Old wine, bin or keep for best?

[The Surveyor]

Doing some tidying of cupboards and found these dusty relics at the back.

2005 Gigondas and
2007 XV du President

I like wine but I'm no expert so are these aged wines likely to be horrid, or nicely aged and utter nectar to keep for a special meal?

Any wine expert's who can guide me, down the sink, open and try, save for 'best?

[NDA]

2005 was a good year - but it's ready to drink.

Not sure on the 07. Let me have a look....

ETA - the 07 looks like sink! However, have a glass and see what you think.

[227bhp]

I don't have my crystal ball with me right now, hmmm, let me see...

I know, try them and find out?

[condor]

The President one is a Laithwaites wine, currently priced at £10 for the 2015 and 2016 vintages. So suggest you open and try it - should be OK to drink. The Gigondas, would probably have cost a similar amount at time of purchase but likely to be around £15 to buy for a recent vintage now. Similarly, open and try it. They are not wines to 'keep for best'.

[The Surveyor]

Thanks all.

I'll open them up and be ready to bin them if they're foul.

[CubanPete]

I'm not an expert, but I found some similar vintage supermarket wines on the back of the cupboard.

Open them and let them air for a few hours. This made a big difference.

Poor gently as there will be some sediment.

[NDA]

227bhp said:

I don't have my crystal ball with me right now, hmmm, let me see...

I know, try them and find out?

It's known that certain vintages will improve - or are inherently good anyway. That's why the OP was asking. Crystal ball not needed.


OP, keep the 2005 for sharing - it might be OK. 05 was a great vintage. There's a risk it might have gone, but equally it might be very good - a shame to open on your own just to test.

The 07 probably won't be that good.

Have they been stored reasonably well?

[227bhp]

NDA said:

227bhp said:

I don't have my crystal ball with me right now, hmmm, let me see...

I know, try them and find out?

It's known that certain vintages will improve - or are inherently good anyway. That's why the OP was asking. Crystal ball not needed.


OP, keep the 2005 for sharing - it might be OK. 05 was a great vintage. There's a risk it might have gone, but equally it might be very good - a shame to open on your own just to test.

The 07 probably won't be that good.

Have they been stored reasonably well?

No matter what you or I say the result will remain the same - he'll crack it open and try it.

It's like having a debate on what the weather will be like tomorrow, it's pointless, i'll still have to go to work and not see any of it.

[craigjm]

Doesn’t it also depend on how they have been stored? If they were standing vertically am I right in thinking you might end up with a dried out / knackered cork which may have tainted the drink?

[VAGLover]

Use for cooking....not very good to start with

[soad]

VAGLover said:

Use for cooking....not very good to start with

What if it has gone sour/mildewy??

[VAGLover]

soad said:

What if it has gone sour/mildewy??

Poor down sink
I was suggesting for cooking if it was in drinkable condition