I have a boxed 3 bottles of Faiveley/Nuit-St. George's-Bourgogne 1978 Bourgogne R. Tast 1978 Bourgogne B. Tast 1979 Rully B. Tast Do they have any monetary value? Would they still be palatable? Can you tell me a little about them? .
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Let me be sure, first, that I have clearly understood the wines you have, which are all from a fine producer in Burgundy, Faiveley: Nuits-Saint-Georges 1978, Bourgogne (red) 1978, and Rully (white)1979. You have used the term "Tast" before the last two wines, so I am guessing this may refer to their selection by a jury of tasters for the honorary "Tastevin" label. Is this the case? This special seal or coat of arms is a reliable indication of superior quality and expression of the characteristics of the appellation. The first question with older wines is always how they have been stored. The 1978 vintage was a small harvest of concentrated red wines, so that is in your favor provided the conditions have been cool and stable. Also, Faiveley red wines have a reputation for longevity. The Nuits (Pinot Noir), an appellation on the Cote de Nuits that is sturdy and keeps well, could be at full maturity now. The regional Bourgogne red (also Pinot Noir) is past its prime unless it has been kept in a very cold cellar, and the Rully is a lighter white Burgundy (Chardonnay) that is best within a few years of release. Frankly, there is no meaningful monetary value, particularly for the Bourgogne and Rully. My recommendation is that you open the wines with friends at your first opportunity and hope for the best. It's likely that the reds have sediment, so stand the bottles up overnight and pour them with care directly into a glass, rather than decanting them, as they may be rather fragile. Hope you have a happy experience!
