How long does wine last in years?

[chardonnaylover]

I love to try new wines and I opened a bottle of William Hill Reserve Chardonnay last night, it was a 2000 and it was "vinegar". It was disgusting. How long does Chardonnay last for, in years. I am under the impression that a red wine is better with age, what about white wines?

[robr]

Sounds like it was stored too hot, or too much air got to it. I'm not an expert on white wines, but I don't think 5 years would normally do that to Chardonnay.

[JSHelgerson]

Much more happens in the bottle besides tannins dropping out and giving a wine a softer feel. The chemical composition of the wine is changing gradually through many tiny processes, causing other flavors to emerge (often referred to as "bottle bouquet"). At the same time, the youthful fruit flavors that had been prominent start to diminish.

Most wines aren't built for long-term aging, and red wines, with the structure that the tannins give them, are generally better able to stand up to cellaring. But some white wines gain layers of extra flavor with time in the bottle. Better Burgundy, as well as Riesling and Sémillon (both dry and sweet), are among the white wines worth aging. Most white wines are ready to drink upon release. Yet the wines most enthusiasts are interested in (the best Chardonnays, Chablis or Cote D’Or White Burgundies, even the better German wines) are released years before they will be at their peak. They can be enjoyed when young, but they will not have reached their full potential. The consumer is assumed to be knowledgeable enough to understand that these wines need that time in bottle to smooth out, mellow, and evolve into something complex and wonderful.

[JSHelgerson]

Also, echoing bernkastler...your chardonnay was probably stored at too high of a temp, or it is possible it was just from a bad batch of wine.

[Innkeeper]

Hi Chard Lover and welcome to the Wine Board. Methinks the folks above have the right answer. JS: You must have missed our Savennières thread under Loire Wines.

[JSHelgerson]

You would be right....i'm new and haven't read them all.....yet.