I’m looking at buying some 2016 vintage bottles from Vinopolis in Portland. I know that Vinopolis has a good reputation for current vintage wine, but I’m worried about storage conditions of these older bottles. After all, I don’t want to purchase bottles that have been sitting on the shelf at room temperature for 10 years.
Has anyone ordered back vintages from Vinopolis in the past and have experience to share? Does anyone have knowledge of how they store the older vintages offered on their website?
Just ask them. Any serious shop should be able to tell you where their back vintages live. The good ones keep library stock in temp-controlled storage, not on the sales floor. If they can’t answer, that’s your answer. On arrival, check the fills. Ullage is the most honest record of how a bottle spent the last decade.
So I was probably working at Vinopolis when those 2016s were bought by the shop (though, if they’re the Huets, I wasn’t the person responsible for buying so many of them ). I’ll say that there isn’t a special section for aging wine there (no wine fridge, etc) but the shop was kept pretttty damn cold in the summer. (I think the shop’s AC was set at 60) I often wore a sweater or light coat inside in the summer. (Most of the year, it’s also pretty temperate outside, as well.) It’s been a couple years since I’ve been in, but I’d guess that things haven’t changed much.
I’ve bought some back vintage Bordeaux and riesling that was in great shape – I know they sometimes get cellar acquisitions, so asking is probably the safest bet.
I’ve purchased back vintages from Vinopolis for many years without an issue. Also affirm Saul’s comments about the shop’s temp - it’s cold in there, and I’m always glad when I have a jacket on when I’m in there.
). I’ll say that there isn’t a special section for aging wine there (no wine fridge, etc) but the shop was kept pretttty damn cold in the summer. (I think the shop’s AC was set at 60) I often wore a sweater or light coat inside in the summer. (Most of the year, it’s also pretty temperate outside, as well.) It’s been a couple years since I’ve been in, but I’d guess that things haven’t changed much.