Joseph Drouhin Vosne
Romanee 1969
(bought at auction for about $50)

For those of you old enough to remember, this was the year of Woodstock, you know, back when things were groovy and peace, love and happiness abounded. For me, it was a pretty good year in Burgundy, a wine region where pinot noir is grown to last for decades. Imagine a 41-year-old bottle of wine surviving that long and tasting like angels dancing on your tongue. I served this with wild Pacific salmon and it was heavenly.

E. Guigal Cote Rotie Cotes Brune et Blonde 1988
($70 at Vintages for the current vintage)

I paid $39.90 for this over 20 years ago and it's now about twice the price. Syrah from the Rhone Valley is one of my favourite wines on the planet. It's fruit-laden, earthy, smoky, spicy... a man's wine built for grilled meats. When you throw this much age on it, wow, it's an out of body experience. Trust me on that.

Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon Napa Valley 1987
($100 for current vintage)

I can't tell you what this one cost at the time because my special bottle was a gift from an entertainment reporter who brought it back from California after covering a movie junket for the Johnny Depp film Don Juan DeMarco, which was produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola owns the Niebaum-Coppola winery in Napa Valley and put the movie's logo on the back of the bottle. Rubicon is the best wine made at the winery and I didn't want to hang on to the bottle any longer. What a sensational cabernet sauvignon! Round, lush, dark fruits that are just now fully integrated and enthralling in the mouth. I wanted this wine to last forever.

Isole e Olena Cepparello 1997
($80 for current vintage at Vintages)

This was a wine that I bought purely because Wine Spectator gave it 96 points. I purchased all I could and it has slowly been depleted from the cellar. It's a blockbuster of wine from Tuscacy made of 100% sangiovese. It's layered, ripe, fruity and breathtakingly better with each swallow. It is what aged wine is all about.

Strewn Cabernet Franc 1998
($50, winery only)

This is a fine example of why collectors shouldn't ignore wines from Niagara when planning their cellars. Ontario wines, chosen carefully, can improve when properly stored. I had this one at the winery recently and loved the Bordeaux-style nose with earth, plums and layered spices. In the mouth, it is a gorgeously mature wine showing only slight notes of drying out.

Robert Oatley Pinot Grigio 2008
(Vintages, $18)

A light and fresh pinot grigio from Australia with melon, tropical fruits and floral aromas. It's fresh and fruity on the palate with absolutely no oak treatment.

Loron and Fils Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2008
($17, Vintages)

An attractive nose of apple, vanilla, pear and subtle vanilla and spice notes. Like a slice of apple pie in the mouth to go with citrus and caramel. Very fine at this price.

Gassier Sables d'Azur Rose 2009
($15, Vintages)

For those who like their roses to be traditionally made, this is a beauty from Provence. It's a blend of grenache, syrah and censaut with a nose of strawberry, cherry and a light citrus zest garnish. Perfectly dry on the palate with refreshing red berries.

Domaine de Serame Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
($13, LCBO)

Don't let the price scare you — this is a fantastic bargain from Languedoc, France. Ripe, dark fruits and attractive complementing spice on the nose. Wild berries, smoke, smooth and delicious in the mouth with a great finish.