Dates on Wines

[Wine-O]

Hello,
In reading the many messages posted on the board I am noticing that when a wine is recommended the year or vintage, I believe it's called (bare with me I am really new at this), is something that is taken into consideration. I'm just wondering where in the line of importance does it fall when picking out a wine and what should I be looking for??? [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/confused.gif[/img]

[Innkeeper]

With whites, you want to be sure in most cases that the wine is not more than three or four years old when you buy it. For reds, most a ready to consume on release, but even those will go several more years. If you pay over $20 for cabernet, Bordeaux, Upper Rhones, or Italian Barolos, Barberescos, Brunellos, or a few others, you will need a wine cellar for further aging.