Choices, choices! (and not a drop to drink!)

So I found these two this afternoon. One is vintage 1991 French, and seems to be ok in regards to the cork and bottle.

The second bottle is a sad case, vintage 1976 -  half the bottle has leaked out via the rotten cork and even I don't think I can be bothered opening it. We'll see, it might kill my cold-germs!

And the first bottle is...

I thought I'd start with the nearest bottle I could physically reach in my messy garage, a Penfolds Kalimna.

"A soft, elegant well-developed wine that will continue to further bottle age"

I should have read the bit about decanting and not disturbing the crust!

After a fruitless search for the vintage date, my son found it to the top left of the label - 1988. Considering it's now 2011, I figured it's time to open the bottle!  At 23 years of age, the wine colour is beautiful, a deep ruby-red, clear, and holding it's own.

Pure quality. I pulled the cork easily, and it's fine. A quick sniff and then it's time to pour. I'm surprised as I really thought this would be no good, but I managed to drink this over 2 nights and was sorry to finish it.

Yes, there's sediment on the bottom, of course, and sediment on the back of the bottle where it's rested undisturbed for the past two decades. A great success for my first bottle.

Drinking through my cellar, one bottle at a time.

My wine collection has grown over the years mainly through my love of wineries and the whole industry of wine-making. Yes, I love my wine, but better, I love the wineries, and love to see the grapes growing, chat to the wine-makers and taste their special products.

After our recent visit to the stunning Barossa, South Australia, I realised it's time to start drinking my cellar, one bottle at a time.
This blog will be a random collection of whatever I have dragged out and managed to open. Wish me luck!

Patty