Kent wrote:
> "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...
>>
>>
> In addition to the underlying quality of the wine this depends greatly on
> how the wine was stored. At what temp.? What is the condition of the cork?
> Most important, how much ullage is there between the bottom of the cork and
> the wine? You might be very pleasantly surprised. Set it upright for a few
> days. Decant into a carafe several hours before you imbibe.
>
> Kent
>
>
>


The ullage -- I had to look that up -- was fine. It was still
fairly high in the neck of the bottle (the bottle had an unusually
long neck)

I bet it was a $10 bottle of wine 11 or 12 years ago when I bought
it, and I got it on sale for about $7. It still tasted better than
a nasty bottle of French white table wine that I bought last year
(no varietal and no year on the gorgeous blue bottle)

I should just stick with red wines and the occasional bottle of
extra dry champagne.

Bob