ageing wines

[agolosin]

How long should we cellar a merlot, shiraz, cabernet franc, or meritage?
We've just moved to a home with a wine cellar and are excited about starting a collection (and about drinking what we have!!)
We have a number of wines from the Okanagan Valley, and some shiraz from Australia and cab sauv's from California (most from 98).

[cpurvis]

agolosin, welcome to the Board & congrats on the cellar. Tell us specifically which wines you have (by name) & we can recommend drink now or cellaring timeframes. cp

[agolosin]

Here are some of our wines (we do have some others but these should give us a start):

Canada:
Hester Creek Merlot 1998
Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc and merlot 1999
Sumac Ridge Meritage 1998
Mission Hill Private reserve merlot 1997

California:
J.Lohr Cab Sauv 1998
Rabbit Ridge Merlot 98 and Zinfandel 99
Robert Mondavi Coastal 1998
M.Trinchero merlot 1997

Australia:
Bin 555 Shiraz 1998 and 99
Rufus Stone McLaren Vale Shiraz 1998
Rosemount Estate Shiraz Cabernet 1999
Wetherall Shiraz 1998
Wynns Coonawara Estate Shiraz and Cab Sauv 98

Argentina:
Trapiche Cab Sauv 95
Etchart Cafayate Cab Sauv 96

South Africa:
Plaisir de Merle Cab Sauv 97
Drostdy-Hoff Merlot 99

[winecollector]

Just took a quick glance, but it looks like the majority if not all of them are ready to drink, and will not benefit much from aging them. Maybe someone else can pick out the one or two for you that may improve with age, as i am not familiar with some of your wines.

[winoweenie]

agolsin, welcome to the board. WC gave you a pretty fair evaluation of the wines you list. With time, you should rely on a good retailer about wines for cellaring. What you will find with your new digs is that the wines you have will stay drinkable in the new invirons far longer than in the ole' closet. WW