screaming eagle

How to Care for Your Fine Wine Collection

Filed under: Wine

chateau petrus Wine collections are growing, and so are their value, in many cases. Indeed, based on the results of a recent Sotheby's wine auction, held in Hong Kong in early October, the prices of collectible wines are breaking records.

One imperial (six litres) of Château Pétrus 1982 realized a world auction record price of $93,077, while a case (12 bottles) of Château Pétrus 2000 sold for $55,846. Three bottles of a 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, a winery in Oakville, California, sold for $27,923.

If you have a wine collection, or if you are thinking of building one, here's how to care for your collection, according to the experts at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company's Wine Collector Management Services.

Keep an eye on your climate control
A temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 60% to 65% are ideal for long term wine storage. The cool temperature slows the aging process, while the humidity prevents moisture inside the wine bottle from moving into the cork and eventually evaporating into the air. Keep in mind that ideal temperatures do vary somewhat depending on the type of wine you are storing. Attics and garages are not ideal places to store wine, as temperatures can fluctuate greatly in these locations.

Limit your collection's exposure to light sources
A dark room is best for wine storage. Fluorescent light is not believed to be harmful.

Wines should be kept in a stable environment
Vibration is harmful to wine, as it disturbs the sediment. Keep the bottles in a horizontal position.

Back up your power supply
Your wine collection could be at risk during a sustained power outage. A permanent back-up generator will help protect your investment.

Consider renting a storage space
If you lack adequate space to store your collection, professional wine storage facilities are available in most major cities.

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Is Now The Time To Buy Screaming Eagle?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

For years getting onto the mailing lists for Napa Valley's big fruit bomb cult Cabernet Sauvignons has been no easy feat. You practically have to sell your soul to get your paws on Screaming Eagle or some of the other wines with the limited allocation and the highest reputations. But now, as Bloomberg's Elin McCoy puts it: the recession is making room for you. Those on the lists are dumping their allocations to save money and only purchasing from a few select favorites. Even restaurants are paring back their usual bottle grabs because the clientele is staying away from the deep end of the wine list.

If you believe in the long-term value of these wines now might be the time to grab a few and cellar them. Currently those who flip their allocations aren't finding a hot market for the wine but if you can hold onto them for a few years and the name brands regain their value you might have a nice investment on your hands.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, napa valley, NapaValley, screaming eagle, ScreamingEagle, wine

Heidi Barrett Joins Fantseca

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

One of the most respected names in winemaking, Heidi Barrett, has announced her first new project since leaving the famed Screaming Eagle, she will be working with Fantesca Estate & Winery. Barrett, called the "The First Lady of Wine" by the "emperor of wine" critic Robert Parker, Jr., is the only winemaker ever to have received five perfect scores from the top wine critics in the country.

We've covered Fantesca for their Adopt A Grape project before, which offers an inside look at winemaking through a series of films. They will be capturing the entire growing season with bi-monthly high definition films. Heidi Barrett, Vineyard Manager Jim Barbour and owners Susan and Duane Hoff will take the viewer from bud break through harvest on adopt a grape. Visitors can also adopt a grape from one of Fantesca's seven vineyard blocks following it in films, photos, and written updates.

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Tags: california wine, fantseca, heidi barrett, screaming eagle, wine

Hart Davis Hart Wine Dinners and Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Auctions

Wine lovers in Chicago will have the chance to drink well in September. Hart Davis Hart Wine Company is holding a series of wine events around their September 15th auction of fine wines. The auction will feature classic Bordeaux, rare Burgundy from producers such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and Californian cult wines including 42 lots from Harlan Estate and 35 lots from Screaming Eagle. This one-day auction will consist of 1,258 lots and has pre-auction estimate of $2.5-3.7 million. Hart Davis Hart will host two wine dinners: the Staglin Family Vineyards wine dinner on September 14 at Tru Restaurant will cost $750 per person and will include the chance to dine with the Staglins and sample Staglin's Napa Valley wines as well as First-Growth Bordeaux, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Corton-Charlemagne from Morey-Blanc.

On September 15th, the Legends of Napa Valley Dinner: Marcassin, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard will be held at the Blackbird Restaurant. It will cost an astounding $1,700 per person and feature wines from some of the most acclaimed properties in Napa Valley including Marcassin, Screaming Eagle, Harlan and Diamond Creek Lake Vineyard.

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Screaming Eagle Winery Sold

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

One of Napa Valley's most well-regarded wineries, Screaming Eagle has been sold. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the winery was sold by Jean Phillips to two financial entrepreneurs, Charles Banks and Stanley Kroenke. Banks already owns a vineyard in the Santa Ynez region and Kroenke owns the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche and his wife is Ann Walton, an heir to the Wal-Mart fortune. They haven't revealed how much the winery sold for but it is estimated that the winery is worth around $30 million. Screaming Eagle produces just 500 cases of cult Cabernet Sauvignon per year and the wine always fetches top prices, most famously a six-liter bottle of the 1992 vintage sold for $500,000 at a charity auction in 2000.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, california wine, napa valley, screaming eagle, ScreamingEagle, winemaker, winery