If I receive a bottle of wine in the mail and it has leaked 6-7 drops, is the wine now bad ? or can it still be cellared ? Henry
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
A leak of wine from the capsule is never a good sign, but it is impossible to know how much damage has been done. In theory, if there is an indication of a large leak - for example, enough to stain the main labels - it is reasonable to assume that the bottle has been subjected to excessively high temperatures during storage or shipping. This would certainly raise serious concerns about the condition of the wine. When a very small amount of liquid has escaped, it suggests that the seal, initially formed when the cork was inserted at the time of bottling, has been compromised. Cellaring such a bottle for many years may no longer be desirable, even if the wine's condition has not been impaired. However, I've opened bottles kept for a very long time in my cellar and found a dark wine stain the full length of the cork, indicating leakage at some point in the wine's life - yet the wine was delicious! In the end, it is really a roll of the dice...if the wine is an outstanding classic which should be matured, then it may be wise to lay it down but shorten the planned cellaring period. If the wine would be enjoyable while still young, the best strategy may be to pull the cork sooner rather than later.
