|
Red
Wines
|
| Beaujolais |
Beaujolais
is made from the Gamay
grape which usually produces easy drinking, low tannin,
fruity wines. |
Up
to $12
|
These
light fruity wines are at their best when served quite young. |
$12
to $25
|
The
Cru Beaujolais (from individual villages) fall into this category.
They tend to be at their best 3-5 years old. |
| Bordeaux
Red (Medoc) |
These
wines are made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon and have
the same aging profile. |
Up
to $12
|
Drink
in the short term. Hold for a few months or even a year but
these are usually ready to drink when you get them. |
$12
to $25
|
Accessible
when they are purchased but these wines should improve a few
years (5-6 years from the vintage date). |
$25
and up
|
These
wines are likely to improve with age. Depending on the wine,
look for 7-15 years of improvement. A few special wines will
age for decades. |
| Cabernet
Sauvignon |
|
|
|
|
Up
to $12
|
Drink
in the short term. Hold for a few months or even a year but
these are usually ready to drink when you get them. |
$12
to $25
|
Accessible
when they are purchased but these wines may improve a few years
(5-6 years from the vintage date). |
$25
and up
|
These
wines are likely to improve with age. Depending on the wine,
look for 7-15 years of improvement. A few special wines will
age much longer. |
| Merlot |
Merlot
is a close cousin of Cabernet Sauvingon. It has a similar aging
profile but matures more quickly. |
Up
to $12
|
Drink
in the short term. Hold for a few months or even a year but
these are usually ready to drink when you get them. |
$12
to $25
|
Accessible
when they are purchased but these wines may improve a few years
(3-4 years from the vintage date). |
$25
and up
|
These
wines are likely to improve with age. Depending on the wine,
look for 5-12 years of improvement. A few special wines will
age much longer. |
| Pinot
Noir |
Pinot
Noir loses much of its fruitiness as it ages and gains complexity.
Not everyone appreciates this.
It may also go through 'dumb' phases where the aromas and flavors
seem to disappear for months. |
Up
to $15
|
Drink
short term. A year or less is reasonable. |
$15
to $25
|
Accessible
at purchase but will age and gain complexity with 2-4 years
of age. |
$25
and up
|
These
are usually bigger wines that can benefit from age. 5-8 years
is reasonable depending on the wine. Some special wines (Grand
Cru Burgundies) may age for many years. |
| Syrah/Shiraz |
Most
newer wine drinkers know Shiraz as an Australian product. It
is usually made there in a soft fruity style although exceptions
do exist. More experienced drinkers know that the grape has
long been used in the Rhone Valley of France where it is usually
made in a bigger style and blended with other grapes. |
Up
to $12
|
Easy
drinking wines that should be consumed within 1 - 2 years of
purchase. No benefit from aging. |
$12
to $25
|
More
robust wines should benefit from 3-5 years of age. |
$25
and up
|
Special
wines like the Grange, from Australia can benefit from a decade
or more of age. |
|
White
Wines
|
| Chardonnay |
Most
Chardonnay is designed for consumption while the wine is young.
Special vineyards can produce special wines with aging potential. |
Up
to $12
|
Drink
up. No benefit from cellaring these wines. |
$12
to $25
|
Drink
at 3-5 years from the vintage date. |
$25
and up
|
These
wines can age for 4-8 years depending on the wine. Be aware
that Chardonnays that have fully gone through malolactic fermentation
have greatly reduced life spans. Malolactic Chardonnays have
a smell of butter and unusually golden color when young. |
| Chenin
Blanc |
Chenin
Blanc has high acids and can produce wines that age well. They
can, but usually do not. Most Chenin Blancs that you will find
are not designed to age over long periods. |
Up
to $12
|
Drink
within 3 years from the vintage date. |
$12
to $25
|
Drink
within 5 years of the vintage date. |
| Riesling |
Most
people discover Riesling in the lower to middle grade of German
wines. It can be one of the best white wine grapes for aging
but only the best (and most expensive) Rieslings age well. |
Up
to $12
|
Probably
a German Qualitatswein or warm weather California Riesling.
Drink it within 3-4 years of vintage. |
$12
to $25
|
Better
German wines or moderate wines of Alsace. Drink young or age
to 6-8 years. |
$25
and up
|
The
best sweet German wines or dry Rieslings like Trimbach 'Clos
Ste. Hune' can age and develop for decades if stored properly. |
| Vouvray |
Most
Vouvray is best consumed when it is young and fruity. There
are special bottlings that can age for several years but they
are not commonly found. Consume Vouvray when young as a general
rule. |
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