“Like fine old wine.”
We’ve all heard people use versions of this timeworn saying, which suggests that the aging of any wine improves it. That may be true for about 1 percent of the wines in this world, but it has sad consequences for the other 99 percent.
Most of the wines we drink tend to be young and fruity—and it’s that very fruit that we all cherish. We speak of chardonnay’s bright citrus, gewurztraminer’s spiciness, riesling’s apple-y/floral sprightliness, and sauvignon blanc’s herbal freshness.
Too much age will diminish those elements.
Though it’s true that some of these wines will improve in the bottle, most people still appreciate wine in its youth—especially those wines that are reasonably priced. That includes the most interesting aromatics and flavors that we find in red wines….