Hi
I found 4 bottles of wine in the old air raid shelter in our garden. Can
anyone tell me (a)if any of them would be of any value? and (b) would they
be safe to drink.
Its cold and damp in the air raid shelter and some of the labels have rotted
so not easy to read but this is what i can make out on each bottle
1. Fiuza, 1996, Sauvignon, Vihno regional Ribatejo, this one has a very
slight cloudy sediment.
2.1196 Chataeux de la Genaiserie, Coteaux du Layon, Yves Soulez. This has a
white, gritty looking sediment.
3. Southern Cross, 1990, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay. This is clear with no
sediment.
4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking sediment

Any advice appreciated, thanks
Eryka

On Wed, 04 May 2005 10:46:40 GMT, "Snappylass" > said:

] Hi
] I found 4 bottles of wine in the old air raid shelter in our garden. Can
] anyone tell me (a)if any of them would be of any value? and (b) would they
] be safe to drink.
] Its cold and damp in the air raid shelter and some of the labels have rotted
] so not easy to read but this is what i can make out on each bottle
] 1. Fiuza, 1996, Sauvignon, Vihno regional Ribatejo, this one has a very
] slight cloudy sediment.
] 2.1196 Chataeux de la Genaiserie, Coteaux du Layon, Yves Soulez. This has a
] white, gritty looking sediment.
] 3. Southern Cross, 1990, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay. This is clear with no
] sediment.
] 4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking sediment
]

Hi Eryka,

They should be safe enough. There is probably nothing there of any
particular value, (assuming you mean 1996 and not 1196 <g>) although
you don't say who the producer of the Tokaji is.

The white gritty sediment is probably just tartaric acid crystals precipitated by cold,
nothing to worry about, it's normal.

The Layon and Tokaji might even be decent. Be aware they are sweet wines.
The other 2 are likely dead, but you never know. Try and see, you can always
pour them out.

HTH

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to
by removing the well known companies

Salut/Hi "Snappylass" >,

le/on Wed, 04 May 2005 10:46:40 GMT, tu disais/you said:-

>anyone tell me (a)if any of them would be of any value?

Hi, not much. Maybe a fiver or so.

>and (b) would they be safe to drink.

Certainly. They may not be palatable, but they will not be dangerous.

The real risk in them having been stocked in the garden, in effect, is that
they may have been frozen, but that would simply kill them, not make them
dangerous.

>1. Fiuza, 1996, Sauvignon, Vihno regional Ribatejo, this one has a very
>slight cloudy sediment.

A small area to the NE of Lisbon in Portugal. It's only 9 years old, which
although older than one would normally drink a Sauvignon Blanc, isn't
impossible. The deposit is slightly worrying, though it would never make it
dangerous.


>2. 1196 Chataeux de la Genaiserie, Coteaux du Layon, Yves Soulez. This has a
>white, gritty looking sediment.

Now this one is VERY old. At over 800 years old, I'm surprised... (no, it's
OK, I'm teasing).

I'm afraid I don't know the estate. Coteaux de Layon is likely to be a semi
sweet wine. Sediment is fairly normal in white wines, and is excess acidity
depositing out. The wine will be better for it. The Chenin grape makes for
very long lasting wines, and this one (assuming it's not been frozen) ought
to be pretty good. Drink with an apple pie.

>3. Southern Cross, 1990, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay. This is clear with no
>sediment.

Sounds like it might be a South African blend. Don't know it at all.


>4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking sediment

Odd about the sediment. I've not often seen it in this Tokaji. The wine is
the last gasp of the communist regime there. Tokaji Aszu is very long lived,
and the wine will be fine. I've still got a few bottles in my cellar. Not a
patch on post sell off wines, by the way. It will be sweet, with quite high
balancing acidity. It will have a pronounced caramel flavour and would go
with a surprisingly wide variety of foods. Chocolate, blue cheese, and most
desserts.

Hope that helps.

