My parents got divorced in 2010
My dad – the main wine buyer – took the cases of red and the fortified
My mum got the odds and sods bottles, and the sparkling
I’ve been forcing her to open “special” bottles of champagne over the last 10 years – most of them being knackered because whilst they were big houses they weren’t meant for extended aging
She admitted to/I discovered some remaining bottles in the house, mostly red Bordeaux
What do you reckon I should open first – anything likely to still be good, anything that would’ve been good? Some of these look like second wines of first and second level chateaux if I had to guess?
I’ll be having a google but all points of interest/comments welcome
by Ok_Science5461
10 Comments
The 94 Hermitage Blanc is what I would open first
The ‘02s and ‘94 are off vintages, but Bordeaux *should* last with these upper mid-tier producers. Same with the Blanc. I’d probably be most excited for the Hermitage Blanc – but that raised cork doesn’t look great. I’d open the Chave first, in case of disappointment, you should still have the BDXs.
These are fun wines. They might actually be very enjoyable if they haven’t been killed due to bad storage. I’d start with the Hermitage, by virtue of it being a white wine and it being considerably older than the others. The level looks good on all of them for their age.
Odds and sods including a bottle of JL Chave Hermitage blanc is wild, even if it’s an off vintage.
I would pop that bottle first.
That is one busy fridge.
I think you have to open the Hermitage first, but I’m concerned about the condition of the wine. The cork has pushed the metal cap up, indicating it was subjected to heat.
Lafite
Chav first, if they’ve been stored decently all of the BDX is probably still good. ~20 years isn’t particularly old for BDX.
Had a 2002 carrudes recently, was drinking really well, mature, and stored well, good luck!
Given proper storage all of these will be good however require a little bit more of an open view towards tertiary flavours.