Have a 1996 Vintage Don Perignon, never refrigerated. Will it go bad?

My wife and I were given a 1996 Vintage bottle of Don Perignon in mid 2005 at Ruth Chris's steak house. It "may" have been refrigerated while at the restaurant (though we don't remember), but it has NOT been refrigerated since. Could it be bad already? Will it go bad? And if it can go bad, do we need to refrigerate it ASAP?Have a 1996 Vintage Don Perignon, never refrigerated. Will it go bad?
It might not be as bubbly as it should. Champagnes are generally not meant to be aged after bottling. Keeping it refrigerated at this point will not help. Best advise is to drink it as soon as possible so as not to be disappointed.
hopefully you have had it on its side adn in a cooler spot but if not you may not wish to age it longer since any off flavors that may have developed will continue to develope and if the cork has dried up it can end up "corked" i.e. bad flavors that happen when the cork doent seal the bottIe. I would recomend chilling it and enjoying it



Hope you and your wife enjoy it



this covers the baisics



Wine FAQ's: Storing Wine

Published on:



by Wine Market Council



Should I be storing the wine I drink everyday in a special way or place?



Where should I store wine I don't plan to drink immediately?



Where should I store wine after it is opened?



How long will an open bottle of wine keep?

QUESTION ANSWER



Should I be storing the wine I drink everyday in a special way or place?





Simply keep your bottles of wine in a cool place away from direct sunlight until you鈥檙e ready to drink them. If you are going to store them for more than a few weeks, it is best to store them on their side rather than upright. This will keep the cork moist and therefore airtight.



There is no need to store white wines or Champagne/sparkling wines in the refrigerator if you are not planning on drinking them soon. Simply chill them before serving.



Where should I store wine I don't plan to drink immediately?





There are two types of wine you may not plan to drink immediately--wines you have purchased that are ready to drink, and wines designed to be aged. Most wines on the market today are designed to be ready to drink as soon as you purchase them. Therefore, the long-term storage conditions recommended for wines designed to be aged are not necessary.



Keep these ready-to-drink wines away from direct sunlight and heat, any source of vibration, and lying on their sides. This will ensure that the cork will remain moist and therefore airtight.



There is no need to store white wines or Champagne/sparkling wines in the refrigerator if you are not planning to drink them soon. Simply chill them before serving.



If you do begin to accumulate wines designed to be aged, storage becomes more important. The key conditions to keep constant are temperature (needs to be about 55 degrees) and humidity (70% - 80%). To achieve this at home, you may need to convert a closet or buy a special unit designe



Where should I store wine after it is opened?





A re-corked, leftover bottle of red or white wine can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 鈥?5 days without compromising its flavor. Just take the red wine out of the refrigerator to let it come up to room temperature before drinking. A tightly corked leftover bottle of Champagne/sparkling wine can also be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 3 - 5 days.



How long will an open bottle of wine keep?



Longer than you may think. Don鈥檛 throw it away! Re-cork the wine (if you鈥檝e thrown away the cork use plastic wrap and a rubber band). An open bottle of red or white wine will keep in the refrigerator for 3 鈥?5 days. A bottle of Champagne/sparkling wine (tightly recorked) will also keep for 3 鈥?5 days in the refrigerator.

Information courtesy of Wine Market Council.Have a 1996 Vintage Don Perignon, never refrigerated. Will it go bad?
you dont need to refrigerate red wine, just keep it in a wine cellar (or similar enviromental conditions)

red wine can last hundreds of years if stored properly but white wine wont last that long
if it has not been openned, it will stay fresh. once openned, it will not last long, will turn into cooking wine then vinegarHave a 1996 Vintage Don Perignon, never refrigerated. Will it go bad?
yes
I am still trying to get my sister and her husband who were married in 1985 to open the bottle I bought them for the wedding gift, I purcahsed a bottle of 1978, a week before it went from $58.00 CAN to $110.00 CAN, both of them say they are saving it for there 25th, I say drink it now actually they should have 20 years ago or they might be using it to clean ther windows, SOON!!



I was in the French Wine Society in Toronto Canada for 5 years and taste many a champange, chilling is only nessessary when drinking, keep it in a cool dark place, on its side to keep the cork moist and never shake or disturb it. The active yeast in side if it has gone off would appear as a sediment in the bottom, check by holding it up to the light and see if the is a film developing on the bottom.