How long will they last?

[Derek]

Thanks for this. OK, here goes. I don't have anything special and some are probably pretty specific to NZ/AUS. These would be the ones I am interested to know about.

Cab/Sav's:
Dryden, 1999 (Victoria AUS)
Padthaway, 1999 (AUS)
Cranswick Smith Reserve, 2000 (AUS)
Merlot's:
Omahu, 2000 (Gisborne NZ)
Montana Reserve, 1999 (Marlborough NZ)
Rohrlach Family Reserve, 1998 (Barossa AUS)
Shiraz's:
Hardy's Bankside, 1998 (Sth AUS)
Neil McGuigan First Estate, 2000 (NSW AUS)
Murray Bend Lot 40, 2001 (Victoria AUS)
Shiraz/Cab Sav:
Penfolds Koonunga Hill, 1998 (Sth AUS)
Rhine Castle Special Bin 26A, 1999 (AUS)
Pinotage:
Grove Mill Limited Release, 2000 (Marlborough NZ)

Chardonnay:
Montana Reserve, 2000 (Marlborough NZ) -(Montana say cellar to 2005)
Riesling:
Montana Reserve, 1999 (Marlborough NZ) - (Montana say cellar to 2009)
Catchfire, 2000 (Marlborough NZ)

I've got some '99 and 2000 Sav/Blancs and other Chardonnays but they are all unlikely to stay in their bottles for too much longer... Most of them have recommendations for cellaring to either 2002 or 2003.

Is there a kind of rule of thumb (so to speak) for my storeage conditions that I could apply to the producers recommendations for cellaring that is given on the labels?

Hope that all makes sense.

Thanks again - Derek