I really love poking around in really good wine cellars and I had a wonderful opportunity to do just that last weekend at the MSLO sales conference at the Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey. Restaurant Latour, a fine-dining establishment on premises, is renowned for its excellent wine collection. The vast cellars house more than 3,640 labels and more than 54,000 bottles, including rare vintages dating back to before 1900. I could not believe what I saw; it was really quite impressive. Come and take a peek.



This is Restaurant Latour at Crystal Springs Resort.



This is a very special wine-testing machine -- this apparatus can

determine the quality of valuable fine wines without disturbing the

bottle one bit. This also really helps when buying and selling

expensive vintages, to know how long the wine has left before it should

be consumed.



More special equipment -- this is where vintage and rare wines are

tested for cork taint. This technology can detect taint before the

bottle is even opened! They really work hard to satisfy their customers.



As you can see from the layer of dust, these bottles have been aging here for quite a while.



La Tache, one of my favorite Burgundy wines.



Kistler -- another favorite. I guess I shouldn't have served this so nonchalantly at my last dinner party -- it is very coveted.



Penfolds, a wonderful Australian vintage.



Gaja is a great Italian winery located in Tuscany.



Here's a great 1989 Italian Barolo.



Harlan Estate Vineyard is located in Napa Valley. I didn't know this

wine, but supposedly it's rated at 100 by famed wine critic Robert

Parker.



Another favorite of mine, Mouton Rothschild. Some of the labels are unique and beautiful.



And here in one room of this grand cellar is the very rare collection

of Chateau Latour -- starting with 1863 and going all the way to the

present.



More Chateau Latour.



And more...



Chateau Mouton Rothschild by the case!



This may be my all-time favorite Bordeaux: Chateau Haut-Brion.



Chateau Pichon Longueville 1982 -- oh, my!



This is the type of delicious menu a client can order along with the wine tasting.

