An Education in Wine Aging

As another year passed and one of my favorite activities occurred, Kacia’s Birthday Wine Find, I found myself in my happy place of categorizing my new treasure trove of bottles.

Before a new wine is entered into my database and stored in my cellar, I read up on it, seeing its professional wine scores, history, tasting notes, and, most importantly, the recommended year to drink it. It was during this recent categorization fest and the entry of a 20-year-old Australian Syrah into my collection that I really started to ponder the rules for determining what does and does not make a wine able to age.

Wine never stops evolving. According to the popular publication Wine Enthusiast, once in bottle, the alcohols and acids of the wine continue to react with one another, forming new compounds. This leads to changes in color, aroma, and taste. For example, a red wine’s color will fade over time from a bold ruby hue to that of tawny or orange, and a white wine’s color will deepen from a pale yellow or gold to amber or brown. Aromas and flavors will go from their primary and secondary notes like plum, pepper, and rose, and will develop into tertiary notes which include such descriptors as dried fruit, earth, and mushroom. Many wines will eventually mature past their prime and can take on hostile notes like vinegar, making the wine undrinkable.

So, how does one determine when is the best time to drink a wine? I have heard answers ranging from every wine can be aged for decades, to wine purchased from a small and local winery must be consumed immediately. Both of these statements are wrong. The basic truth is most well-made wines can age three to five years, at the lower level for the majority of whites. On top of that, there are a variety of factors that wine consumers can keep in mind that will aid them in determining just how long a bottle can last.

First and foremost is the structure of the wine. Wines with high acidity and tannin levels are able to age. In fact, wines with higher tannins tend to smooth out with time, allowing for a stronger fruit note and a less drying feel in the mouth. Wines that are well balanced, meaning that the body, tannins and acidity all work together and do not overpower one another, tend to show the ability to age as well.

The type of wine is also a big factor when it comes to the age factor. As previously mentioned, still wines tend to last at least three to five years after being bottled, with rosé style wines being the exception and typically tasting better within a year or so. According to Wine Folly, some of the more ageable red varieties include Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wine Enthusiast sites Sémillon, Riesling, Chenin Blanc and Furmint as some of the more ageable whites.  Sparkling wines can be aged, and many experts will say are better after an additional year or two in the bottle. Thanks to the sugar levels, sweet wines are very ageable, and fortified wines like Port can easily age for ten, twenty, even thirty years, with the exception of Manzanilla and Fino Sherries.

               The remaining factors depend on the grapes and where they came from and the wine making process. Quality grapes are naturally going to improve the quality of the wine. Wines housed in oak, especially varieties like Chardonnay and Albariño, will typically be able to benefit from some extended shelf life. Adding extra sulfites – yes, all wines contain some level of sulfites as it is a byproduct of the winemaking process, don’t get me started on the sulfite haters – will help give wine a nice aging boost as well. A wine’s region can also play a part, as there are particular areas throughout the world, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Napa Valley, German, that continually produce ageable wines. The particular vintage also needs to be kept in mind. Even the strongest of regions and grape varieties known for wines of immense aging potential can suffer from a year of weather mishaps like too much rain, hail, overly hot temperatures, etc. and reduce its typical age trajectory.

               Another thing to consider is how a bottle of wine was stored. A poorly kept bottle will cause the wine to age faster or gain undrinkable characteristics. The general rule of thumb is that wine should be stored in a dark area with a constant temperature, preferably ranging between 53- and 57-degrees Fahrenheit. Also, bottles with a cork should be placed horizontally in the wine rack to prevent the cork from drying out and allowing excess oxygen in.

               Considering all of these elements, a person can generally get a decent idea of the longevity of their wine. However, when in doubt, go to the experts. This can include reviewing the winery or winemaker’s notes. Most wineries want the consumer to enjoy their wine when it is at its best, as they want them to come back for more, and they will include this information in their description. Another option is to look up professional wine scores. Between being trained in what to taste and look for, as well as having the ability to communicate with the winery, these experts and critics can give an excellent drinking bracket. Two of my favorite go-tos are Wine Spectator and the Vivino app. Sure, these both cost, but they give so much useful information that it will make a person feel like they know the bottle of wine’s every secret. Wine.com also has a wealth of information about most of the bottles they sell.

               In the end, though, each person has to determine a research method of their own. Some wine lovers will only keep a handful of bottles at a time to enjoy within a few months, others will store wines they have personally tried and determined will age well, others will just take a gamble and drink what they want when they want, some will buy a case to be consumed at various stages in the wine’s life, and then there are the obsessive, like myself, who will study a wine until they are blue in the face. The thing to remember is mistakes will happen. There will be instances where a wine is consumed too early, or a wine from a memorable trip will be held too long and become undrinkable, but each instance is a learning experience that takes a wine lover a step closer to understanding this mysterious beverage.

Whatever your methods, whatever your wine drinking beliefs are, I raise my glass of Clarendon Hills Astralis 2004 Syrah, just at the peak of perfection and ready to go downhill, to you, and I hope the wine you are drinking tonight, no matter the age, brings a smile to your face. Cheers!