Q&A: Wine, Food, Beer, Or Spirits Questions
is my wine off?
we found some wine in the garage that has been there for some years the bottle reads " thorin 1976, cotes du rhome, appellation controlee" i was wondering if it was any good? we also opened a bottle and its colour is a redish brown, is it off?
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
A basic Cotes du Rhone such as the one you found is intended for drinking within a few years of release; in this case, by the early 1980's. Except in areas with regular temperate climates - neither very hot nor very cold - a garage is probably one of the worst places to store wine, other than the kitchen. Once in a while, however, you can have a pleasant surprise, and anyone who has collected wine has had such experiences. The fact that the color still has some red and is not completely brown is a good sign. If the nose is not sharp and vinegary, or does not smell like wet dish rags, and the taste is pleasant - soft, perhaps a bit "leathery" with some red cherry notes - then it's not off in normal wine terms. But the answer to your question is really up to you!
About The Expert
Roger explains his approach to the Q&A -
"My goal is to provide as much reliable, practical information as I can in a brief answer. I try to choose my words carefully to be as accurate and precise as possible in the space allowed. I always do my best to be fair, treat the question with respect, and offer credible, informed commentary. By all means, ask a follow-up question if you feel a key issue has not been addressed. I also encourage you to look over past questions as you may find the answer to yours."
Bio:
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade, and he last served as a senior executive with a major national importer. In 2006, he launched Millesima USA, a retail entity affiliated with Europe's leading fine wine mail order company. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993, and he has been very active as an educator and speaker at wine festivals and conferences. He hosts a community television program entitled "Wine's Simple Pleasures," and is currently working on a book of original recipes and wine pairing solutions.
