You stored a red wine in what temperature!?!

August 8, 2009 4:58 AM

Winefilter: What are the storage conditions for a bottle of 2005 Reserve de la Comtesse, from Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande?

So I got a bottle of 2005 Reserve de la Comtesse, and have been storing it at 13deg Celsius for the last 3 months, until a friend told me that for reds the storage temperature should be higher, and I should only open it in 3 years' time when it becomes fully mature.

Is what he says correct, and if so, have I adversely affected the wine by storing it at such a low temperature?

posted by titantoppler to food & drink (4 comments total)

I know nothing about storing wines, but this suggests that it's mature now and the "average rating over time" part of this suggests that it's even in decline.
posted by juv3nal at 5:35 AM on August 8

I haven't drunk the 2005 Reserve de la Comtesse, but I am dubious that it is mature, or in decline, if it has been stored well. 13 celsius is somewhat low for Bordeaux, but if the bottle has been relatively motionless and on its side in decent humidity, all you've done is slow the maturation a bit.

2005 was a great year for Pauillac wines, and the 2005 Reserve de la Comtesse won many tastings -- sometimes coming in ahead of the first label from Pichon. It was a standout of the vintage, and in general 2005s had very big tannins.

I would store it at just a slightly higher temperature -- 16-18 c is often recommended for red Bordeaux. But you haven't harmed it, and if it were me, I'd give it 2 or 3 more years *at least* if I had only one bottle of the stuff. Small risk on the downside (any given bottle can mature more unevenly than others from the same vintage and you don't say how the bottle was handled before you received it, or exactly how you've stored it). Huge payoff on the upside.

Lucky you.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:45 AM on August 8

(I'm also assuming it has been stored in relative darkness.)
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:53 AM on August 8

Back to confirm: the Wine Spectator tasted it last year, gave it an 89/100 and recommended drinking after 2012, about what I thought.
posted by fourcheesemac at 6:55 AM on August 8