Joyeux Ruby Anniversaire! (1985-2025)

Forty years ago, February 1985, a Bhumibol Adulyadej or the locally titled Rama IX (The King of Thailand) was diagnosed has having a weak heart condition. His private doctor told him to drink several glasses, daily, of Merlot based red wines from Bordeaux. He followed the doc’s advice, and lived on for another 36 years all in good shape, and of course the Bordeaux market for Pomerol went ´´gangbusters´´.

Today, 40 years later, February 2025, we are now being recommended, I believe by Doctors A.I., to drink wines solely made from the Pinot Noir grape, so as to live well and have a longer healthier-heart life. I am not sure wether the plagiarism of this A.I. doc carries much value. Personally, I am not so bothered with the longevity bit, as there are simply buckets of wines out there labelled Pinot Noir. I am worried more about the quality of the wines and the quality of life, than the plentiful Pinot-More. I think we can safely say that ‘good-proper-sensible wine’, all grapes, are better for you and your well being and of course your heart than all this other gumpf that they want to hoist upon you, and that also includes noshing on some good fair & freshly produced food! Salute! bon appétit…

It was also four decades ago that we aka The Wiggly Wine Merchant back then, sold our first case of wine for almost ‘a bag of sand’ (@ GB£900). It was an impeccable case of 1959 Ch.Haut-Brion in OWC sold to a trade customer in Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 (any guesses?). So this year will be our 40th Anniversary of being active in the International Fine Wine Trade. The 1980s where a time when facsimiles and post dated cheques ruled the roost, along with very long and sensible Friday lunches, and cases of wine that always contained 12 bottles (75cl) of wine. Having tried to keep one’s wine knowledge and sense of humor up to date over the last forty years, I toast all of you that have made this journey a less bumpier one, and if you need a little help with some of those Birthday Vintages to celebrate with during this 2025, we have the following wines (1935 to 1985) in stock today (subject to remaining unsold) lying at London City Bond VT:

40 Years Old
1985 Dom Perignon, Epernay – 6 bottles @ GB£495bt

1985 Dom Perignon Rose (Freddie Mercury/Sotheby’s 2024), Epernay – 1 bottle @ GB£995bt

1985 Petrus, Pomerol (Magnum) – 1 magnum  @ GB£3.995mg

1985 Sassicaia, Bolgheri – 1 bottle @ GB£3.500bt

1985 Sassicaia, Bolgheri (Magnums) – 3 magnums @  GB£7.795mg

50 Years Old
1975 Ch.Lafite-Rothschild (OWC/1), Pauillac – 1 bottle @ GB£900bt

1975 Petrus, Pomerol – 1 bottle @ GB£2.750bt

1975 Ch.Musar, Bekaa Valley – 2 bottles @ GB£595bt

1975 Sassicaia, Bolgheri – 1 bottle @ GB£2.750bt

60 Years Old
1965 Vega Sicilia ´Unico´ , Ribera del Duero – 2 bottles @ GB£1.350bt

1965 Ch.Lafite-Rothschild (OWC/1), Pauillac – 1 bottle @ GB£1.265bt

70 Years Old
1955 Taylor´s Vintage Port, Oporto – 2 bottles @ GB£495bt

80 Years Old
1945 Ch.d´Yquem, Sauternes – 1 bottle @ GB£2.450bt

90 Years Old
1935 Taylor’s Vintage Port, Oporto – 1 bottle @ GB£995bt 

210 Years Old
1815 Marsala Riserva ‘Bronte’ ( ‘Waterloo’ barrel reserve) – 1 bottle @ GB£895bt

– Prices are per bottle in GB£ sterling Under Bond (LCB VT) ex shipping & local taxes – 

N.B.  Alas, one of those bottles 1985 Dom Perignon has already been ‘reserved’ by us for the party in July, sorry about that, but if you would like any of the others that are available please do ask:  william@worldwineconsultants.com