possible that your wine was made by a chateau that won one
of those awards, or even that it was given out to the attendees--although I
think that is very unlikely.

What else does the label say?  Is this a smaller label on the neck, or is it the
full sized label on the main part of the bottle?  Those keys will help me give
you more information.

Paul Wagner  
======
I have the same bottle.
Very small on the label front below.

les Monsieurs Heriteurs de Mr Marguis de Riscalin (?)

The main label is not readable  

Answer
Hi Jo

Any chance that the letters actually say Marques de Riscal?  That's a pretty well-known producer of red wines in the Rioja region of Spain...and when the phylloxera plague attacked the grapevines in Bordeaux, many French vintners went to Rioja to make wine in the 1800s.  

If so, this was a nice wine, but not made for VERY long term aging.  I have had some nice bottles that were 15-20 years old, but after that, they begin to lose fruit and character.

Sorry, I am guessing here, but it's the best I can do with the information.  If there is anything else on the bottle, that would help!

Paul Wagner