They say the one look at the label is worth 30 years blind tasting. That's because the label will tell you the vintage, the alcohol level, the region the wine comes from, its classification (for example, ...

... the concepts of laying down wine and building up a bit of a cellar both bear some examination. You don't need acres of cellars and a country house (though I'd never refuse either); all you have to do is buy some wine in advance for the convenience of not having constantly to rush out to the local shop, and have...

... drink classed growth red Bordeaux out of crystal glasses with people I don't care about. But, on the other hand, if I've gone to the trouble of selecting wine I'm really going to enjoy, and then made the effort to store it properly, it seems silly not to serve...

18°C = Northern Rhone reds, California Cabernet Sauvignon, Australian Shiraz ...

How long does a cork last ?
Their average life expectancy is approximately 15 years...