older wime

[dave@204]

Just received a bottle of Ruffino Reserve Ducal chaini 1961. The bottle had been standing 1 1/2 years. When placed in wine rack, cork leaked. Lost about 2 oz. should we drink now, recork for later or ? THANKS

[Bucko]

Most likely long since dead, even with proper storage. Open for educational purposes and have a back-up bottle.

Bucko

[winecollector]

I had a similar experience with a 1974 Burgundy a year and a half ago. The guy that gave it to me tried to open it and damaged the cork. By the time I received it, it was obvious that it wasn't stored properly either. I took it home anyway (hey it was a free-bee!), put it on the rack and had sepage. Upon opening it, I was suprised to find it still drinkable (I survived the experience), but you could taste the effects of oxidation from the sepage. I would have loved to have tried that wine from a better bottle.

By the way, I have had a lot of success with older Chianti Classico Riserva's. I still have about half a case of 1974 Fossi that's holding up well (last opened a bottle in fall of 99), as well as one from '59, though I really need to open the '59 before it's to late. Ah, so much wine, so little time. I wonder if Thomas Jefferson had that problem?

[hotwine]

Apparently so. He left a number of unopened, hand-blown bottles of Chateau d'Yquem in his cellar at Monticello, all from the early 19th century. Last I heard, they were still there.