Consolidated "Champagne - Questions/Suggestions/Recommendations" thread
Oct 26, 2020, 8:48 pm
#1081
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It should be fine taste-wise if it's been stored in the fridge that whole time, if anything it'll have lost some of the bubbles. Plenty of champagne is left to age (and fetches a hefty price once it does as long as it was stored properly). Yellow label is just their non-vintage version (sourced from multiple years) vs. their single-vintage offers so their is no reason you'd really want to age it but if you did accidentally it should be fine.
If you want to have a bit of fun (and to cover yourself if it did go bad for some reason) buy a new one and do some taste testing, see if you can tell the difference.
If you've got a Costco or Total Wine nearby, you should be able to grab a bottle for ~$45 pre-tax.
If you want to have a bit of fun (and to cover yourself if it did go bad for some reason) buy a new one and do some taste testing, see if you can tell the difference.
If you've got a Costco or Total Wine nearby, you should be able to grab a bottle for ~$45 pre-tax.
Oct 27, 2020, 9:01 am
#1082
Join Date: Oct 2013
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Oct 27, 2020, 11:07 am
#1083
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Hopefully the bottle has been stored on its side. The greatest danger of LT fridge storage is the cork drying out and shirnking (since real or composite cork corks are used), unless the fridge is a Sub-Zero or a refrigerator only (as in no freezer section). Way to tell is if it bubbles up or not, while still sealed.
Oct 27, 2020, 2:34 pm
#1084
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver CO
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Hopefully the bottle has been stored on its side. The greatest danger of LT fridge storage is the cork drying out and shirnking (since real or composite cork corks are used), unless the fridge is a Sub-Zero or a refrigerator only (as in no freezer section). Way to tell is if it bubbles up or not, while still sealed.
Oct 27, 2020, 3:18 pm
#1085
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Its been on the bottom shelf of my fridge (standing upright). Right next to a bottle of J Cuvee 20 Sparkling Wine (by the J Vineyards in California). I did shake a bit and there are bubbles in it. Same for the bottle of J Cuvee.20. That has been in my fridge since I bought it 10 1/2 years ago.
I opened a bottle of (lowish brow) Italian sparkling the other day for Canadian turkey day. Tightest cork I've ever come across. Was considering using a mechanical or even strap gripper to twist it off (I prefer to uncork sparkling wines with the faint hiss you hear opening a beer bottle or some such)..
Oct 28, 2020, 12:55 pm
#1087
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I was given a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label several years ago (8-9+ years). It has been in my fridge every since. I have a function coming up on Sunday to celebrate a neighbor's retirement. Do you think it is still good? Or should I chuck it and get a new bottle of Veuve? Any advice would be appreciated.
Nov 3, 2020, 5:22 am
#1088
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I've finally finished a large supply of Pol Roger NV bought for a party ten years ago, which never happened. The Pol just kept getting better, with a deeper and deeper colour and an amazing richness whilst still being bone dry. The corks were increasingly shrivelled but still tight. The concern with the Veuve is that it has been kept in the fridge which is not ideal.
Nov 3, 2020, 10:12 am
#1089
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Denver CO
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Update: I ended up using the bottle of Veuve. It tasted just fine. The cork was still tight. Everyone liked the champagne. Someone else brought Prosecco (it was ok). I know it is not ideal to keep champagne in the fridge.
Nov 3, 2020, 6:24 pm
#1091
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Cold doesn't matter. If anything, cold slows down maturation and aging. What matters is humidity or specifically lack of. A fridge (cooled by the freezer which is how most fridge-freezers work) is a very dry environment and will dry out the cork. Think of it if you live somewhere very cold. The cold air coming in is very dry (or rather contains very little moisture) and reduces humidity in your house. If you have a sparkling wine corked with a plastic or synthetic closure it shouldn't matter (I believe Champagne has to be corked with a real cork).
Nov 3, 2020, 7:32 pm
#1093
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Dec 27, 2021, 12:02 pm
#1094
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,925
What in the world?? British “champagne”?!?
There was an interesting story on “60 Minutes” last night regarding the impact of climate change on the wine industry. Apparently, we might have the opportunity to start drinking British “champagne” 
in the not too distant future.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wine-in...es-2021-12-26/
in the not too distant future.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wine-in...es-2021-12-26/
Dec 27, 2021, 5:03 pm
#1095
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There was an interesting story on “60 Minutes” last night regarding the impact of climate change on the wine industry. Apparently, we might have the opportunity to start drinking British “champagne” in the not too distant future.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wine-in...es-2021-12-26/
in the not too distant future.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wine-in...es-2021-12-26/
Funny, I love Taittinger and that was one of the ones they mentioned. None of this solves the issue of climate change and how it is affecting wineries (as well as everything else in the world)--what a shame.
