Expiration for Reds

[Innkeeper]

Don't know the size of your wine room. It is supposed to do two functions. The first is what we have been discussing; to age or "lay down" wines that need it. The second function is to hold wines that are "in rotation." We keep two-thirds to three-quarters of our cellar that has a ten case capacity in rotation. Rotation serves two ends in itself. First is to insure that you will have something to drink with whatever you plan to cook. The second is to give you the capacity to buy wines that you particularly like, by the case.

There is no reason why you could not have your whole cellar in rotation, if you do not have the desire, knowledge, or patience to lay down any wine. Wines that are too tannic, provided they are balanced with fruit, acid, and other qualities; are the ones that do need to age out.