Shelf life of Chardonnay

[krbarker]

I have a bottle of Cuvaison Chardonnay 1990(Carneros Reserve - bottle #06733). Is it still okay to drink?

[Innkeeper]

Hi Krbarker and welcome to the Wine Board. If you have kept the bottle in proper provenance, it should be fine; but wouldn't wait too much longer.

[krbarker]

I'm pretty new to this. Thanks for the info. It's been kept in a cool dry place. Would this suffice?

[Innkeeper]

It is best to keep it in a cool humid place. By cool, I mean well less than 70 degrees F. You might check the cork to see if it dried out.

[krbarker]

How can you tell a wine goes bad by the taste? Is it bitter? You said a dry cork would be one sign. Correct?

[Innkeeper]

A wine like yours can age nicely. An aged out white wine just like a red one, will not taste like a young one. The fruit fades to a great degree without completely going away, and what is left morphs into a lovely elixir that many folks don't like at all. This is not to be confused with a wine going bad. If it goes bad, and a dry cork will be a likely sign, you will know it. It becomes more sour (like vinegar) than bitter.

[krbarker]

Thanks...I'll let you know!