The Auswine Forum

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

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

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.

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.

Yep agreed, decant ASAP

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

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.

coh wrote: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?

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

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