Aging wine can transform a simple beverage into an exquisite, multi-layered experience, but it requires patience. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that aged wines, particularly those from 2020 to 2022, have significantly improved in taste compared to their younger counterparts.
The process of bottling wine introduces a myriad of changes. Working in a vineyard for a season and bottling on several occasions, I’ve observed that waiting a couple of years allows the wine to develop depth while reducing its harshness and mousey notes. However, volatile acidity (VA) can present a different challenge, either causing the wine to deteriorate or mature into vinegar.
Natural wines, aged for 8-10 years, have proven to maintain their fruitiness and energy exceptionally well compared to mass-produced wines that may lose their vibrancy over time due to excessive sulfuring. While I’m not discussing prestigious domaines here, it’s worth noting that they typically use less sulfur in their winemaking process.
During the summer of 2021, I had the pleasure of tasting several wines from 2016-2018, including Côt from Hervé Villemade, Ploussard from Bornard père, and selections from Labet and Aviet in Jura. These wines were remarkably bright, precise, and full of energy—a stark contrast to the reduced young ones I’ve tasted.
Opening it a couple of hours before consumption generally yields better results, but I’ve found that opening bottles in the morning for lunch and re-corking them for the evening can result in significantly deeper, cleaner wines the following day.
Another aspect to consider is when to open a bottle. Opening it a couple of hours before consumption generally yields better results, but I’ve found that opening bottles in the morning for lunch and re-corking them for the evening can result in significantly deeper, cleaner wines the following day. This approach may involve some risk with zero-zero wines due to the potential for mouse development, but I’m increasingly leaning towards this method for my wine consumption.
So, where do you stand on aging and opening wines? Do you appreciate the benefits of patience or prefer the immediacy of wines straight from the barrel? Share your thoughts below!
Questions & Answers
What are some benefits of patience?
Patience promotes better decision-making, reduces stress levels, fosters empathy, and enhances personal relationships.
How does practicing patience improve decision-making?
By taking time to consider all options without rush, patience allows for more informed and thoughtful decisions.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
