The Life of a Wine
Written By: Dylan York on Wed, Jan 16th 2008
There are three important factors that contribute to the life of a
wine: the type of vintage it is made from, the intentions of the
winemaker, and how the wine is stored. Each factor is equally
important to help you choose the right wine for the right time.
The vintage combines the effects of climate and terroir on the wine.
Each grape variety needs different variables to maximize its
potential, so a good vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon may be different
than a good vintage for Pinot Noir. The best way to monitor this is
to use a vintage chart from a respected wine critic and keep up on
current vintage reports from magazines. Some vintages are great for
aging and some are good for earlier consumption. For example, in my
opinion 2003 Bordeaux, a hot vintage, should be consumed now or over
the next 5 years. I would not age these wines for a long period of
time because there is a lack of acidity. If you are looking to age
Bordeaux, the 2005 vintage is an amazing year for the cellar. For a
great value, pick up a case of the 2005 La Croix du Beaucalliou ($50
per bottle). The winemaker clearly made this wine to age. The intense
depth and structure will allow it to age for at least 20 years. This
leads us to the next factor in a wine's life: the intentions of the
winemaker.
The style and identity of the wine is dictated by the winemaker. Just
because it comes from a great vintage does not mean that the wine will
age. You have to consider the winemakers reputation and what style
they were looking to create. A good example of this is winemaker Randy
Dunn who is known for his age-worthy Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet
Sauvignon. You don't want to drink this wine unless it's a least ten
years old. However he also has a cabernet from Columbia Valley,
Washington called Feather. The 2004 Feather can be enjoyed now and
over the next 5 years. It also gives you a glimpse of the structure
he is able to create in his more age worthy wines. Today more and more
winemakers are making several different styles of wine at different
wineries. Keeping up with winemakers can be like sports, so pay
attention to where your players are at.
The next factor, proper storage, is your responsibility. Make sure
you are storing your wine at the proper temperature. Red wines should
be kept at 55 degrees F and white wines around 40 degrees F. Humidity
is also an issue, this should be around 60-70 percent to make sure the
corks stay intact. Paying attention to all of these factors will
ensure the life of your wine.
