Wine -- Premier grand cru Bordeaux

[Mike Buckley]

This photo is of the bottle and cork that stored the wine I drank more than five years ago on my 60th birthday. It is the 1996 Chateau Latour first growth grand cru wine rated 97 by Wine Spectator. It's the only premier grand cru Bordeaux I have ever drunk and will probably remain the only one due to the exorbitant cost. It was the best wine I have ever had (though my wife disagrees), so I will probably keep the bottle the rest of my life.

Setup
The tabletop is wood with a semi-glossy urethane finish. The background is art paper. A small continuous-light lamp fitted with a diffusion sock is in front and high above the scene. Everything about the lighting setup was driven primarily by the position of the shadow and secondarily by my desire to prevent direct reflections.

[Donald]

... so I will probably keep the bottle the rest of my life.

I would as well. I have never tasted a 1st growth Bordeaux and do not expect that I ever will.

[Mike Buckley]

For me, the cost of the wine is not worth it if the primary goal is limited to enjoying the wine itself. The reason the cost was worth it to me is that appreciating the history associated with the few premier grand cru Bordeaux wines is part of the hobby. I felt that if I was going to enjoy the hobby so much, I wouldn't want to die without having tasted one. Now that I've done that, it's okay for me to die.

[Donald]

My apologies, Mike. I diverted attention away from your excellent image. I think what you have made is a very fitting celebration of, homage to and acknowledgement of what was in that bottle.

[Mike Buckley]

No apologies needed, Donald, though it's good to know you like the image.

[Shadowman]

Nice use of shadow to complete the shape we'd expect.

[Kaye Leggett]

I think what you have made is a very fitting celebration of, homage to and acknowledgement of what was in that bottle.

My thoughts exactly

[Sam W]

Mike, this is very pleasing picture. I like the soft tones and texture of the background as well as how you have arranged the cork & bottle. I would like the shot even more if the bottle was a bit more vertical...but perhaps you've already calculated that into the overall effect.

[John 2]

You have the advantage over us Mike. We only see a well thought through and well executed photograph. You have the memory of enjoying it. We can record sites and sounds for posterity but when it come to taste, there is only the memory to share. Your treatment gives a sort of wine cellar feel. It's very appropriate.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

I would like the shot even more if the bottle was a bit more vertical

Great eye! I didn't notice that. The camera was level so I don't know what caused that. Perhaps the floor is slightly unlevel or the piece of wood used as the tabletop is warped in that area. Correcting the vertical detail renders the horizon slightly off. But it's out of focus (by design) and more in the shadows, which makes that detail less noticeable.