Need Help Identifying some Wines

[mfribush]

Hello,
I found several bottles of wine in my dad's basement and was wondering if anyone can help tell me whether or not they are still good to drink, or of any value (doubtful...)

My wife want's me to pour them down the drain but I refuse until I have some answers...

1986 Castello di Gabbiano Vineyard, Italian, the bottle says Ania on it. Bottle #5841

1989 Monterey Vineyard Classic Gamay Beaujolais

1988 Monterey Vineyard Classic Red

1993 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Cabernet

1991 Regiao Demarcada, Portugal, says DAO on the bottle as well as Fastelo in large black lettering.

Again, I would love to know if they are still ok to drink and if there are any of value. Help stop my crazy wife from wanting to pour these down the drain!!

Thanks!

Marc Fribush
Alpharetta, GA

[Thomas]

If you want to know of their drinkability you should pop open the corks and drink them (preferably not at one sitting). I am sure some will be fine, others will not, depending of course on how they were stored.

But the fact that you asked the question means you are also interested in possible monetary reward from this find. Forget that completely.

[Randy Caparoso]

These wines are not collectables, but all (except the two from The Monterey Vineyard --which shouldn't be "bad," just very weak) would probably be very enjoyable to drink. Open them up for your next steak or spaghetti dinner!

[mfribush]

Thanks for the replies!
I didn't think they were collectables but am excited to give them a try for dinner.

Can wine get to a point where it will actually make you sick if you drink it?
If there is sediment in the bottle, is this ok?

[Thomas]

I can honestly say that I have never gotten sick from wine (but have found some wines sickening).

Sediment is a natural occurrance over time. If any of the wines show sediment, stand the bottle up for about an hour before opening it, and when you open it, gently decant the wine into another vessel, with a slight slant to the bottle so that the sediment stays behind. Pour into glasses from the new vessel.

[Thomas]

I must take that back; there was this Retsina incident on the island of Samos that I am ashamed of even some twenty five years later....

[n144mann]

And you said you did not drink Retsina, foodie! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

Nancy

[Thomas]

Not since that incident...

[n144mann]

[img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Well, foodie, I am dying to ask more about that incident, but I will do my best to resist.

However, I was wondering....what were your favorite wines and foods in Greece?? I am hoping to go there in the near future if I can find someone to travel with. Hey Randy....you have been talking about going to Greece, want to join me? ( my boss has a home over there, and offered to let me stay.....plenty of room for traveling companions and wine friends. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] Roy would love that....no hotel bills! ) Anyone else want to come along??

Anyway, I always like hearing about the favorites of those who have been there before.

Nancy



[This message has been edited by n144mann (edited 01-11-2000).]