My father has a few bottles of Chateau Montelena from 1969 that he is interested in selling but doesn't know a fair value. Any suggestions?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Chateau Montelena dates from 1882, but the modern era began in 1969 when the Barrett family acquired the property and a winery license. There is no information on the first few years, and Montelena indicates the first wine of this period was the 1972 vintage. So your 1969 is a bit of a mystery and does not appear in any internet search. Is the wine a Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay, and are you sure of the vintage? That said, vintages of Montelena Cabernet from the 1970s are currently on offer for $100 to $200 at auction or retail - frankly, not very much in relation to current releases. How much an older wine will fetch will hinge as well on how it has been stored over the years and the visible condition of the bottles (for example, the fill level). Some vintages, to a collector, may have disproportionate value because they are associated with an important milestone for a particular winery or region.
