Do all wines benefit from aging?
guysmiley98465 posted:
He was given a bottle of "Leaf" turning, vintage 2006. It 'German red wine S.A. It 'the black pinot S.A. to be exact. I don 't know anything about wine so I was wondering if you would benefit from age? Do all wines benefit from age? Some get worse with age?
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Usually, red wines are the ones that are aged. A lot of time, the aging is done in the vats, so when you get a bottle, it is ready for consumption.
I bought a bottle of Baco Noir a couple of years ago. The vintner told me to let it age a few years, and it will taste better. So, I bought 2 bottles. One I consumed right away, and the other is down in my wine cabinet…. until 2011.
It really is up to you, if you want to let it sit for another couple of years, or open it now and enjoy it. Either way it’s going to be fine to drink.
When it comes to white wines, it’s usually best to consume them within a few months of buying them. Aging doesn’t do anything for them.
Also, if you choose to let it alone for a while, be sure to store it properly. Keep it lying on it’s side, to keep the cork wet. A dried out cork will allow air in and it will turn the wine to vinegar.
White wines, champagnes and ports can also benefit from aging. Some of the best white burgundies can be aged 50 yrs. For the most part when you are buying or receiving things like turning leaf and other mass produced wines found in grocery stores they can be drunk right away or you can store them for a few years with some benefits. Sometimes the actual vintner can tell you the length of time to store for the best benefit. Try the turning leaf website and see if they have any suggestions.
NO!
It is true that in general wines (much like beers by the way) do benefit from aging. However, cheap wines (again much like cheap beers) are designed to be consumed fresh and will not benefit from aging.
Unfortunately, there isn’t really a way to tell which is which… Other than price point. Under say $20 to $30 a bottle and it will be hit or miss as to the benefit of the cellaring process.
EDIT:
The type of wine does NOT play a part in determining the ability to age. I’ve seen 50 year old bottles of Champagne before… I couldn’t afford them or else I’d tell you I’ve had 50 year old bottles.
All wines go through a life cycle. From the time of bottling, they improve for a time, reach their peak, and then go downhill and oxidize. Depending on the wine, this process can take 18 months or 100 years.
(Contrary to popular belief, they do not turn to vinegar unless vinegar bacteria are introduced.)
The question is HOW LONG to keep a given bottle of wine before opening it.
In general, white wines and blush wines are made to be drunk fairly young, often within 1-3 years of the vintage date. A few of the greatest white wines will age longer, but if you’re purchasing these superb (and generally expensive) wines, you probably know which ones will age well.
In general, red wines will be drinkable from 3-7 years from the vintage date, but there are many exceptions. Beaujolais Noveau, for example, should be drunk within a year of the vintage date. Inexpensive, mass-produced reds should be good for 3-4 years from vintage. For better quality reds, 5-10 years is common. Some of the greatest red wines are ageable for 40-100 years, but again, if you’re buying these, you should already know what you’re getting for your money.
One important factor is how the wine is stored. The ideal conditions are with the bottles on their side, undisturbed, in the dark, and in a constant, cool temperature (55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit). Slightly warmer and constant is better than fluctuating temperatures. Warmer storage and fluctuating temperatures mean faster aging. Over 75 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit may damage wines.
If you have an older bottle and you’re going to open it for a special occasion, it’s always best to have and alternate “back-up” bottle at the ready.
And always remember — if you have the choice between opening a bottle two years too early or two years too late, early is better.
No some are best had young when they are a dot frivolous, like Beaujolais.
If you have a German wine then it can be drunk young!