The fascinating world of wine extends far beyond simple immediate tasting. Thus, while the majority of wines produced worldwide are meant to be enjoyed in their relative youth, certain vintages are capable of withstanding the test of time while improving, creating a category called "vins de garde". These exceptional bottles, rewarding our patience, offer a unique and memorable sensory experience.
In this article, we will explore the subtleties of this style of wines by examining their characteristics and attempting to understand why certain vintages are more suited to aging than others.We will conclude by giving you all our advice on how to best preserve your favorite bottles, whether they are for aging or not!
So, pour yourself a glass (in moderation) and embark on a journey defying time!
What is an aging wine?
As mentioned in the introduction, an aging cuvée is a wine capable of withstanding the years while improving.
Although no legal age limit is set to define this type of wine, at
- Peak within 1 to 5 years : wines to be enjoyed in their youth and that do not gain complexity over time. Their bouquet primarily expresses primary aromas (fruits, flowers, spices) and secondary aromas (from fermentation: butter, brioche, toasted bread, etc.).
- Peak between 5 to 10 years : medium aging wines. This type of cuvée benefits from being stored for a few years in the cellar to refine. Here, tertiary aromas (related to aging: woody, vanilla, humus, undergrowth, leather, etc.) may appear and make the wine more complex.
- Peak after more than 10 years : long aging wines.Here we enter the very definition of aging wines: vintages that can be stored 10, 20, 50 years, or even more in the cellar! These are bottles whose aromatic complexity and grandeur are revealed only through the work of time. It is therefore necessary to be patient in order to appreciate them at their peak.
What are the characteristics of aging wines?
The ability of a wine to age well is influenced by a multitude of factors. Here are the most important ones.
- The grape variety: it is the type of grape used. Some varieties indeed have tannins powerful, a significant acidity or even an expressive aromatic profile, all factors contributing to the good longevity of a vintage. Tannins indeed act as antioxidants while acidity builds the backbone of the wine. Finally, a bottle expressing few aromas in its youth will have a hard time becoming gustatively interesting as the years go by.
- The work of the winemaker : while the creation of wine is a completely natural process, it cannot, however, exist as an aging wine without human intervention. The role of the winemaker and their choices are therefore paramount. Vineyard management, choice of grape varieties, winemaking processes, types of aging (see next point) are all crucial points of consideration when it comes to creating a wine (whether for aging or not!).
- Aging : stainless steel tank, concrete tank, oak barrel, large cask, or amphora are all containers in which a wine can be aged.Thus, as an example, aging a batch in an oak barrel or in an amphora (porous materials) will allow it to have a measured exchange with oxygen. Once bottled, this same wine will be better able to resist it because, let's remember, it is indeed the contact of the wine with oxygen that makes it evolve... positively as well as negatively! The vintage: man does not do everything (and fortunately)! The climate indeed plays a decisive role in the aging potential of a wine. Thus, a good vintage (sunshine, adequate temperatures, etc.) will give the same batch a much better aging potential than a cool and rainy year.
Other elements such as the terroir or even the quality of the plant material (choice of clones, age of the vines, etc.) also contribute to the longevity potential of a wine.
So, in the end, how do you know if you have an aging wine in your cellar? Well, find out about all the factors mentioned above and don't hesitate to seek advice from
Examples of aging wines
Red wines are probably the first type of cuvées that come to mind when we talk about "aging wines".However, white wines, sweet wines, champagnes and even rosés all have in their category delicious bottles capable of aging gracefully while improving! Here are some examples of appellations and regions known for their age-worthy wines.
Age-worthy red wines
Age-worthy red wines often stand out due to a robust tannic structure in their youth as well as a marked acidity, although balanced. Additionally, they regularly (but not automatically) undergo aging in oak barrels, which, when skillfully managed, adds an extra layer of complexity.
- Bordeaux : it is probably THE region everyone thinks of when the notion of age-worthy wines is mentioned. It is true that the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc stand out for the creation of this type of cuvées. It is also true that the Bordeaux vineyard has a myriad of prestigious appellations and Grands Crus dedicated to this kind of wines. Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Pessac-Léognan and also Saint-Émilion and Pomerol are some examples.
- Burgundy : if the Pinot Noir is a grape variety with low tannins, its natural acidity and delicious aroma, coupled with high-quality terroirs classified as Premier Cru or Grand Cru, also allow for the creation of wines suitable for aging. Appellations like Gevrey-Chambertin, Pommard, Nuits-Saint-Georges or Chambolle-Musigny perfectly embody this.
- Rhône Valley : with Syrah in the north, and the grape varieties Grenache and Mourvèdre further south, the Rhône Valley produces delicious red wines for aging. AOCs like Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, or Châteauneuf-du-Pape are indeed among the most prestigious in France.
