Giving Wine a Rest

[Winent]

Hey guys, we lab coats really aren't such a bad lot! I agree that disproven old theories can look pretty silly through the retrospectoscope. However, none of the wine board regulars (myself included) have any problems with the current opinions regarding wine and health benefits - based on evidence based work by scientists.

As for the resting issue, I remain skeptical. The oxygen theory seems like a good idea, but I would think the small bit of oxygen in the dead space above the wine would have long since reacted with the wine, leaving only non-reactive CO2 and other inert gas. Is this correct? Anyway, short of putting the wine in a paint mixer - no signigicant gas exchange is going to take place. Bucko's comment about lack of studies is a good one. Two ways to go: 1) conduct BLIND taste tests with experts such as yourselves and quantify a difference or 2) Say to hell with it, I know it makes a difference, I don't need some egghead with a Ph.D. to confirm it for me. Option two seems to be the overwhelming favorite for most here on the wine board!