1996 grange advice

[coh]

Hi guys, hope everyone is well.

I'm opening a bottle of 1996 grange tonight which has been planned for a few weeks now. I've got about a dozen under the house but I'm embarrassed to say that this is my first experience ever opening/decanting one. My question is when should I open it. Does the 1996 need 4 hrs, 6? Longer, shorter? Any help would be greatly appreciated to enjoy what should be a great wine experience!!

Thanks guys, go port

coh

[Andrew Jordan]

Coh,

Previous experience with this wine (2 years ago now) was that good cellared bottles need at least 6-8 hour decant to start showing it's best. Although at 18 years of age you are still opening it on the young side, but you do have a dozen to play with so enjoy

[felixp]

if you are drinking it tonight, open it now and decant!!!
The 96 is a great, great wine, but still waaaay too young. Best wine of the 90's IMO.

[LawrenceM]

I'd give it at least 8 hours. A 96 I opened at Christmas was double decanted for 24 hours, then fully decanted 2 hours before serving. Showed really well.

[DJ1980]

Yep agreed, decant ASAP

[Mike Hawkins]

I'd triple decant and then leave for 2 hours....

[TravisW]

Dude, I just started a new topic yesterday for this very question, re when to open specific bottles of wines: "The Drinking Window Thread". Sheesh!

Hope it drinks well.

Cheers, Travis.

[Phil H]

Hi guys, hope everyone is well.

I'm opening a bottle of 1996 grange tonight which has been planned for a few weeks now. I've got about a dozen under the house but I'm embarrassed to say that this is my first experience ever opening/decanting one. My question is when should I open it. Does the 1996 need 4 hrs, 6? Longer, shorter? Any help would be greatly appreciated to enjoy what should be a great wine experience!!

Thanks guys, go port

coh

Hi Coh
What was your impressions on your first Grange?

[coh]

Hi guys,
thanks for all your responses. For those wondering, the wine was outstanding. Probably one of my greatest wine moments to date. I was getting flavours of coffee, blackberries and pepper. It was intense, and probably had a 30sec finish. The 2nd glass certainly was better than the first.
I probably only gave it a 5hr decant due to the inability to get to it earlier, so I'm convinced that with more time open, it would get better. looking forward to drinking a few more over the journey!!
happy drinking,
coh

[felixp]

nice to hear, yep, 96 is an all-time great Grange.