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- Expiration of Wines
Hi,
I have a question. How can you find out when a wine should by drunk by? I own many different types of wine, but I am not sure when they will expire. If someone can help me out that would be great.
Thanks
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1738 - Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Oct 17, 2008.
Wow this is a HUGE question. There are many factors at play.
When do you enjoy drinking wines, in their youth, middle age, once they've given up the ghost?
What sort of wines are we talking about? Some age well, some not at all, and others just tend to fade away.
Where are you buying your wines, on release from reputable sellers, at auction where you don't know the provenance, that is the history of storage, of the wine.
And finally what are your storage conditions like? There are famous bottles that came from the extremely cold Glamis Castle in Scotland. Because of the extreme storage conditions in the castle's cellar these wines aged at a glacial pace and remained remarkably youthful and fresh long after other examples of these same wines sourced from other cellars fell apart.
I for one generally find mySelf in the minority because I feel wine is much more resiliant and durable than we give it credit for. I enjoy wines in both the early years of their youth as well as very advanced, though I prefer a mature wine, so not catching a wine at it's peak is less of an issue for me. Having said that I've caught 5 year old wines at their peaks, 50 year old wines at their peaks, and everything in between.
Really the art of guessing when a wine should be consumed is a combination of understanding one's own palate, the nature of the wine, and the storage conditions the wine has been subjected to.
If you want to post a few of your wine I can give you some drinking windows but they would only be my idea of when the wines should be consumed.
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012 - Reply by chazzshy, Oct 17, 2008.
The wines I have are stored in a room temperature wine rack in the kitchen. The ones I need assistance as to when the expiration to consume are:
1.Les Pagodes de Cos 1994
2.Chateau Palmer (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux) 1983
3 Produttori del Barbaresco 2003
Those are some to start. I have a lot more which I will post when I get a list together. But I am really looking for when to consume the wine no later than___. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
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1738
- Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Oct 17, 2008.
These first three are easy. the kitchen is not an ideal place to store wine, a dark closet is much better.
1) Good vintage, classic structure, fine producer, 2008-2012
2) Absolutely great wine from a classic producer, i'ld drink this bottle this year
3) Ageworthy wine from a great producer,so-so year, needs another 2 years 2010 -2020
Do yourself a favor, if you are planning on keeping these wines for more than 6 months find a cooller place to store them. You won't regret it.
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3027 - Reply by Philip, Oct 20, 2008.
Chazzshy - whatever you can do to get the temperature down will really help. Room temperature is around 75F, but most wines will only last 3-6 months like that. If you can find a place where its 60-65F then they could last for decades. Even if its a garage / under the stairs anywhere cooler will work. Ideally its a wine fridge / cellar, but like i said, cooler the better at this point.
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02 - Reply by Elaina, Oct 27, 2008.
Hi there!
I'm new to the site and glad to find it! This question is one I've had for a long time. I have been given gifts of wine and sherry and have NO idea if they are duds or not. Also, I moved last year from TX to NH and know how they were stored prior and after the move, but not certain what kind of temperature fluctuations experienced in transit. So, here's my list:
1. Benziger Imagery Petit Verdot Sonoma Mountain (Unfiltered) 1992
2. Robert Mondavi Coastal Cabernet (North Coast) 1995
3. Harveys Gran Solera Rare Sherry (Jerez-Xeres- Jerez, Spain)
Thanks, I appreciate any feedback offered.
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1738
- Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Oct 28, 2008.
The Benziger Imagery Petit Verdot can be a great examples of this grape. The wines are VERY durable and 1992 was a very good vintage so I would have pretty high hopes for that bottle. It's a dark, earthy, pencil lead toned wine that can be a bit severe in it's youth but turns very savory with age.
The Mondavi Coastal cab was a drink on release type of bottle. It probably isn't bad perse but at this point I would expect it to be very non-descript.
The sherry should be fine as well.
Of course there is only one way to find out!
Enjoy!
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02 - Reply by Elaina, Nov 3, 2008.
Hi Gregory,
Thanks for the feedback! Well, as you said, we will just have to pop the cork and try them out.
Unfortunately my boyfriend and I did find one bottle so far that was spoiled. Not sure if that was a result of the move or not. Anyhow, I will keep you posted on the outcome.
Thanks again!
