Importance of Storage

[Nick M.]

First Post! I just picked up a small collection of 2003 Vintage bottles. Question about the important of storage. I know you need to store properly, but obviously I bought these bottles from stores that keep them upright in full light.

How much of an effect will this have on the wine? Is it even worth buying from regular stores like this?
I mean, these wines were bottled in 2005, so they've been somewhere for the last 6 years. What does everyone think?

Thanks for the help!

[Eric Menchen]

Upright in a store is bad, and worse would be close to windows where the sun comes in and the bottles experience temperature variation everyday. But all is not lost. I would probably buy 2003 from several stores around here, but that would depend on some other factors. Even though the wines have been somewhere for five or six years, that doesn't mean they were upright and in full light. I know what most of my local stores stock. If some 2003 just showed up, it might have been stored elsewhere, sideways, in the original case out of light until just recently. Of course you could ask them where the bottles have been.

[Roy Hersh]

Nick,

It is nice to have you join us here and we hope you will enjoy your stay.

PA is a rough marketplace due to the State stores and tight control by the PALCB. It must be really tough to get anybody to ship wine to you too, from outside of your state.

In reality, the 2003s are only in wine shops 4-5 years at this point, certainly not six. There's also no proof they these were not sitting in the Sate's cooled and dark warehouse of that of the importers. Also it is possible that the shop just got these in to "restock" their shelves recently. Nevertheless, imo, at this young stage of their lives, I would not worry at all about 2003s that were on the shelf, even if from day one. These youngsters are very resilient and the black glass makes them fairly impervious to all but direct sunlight. So I wouldn't be too concerned.

We appreciate you dropping by and please feel free to ask any questions that you might have. I have a feeling you are going to enjoy the welcoming crowd here.

... see they're already cheering for ya!

[Nick M.]

Wow Roy, thanks for taking the time to respond to my question.

I recently read a post were people were listing the size of their collections....I was blown away. My 7 bottles of port and 6 bottles of Madeira are almost a joke!

Great to be here.

[Andy Velebil]

Nick,

First let me you to the forum, it's great you've found us. The others already gave solid advice so I just wanted to say hi.

And have no worries about the size of your collection, this group will help you play catch up in no time and soon you'll have a fair amount of young and old bottles of VP's.

[Glenn E.]

I recently read a post were people were listing the size of their collections....I was blown away. My 7 bottles of port and 6 bottles of Madeira are almost a joke!

If you guys keep having epic blizzards on the East Coast, you're going to need a bigger cellar just to survive until you can dig out in the spring!

Don't worry, when I signed on here I thought that a 50-bottle wine fridge would be PLENTY big for my purposes. I've since filled that, added two 280-bottle full-size fridges, filled those, and have started stacking bottles and crates on the floor in my study! Once you get started it's a slippery slope... but it's a fun one!

(Note - none of the fridges hold as many bottles as they claim. I "only" have about 400 bottles total, of which about 330 are Port and the rest are wine.)

[Eric Menchen]

I recently read a post were people were listing the size of their collections....I was blown away. My 7 bottles of port and 6 bottles of Madeira are almost a joke!

I think you have more bottles of port than I did three years ago, and you have more Madeira than I do today! The rest is history ...

[Nick M.]

Thanks everyone....you guys are great.

[Roy Hersh]

We find fun ways to help you fill your cellar too. We won't bore you with the details now, but keep an eye on our MARKETPLACE Forum for the occasional BEST deal that you won't be able to say no to. Actually, that happens a lot here. You just have to promise not to spend your mortgage money or kid's tuition savings plan. Otherwise, consider yourself a "club member."

[Eric S]

Hey Nick! Welcome aboard from a fellow dweller in the gov't controlled of PA! There are a few places that will ship to PA, but they seem to be very limited. As I find a few sources, I'll share them with you. My collection of port is rather modest as well. I suspect it'll grow over the coming years...

Eric

[Jim R.]

Nick --Your madeira count is five higher than mine and I have been collecting port for 40 years (just getting to the big M now at this later date). Welcome, there are a great number of experienced collectors (and drinkers) here. Jim

[Russ K]

As Roy says, lots of good deals and good info can be found here. pre cellar I had about 48 bottles of Port in my collection in cardboard boxes. Now with the cellar I have breached to 170 bottles of wine worth storing total of which at least 120 are port. If I keep that growth rate up, my 800 bottle cellar is going to be way too small..... once you catch the bug, its hard to stop!!