is my wine too old?

Question

I have a merlot in the fridge its been there for a couple of months it has its cork in it still its about half full ,anyway i needed some wine to cook with do you think its safe? or is it too old? anyone that really knows about wine should answer this~thank you

ok so some say its too old but what if i still use it will the taste just be bad or will it make me sick??

Answer 1

Dear Sicilian cutie-
I can't believe some of your crazy replies. Since you're Sicilian you know good food, so why risk ruining your meal. Buy a cheap bottle of Sicilian Nero D' Avola. Use it or any other good Italian. But whatever you do taste it first - cooking intensifies the character: bad gets worse, good gets better. Since I'm starting to sound like a priest - "AMEN"

Answer 2

If you pumped out the air... But I think your wine has already gone bad. Couple of months is much too long. Next time, try to consume a bottle within a week after opening it. It has oxidized (in a bad way). It may be safe but I do not advise using it. It will taste nasty, like drinking uranium heavy water.

FOR UNOPENED BOTTLES: No, wine will turn into vinegar with age and not oxygen. These are mutants, I'd like to say. Storing wine in the refrigerator is (very cold around 35-50) is not recommended as it inhibits aging. Storing at 55 is what is considered ideal, but it's still too cold, unless you're planning on keeping wines for the next 10-20 years. I store my wines at 60-65 to be consumed at least 5 years.

Answer 3

Way too old.
You should only cook with wine that you would drink.
Once you open a bottle of wint you let oxygen in and that is what makes wine go bad. Even if it's been in the fridge.
Dump it and buy a new bottle.

Answer 4

Yes, too old. After you open a bottle of wine, you have ~1 week to use it. Red wine generally lasts a little longer, but no 6 months. If you taste it, you'll notice that it's not so good anymore.

Always cook with wine that you would drink.

Additional Answer:
It shouldn't make you sick (unless mold got it). It will taste overly bitter. If you were to add that to your dish, the ultra-bitter taste would be noticeable.

Answer 5

WAAAYYYY too old! Only a port wine will last for months after being opened. Also - very few red wines should go in the refrigerator. It absolutely kills the taste. They should be stored at 55 degrees, but then warmed to near room temperature before serving, by setting out. If red wines are stored at room temp, you can chill them for about 15 minutes max. in the fridge before opening.

Answer 6

First off, if you are putting a opened bottle in the fridge, be sure to use a pump to extract the air in the bottle. That is what makes them go bad.

I would say pour it down the sink and get another bottle.

Answer 7

It'll taste bad. When you cook with wine you concentrate the flavor...it gets stronger. Take a sip of it...I wouldn't use it.

Answer 8

Your wine will be ok to cook with. I presume you are preparing a "red" meat dish. The alcohol will evaporate & you will end up with a tasty meal!!

Any problems, just email me.

Pete

Answer 9

why are you refrigerating merlot? red wines are not meant to be chilled. wine definitely does not keep for very long. it become rancid. so while it will not make you sick, it'll probably taste so bad you'll spit it out! get a new bottle that you can drink while you cook!

Answer 10

You will definitely know if the wine is off by the taste,if it taste like vinegar,then its off,with what you have described it should be okay.