Wines for ageing

What is an age-worthy wine?

An age-worthy wine is a wine that can be kept for several years in the cellar while improving over time. As wine is a living product, it continues to evolve after bottling thanks to minimal contact with oxygen, year after year through the cork.

While this matters little for the majority of wines, since most of the cuvées on the market are meant to be enjoyed in their youth, it is nevertheless possible to keep certain bottles for 10 years, 20 years and sometimes much longer in order to consume them at their peak.

The qualities of a wine to age well

Several characteristics inherent to wine are decisive for a bottle to improve over time. Here are the most important among them:

-Acidity: it structures the wines and is essential to their proper balance. In fact, it gives depth during tasting and helps preserve a certain freshness and taste harmony.If a wine lacks acidity from its youth, it is certain that it will not evolve positively as the years go by.

-Tannins: this criterion is especially important for red wines. In their youth, some wines have powerful tannins and can sometimes be difficult to appreciate. Nevertheless, these are very important in terms of structure and have an antioxidant role, allowing your bottles to be stored in the cellar for a longer period. Over time, the tannins soften and round out, making the wine more pleasant than in its early youth.

-Sugar: a high level of sweetness allows for better preservation of wines because it also plays an antioxidant role.Thus, Sauternes, sweet Vouvray, or even the Natural Sweet Wines of Maury naturally keep longer than classic dry white wines.

-Maturation: a key element in the aromatic profile of the wine, aging also plays an important role in its proper preservation. In fact, wines meant for aging often undergo maturation in oak barrels. Why? Since wood is a porous material, a very controlled oxygenation occurs during the aging phase, getting the wine used from the start to the element that makes it age: oxygen. Aging in oak barrels can therefore be beneficial (although not absolutely necessary) with the aim of creating wines suitable for aging.

-Aromas: if a wine has a weak aromatic profile in its youth, there is almost no chance that it will persist or gain in complexity over time.It is therefore essential for a wine to be at least expressive on the palate.

-The grape variety: some grape varieties are well known for enabling the production of age-worthy wines. Notably, we can mention Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc in Bordeaux, Syrah in the Rhône Valley or even Tempranillo within the famous Spanish appellations Rioja and Ribera del Duero. For whites, Chardonnay in Burgundy, Chenin in the Loire or even Riesling in Alsace can also create sublime age-worthy wines.

Finally, other important criteria such as the terroir, the vintage and above all the storage conditions play a key role in the wine’s aging potential.

How does wine evolve as it ages?

With age, the structure of the wine (alcohol, sugar, acidity, tannins, aromas) evolves. Nevertheless, it is difficult to define a general evolution of wines since each bottle is different. However, some common aging characteristics do exist.

Thus, for red wines, the color will generally become garnet while the tannins will soften, providing better drinkability. Tertiary aromas (due to the evolution of the wine in the bottle) will also appear: leather, humus, undergrowth, or even truffle are common markers of old red wines.

For white wines, the color will evolve towards orange while the acidity will tend to decrease. From an aromatic point of view, it is common for notes of honey and dried fruits to appear.

For sweet wines, the sugar and alcohol will gradually become better integrated. Thus, after a decade or more of aging, certain cuvées may present surprising balances of freshness. The initially present fruity notes will tend to fade in favor of aromas of dried fruits, butter, and honey.

Finally, it should be noted that some champagnes (mainly vintage ones) also keep wonderfully.Their fruity character will also tend to disappear over the years, giving way to a chalky minerality as well as notes of dried fruits and autolysis (toasted bread, butter, etc.).

Good storage conditions for wine

3 key factors are essential to store your bottles in the best possible conditions:

-Humidity: it is very important to maintain the elasticity of cork stoppers. Indeed, it is these stoppers that protect your wines from oxidation! Thus, a humidity level ranging from 70% to 80% will be ideal. Below this range, the corks may dry out over the years and your precious wines may oxidize.If your room is more humid, this will not be harmful to your wines, but be careful with the labels (mold)! In this case, you can protect them with a simple plastic wrap.

-Temperature: wine does not appreciate temperature fluctuations at all! A stable temperature oscillating between 12 and 14°C is ideal. Beyond this range, the aging of the wine will be accelerated. Below, your wines will evolve more slowly. Moreover, generally speaking, if the temperature of your room varies between 10° and 18°C, don't worry, this will have little effect on the quality of the wine. Beyond that, it will be a problem for bottles you keep for several years (especially whites and rosés).

-Light: whether natural or artificial, it is the enemy of wine. Prefer a dark place and avoid long-term storage in the kitchen or a living room.

Furthermore, other factors are also important for preserving wine, such as good air circulation as well as the absence of vibrations and odors. Remember that wine prefers calm and rest, so be mindful of household appliances, cars, etc.

Finally, it is also essential to store your bottles in a horizontal position so that the corks remain in constant contact with the liquid. This way, they will stay continuously moistened, preventing too much oxygen from entering the bottles.

You now know everything about wines for aging! All that’s left is to make your choice from this wonderful selection! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact La Cave Éclairée directly!