Cellaring period is years from vintage. This is considered a maximum period for continued development e.g. 2006 Marsanne will develop added character & complexity for another 7 to 10 years from its vintage year i.e. until 2013 to 2016.

By the same token many wines (whites and reds) will hold their development and continue to be superb drinking beyond this arbitrary period.

When to drink it or when it is at its "best" is a subjective judgement based upon individual palate preference.

Vintage Chart Code


Young
Improving
Ready
Declining
Past 
Not Released

Year1860 Vines ShirazEric Stevens Purbrick CabernetEric Stevens Purbrick ShirazCabernet SauvignonShirazMarsanne

2011
10+

2010
7-10
2009
7-10
2008  
20+		  
15-20
10+
2007
20+
20+
5-6
2006
20+
20+
20+
15-20
15-20
7-10
2005
15-20
15-20
15-20
15-20
15-20
7-10
2004
15-20
15-20
15-20
15-20
15-20
10+
2003
15-20
15-20
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
2002
20+
20+
20+
20+
20+
5-6
2001
15-20
15-20
15-20
15-20
15-20
7-10
2000
20+
20+
20+
15-20
10-15
10+
1999
15-20
20+
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
1998
20+
20+
20+
20+
20+
5-6
1997
20+
20+
20+
15-20
15-20
7-10
1996
15-20
15-20
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
1995
20+
15-20
15-20
7-10
1994
20+
20+
20+
10-15
10-15
7-10
1993
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
1992
20+
15-20
10-15
10-15
10+
1991
20+
20+
20+
20+
7-10
1990
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
1989
15-20
5-10
5-10
10+
1988
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
1987
15-20
10-15
10-15
7-10
1986
20+
20+
20+
20+
7-10
1985
10-15
10-15
10-15
5-10
7-10
1984
20+
15-20
10-15
10-15
1983
15-20
15-20
1982
20+
15-20
10-15
5-10
10+
1981
20+
20+
20+
20+
1980
10-15
10-15
10-15
10+
1979
10-15
15-20
15-20
15-20
7-10
1978
15-20
15-20
15-20
1977
10-15
10-15
5-10
1976
15-20
15-20
10-15
1975
5-10
1974
10-15
10-15
1973
5-10
1972
10-15
10-15
10-15
1971
20+
20+
20+
1970
10-15
5-10
1969
5-10
1968
20+
20+
10-15
1967
15-20
15-20
10-15
1966
10-15
10-15
1965
15-20
15-20
1964
20+
15-20
10-15
1963
1962
20+
20+
15-20
1961