1985 Lafite Rothschild

[ramukangiv]

Hi. New to this site but some time lover of wines albeit with limited experience - so far, at any rate.

Received a bottle of this a few years ago and it's been sitting in a cupboard on its side since. Just wondering when would be prime time for consumption. By the way, am living in the tropics and am unsure of effect of humidity for storage of wine.

Cheers.

[winoweenie]

Hi Ramukingiv and welcome to the board. Humidity is the least of your worries about this bottle. Heat is the BIG destroyer of the beautiful liquid.It's probably 20 to 1 against, but open this bottle as soon as feasible and pray you don't have some VERY expensive vinegar. Any storage above 70 degrees for any length of time is murder on wine. WW

[ramukangiv]

Thanks WW. Need to find an appropriate time for consumption. Hopefully there'll be a marriage in the family within the next 2 years and we can use that as an excuse. Not overtly worried about the heat as the bottle has never been exposed to the scorching Malaysian sun. I'd imagine the storage temperature is much akin to room temperature during a summer day in UK or US without direct sunlight. That should be ok for storage init or should I try and find a cooler home for it?

PS-
Oh dear - just found out that the temperature (even in a cupboard) would probably have been about 75 degrees. And it's been there for about 5 years. So it's probably likely to have gone off by now isn't it?

[This message has been edited by ramukangiv (edited 02-25-2003).]

[hotwine]

Probably. But it can't be predicted with certainty. I opened a bottle of 1980 Lafite in 1999 which had been subjected to temperatures as high as 90 degrees F in my previously unchilled cellar... and it was still good. Still very definitely Lafite, even though a poor vintage. But you shouldn't gamble any longer... open it, and hope for the best.

[ramukangiv]

Thank you. Well, at least I have an excuse to open it now!