Just a general observation after sending a list of wines for appraisal at one of the NYC auction houses. Here's just a few estimates, showing the low end.

1996 Montelena Cab $50
1997 Montelena Cab (375ml) $50
2001 Montelena Cab $80

2001 Karl Lawrence $42

1997 Togni $60

2005 Carlisle Bennett Valley Syrah $20

2001 Paloma Syrah $30
2004 Paloma Syrah $33

2003 Rochioli Estate Pinot $35

Various Turley Charbonos $33

There are about 5x that many wines in my list but the prices are pretty representative. I finally realized I'm just never going to get to some of these before they go over the hill so it's time to start selling. I really like most, if not all, of these wines but these are the one I thought might sell. The reserve is generally about 20% below the low estimate and the high end is about 30% over the low.

I had sent some highly sought after CA wines last month and although they got about 150% of cost, the same producer was getting about 400% in 2007. Things have slowed down some, at least for California wines.
BD

None of those are anywhere close to going over the hill.

Not a single bottle you mentioned would I have any worries about if I stuck them in my cellar and forgot them for a decade.

In general, I tend to agree with your observation. (Though if you had tasted a 10yo Rochioli West Block we opened last year you'd be surprised at how quickly it fell apart.)

Some of them, mainly the Cabs, I just don't like any more. Almost completely lost my taste for most Cabernets. I AM keeping the Monte Bellos and some others.

The real problem is that I have other wines in the cellar I like almost as much as these I'm pretty sure have no auction value. Therefore it's a choice. Keep them all and let the ones I would not auction go over the hill or sell the ones I can get some $$ for. I'm just not real crazy about how some of the listed wines and the others that I'm keeping age. I prefer the Carlisles almost right out of the shipper.

I have about 8-9 cases of Carlisles and anything that made the auction list were only ones I had more than a bottle of.

Also, we opened a Paloma Syrah a couple weeks ago and decided it was nothing special and if they had some value, get rid of them.

I'm still not sure if it's worth auctioning them as I doubt I'll get more than 60% of the average value. There's a substantial cost in getting them to NYC either by shipping or even driving them there(time and difficulty mainly).

I've gotten to the point where I'd rather do something else with the tied up $$ than drink it.
BD