drinkability of aged champagne

[GDrew]

Total novice here. Be gentle :-)
1) I have a bottle of Moet Chandon White Star Champagne, that has been in my refridgerator fo 4 years (long, sad story). Now, I have occassion to use it in 3 days, if it is alright. Will it be any good?
2) Second, I have another bottle of the same wine, which has been stored in a cool dry pantry, on it's side, for the same length of time.. wil that one be drinkable?
3) Why is there no vintage date on these bottles of Moet?
Thanks!
Gary

[Kcwhippet]

Welcome to the WineBoard, GD. Well, first off, there's no vintage date because the White Star is made in a house style, which means they try to make it taste the same every year. In order to do that they use wines from several vintages to make the final blend, therefore no vintage date.

As to 1) and 2), chances are the wines just may be drinkable, but don't do that again. Drink those suckers within about two years from when they're made. Those "house style" bubblies are made to show their best about 6 months to a year after their made. After that theyy start to get "tired".

Incidentally, there's a number along the edge of the front label and that tells you the year the bubbly was bottled (among other things). For Moet & Chandon (White Star's maker) the number will start with NM which stands for Negociants Manipulants.

[GDrew]

Thanks! I think I will get a new bottle chilled as a backup for the bubblebath, just in case!
GD

[winoweenie]

WHEW... For a moment there I thot Drewski had mad a weener typo. WW

[Thomas]

So as not to shock your system--know in advance that White Star is on the sweet side.

[GDrew]

Thanks to all for the advice. Never knew champagne is for drinking withion 6 months, not to be saved longterm for special occasions.
Gary

[AlpineOeno]

Be careful with that statement. Most non-vintage champagne is meant to be consumed in youth, but there are several producers who make very long lived vintage champagnes. In fact, they become a very different animal, but there is a small market (catering to people with much more money than I) for champagne that can be 100+ years old.