- Languedoc-Roussillon : The largest wine region in France is full of great wines.The appellations Pic-Saint-Loup, Minervois, or even certain IGPs like Côtes Catalanes all have fantastic terroirs that allow for the creation of long-aging cuvées.
- Southwest : Madiran and its Tannat grape, Bergerac and its Bordeaux grape triptych, Cahors and its illustrious Malbec... here are three proofs that the Southwest can also produce great long-aging red wines!
Of course, this is a non-exhaustive list! Many other regions and countries also produce long-aging red wines.We could, for example, mention Italy (Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo, etc.) and its grape varieties Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, or Spain, where Tempranillo shines in the Rioja and Ribera del Duero appellations. The Bordeaux vineyard, creator of fantastic wines for aging White wines for aging White wines can also have great aging potential. Acidity, aroma, terroir, and the winemaker's vinification are the key factors here.
- Loire : on AOCs like Savennières or Vouvray, the grape variety Chenin can create stunning wines, capable of withstanding several decades of aging. In rarer cases, Sauvignon (AOC Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé) can also produce white wines with great longevity.
- Alsace : the Alsace region is a true viticultural marvel, particularly renowned for its production of characterful white wines.Here, the 3 most emblematic grape varieties are the Riesling, the Gewurztraminer and the Muscat. Producing wines with very different characteristics, these three varieties share the ability to produce incredible age-worthy white wines.
- Burgundy: the Chardonnay is the flagship white grape variety of Burgundy. With it, wines can be mineral like in Chablis or Puligny-Montrachet or powerful, rich and opulent like in Meursault or Corton-Charlemagne.No matter its style, on interesting terroirs, this variety produces some of the greatest white wines in the world.
Once again, this is a non-exhaustive list and other vineyards such as Condrieu in the Rhône Valley (varietal Viognier) or Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh (Petit Courbu, Gros manseng, Petit manseng etc.) in the Southwest can also produce great age-worthy white wines.
Other aging wines: rosés, champagnes, and sweet wines
If red wine and white wine are the two main categories of aging wines, champagnes, sweet wines, and even rosés can also improve in the cellar over the years!
- Champagnes : the finest sparkling wines of France can indeed be long-lasting! In fact, although the majority of champagnes are intended for relatively quick consumption (1 to 5 years maximum), some exceptional bottles, mostly vintage, are capable of defying time.
- Sweet wines : many sweet wines have a great aging potential thanks to their natural acidity as well as their sugars, acting as natural preservatives. Sauternes, sweet Chenin wines from the Loire or Vins Doux Naturels from Roussillon (Maury, Banyuls etc.) illustrate this beautifully.
- Rosés : It is indeed rare to come across rosé wines suitable for aging.However, some appellations like Bandol or Palette in Provence can sometimes produce rosé wines with a genuine aromatic structure and even sometimes tannic. This is also the case for some Côtes-de-Provence.
Finally, other wines like Vin jaune in the Jura also defy time.Thus, in 2018, a Vin jaune dating from 1774 (you read that right) was auctioned for €103,700!
How to properly store your wines?
Now that you have a better understanding of aging wines as a whole, a question arises: how to store them properly? Because it's all well and good to have bottles with incredible aging potential in your cellar, but if you don't store them correctly, you're likely to be disappointed when you open them!
Here are the 6 rules you must absolutely follow so that your bottles age harmoniously.
- Suitable humidity level : a humidity percentage of 70 to 80% minimum is ideal to prevent the corks of your bottles from drying out. The risk: excessive contact with oxygen, permanently ruining your wines.
- Protected from light : both natural and artificial, light is the enemy of wine. A defect known as "light taste" even exists! Indeed, prolonged exposure of your bottles to light can give your precious bottles a particularly unpleasant taste of cauliflower or rubber.
- A constant temperature : a temperature oscillating between 12° and 14°C is ideal for storing your bottles. Beyond this range, the aging of the wine accelerates. Below this range, your wines will evolve more slowly.
- Horizontal storage : your bottles should be stored horizontally so that the wine remains in contact with the cork. Once again, the risk here is that the cork dries out, causing premature oxidation of your precious nectar.
- Good ventilation and absence of odors : over time, wine can absorb surrounding odors. Therefore, avoid storing paint or garlic right next to your vintage gem!
- No vibrations : wine likes calm. Vibrations and other movements accelerate its aging and weaken it. Be cautious of household appliances, subways, or cars.
You are now a connoisseur of aging wines! All that remains is for you to make an informed choice among all the previously mentioned vineyards, and don't forget to store your purchases correctly afterwards! Cheers and feel free to reach out to
