Question on wine storage...?

Question

Three wines: Hayman Hill Pinot Noir 2004, Sterling Vintner's Collection Merlot 2003, and Alamos Chardonnay 2004. All bottles stored away from the light, in my basement so nice and cool, and on their sides to keep the corks moist. How long will they be good for if stored like that?

Answer 1

My personal opinion, the Hayman Hills is a winery that makes their product in a way that they should/could improve with age. The Sterling, nope. Their Vinters Collection is just an entry level label that is not made to be stored long term, but drinkable now. Alamos is not a vineyard I am too familiar with. In my past experiences, I purchased several bottles of wines if I planned to store them. Each year I would open a bottle and see if it had reached it's maturity. It is very possible that even with proper storage, a wine/vintage can reach it's peak, and quickly start to turn. Not even the best wines will last forever. The only reason to hold a bottle past it's "prime" is as an investment, and even then, the only thing that will truly dictate a value is the good old "law of supply and demand". If you have one of the last few bottles in the world, price tag goes way up. If you have something that was mass produced, such as the Sterling VR, it will be worth the value of the glass it's in.

Answer 2

Wine Spectator magazine is often criticized for their 100-point rating system, but I find that they are generally a reliable source for tips on how long to hold onto a wine. Every rating comes with an estimated maturity date.

According to them:

1) Hayman & Hill Pinot Noir 2004: I could not find a rating for the 2004 but the 2003 was rated 84 points and they suggested drinking now.

2) Sterling Vintner's Collection Merlot 2003 received 85 points and also is recommended for drinking now.

3) Alamos Chardonnay 2004 received 84 points. Also drink now. The Alamos label is Argentinian producer Catena's entry level series. Always a good value but not meant for aging.

In my experience, if a reviewer says "drink now" the wine will keep for 1-2 years under proper conditions but will generally not improve and if left much longer than that, you'd be disappointed.

So, have some friends over and enjoy now!

Cheers!

Answer 3

Most wines are meant to be consumed upon purchase or within 2-3 years after the vintage.

Essentially, wine needs to be kept in a clean, dark, damp place with good ventilation, where it can be stored vibration free at a constant temperature.

The optimum temperature is 50 to 55°F (10-12°C). However, any constant temperature within 40-65°F (5-18°C) will do.
Theoretically, wines kept at 68°F will age twice as fast as those kept at 50°F. At 55°F (12°C) wines will age so slowly – with ultimately greater complexity – that you will never have to worry about them.

Light will prematurely age a bottle of wine.

Constant vibration from machinery or a nearby road disturbs a red wine's sediment and can be harmful to all wine

Wines should be stored in such a way that you don't have to move them around to get at a particular bottle. Once a wine is laid down, it should stay there until it is opened.

Table wine is stored horizontally so that the wine stays in contact with the cork.
Fortified wines other than port, are stored standing.

Which wines to store?
http://www.thewinedoctor.com/author/valueofoldwine.shtml

Answer 4

Keep in mind that not all wines are meant to be kept for a long period of time. Some reds peak in only a couple of years. For more info see the site below.

Answer 5

Some wines last 50 years or more.

They usually only last till I decide to drink them.

Answer 6

i believe those wines are all american and most wine produced i american a meant to be consumed right away.
so the wine you got should be open and enjoyed right now.