Wondering if the bottle of wine I have is still good or not
During my move to a new place, I found a bottle of wine that I had kept in my refrigerator that was dated 2004. It was still sealed; it didn't look like anything was floating around inside, and to all intents and purposes, it looked to be an average bottle of red wine that you'd find at your typical liquor store. However, I'm wondering if it's still any good or not, and if there was a way to check outside of opening it and taking a swig.
Best Answer
If you want to make sure your wine is still good without opening the bottle (wine, vinegar or broth), there are some things you can check. This doesn't give you 100% guarantee that the wine is actually any good.
Did the bottle lay horizontally (good) or was it standing up (bad). The wine must be in contact with the cork to hydrate it. This way the seal stays intact and the wine doesn't spoil.
How 'aged' was the wine? Normally a young wine will last about one year (maybe two in the fridge), a reserve or great reserve can last longer. Some wines will mature for 25 years or more.
Check the seal. If it's in good state (no 'dirty' spots), that's good.
Check the cork (without opening the seal). If the cork is pushing the seal out, then your wine may have suffered from heat (the air in the bottle pushes the cork out). This may cause your wine to taste of cork (broth).
Remove the seal and check the cork. If the cork is clean, that's good. If it has red spots (see point 4). If it looks dry... you may have a nice vinegar.
Substances floating in the wine doesn't mean the wine is bad, but you'll need to decant the wine carefully.
But anyway, open the bottle soon. Waiting any longer won't make the wine any better.
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Quick Answer about "Wondering if the bottle of wine I have is still good or not"
Signs your wine has gone bad The first way to check is to look for any change of color. For the most part, dark-colored wines, such as purple and red, that turn a brownish color, as well as light white wines that change to a golden or opaque color, should be discarded.How do you know if an old bottle of wine is still good?
If you're feeling adventurous, you can always open the wine to see what's up. Start by pouring a bit into a glass and letting it sit for a moment; then give it a sniff. If it smells like vinegar, mold, or acrid like a skunk, you don't want to drink it. If it passes the smell test, give it a taste.Does bottles wine go bad?
Wine does expire, but it strongly depends on its quality. If it's a quality one, it can be stored even for a hundred years and after opening it'll be of great quality. Cheap wines, on the other hand, should be used within a few years. That's true for white, red, and sparking wine.How long before bottle of wine goes bad?
Answer: Most wines last open for only about 3\u20135 days before they start to go bad. Of course, this greatly depends on the type of wine! Find out more about this below. Don't worry though, \u201cspoiled\u201d wine is essentially just vinegar, so it's not going to harm you.How can you tell if unopened wine has gone bad?
Once it's exposed to air, wine's flavor starts to degrade. Let it go long enough, and the end result is bad wine. According to Popsugar, you want to look for wine that is cloudy or discolored, wine that has bubbles (but isn't a sparkling wine), and odors that are sickly-sweet, musty, or like vinegar.Early Release: The Judges Can't Stop Laughing at Cam Bertrand's Comedy - America's Got Talent 2021
More answers regarding wondering if the bottle of wine I have is still good or not
Answer 2
That's the thing about wine. You never know until you taste it. It might be a pleasant surprise or it might be swill. That's actually part of the fun of trying wine.
But generally speaking, if it was nothing special 2004 it won't be better now. Wines that are worth "waiting for" are noticeably outstanding even when they're new (they might need more decanting early in their life).
Just try it... but have a back-up bottle!
Answer 3
Until you are ready to "take a swig" it doesn't really matter what state it is in "Now". At present it is a perfectly fine mantel piece.
When you are ready to actually drink it, it is either wine or vinegar, but you are going to have to pop the cork (or open the twist top...) to find out. If it is for an important occasion, have a back up bottle in the wine rack.
Answer 4
You need all the information on the label to assess a wine. the vintage in only part of it. The fridge is not a good wine cellar. wines deteriorate quickly there. ultimately, it is all educated guess work anyway. It might not have been good in 2004. try it. if you like it, serve it. if not, flush it.
Answer 5
Easiest answer: you can taste it, wine doesn't go off.
It can lose its taste and quality but it can be drunk without making you sick or killing you so crack her open and taste it.
If it tastes bad don't drink more obviously. If it's sweet then drink it. That's from a professional wine expert.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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