Advice on an old Penfolds wine

Hoping for some advice re an old bottle of Penfolds wine, i.e. "Penfolds, Vintage 1965, Dalwood Hermitage, Hunter Valley, Claret, Reserve bottling". We were given the bottle today and asked to find out if it is worth keeping, drinking or pouring down the sink! I know very little about wines, have searched on the internet with no luck so hoping someone could offer some suggestions, please? Thanks in advance...

Reply to
Rosie
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I'd be very surprised if this was still alive.

Ron Lel

Reply to
Ron Lel

Probably correct on this call, but it still might be worth a taste. I'd carefully decant for sediment, and then pour immediately. You might get very lucky, though I'd have a backup handy. Play with this wine a bit in the glass, and appreciate anything good that can be found. Oh, did I mention to have a backup handy? :-}

Hunt

Reply to
The Bulldog

If you are in Australia, contact Southcorp and see if they are interested in swapping the bottle for some new wines - they might want it for their collection!

From a quick look at my wine books, Penfolds sold the Dalwood vineyard in the Lower Hunter Valley in 1960 or thereabouts but kept the name. At that time they opened a (then) modern winery in the Upper Hunter Valley and established new vineyards there. I suspect the bottle you have is therefore made at the Upper Hunter River winery out of fruit from newish vines. It is therefore less likely to be drinkable that something from older vines (the Dalwood vineyard is an old one) in the Lower Hunter Valley - wines which can live a very long time.

Whether you keep it is up to you - it won't improve. It might be drinkable or might not and the choice of whether to drink it or pour it down the sink will be clear once it is opened!

Reply to
Keith

Thanks to all for your advice, info & suggestions - very helpful. Have since learned the lovely 86yr old gentleman who gave my hubby this wine (a gift for cutting his lawn for Xmas!) has a marvellous cellar with thousands of bottles of wine which he has been caring for over many years including wax sealing the tops & neck of the bottles. It would be wonderful if this one turned out to be drinkable but if not, a nice gesture from the old fellow.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you!

Reply to
Rosie

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