As tranquil summer evolves into industrious fall, more than a few Americans will sit back, sip a glass of wine and reflect on this annual transition.
But many wine collectors will be sitting back to reflect on how much their wine has appreciated in value during 1995. That's because there has been a jump of more than 20 percent in the value of collectible wines.
"The collectible wine market is hot in 1995 -- absolutely hot -- and this follows a 15 percent gain in 1994, so the movement is definitely upward," observed Ursula Hermacinski, vice president in the wine department of the Christie's auction house in New York.
The introduction of wine auctions into New York City this year has been a factor in this rise, Ms. Hermacinski believes. So has the fact that people are buying quality vintages from the 1980s because the last four years of new red Bordeaux have been "less than stellar" due to uncooperative weather conditions in France, she added.
You don't have to look far to find examples of price appreciation. For example, California Cabernet Chateau Lynch-Bages, vintage 1985, that sold for $32 a bottle in 1991 now goes for $62.
Among blue-chip French Bordeaux wines, Chateau Latour, vintage 1961, was offered at $100 a case when released in 1963 and now sells for $560 a bottle. Other top investment quality wines include Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux, Haut-Brion and Lafite Rothschild.
But there are still bargains around. Vintage port is considered undervalued right now, with long-term price appreciation likely. Earlier this year, 1985 vintage Taylor Fladgate Port sold for $30 a bottle, and it has since decreased to a bargain-priced $25.
Collectors don't need hundreds of dollars to get started. They can educate themselves by reading wine publications and doing plenty of tasting. Furthermore, many home basements can serve nicely as wine cellars, even if the treasure trove is only a few bottles or a case or two.
So forget the 1787 Lafite, a red Bordeaux that sold at a Christie's auction a decade ago for a record $155,000, since there are more attainable choices for the beginning collector.
"Some names in the Bordeaux region, such as Chateau L'Angelus and Troplong-Monbod, are making wines as good as the most famous wines, and the masses are catching on to this fact," said Robert Parker Jr., wine critic and editor of the Wine Advocate newsletter.
