The storing of wine bottles

[rob]

Three years ago while working for a local grocery chain, I took over the liquor dept., hosted a wine tasting during the grand opening and purchased a few various bottles of our featured Merlot. (I thought about starting a collection.) They were: 1994 Vintner's Reserve Kendall-Jackson Merlot California; 1994 Columbia-Crest Merlot and 1994 Barrel Select Forest Glen California Merlot. I bought 3 to 6 bottles of each bringing them home in an empty wine cardboard box. Please, some of you, don't laugh.
Within a month I was separated and the bottles have been in the same cardboard box sitting upright, and for a year or so I think the box was upside down, in storage ever since.
My question is...are they still good? Have I jeapordized their quality and/or flavor by not storing them on their side all this time and can I keep them in this same box for another year or so?
I would really like to open a couple of the bottles, but am hesitant. Am I right to be cautious or am I simply just a novice?

[Bucko]

Orientation of the bottle has little to do with it; temperature has everything to do with it. Heat will destroy the nuances in a wine very quickly.

Bucko

[winecollector]

Bucko's right on with the heat. As long as it hasn't faced temperature extremes in either direction, its not dead yet. I would still recommend turning the bottles on their side though, or turn the whole case upside down. That way, if you do end up keeping them for more than another year, the corks won't dry out completely.