"John" > wrote in message
...
> First, I have forgottten 80% of whatever I knew about wine.
>
> Years ago I bought a bottle of Vintage Port wine, while visiting a winery
> in Oporto, Portugal. I recently took a look at this 35 year old bottle,
> and found that there is a sticky substance on the top of the bottle, as
> though something was slowly oozing through the cork/covering. Is this a
> bad thing? Have I finally waited too long to open this bottle?

The wine is probably still good. A little leakage doesn't usually mean the
wine is history - especially in vintage Port. You may find it difficult or
impossible to get the cork out in one piece though.

Drink up!

Tom S