Cellar Conditions Experiment Results

Years ago I bought four bottles of Stone IRS (same bottling date from their tasting room) and decided to "cellar" them in different conditions. I planned on leaving them for two years, but living overseas made that almost 3 1/2 years before they were opened. Four people did a blind tasting, sampling them in random order.

The four bottles were stored:

1. In a garage that regularly got 100 degrees in the Summer, and San Diego cold in the winter. No Exposure to light at all.
2. One inside, so normal temperatures 70-80 degrees, but in direct afternoon sunlight (the most direct for out location).
3. Inside closet, so similar but slightly less temperature variations to #2, but no sunlight.
4. Refrigerator Cellar, constant 52 degrees and no sunlight.

The consensus was that bottle #1 (garage) was horrible (any number of off flavors), and the other three were all similar with just small variations.

The most common comment for bottle #1 was undrinkable. It was rated fourth best by everyone.

Bottle #4 (refrigerator) was the favorite of two people, but third place for the other two.

Bottle #3 (closet) was ranked first by one person and second by three people.

Bottle #2 (direct sun) was also ranked first by one person, second by one person and third by two people.


Not at all scientific in like numerous ways, but it was interesting to see the huge difference that large temperature fluctuations made, while smaller temperature fluctuations did not have much of a noticeable impact. Everyone also agreed that the difference between bottles 2-4 were very small, and it was more due to personal preference.