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+--- Thread: When to drink - how to count (/thread-18061.html)
- sgutte - 01-23-2003
This is the Novice forum so here is a real newbie question:
1) Wine charts typical advise the number of years to age a wine before opening.
2) On a bottle there is the vintage
Lets see if I have this straight. If the grapes were picked in 1999 and aged in barrels for 24 months (bottled in 2001) then the vintage is 2001 and if the recommendation is to age for 2 years then I should drink in 2003. Other grapes also picked in 1999 but aged 12 month and bottled in 2000 the vintage is 2000 and then should drink in 2002.
I hope I am clear with my question.
- Kcwhippet - 01-23-2003
You're very clear with your question, but you've made an incorrect assumtion. The vintage year is the year the grapes were harvested. So, if the grapes were picked in 1999 the vintage is 1999 regardless of whether there's been aging for 1, 2 or more years.
Welcome to the Wine Board, and be sure to come back often. We'll be glad to answer any of your questions (if we can).
- sgutte - 01-23-2003
Thanks Kcwhippet.
Would you say that a wine aged longer in barrels need less aging in the bottle or does it not matter.
- Kcwhippet - 01-23-2003
It's sort of apples and oranges, because there are so many variables involved. A lot depends on the type of wine being made, where the grapes are grown, the winemaker, the style of wine he/she is trying to create, the type and age of the barrels being used and a few other things. As a for instance, some California Cabs are made in a very big, extracted style with lots of fruit character and lots of tannins. The winemaker might age the wine in barrel for one, two or more years to gather some of the complexity in the barrels and to gain character. Then he might age in bottle for another year or so to let the wine sort of resolve itself to become a bit more approachable when it's released. Again, a lot depends on the wine being made and what the winemaker is trying to accomplish. Some wines with not much barrel aging can age for quite a few years in the bottle, and the converse applies, as well.
- joeyz6 - 01-23-2003
And for the moment, Sgutte, don't worry too much about aging your wines. Much of the wine that you will buy is meant to be drunk soon after its release (most of the wine in the world is like this). Moreover, if you do need to age a wine, you are going to need appropriate storage, as in temperature and humidity control.
Those big Cali Cabs that KC mentioned DO often need to be aged, but ask your retailer or post here to ask if you should really be aging the bottles you choose to purchase.