"zxcvbob" > wrote in message
...
> ...in the back of the closet. Rosemount Estate 1998. I thought all I had
> back there was a few assorted bottles of red.
>
> It should be drinkable, but will have no character left at all. (I wonder
> if it would be better chilled or not at this point.) Might just be good
> for cooking...

I've had a fair number of barrel aged single vineyard chardonnays that are
over ten years old. As long as the cork is intact, and the ullage isn't any
to speak of, and it has been cellared at an appropriate temp they tend to be
very drinkable. I've had some quite a bit older than 12 years.

Note this, from "Flagship Wines" flagshipwines.com regarding the Rosemount
Chardonnay.

"Hand harvested from one of Australia's oldest chardonnay vineyards, the
Roxburgh vineyard in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. This wine's unique
flavours reflect the 'terroir' and tiny yields of less than two tonnes per
acre. Fermented in new French oak with full malolactic fermentation and on
lees maturation, this complex wine will cellar for 10 years.
1998 Vintage
Warm, Dry conditions in November and December enabled favourable healthy
vine growth and berry development. The upper Hunter experienced more
favourable ripening conditions than the coastal affected vineyards down the
Valley, where rainfall was substantially heavier in the critical months
before harvest.
The favourable weather conditions allowed fruit to be hand harvested in
early February, showing great elegance and tremendous definition of varietal
flavour."

Kent