Old Wine question

Ali Day wrote; "I have been given three bottles of wine A chateau neuf du pape 1976, St Emillion 1973, and another which I don't have the name of but will get later

1976. I don't know the vineyeards of the top of my head. But is there anywhere online I can find if the wine is likely to have kept, what to look for in the wine, or if it is likely to be vinegar. They've been stored horizintally in a basement for the last 25 years, and the colour looks OK, except one which is quite light. or is it all a gamble?"

Do the corks look intact? Best way to tell is to open them and taste. What do you have to lose?

Bill Frazier Olathe, Kansas

The cork all still have their hard 'wax', seals on them and look ok. I don't want to just drink them but maybe save them for 'the' special occasions, but don't want to open vinegar to guests.

Thanks

Ali

Try the alt.food.wine newsgroup. Lots of knowledgeable wine afficionados there.

Tom S

'73 was not a real good year for Bordeaux

The '76 du Pape seems like a maybe also. If the other btl is a '76 Bordeaux it might be ok.

Hi Ali, I don't think your three wines will be very good. They may not be vinegar, but I think you will be lucky if they are "drinkable." Good luck, lum

First, if they have gone bad, they will not poison you, they will just taste bad. So you can try them safely and toss them if you do not like them. No pathogens live in wine. If they are vinegar you will know it on smelling or tasting.

That is a long time to keep most wines. The fact that one has faded indicates they were in too much light and maybe not kept at the right temperature.

If you want to keep them just so you can say you have them, then do so and do not worry about them being good. If you want to drink them, then try them soon. They will certainly not improve. I would suggest trying them with friends. Even if they are bad, your friends will know you think enough of them to let them in on the fun. But have some good wine on hand as back up.

Ray

thanks everyone