Any Champagne Experts out there...

[doc_colton]

Funny story, I ran into my ex-father-in-law over the weekend. He's a little eccentric at the best of times. He said he had something in the trunk of his car for me for Christmas. Turned out to be a bottle of Dom Perignon, 1973. He wouldn't say where he got it but he does have a lot of friends in the restaurant trade so I assuming it's old stock. Now while I plan to drink it, out of curiousity I googled this vintage and see bottles selling between $450 - $650 USD. Is this correct? Any offers

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by doc_colton

Funny story, I ran into my ex-father-in-law over the weekend. He's a little eccentric at the best of times. He said he had something in the trunk of his car for me for Christmas. Turned out to be a bottle of Dom Perignon, 1973. He wouldn't say where he got it but he does have a lot of friends in the restaurant trade so I assuming it's old stock. Now while I plan to drink it, out of curiousity I googled this vintage and see bottles selling between $450 - $650 USD. Is this correct? Any offers

No expert here but on the rare occassion I've had the opportunity to taste different champagnes Dom Perignon was best. Much like Fender basses and Rolex watches, the hype is true.
dP

[nsolga]

Yes. I use wine-searcher.com

Provided it was storred well in good temp and on it's side you'll have a very tasty treat

[redshirt1957]

Champagne? More like Freepain every time I drank a few bottles.

[oneillba]

I'm sorry I can not help. My palate cannot distinguish Dom Perignon from say a $50 dollar variety. At least according to my limited experience. Now, lets talk Johnnie Walker Blue -- that I can appreciate and tell the difference with!

[Carolina]

I've had it only once, and I truly could tell the difference (and I'm no sommelier). Hopefully that bottle wasn't in the trunk of the car very long!

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by doc_colton

Funny story, I ran into my ex-father-in-law over the weekend. He's a little eccentric at the best of times. He said he had something in the trunk of his car for me for Christmas. Turned out to be a bottle of Dom Perignon, 1973. He wouldn't say where he got it but he does have a lot of friends in the restaurant trade so I assuming it's old stock. Now while I plan to drink it, out of curiousity I googled this vintage and see bottles selling between $450 - $650 USD. Is this correct? Any offers

I would sell it and go for a beer ( or two ? or three ?.....)

[doc_colton]

I was thinking of putting it in a paper bag, sitting on a street corner and drinking it out of the bottle.

[Latrodectus]

Originally Posted by doc_colton

I was thinking of putting it in a paper bag, sitting on a street corner and drinking it out of the bottle.

[Andad]

I have just asked my 'in house' champers expert.

Answer was. 'If it still has bubbles, it's good to go".

[unclesallie]

I have no idea what a 1973 bottle of Dom Perignon is worth, but likely a whole lot. I love Dom Perignon one of the top champagnes in the world, but for a lower buck, I think that Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin is a better buy, but that's JIMHO. Wherever you decide to drink that bottle, enjoy every last sip and make sure you get some people around you who will appreciate it too....some fine food, maybe top end tapas to wash it all down with?

[nsolga]

Notice how Johnnie Walker Blue doesn't have an age guarantee on it...

Nice marketing. Seriously. I know former Seagrams marketing execs and it is a bit of a scam. It does get a small amount of very old blend but, how much? An eyedropper perhaps.

Go for the gold and get an guarantee

[Lol-x]

That is some expensive bubbly

Dom is one of the best for sure.

As for Johnnie.......I like Johnnie 'Gold' for it's taste the best, but rarely drink it these days.

[Leighton]

Can't get any better than this!

[CH & USA]

... you can find '73 Doms under $600... it's definitely an exceptional year (albeit not legendary). A much better year (read: day & night) for most champagnes than '72 and '74, but not as great as '90 or '96... the best in the past 40 years. '73 is expected to be subtle, with a light to medium body, creamy, smooth, and sweet with some truffle, honey, lime and hazelnut notes, and an elegant finish.

A shame to drink in anything other than a flute...

