Another Ageing Lesson

[Innkeeper]

With PS you could lose a coat of enamel off your teeth. A red wine needs ageing if the tannin in it is raw or coarse. The wine will taste very astringent. The tannin will smooth out over time if the wine is in balance, that is it has enough acid and other components to do the job.

If you buy a case of wine, what you suggest is not a bad idea. First you peg the earliest date it could be ready, and try it then. Then you check once a year until you feel it has peaked. Then finish all of it that year or next.

If you look at several of WW's postings on the cabernet thread, you will see that he does exactly that. He also lets the rest of us know when he thinks a given wine will be ready.

If you only buy two or three bottles of something though, its damned if you do, and damned if you don't. So, the best bet is just to make your most educated guess and go for it. Most wine is very forgiving though, and will show its best over a couple or few years.



[This message has been edited by Innkeeper (edited 11-27-2001).]