Elaina
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1738
- Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Nov 3, 2008.
Which one was gone?
Sorry to hear it.
Hope the rest are to your liking
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012
- Reply by chazzshy, Nov 4, 2008.
Hello,
I was hoping someone can help me with these wines below. I was looking to see when the expiration to consume are.
J.P. Chenet, Vieilli en fuits de chene, Merlot-Cabernet (Unknown Year)
Domaine des Perdrix, Echezeaux Grand Cru, 1998
Chateau Haut-Beausejour, Saint-Estephe 1995
Grand Cru Classe De Graves, Chateav Smith Havt Lafitte, 1996
Le Cabernet (unfiltered) 1998
Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley Merlot 2003
Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Stonehedge Reserve Napa Valley Merlot 2004
Au Baron de Pichon-Longueville Bordeaux 1994
William Hill Winery, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Reserve)
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon 1992, 1993, 1995 1996
Le Chai Neuf, Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux (Unknown Year)
Diluvio Oltrpo Pavese Barbera 1996
Francis Coppola, Claret 1997
Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru-Les Vaucrains 1995
Labastide Dauzac Margaux Bordeaux 1995
Villa Cafaggio, Chianti, 2001
Chateau La Grave a Pomerol 1994
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 1993
Reynolds Family Winery, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Chateau Marjosse Bardeaux 1999
I know the list is long, but it would be great help to learn when to drink these wines by. I would hate for them to go to waste. Thanks so much!!!
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1738
- Reply by Gregory Dal Piaz, Nov 5, 2008.
Hey Chazz,
quite a list but here goes
J.P. Chenet, Vieilli en fuits de chene, Merlot-Cabernet (Unknown Year)
I don't know the wine and without a vintage I'd put that in the front of the drink now line
Domaine des Perdrix, Echezeaux Grand Cru, 1998
Solid grand cru burgundy from a decent year, drink 2008-2013
Chateau Haut-Beausejour, Saint-Estephe 1995
Decent producer from a very solid year drink 2008-2010
Grand Cru Classe De Graves, Chateav Smith Havt Lafitte, 1996
Great wine, lovely layered graves, 2008-2015
Le Cabernet (unfiltered) 1998
Have no idea what this could be, time to drink
Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley Merlot 2003
Big, round merlot from an ok vintage 2008-2011
Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Solid wine from a distinctive producer 2008-2021
Stonehedge Reserve Napa Valley Merlot 2004
I'm not familiar with stonehenge reserve wines I'd opt to drink this sooner rather than later
Au Baron de Pichon-Longueville Bordeaux 1994
Very good Bordeaux from a leaner but balanced vintage 2008- 2015
William Hill Winery, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Reserve)
A big vintage with some unbalanced wines 2008-2011
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
Usually ready to drink on elease but with excellent balance jordan tends to age well 2008-2017
Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon 1992, 1993, 1995 1996
A great vineyard responsible for some of the finest wines ever in Napa Valley, in the 40's and 50's
These are all very good to better vintages and a general drinking window for all is 2008- 2020
Le Chai Neuf, Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux (Unknown Year)
Unknown producer for me drink it sooner rather than later
Diluvio Oltrpo Pavese Barbera 1996
Excellent prodcuer and vintage, wine is getting old though 2008-2010
Francis Coppola, Claret 1997
Simple table wine 2008-2009
Nuits-Saint-Georges, 1er Cru-Les Vaucrains 1995
Without producer I can't be specific but this is a great vineyard and excellent year just
entering it's drinking window 2008-2018
Labastide Dauzac Margaux Bordeaux 1995
Solid wine from a solid vintage 2008-2010
Villa Cafaggio, Chianti, 2001
Solid wine from a solid vintage 2008-2010
Chateau La Grave a Pomerol 1994
elegant and lighter wine 2008-2010
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 1993
One of California's true classic Cabernets, very long lived 2008-2025
Reynolds Family Winery, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Not familiar with this one
Chateau Marjosse Bardeaux 1999
A smaller wine in a gentle vintage 2008-2009
And that is it!
A very nice selection of wines there. the windows I've listed are assuming very good storage, temperatures under 68F with no sudden shifts in temperatures. All the wines would be fine to consume over the coming few years and if your storage is not ideal that would be my recommendation.
