When to Pour Wines that are older?

Question

I have a few bottles of wines from 10 years ago. I keep hearing that a wine is best poured in a certain time period. How can I check to see if the wines I have will be any good, and is there a rule of thumb depending on the varietal of wine?

I know a bunch of similar questions is one any info is appreciated.

Answer 1

The previous answers regarding white wines are incorrect. Some white wines age remarkably well, especially when stored correctly. In fact, I have a bunch of $12.99 Sauv Blancs right now that will keep for at least the next 7 years.

There isn't a rule of thumb because it depends on the vineyard, the vintage, and the varietal (Holy alliteration batman!). One way to check to is to e-mail the vineyard and tell them what you have. Ask if they feel that this wine is still in it's window of drinkability.

The second thing you can do is to look at a vintage/region chart. Robert Parker's http://www.erobertparker.com/info/vintagechart1.asp is quite good. But remember, even if something is labeled as past its peak, YOUR particular bottle may still be good. The chart is just a generalization - a great winery that made a great wine, even in an off year, would still be drinkable.

Another thing would be to join wine spectator online. This way you can look up ratings and aging recommendations.

You can also look generally at price. While my Sauv blanc is an exception, cheaper wines do not typically age well. At this stage, you'd have to be really careful with anything under $40. Again, this is not a hard & fast rule, but can be a guideline.

Hope this helps! : )

Answer 2

If their white wines - they are dead....The reds might be OK but unless they were very high quality and made for aging, I suspect they are faded too. Try one and find out...Good Luck

Longest lived red wines are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Spanish Rioja, and perhaps Syrah. Lighter reds such as Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Sangiovese don't last as long. Remember that almost ALL wines are considered ready to drink when they are released. Some red wines may have aging suggestions on the back of the label. Unless you have got an aging cellar, drink your white wines when you buy them. Sweet dessert wines such as Sherry, Madiera, Sauternes, Port, Late harvest Reislings etc can age a bit (in the case of port wine, some can age for 50 years), again look to the label for guidance.

Answer 3

If they are White wine you can be fairly certain that they are no longer good. Red wine, however can last for a significantly long time, so long as you have kept the bottles in a controlled climate. If you've been good with your bottles of red wine I'd say there is a good chance you may have something very delightful on your hands. If you have left them in your garage year round then you'll want to use them on your fish-n-chips or as a base for salad dressing.

Answer 4

nicely in basic terms the day gone by i bought some new wine, Ripple or Boone's Farm i think of it replaced into. possibly mad canine 20/20, besides I digress. once I have been given domicile I appeared around and found out I had forgotten to p.c.. up a clean wineskin. i desperate to take of undertaking and stay existence on the part, I took my oldest wineskin i ought to discover and that i poured that new wine appropriate in there. It worked ! It seems you unquestionably can pour new wine into old wineskins. it particularly is a sort of scriptures like the only approximately stoning your spouse to loss of life or reducing out the tongue of somebody who talks undesirable approximately you. we in basic terms overlook approximately that one. yep yep, there is the only that describes the thank you to accomplish a sacrifice on your maximum nicely known animal, the place to place the entrails, the organs, the thank you to anoint the animal in oil and grant it as much as God as an offering. possibly we ought to constantly placed that one in an old wineskin !!

Answer 5

If you're in doubt about whether a wine is still good, serve it last at your party. People's tastebuds get drunk, too.

Answer 6

wine is the best!