Maximilian Riedel

Vintage Wine Thursday 🍷 Today I want to talk about a question that comes up frequently from you on my DM. Can you judge a bottle by looking at it? The simple answer is no. Ultimately, the only true way to assess the condition of an old bottle is to open it and taste it. However, there are several external clues that can help us estimate the likelihood that a wine has been well preserved over time.
Among the most important factors are:
• Fill level (ullage) – generally, the higher the fill, the better.
• Capsule condition – signs of seepage can indicate storage issues.
• Label and bottle condition – these often reveal a bottle’s history, although appearance can sometimes be misleading.
• Provenance – where and how a bottle has been stored is often more important than how it looks today.
The bottles on today’s table are a perfect example:
🍷 1968 Gaja Barbaresco – from one of Italy’s most iconic producers, showing excellent presentation and provenance.
🍷 1975 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière – a beautifully preserved Saint-Émilion with excellent fill level and label condition.
🍷 1977 Château Mouton Rothschild (Queen Mother commemorative label) – a First Growth Bordeaux with significant cellar wear on the label, yet excellent ullage and promising condition.
🍷 An unidentified Rothschild-associated Pauillac – a bottle that looks as though it has spent decades in a damp cellar, but with surprisingly strong fill level and no obvious signs of leakage.
Looking at these bottles side by side, which one would you choose? Experience has taught me that appearances can be deceptive. A pristine bottle can disappoint, while a battered bottle can deliver an unforgettable experience. The bottle tells a story. The wine tells the truth. And in the end, there is only one real test: Pull the cork. Pour the wine. Taste the history ❤️❤️❤️

Tonight’s blind tasting 🇦🇹🇮🇹🇫🇷🍷 A journey through four extraordinary wines, different grape varieties, four terroirs, and nearly half a century of vintages:
• Prager Grüner Veltliner Zwerithaler Kammergut Smaragd 2022, Wachau
• Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2017, Piemonte
• Vieux Château Certan 1979, Pomerol
• Château Bélair-Monange 2016, Saint-Émilion
All wines will be tasted blind. The real experiment, however, is not only the wine. Each wine will be served in its own RIEDEL grape-varietal-specific glass. Too often, great wines are poured into a so-called “universal” glass. While convenient, one glass can never reveal every wine at its very best.
Glass shape influences aroma, texture, balance, and the way a wine is perceived. Understanding wine begins with understanding that the glass matters.
Tonight, the labels are hidden, the wines speak for themselves, and the glasses complete the story.