Can you drink a 20 year old Merlot?
While it may not taste amazing, drinking wine that's past its heyday will not hurt you. Remember, you're better off not trying to age your wine. So few bottles benefit from aging and you could end up ruining a perfectly good bottle.
How Long Does Wine Typically Last? When stored properly and kept unopened, white wines can often outlive their recommended drinking window by 1-2 years, red wines by 2-3 years, and cooking wines by 3-5 years. Fine wine — as you may have guessed — can typically be consumed for decades.
Merlot: 3-5 years. Zinfandel: 2-5 years. Chardonnay: 2-3 years. Better ones can keep for 5-7 years.
Medium Reds: Medium reds like Merlot, Nebbiolo, and Shiraz last for 3 - 5 days after opening due to their higher tannin level and an alcohol content between 12.5% and 13.5%.
Merlot You wouldn't think it to be the case, but Merlot ages just as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines become softer and often more smoky (think tobacco) with age. Right-bank Bordeaux is a great place to start with aging Merlot.
Take a whiff, and see what it smells like. If you're unable to detect an unusual smell, you can also use your taste buds, though it may be an unpleasant experience. "A spoiled wine may taste like vinegar or have an off flavor due to oxidation," Dr. Baker says.
The best wines can be stored for more than 100 years, but most great wines will reach their peak before they turn 50 years old.
Typically, for red and white wines that age for 10 to 20 years, think Cabernet Sauvignon, Brunello, Barolo, red Bordeaux, Sauternes, ice wine, Semillon and German Riesling.
Wines such as Sherry, Madeira, and even some Marsala have been shown to improve in flavor and texture over decades. Additionally, there are several botrytized white wines (such as Sauternes and Riesling) that age nicely for up to 30 years.
- Pay Attention to Temperature. ...
- Maintain the Right Humidity. ...
- Keep the Light Out. ...
- Allow Clean Airflow. ...
- Turn the Bottle Sideways. ...
- Avoid Movement and Vibrations.
How long will a Merlot last?
When sealed and stored in a cool, dark place or a fridge, red wines like Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec can last for around four days. As a general rule, red wines with higher tannin and acidity tend to last longer once opened. Late harvest reds can also stay fresh for up to four days.
Sweet wines you can age for 20 years or longer:
Chenin Blanc: 30+ years. German Riesling: 15-25 years. Hungarian Tokaji Aszu: 20-30 years. Recioto della Valpolicella (sweet red wine): 25-50 years.
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On a microbiological level, yes: Researchers say it's likely safe and won't kill you, although the wine won't taste good.
