Should a bottle of wine be held or had right away?

Question

I recived a bottle of wine as a gift and was planning on holding it till a special occasion, i don't have an event in mind but thought i could hold out on drinking the wine till a event came along worth toasting. while telling a friend about this plan she said that some wines are ment to be had in that first six months while others do get better with time. so which wines can be held and which wines should be had right away?

Answer 1

reds are usually the best agers. wines you would most likely put in the fridge are the ones to serve promptly although chards can age awhile. now any wine you open will turn to a vinager after a time (2 weeks) they are still good for cooking or making dressings. this is my personal observation

Answer 2

Honestly, for your wine, I would not drink right away, but I would wait for about 6-12 months and then consume.

I had drunk Alexander Valley Cabernet many times.  It is a nice wine to drink.  With any typical Californian cabernet, there are plenty of tannin and some oak that will do well with some aging to soften the wine.  However, Alexander Valley Cab is not a wine that is design to last for years.  I would not store this wine for at least 3-5 years, since aging past that time would not give you any more benefit.  Neither would I invest a wine cellar or an expensive wine refrigerator for this wine.   Keep it on the sideway in cool dark closet at about 65-72 degree would do OK for your wine - easily found at the cool spot in your house.  After that, pop it up and enjoy - maybe Christmas or next July 4th.

Answer 3

I agree with J L.

Answer 4

Cabernet Sauvignon can improve with age.  Being a 2005, I think it should cellar well for at least a couple of years.  However, it could be consumed whenever you feel the urge.  I often feel the urge.

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Answer 5

I agree with JL, it differs between wines (even the volume of wine in the bottle can affect its maturing rate). Perhaps if you provided more information about the particular wine (name of wine maker, vintage, wine name, bottle volume, year) then im sure you could find someone here who could tell you when the best time to drink it is.

Answer 6

Usually the "vintage" wines improve in flavor with age if properly stored. If you do not have a specific area in which you can store wine at an average of 12°C with a constant humidity and climate then you are better off drinking the wine soon. All wines spoil, especially if they have been opened as bottled win begins to oxidize immediately.

Brief but may be helpful.

Answer 7

I read all you replies - don't want to play cow-boys, but not anyone brings you explanations -

  I googled on this wine which is seemingly a serious wine, with a basic strong structure,good tannins, aromas, and kind of pre-maturing in oak barrels, in production phase - The grade is 13°5.THIS IS A GOOD REASON TO SPECULATE

on your wine - because 13°5 is rather strong - and gives a good basis to store it -

Now let's calculate : 2005 to 2008 = three years - Ok i give your wine in progress unto 2012 -

About the gift : it was a clever gift - because both good wine and not budget-killing -

Of course your bottle must be stored in a cellar,with darkness and

hygrometry 70 % - If not, say in bad conditions, you'll still keep your wine one year - but above all, pleeeease : darkness

Answer 8

Investors and collectors spend great deals of time trying to figure out the perfect answer to this question.  The answer is every bottle is different.  Without knowing what you have it is very hard to give you even a simple answer.  Your best bet at the moment is to take the label info and go to your local wine store and ask them.

Answer 9

on the label there is usually a guide to the drinking time.

Answer 10

It varies greatly. For example, have a look at this list of French wine:

http://www.terroir-france.com/theclub/ce...