With 13.3% alcohol, and costing under $15 back then, this bottle, unlike another one of the same vintage and case, did not hold up. This 35 year-old 1985 Chalk Hill Chardonnay from the Sonoma County scored only 12 points on the 20-point Dionysian scale. unlike the 16+ score for an earlier example of the same wine. You take a chance with older wines.

Even the most basic wines can score a 10, but scored below 12 say that there is some fault in the wine. I’m guessing the cork was faulty. The wine was not “corked” meaning the cork added TCA to the wine. It did have some well-aged caramel notes, but nothing else.

Note the dark color, not dark gold, but a failing amber shade.

Whenever you store a lot of wine to age and enjoy in the future you have to expect a few bad bottles. As we say, In Vino Veritas. In wine, there is truth.