Good Wine Bad Wine

[GONZALET48]

Although I have enjoyed wine with dinner for many years I never gave it much thought beyond the dinner experience. I have however recently realized that I have accumulated a number of bottles given as gifts or just through purchases for events here at home. My concern is whether or not I have lost them by not consuming them sooner. I store them in a variety of wine racks that I have picked up here and there but wonder if I should have kept them refrigerated or not. Some examples I've yet to open range from some bottles of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1996, Louis M Martini Cabernet Suavignon 1997 and Fraz Reh Liebfraumiltch 1995. Having just left it out in the racks over the years, do I have good wine or bad wine?

[winoweenie]

Hi Gonzalet and welcome to the board. There's only one way ro answer your question and that's to open them dudes. Good luck.WW

[Kcwhippet]

I don't know about that Liebfraumilch, though. That one's usually best drunk within a year or two, if at all. Most Liebfraumilch is exported from Germany into the UK where they apparently like that stuff. The average price in the UK is US$1.70.

[GONZALET48]

Thanks Wino and KC, I guess a little common sense would have helped. Just pop one open and test the ware! Couldn't be any harder than that. If it's a bad, there's always Ripple! I guess the better question should have been: Is there a proper way to store a wine? Room temperature or cooler? I said I was a new at this!

[hotwine]

Proper storage environment for preservation and aging is a temperature of 50-60F (55-57 is ideal) and humidity of 60-70%, and totally vibration-free. See more discussions on the subject under the category toward the bottom, Storage/Cellars/Racking.

[GONZALET48]

Great Info Hotwine thanks alot. This is what I was after. I can work with the temperature but living in California, I can't say I'll have a "vibration free" environment. We do shake on a regular bases out here!