Perfect for the holidays? Depends with whom you're sharing it... I'm willing to share it ;-)

[Gedanken]

I'm not a champagne expert, but I do prefer the stronger yeasty flavour of Bollinger to Dom, and I quite like Billecart-Salmon too. Pol Roger's a bit too sharp for my tastes, and Veuve Cliquot just never grabbed me (admittedly I've yet to try La Grande Dame). Tattinger, Roderer and Krug are on my to-try list.

Moet et Chandon expose Dom Perignon to oxygen before the yeast is added and then are pretty careful about protecting it against oxidation during disgorgement, so it will store well.

[Yume-sama]

Dom Perignon is my favorite. There really is a difference, it's hard to explain. It could be purely psychological, but when you need a champagne, Dom Perignon is the one. It's good in a lot of ways, I've had waiters look at me in horror as I added a strawberry puree to it to make it a strawberry champagne... Gets *really* foamy and bubbly, so you have to be careful to not pour it in too fast or you'll end up with $300 of champagne in your table cloth. Not the most attractive looking, but super good Dom is better than Cristal in my opinion, which is really super expensive.

By the way, a 1973 bottle can sell for around $700.

[Jedi]

Originally Posted by Gedanken

I'm not a champagne expert, but I do prefer the stronger yeasty flavour of Bollinger to Dom, and I quite like Billecart-Salmon too. Pol Roger's a bit too sharp for my tastes, and Veuve Cliquot just never grabbed me (admittedly I've yet to try La Grande Dame). Tattinger, Roderer and Krug are on my to-try list.

Moet et Chandon expose Dom Perignon to oxygen before the yeast is added and then are pretty careful about protecting it against oxidation during disgorgement, so it will store well.

Good notes James. To what you've written I'd like to add:

I too have Bollinger as my overall top bubbly, but Dom Perignon is Dom Perignon: A drier, more expressive style with the finest bubbles one can find. For a vintage number going to back to '73, one can expect a nice display on the nose, and a integration of fruit and earthy notes once the bubbles have subsided with each mouthful. Creamy is another way I'd put it. The finish should also linger for an eternity.

Veuve Grand Dame is a totally different animal to the Non Vintage Veuve Cliquot. Fine bubbles, and a yeastier approach to the mouthfeel. In fact, we'll be having a bottle of that tonight.

Mumm's comes very close to Bolli in my mind too!

[slvrstar]

1973 Dom can be bought for $500 or so.

[bodybump]

Dom are expensive when its old...but there are some champagne that needs to be drank right away...I love sweet champagne..i have tasted a vintage dom before and for me its too dry...I would prefer a Moet Chandon Nectar..its the best champagne i ever tasted and its more affordable...The pic in my Avatar was an old dom...it was taken last year ....

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by slvrstar

1973 Dom can be bought for $500 or so.

Multiply it by 3 times if sold in the restaurant... so that would be $1500!!!

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by bodybump

Multiply it by 3 times if sold in the restaurant... so that would be $1500!!!

Yeah, but by the time it gets time for champagne, they're hoping you're too drunk to notice the price.

Or think... $15.00, what a deal!

[Paulie]

Many years ago a wine merchant turned me on to Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes D'or as a substitute for Dom, and it was wonderful. Gave a dozen presentation bottles away as gifts as well. It has been a few years since I last had it, anyone know how it's holding up quality wise?

[Gentleman8]

Originally Posted by nsolga

Notice how Johnnie Walker Blue doesn't have an age guarantee on it...Nice marketing. Seriously. I know former Seagrams marketing execs and it is a bit of a scam. It does get a small amount of very old blend but, how much? An eyedropper perhaps.
Go for the gold and get an guarantee

Most likely they were simply jealous as Seagram's did not carry any decent whisky. Seagram's no longer exists. Johnnie Walker does.

[doc_colton]

Must have been poorly stored at some time. The cork was rotten, no bubbles and the wine smelled off. Too bad. Good thing was I had lots of Veuve Cliquot as back up for the guests. Never have that problem with Grey Goose

Anyways, hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and gearing up for a great New Year!

[toph]

Dom Perignon, Krug, Krystal are usually the most expensive
Veuve Cliquot is my personal favourite

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by toph

Dom Perignon, Krug, Krystal are usually the most expensive
Veuve Cliquot is my personal favourite

Time to open a bottle of Petrus Toph!!