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pavane
 
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Default Does Champagne go bad?


"Michael Pronay" > wrote in message
...
> ospam (PRV8EYE) wrote:
>
> > I have a bottle of Corbel Champagne I received for my wedding
> > three years ago. The bottle has never been opened. Does
> > champagne go bad? Does the taste change after three years if the
> > bottle is unopened? I know some will say "just taste it" but,
> > since I'm not a champagne drinker, I want to give it to someone
> > else. I don't want to end up giving them cider <G>. Any advise
> > will be greatly appreciated.

>
> All depends on conditions of storage. Three years at room
> temperature will ruin everything bubbly, even the very best.
>
> Kept cool, there are chances it might be drinkable. Never tasted
> Corbel (isn't that "Korbel", btw?) here in Europe, so I can't give
> further help.
>


Korbel, a California sparkler deliberately mislabeled as "Champagne."

There is no reason for you to want to taste Korbel, it is on the low
side of the quality spectrum, a California wannabe distinguished by
high acidity and large-bubbled bright fruit. It is decidedly not
Champagne, by the way. Closer to bad Cava.

As far as it keeping: any sparkling wine will go bad as any still wine
will, just a matter of time (the goal of any wine is to become vinegar)
and the quality of the cork, the integrity of the winemaking process
and so on. I would expect a three year old Korbel to be ready for
Halloween as a trick, not a treat.

pavane