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Post by alexa11 on Jun 30, 2019 15:06:05 GMT
My oldest bottle is a 2000 Greg Norman Cab/Merlot. I have several others from 2001-2006 and every bottle has been standing upright since I bought them. I want them ready to drink. Do I need to turn them horizontal- all the way or just tilt them? Will I need to decant? And about how long before they're drinkable? I can't see through the bottle to check for sediment.
UPDATE 9-13- I opened the 2006 just to check and it was VINEGAR- ewwww. So... drink your wine when you buy it! I know it took me forever to finally check one.
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Post by MichyM on Jun 30, 2019 15:10:37 GMT
1. There is no other way to find out if they’re drinkable other than tasting them.
2. If they’ve been standing upright for years, there’s a very likely chance that the cork has dried out and the wine has gone bad (turned to vinegar). Again, the only way to know it to open it. Turning it in it’s side now won’t help.
3. I hope You didn’t pay a lot for these bottles and good luck!
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sueg
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Post by sueg on Jun 30, 2019 15:12:00 GMT
Wines from 2000 - 2006 should be drinkable now, in face, some might even be past their prime. The reason it is recommended to store wine on its side is to keep the cork damp. If the cork dries out, it may shrink and that allows air into the bottle, which can lead to spoilage. In wines that age, I would expect sediment. You can decant, or you can just pour carefully.
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Post by Merge on Jun 30, 2019 15:16:53 GMT
Are you sure you should be aging it? 99% of the world's wine is mean to be drunk within five years of purchase and does not benefit from aging. This might help a bit.Honestly I'd open one up and see how it tastes. If you want to continue to store them, then yes, horizontal storage is believed to be better. DH opens most of our reds and lets them sit for a while before drinking - but I should say that this is a matter of personal preference. Some think it allows the flavor to "open" and some don't taste a difference. BUT we've also never purchased a wine that was "good" enough to benefit from aging.
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Post by melrose on Jun 30, 2019 15:57:41 GMT
Uncork that $20 USD bottle of wine now! And report back to us! I’m curious.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jun 30, 2019 16:42:35 GMT
Ugh - I think you've received some bad advice. You don't leave bottles upright so they're ready to drink. It's highly probable that in almost 20 years of sitting upright, the cork has dried out. As previous posters have mentioned, the vast majority of wine is ready to drink when sold and really will not improve beyond a year or two of aging.
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Post by belgravia on Jun 30, 2019 20:18:49 GMT
I have a bad feeling that you have a lot of red wine vinegar. Wine should always be stored on its side, preferably in a cool, dark place. Like a wine cellar
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,658
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Jul 5, 2014 1:53:49 GMT
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 30, 2019 20:23:30 GMT
Gah. Such a shame.
You're going to have to open a bottle and see what happens. If it doesn't make you wretch, decant it and drink up and then keep on with the rest of the bottles.
Some wine should be aged, but they do it for us so we can just enjoy the good part.
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ddly
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Post by ddly on Jun 30, 2019 23:11:13 GMT
Corked wine should always be stored on its side.
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Post by MichyM on Jul 1, 2019 1:36:02 GMT
So, did you open one today alexa11 ?
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kibblesandbits
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Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jul 1, 2019 1:49:14 GMT
The Greg Norman costs around $16 right now. Certainly not a cellar wine. 😀 why were you saving it? Did you open one?
Just curious, do you remember the cost?
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Post by jubejubes on Jul 1, 2019 1:55:23 GMT
All corked wine must be stored on the side and in a cool and stable environment. This keeps the cork moist and doesn't allow anything into the bottle, while a dry cork could has very small insects that an slowly creep into the bottle as the cork isn't moist and saturated.
Check the notes that the winemaker made about each bottle. Usually there is good information on the label on the back of the bottle.
The newer wines are now using a screw cap BECAUSE there is 1) a shortage of cork, 2) there is no issue of "corkage" (vinegar) and 3) it is more shelf stable.
Do not judge a wine by the method that it has been bottled.
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Post by alexa11 on Jul 1, 2019 3:07:10 GMT
So, did you open one today alexa11 ? No- but I will soon and report back.
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Post by alexa11 on Jul 1, 2019 3:21:02 GMT
The Greg Norman costs around $16 right now. Certainly not a cellar wine. 😀 why were you saving it? Did you open one? Just curious, do you remember the cost? I think it was around $10-11. I don't really know- my then guy and I would open a bottle occasionally. And I would take a bottle for dinner to a friend's house. I just ended up with too much and stuck it in the top of the pantry. And now almost 20 years later...
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
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Post by kibblesandbits on Jul 1, 2019 10:42:36 GMT
The Greg Norman costs around $16 right now. Certainly not a cellar wine. 😀 why were you saving it? Did you open one? Just curious, do you remember the cost? I think it was around $10-11. I don't really know- my then guy and I would open a bottle occasionally. And I would take a bottle for dinner to a friend's house. I just ended up with too much and stuck it in the top of the pantry. And now almost 20 years later... Lol well I can’t wait to hear about the “opening”
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Post by alexa11 on Sept 14, 2019 3:43:03 GMT
UPDATE 9-13 in OP
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