How to Choose a Special Wine for Your Collection

If you’re looking for special wines to add to your collection, 100-point wines are an excellent choice as they are rare, high in quality, and often age well. [image source]

Seasoned wine collectors are always looking for that next special bottle to round out their cellars. If you’ve been collecting wine for a while, you might be looking for something that’s a little rarer or has better provenance than most labels on the market. Where can you find that ultra-rare wine that perfectly matches your preferences and your investment needs? Moreover, how do you know which wines are the perfect fit for your collection?

Whether you’re looking for a rare wine to serve at an upcoming event, or you want an investment-worthy bottle that you can lay down for decades to come, this guide will answer all of your questions about special wine.

What is a Special Wine?

A “special wine” isn’t just a delicious, high-quality wine – after all, you can find many excellent bottles online, in wine shops, and even in grocery stores. Quality alone does not make a truly special wine. What sets special wines apart from most others is a combination of additional factors that serious wine collectors find attractive. Those factors are:

#1: Rarity

A special wine is often made in much lower quantities than most other wine labels. For example, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) produces just 450 cases of its flagship Romanée-Conti label annually. The producer grows the fruit on a small, 1.8-hectare parcel of land and hand-selects only the finest grapes from each vine. This makes the label particularly difficult to find on, which is why so many serious collectors seek out these bottles. Any top-quality wine with a production of fewer than around 1,000 cases per year is, by definition, a particularly special wine.

#2: Exclusivity

Exclusive wines aren’t simply rare, they’re difficult to buy. This could be due to low production or because the winery only sells wine through a private mailing list. An exclusive wine is also quite often a rare wine, but the added layer of exclusivity makes the wine even more difficult to collect. An example of an exclusive wine is Screaming Eagle. The waitlist for the mailing list is between five and ten years long, so many collectors can only purchase wines from this producer on the secondary market or from a trusted retailer that has access to allocations. Wines like this are worth collecting because they typically gain significant value over time and elevate the prestige of your collection.

#3: The Story

Collecting wine isn’t just about the liquid in the bottle. On a deeper level, a wine enthusiast is also collecting fascinating stories and history. Special wines often have an unusual story to tell or an extensive past that firmly roots them in a notable time or place. For example, each of the illustrated labels on Sine Qua Non bottles, designed by the winemaker himself, tells a unique story related to the wine inside. Other fine wine producers, like Château Lafite Rothschild, have a long and storied history. Wines from this estate were enjoyed by royalty in the 18th century and historical figures like Thomas Jefferson were known to collect bottles. Owning one of these wines is like owning a piece of history.

#4: Provenance

Special wines may be ones that have a clear provenance – an unbroken line of ownership from the estate to the current owner. These wines are particularly special because many bottles on the secondary market don’t have a proven provenance. Even if you own a rare bottle from a renowned estate, if you can’t document exactly who owned the bottle from the time of its release to the present, the bottle won’t be as valuable as one with a documented history.

#5: Age-Worthiness and Projected Value

Finally, a special wine is one that is both age-worthy and expected to increase in value over time. Some wines are quite valuable but only keep for five years or so. These generally aren’t as desirable to collectors as wines that can age for many decades. Likewise, some wines can age for many decades without increasing much in value. While every collector has different preferences, many like to collect wines they can lay down for many years and resell for the greatest profit possible. A good example of a wine that is age-worthy and has a high projected value over time is Louis Roederer Cristal.

The Wines You Should Add to Your Collection This Year

One of the most common special wine questions that collectors ask is which specific wines they should be investing in this year. Even if you’ve been collecting wine for decades, the secondary market is constantly changing. Every year also brings new and exciting wine vintages to the forefront, making it essential to keep up with the latest trends and vintage reviews. This is what makes fine wine collecting so fascinating, but it can also be a little daunting. To help you decide which special wines to look into this year, we’ve compiled a list of wine regions, vintages, and labels you should invest in.

The Latest Cult California Cabernets

California cult wines are among the most reliable investments for collectors because they typically increase steadily in value over time. They are also special wines in that they are often quite rare. This year, look into buying a few 2018 vintages for your collection. This vintage is particularly high in quality and should age beautifully for decades. Some of the best wines are:

En Primeur 2020 Bordeaux

Investing in Bordeaux futures is one of the best ways to curate a special wine collection. When you buy these wines on pre-arrival, you often pay less than you would if you wait for the wine to reach the secondary market after release. The 2020 vintage is especially worth investing in, as it is very high in quality and will likely be in high demand once it hits the secondary market. You can buy 2020 Bordeaux on pre-arrival right now from some of the most renowned producers, including:

It’s also worth keeping an eye on the latest 2021 Bordeaux vintage reviews, especially as en primeur season approaches.

Top Burgundy Vintages

Another simple way to improve your wine collection is to look back at some of the top-rated vintages in Burgundy’s history. This region has released some standout wines in the past few years that only the most experienced collectors have in their cellars. Some of these rare and special wines are:

2008 Vintage Champagne Releases

Over the past few years, multiple Champagne producers have released excellent 2008 Champagne vintages. Thanks to this, Champagne has become, on average, the best-performing wine on the market. No special wine collection would be complete without at least one bottle of fine 2008 Champagne, including:

Other 100-Point Wines

In general, when you’re looking for a special wine to add to your collection, any 100-point wine is a safe bet. Not only do 100-point wines typically outperform lower-rated wines in terms of your return on investment, but they’re also often the best representations of a particular terroir, variety, or producer’s style. If you’re a collector who only wants to buy the finest wines on the market, consider the following wines that received perfect scores from some critics:

The list of wines above is not comprehensive, but it’s a great place to start if you want to add a few special bottles to your collection this year. Additionally, buying ex-château wines (those stored in the estate’s cellar and sold directly to collectors or retailers) is the best option whenever possible. This is because it’s much easier to prove provenance and ensure the wine has been stored under the best possible conditions.

All of Your Special Wine Questions Answered

While a guide like this can point you in the right direction, the best way to invest in special wines is to receive advice specific to your collection, budget, and preferences. One option is to get in touch with Vinfolio’s private client specialists. Private clients speak one on one with wine experts who are well-versed in the latest market trends and vintage tasting notes. The experts can help you select a list of wines that will add value or diversity to your collection and that meet all of your personal needs. This includes a list of special wines that will take your collection to the next level. No matter where you are on your collecting journey, the experts can answer all of your most pressing special wine questions.