I must admit taking great pleasure in magnums, both purchasing and drinking, and was asked recently why. Interesting question. Here are my top 10 reasons;
- Opening a magnum of wine illustrates commitment, this is not just a quick glass or two with your significant other, we are settling in.
- A magnum is like a party in a bottle, it illustrates the intentions of the opener very clearly.
- Great for dinner parties because it gives everyone a good crack at the wine, rather than getting a solitary glass.
- Because of the larger sized bottle and the resulting increased wine volume, temperature swings are smaller (more regulated) and thus the wine is more likely to have survived its years of cellaring, whether good or bad.
- Often good value on the secondary market because people overlook them for one reason or another.
- They fit in my wine fridge.
- They come in very cool boxes that you can collect.
- At a BYO restaurant if corkage is per bottle you get 2 for 1.
- More is better.
- They look cool.
Happy for any further pro-magnum thoughts.
Author: Neal
I’m totally with you on 1 to 3. And I’ll be seeing you at your place for dinner on Saturday! Looking forward to it. 😉
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We will partake in a magnum of some sort.
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The earliest known drinker is thought to be Cromagnum man.
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Nice
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You ever heard of the 1 litre club? Group of winemakers agreeing that 75cl is too small, so want to start 1L bottles as the minimum, not sure how they’re getting on, but i think they agree with you on all points!
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No I have not, will check these wise people out.
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They can make for interesting table lamps.
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Thinking outside the square, excellent.
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Excellent reasons. I can’t fault you on any of them.
Cheers! 🙂
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Thanks
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You can get ice cream in a magnum?! Yay!!!
Sorry … off topic … got side-tracked.
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well in Australia you can
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I’ve only had cheaper wines from a magnum, but let’s go for a bigger bottle of something better.
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Go for it, there are a lot of top producers in Australia filling up magnums.
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How about a top-notch Shiraz in a Melchizedek?
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hmm 3o litre bottle, awkward to carry
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I’ve been looking for an excuse to crack open a magnum (wine not ice cream nor guns). Thanks for the list!
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I have added a couple more below to help you
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What time is dinner?
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7 🙂
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Since many of us need much assistance at appearing cool, I’ll have to start going for magnums more often.
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increases your coolness at least 100%
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great post title!
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thanks
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“A magnum is like a party in a bottle.” Indeed! Love it.
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a party in a big bottle
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Excellent post! How was the Cullen?
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Top 10 wine experiences that magnum, had it after I completed some studies I was working on for 4 years. Sensational wine, and a great year.
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I never thought about the size and temperature before now. Thanks for the great info!
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you are welcome, see points 11 and 12 below for more benefits of the temperature regulation.
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11. Because of the afore mentioned temperature regulation the drink by date is often a few years after the experts think it is best consumed (the wine stays good longer).
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12. As most people store magnums in the box it comes in this offers another layer of insulation protecting the temperature of the wine.
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I needed another reason for buying larger bottles of wine. 🙂 I have actually never purchased a magnum bottle, but I have close friends who own a wine shop that always show up with a great bottle-magnum size for parties. It’s always a great wine, too.
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Glad to help 🙂
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Ahahahahahahaaaaa!! This is another good ones fellows. I know what else comes in a box,
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The magnum bottle makes a great statement in the recycle bin. It says WE LOVE WINE here.
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agree, it is a statement piece.
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The party in a bottle!::) Hey, this is an advertise campaign! a CLAIM!:: ) ! !
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Thx, i’ll claim for sure 🙂
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How many people would you invite to drink a magnum? I suppose it depends on their level of thirst, but if each had 2 generous glasses? We received a really stupendous bottle of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon as a wedding gift (many years ago). It held six liters, and we used a punchbowl to serve it. Definitely a party in a bottle.
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Perfect for 6. Robert Mondavi; wow!
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Yes, it was nonvintage but probably from the 80s. I’m afraid we didn’t have the palates to truly appreciate it at the time. But we enjoyed it nevertheless. Still have the monstrous bottle, which I understand is called a “Methuselah.”
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As our palates develop most of us recall a bottle in our past that we might have appreciated more, have had the same experience.
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I must ask what wine goes well with baguettes, cake, guillotines and Revolution?
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Umm, champagne.
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OK. Was hoping for a bit more specific information, haha.
Conrad failed to answer the question in my blog post. lol. So I came here to ask.;)
http://wp.me/p3NHOl-Un
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I’m with Neal. What you describe sounds very French and celeratory. That’s a good vintage champagne for sure. Specifics if need be … a 1996 Bollinger La Grand Année!
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I am below novice status in Wine knowledge. Let me start off by saying that this is a blog I am definitely going to follow vigorously. My interest in “real” wines came after I watched “Bottle Shock”. I know, I know…but it influenced me enough to order a Chateau Montelana 2009 Chardonnay. ($250) That might not be much for a great wine, but it was for me. It was awesome. it ruined me for life. I can no longer look at a bottle of Yellow Tail anymore without a sense of snobbery. LOL!!!
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Yellowtail is exported mostly, and has negatively skewed perception of Aust wine in the US market. Wine that tastes like fanta.
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Yeah…but I liked it! LOL!! But now I know what real wine is supposed to be. A new exploration for my life!
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Great, enjoy our blog
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A magnum is like a party in a bottle – GREAT!!
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after opening another magnum on the weekend with friends, I can confirm it is 🙂
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Such a shame I can’t drink wine anymore (get’s me an instant migraine that sometimes lasts for days). 😉
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that is a shame
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[…] ← Previous […]
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Keep an eye on your follower count – mine’s lagging again.
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The follower issue comes and goes for us. I just live with it now. Sometimes the count is up to date, sometimes it stalls. Oh well.
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I never considered reason 8! That is awesome….
Am a big fan of magnums and totally agree with the more communal aspect, the commitment, the fun. 🙂
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[…] couple of months ago I picked up a magnum of 1972 Redman Cabernet Sauvignon from auction. I blogged recently about not having much luck […]
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From http://thedrunkencyclist.com/2013/12/13/what-you-should-get-me-for-christmas/
““There is one gift that is better than a bottle of wine, however.
A Magnum of wine.”
Hear, hear !!!
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Reblogged this on The Wine Wankers and commented:
As part of our holiday re-run series here’s Neal’s take on why bigger is better! Enjoy, and we hope you are all having a great festive time!
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It’s the only way Magnums where all professionals
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Anything with magnum in the name should be seriously strong, powerful and good, in my opinion. I have a S&W Model 29, “Do you feel lucky punk?”, so I’ll have to try my luck with a magnum wine. If it gives me a similar awe to the Model 29, it will be worthy of its name! I haven’t tried Magnum Ice Cream because my wife makes the best gelato outside of Italy,
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Reblogged this on MrMilitantNegro™.
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Reasons 8 and 10 are my favorite…and really the only reasons I need.
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Tom Selleck’s favorite?
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Love the BYO reference – bring the equivalent of 2 bottles and pay for 1. Will have to try it just for the look on the waiter’s face.
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All perfect, #3 favorite and I will need to remember for the next dinner party.
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I seem to remember being told that all reserve wines for blending at Louis Roederer are stored in magnum…more than a million of them! If it’s good enough for Cristal, it sure as heck is good enough for me!
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