--
All the Best
Ian Hoare
http://www.souvigne.com
mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website

"Ian Hoare" > wrote in message
...
> Salut/Hi "Snappylass" >,
>
> le/on Wed, 04 May 2005 10:46:40 GMT, tu disais/you said:-
>
>>anyone tell me (a)if any of them would be of any value?
>
> Hi, not much. Maybe a fiver or so.
>
>>and (b) would they be safe to drink.
>
> Certainly. They may not be palatable, but they will not be dangerous.
>
> The real risk in them having been stocked in the garden, in effect, is
> that
> they may have been frozen, but that would simply kill them, not make them
> dangerous.
>
>>1. Fiuza, 1996, Sauvignon, Vihno regional Ribatejo, this one has a very
>>slight cloudy sediment.
>
> A small area to the NE of Lisbon in Portugal. It's only 9 years old, which
> although older than one would normally drink a Sauvignon Blanc, isn't
> impossible. The deposit is slightly worrying, though it would never make
> it
> dangerous.
>
>
>>2. 1196 Chataeux de la Genaiserie, Coteaux du Layon, Yves Soulez. This has
>>a
>>white, gritty looking sediment.
>
> Now this one is VERY old. At over 800 years old, I'm surprised... (no,
> it's
> OK, I'm teasing).
>
> I'm afraid I don't know the estate. Coteaux de Layon is likely to be a
> semi
> sweet wine. Sediment is fairly normal in white wines, and is excess
> acidity
> depositing out. The wine will be better for it. The Chenin grape makes for
> very long lasting wines, and this one (assuming it's not been frozen)
> ought
> to be pretty good. Drink with an apple pie.
>
>>3. Southern Cross, 1990, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay. This is clear with no
>>sediment.
>
> Sounds like it might be a South African blend. Don't know it at all.
>
>
>>4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking sediment
>
> Odd about the sediment. I've not often seen it in this Tokaji. The wine is
> the last gasp of the communist regime there. Tokaji Aszu is very long
> lived,
> and the wine will be fine. I've still got a few bottles in my cellar. Not
> a
> patch on post sell off wines, by the way. It will be sweet, with quite
> high
> balancing acidity. It will have a pronounced caramel flavour and would go
> with a surprisingly wide variety of foods. Chocolate, blue cheese, and
> most
> desserts.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> --
> All the Best
> Ian Hoare
> http://www.souvigne.com
> mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website

Thanks Ian & Emery, or should I say cheers,

I'm not very well up on wines at all and didn't want to make us ill. I think
I'll try the Tokaji tonight, its a good an excuse as any to have chocolate
for desert this evening.

Eryka

Ian Hoare > wrote:

>> 4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking
>> sediment

> Odd about the sediment. I've not often seen it in this Tokaji.
> The wine is the last gasp of the communist regime there.

Ian, Eryka said it's it's 1998 – not 1989!

M.

Salut/Hi Michael Pronay,

le/on Wed, 04 May 2005 22:16:48 GMT, tu disais/you said:-

>Ian Hoare > wrote:
>
>>> 4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking
>>> sediment
>
>> Odd about the sediment. I've not often seen it in this Tokaji.
>> The wine is the last gasp of the communist regime there.
>
>Ian, Eryka said it's it's 1998 €“ not 1989!

I know, but I didn't believe her.

>M.

--
All the Best
Ian Hoare
http://www.souvigne.com
mailbox full to avoid spam. try me at website

Ian Hoare > wrote:

>>>> 4. Tokaji, Aszu, 5 Puttonyos, 1998. This has an oily looking
>>>> sediment

>>> Odd about the sediment. I've not often seen it in this Tokaji.
>>> The wine is the last gasp of the communist regime there.

>> Ian, Eryka said it's it's 1998 - not 1989!

> I know, but I didn't believe her.

Why? Take a look:

<http://www.everywine.co.uk/invt/39524>

Or was it the sediment?

M.