How long to wait to open after shipping?

[John M.]

I've got some port being shipped to me from Chicago to New Jersey. Once I receive it how long should I wait before opening any of the bottles (2 are 1985's, 2 are 1994's if that matters)?

Thanks

[Glenn E.]

Shipping stirs up the sediment so you'll probably want to give it at least a couple of days to settle back down. Leave them standing upright if you're going to open them soon.

Ideally I prefer to have a couple of weeks after shipping before I open a bottle, but I think that 2-3 days is probably fine for 1985s and 1994s.

[Andy Velebil]

I don't think there is any definitive answer on this question, as you'll get 5 different answers from 5 different people. I prefer, when possible, to at least give them a day or two if I'm traveling with bottles. If they're being shipped across country for a few days or week I prefer to let them sit for a month or so to settle back down. That's just a general rule of thumb and can vary a little based on the age of the wine. The older the wine the longer I'll try and let it rest afterward.

The flip side is last week I flew almost 11 hours to London with a 1963 Dow's VP in the belly of the plane, landed, drove another 45 minutes in a car, decanted it, and a few hours later we drank it and it was fabulous, showing no signs of travel shock at all. So what does that tell me? There is no correct answer and you've just got to take your chances.

That said, I'm assuming it's about 2-3 days ground shipping from Chicago to New Jersey. If that's the case give them a few days and you should be fine. Sediment in Port is quite heavy and will resettle to the bottom quite quickly after being stirred up.

[Tom Archer]

Andy,

Did you see the little merchant's label on the F55 we drank the other night?

I think it advised resting the bottle for at least six months after transport..!

I think there's something in this, but it's not universally consistant..

..weak, ullaged or leaky old bottles that have been weeded out from my cellar tend not to show well when bounced down to London on the train, but when taken up the road to The Bell often show very well.

My feeling is that young and/or robust wines are pretty much bullet-proof, whilst old or frail wines need some TLC..

Tom

[Andy Velebil]

Andy,

Did you see the little merchant's label on the F55 we drank the other night?

I think it advised resting the bottle for at least six months after transport..!

I think there's something in this, but it's not universally consistant..

Yes that was an amusing label. But also remember back in 1957 shipping times were FAR longer than today's overnight-across-the-world delivery services.

There is no scientific evidence that backs up the travel shock theory. However, I do believe it exists and happens all the time. But I also believe there is no universal answer as sometimes a wine shows very well right after traveling and another wine does not. But I do feel younger wines tend to recover faster than older ones, at least in my experience. Hopefully sometime in our lifetime someone will figure it out.

..weak, ullaged or leaky old bottles that have been weeded out from my cellar tend not to show well when bounced down to London on the train, but when taken up the road to The Bell often show very well.

The luck of The Bell

My feeling is that young and/or robust wines are pretty much bullet-proof, whilst old or frail wines need some TLC..

I disagree to a point. I've had plenty of very young wines that have suffered from travel shock. It's just that most people don't notice it as easily as they do with older wines where it can really stand out. Often people just write off a younger wine as being a bad bottle or not a good wine (if they've not had it before) not realizing it may be caused by having just been shipped or even worse, just bottled. THe later being a whole other topic.

[John M.]

Thanks all. Appreciate the advice.