1996 Barbaresco

[Grape Stuff]

Is this ready to drink now? I'm doing this from work, so I can'r recall the details of the label. It was a gift that retailed around $30-35.

Any ideas, or should I take better notes on the label?

[Thomas]

Well, like any other wine, the producer is important--you have given no producer name.

In any event, a Barbaresco should be at its peak in ten years. I say drink it.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 02-09-2004).]

[Grape Stuff]

I checked, and it's a Vendemmia Barbaresco Red Table Wine. But I fear there may be a leak....just under the foil, there appears to be some moisture...maybe I best open it up and see what's inside.

[sedhed]

Good idea. How is the wine level? But I think vendemmia means something like grape harvest or vintage in Italian so I don't think that is the producer. 1996 was a great vintage for NW Italy so you have a slight chance if the wine is not spoiled.
Good luck.

[This message has been edited by sedhed (edited 02-10-2004).]
P.S. I'm taking the ww approach to typos from now on. Life's too short.
[This message has been edited by sedhed (edited 02-10-2004).]

[This message has been edited by sedhed (edited 02-10-2004).]

[Thomas]

Yes, vendemmia refers to the harvest/vintage.

[Grape Stuff]

Boy, I looked at the label, and Vandemmia was the only thing on there that didn't simply say something about Barbaresco. But with the potential leak, I think I best open it right away. to answer seds question, no the level of the wine appears to be where it should. What would cause wine to sneak out a cork?

[hotwine]

In a word.... heat. The bottle could have been exposed to heat in shipment or in storage, most likely the former. Think about wines sitting in steel cargo containers on board ship, and on loading docks, for days/weeks on end. Makes me cringe to think about it.

[This message has been edited by hotwine (edited 02-10-2004).]

[Grape Stuff]

Opened it up last night.....once I got the foil off I could see the top of the cork was stained red on the edges almost all the way around. Pulled the cork, one sniff, and down the drain....

oh well

[sedhed]

GrapeS
Can you give us some sniff notes on that wine?
Sorry it didn't work out.

[Thomas]

That red stuff on the side of the cork seems to validate Hotwine's analysis of heat during shipping or maybe even storage. The other reason for leakage would be a small hole in the cork.