Will it make them ill?

How about drinking one to see?
And then opening the other to make doubly sure?

My Dad gad a deal with a wine merchant. He'd buy an old case for a reduced price on the off chance that one or two would be OK. Many were duds and undrinkable. Champagne isn't supposed to be kept for long.

Dodgy if they are going as prizes.

Ooooo right, thanks, I will dump them.

Unopened champagne will last:

Three to four years if it is non-vintage;
Five to ten years if it is a vintage.

Taste them first! Don’t dump them, I’m sure somebody would help you open them!

Am I right in thinking these bottles have been standing up rather than laid on their sides? If so they will be vinegar.

We tell the tale of the evening we worked our way through six bottles of wine and remained cold sober. We were clearing an aunt's house and found these 12 half bottles of wine standing upright in the larder. How long they had been there or why we had no idea. The aunt didn't drink wine, just whisky ( a lot of it). We got the bottles home and sat in the kitchen and opened the bottles one by one. Not one was drinkable so as it was opened and sipped, it was poured down the drain.

Katykrunch, the answer to your query is that the champagne will do no-one any harm, but it will almost definitely taste disgusting.

I have a demijohn of elderberry wine that sat in the garage of our last house for nine years. It has sat in the garage of this house for seven! It’s very clear and a lovely colour. I dare not drink it, but I can’t bring myself to pour it down the drain either!

MawBroon, I like your style.

I wouldn't give them as prizes.

However, we could all come round and test them if you like Katykrunch

Greyduster we have three or four bottles of elderberry wine that was made about 15 years ago - stored properly on its side. About three years ago DH wanted to open one but I declined so he and a neighbour shared one bottle. They enjoyed it very much and were none the worse for wear.

Mind you, I have won some very suspect items in raffles …..

So true Jalima! Usually just on or over the 'use by' date!

I've got 5 gallons of double fermented bramble wine in my garage,its now 30 years old .Smells like a very nice Port but like many of you I'm worried about tasting it

I would definitely sample one ??

Go on, Paddyann, I will if you will! You first !