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30 Second Wine Tasting Tip: The life span of wine Most of the time I enjoy answering wine-related questions. But one topic that evokes a twinge of sadness in place of a smile comes fairly regularly from readers who have found an ancient bottle or have been happily keeping a treasured item for many years, and now hope to cash in on it in a big way. More often than not, it's my unhappy duty to advise them that their treasure is probably worthless and most likely undrinkable. Like the biblical Methuselah, it's possible for a wine to live long past its expected life span. But as a practical matter, most wines are meant to be drunk up while they are young and fresh; and the few ageworthy "collectibles" require careful cellaring at controlled temperatures to show their best over time. The big-money bottles are generally from the Bordeaux "first growths" and other top-rated properties whose wines have a long track record of longevity and increasing value in the cellar. So, if you can't sell your antique wine, can you at least enjoy it? More bad news: Expecting an everyday wine to live into its second or third decade is something like hoping your pet dog or cat will live into its 30s: It's not absolutely impossible, but mighty unlikely; and the poor little fellow would really be showing his years. But ancient wine never turns toxic or unhealthful, so it can't hurt you to try it. If you're adventurous, you might want to pull the cork. Be prepared for that cork to be soft and fragile, and take care not to stir up any sediment. It's a good idea to carefully "decant" the wine - pour it off the sediment - before serving. And don't even consider giving an ancient wine any time to "breathe." In the unexpected case that there's any life in it, it probably won't hold for long after pouring. Be prepared for it to be brown, dull and muddy, uninteresting at best and actively repulsive at worst. But if you're lucky, a very old wine may offer an intriguing if brief symphony of complex, earthy aromas and flavors. In spite of all the above, if you have an old bottle and believe it may be of value, we offer several resources that may help you find comparative prices and values for collectible bottles. Click to http://www.wineloverspage.com/pricewine.shtml for links to some databases of retail and auction wine prices. Two quick reminders: Food E-letter and reader survey Let's repeat these important reminders for one more day: We're now taking registrations for The 30 Second Wine Advisor's new Food Letter. Distributed on Thursdays, each edition will contain a short fact of interest about food and wine. We will send this publication only to those who register. For more information, or to register, click to http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor/foodletter.shtml. I invite you to give us your comments and suggestions about The Wine Advisor in an online survey. If you haven't already done so, please visit http://www.wineloverspage.com/votebooth/tswaques2002.shtml to add your opinions. Administrivia This is the daily edition of The 30 Second Wine Advisor. To subscribe, change your E-mail address, switch from daily to the weekly (Mondays only) distribution, or for any other administrative matters, E-mail wine@wineloverspage.com. In the unhappy event that you must leave us, please take a moment to let us know how we could have served you better. In all administrative communications, please be sure to include the exact E-mail address that you used when you subscribed, so we can find your record. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002 Copyright 2002 by Robin Garr. All rights reserved. Subscribe (free) to The 30 Second Wine Advisor