OK, so we were given this bottle by a friend of ours and opened it. The wine had a slightly brownish tint. But I'm curious about the taste I experienced, having never tasted anything older than about 10 or 15 years.
This was different than any Bordeaux I've ever had. It was almost port-like but thinner. It was pleasant, but had a very soft sweetness to it. The closest thing I can compare it to, weirdly, is the sacramental wine I remember drinking when I was a kid in church (C of E) 45 years ago.
My question is, do you think it was tainted or had turned to vinegar? It didn't taste astringent or acidic to me, though. As I said, it was actually very pleasant—just not in the way I've ever experienced a red wine of any kind.
I should add that the capsule was wholly intact, and the cork showed no signs of leakage. The wine had good "shoulders," too, and showed no loss of its contents.
by bscepter
1 Comment
It sounds like pretty typical old wine to me. The bold flavors and tannins that went into the bottle 30 years ago have mellowed and developed into milder, more complex tertiary notes. If it was pleasant to drink, and a touch sweet, it definitely did not turn to vinager.