"(There's also a cash-flow problem for the consumer, I know I run my cellar down when money is tight.)"

I do it with the wines to be drunk young (typically the Australian ones, I buy 5-6 when there is a discount, and only then, as I know there'll be another one down the line). Then I switch to water, or something else, until it gets better (which I hope it will soon).

But I wouldn't waste one to keep -I might drink it early in his right age period, as after all it might have aged faster than expected so drinking the first bottle earlyish makes sense. But that's about it.
Actually, I am struggling to drink my best bottles, as I'd like to do it for a special occasion with other people who care for good wine, and they are few and far between (and I sure don't want to try to finish a good bottle on my own).

As a result, I still have a few bottles that are my age...

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi