Many styles of white wine age beautifully in a cellar, and that list isn’t limited to vintage Champagne. I frequently store white wine in my own cellar and find that the right whites can age just as well, if not better than, some of the finest red wines on the market. It’s true that most…
The first time I set foot in an urban winery, I admit that I was pretty skeptical. I’m a fan of traditional winemaking practices, and most of the wineries located in the heart of major cities tend to buck tradition a bit–they aren’t regulated by the same AOC or AVA rules as they are in…
As I said before about the legendary 1986 Henri Jayer Richebourg, I’m supremely picky about which wines I consider true “unicorns;” they should be rare, old, age-worthy, and historically significant. Although 2005 Clos Rougeard Saumur Champigny is still relatively young by fine wine standards, I consider it one of the few mid-2000s wines to have…
One common myth that many beginning wine collectors believe is that they can store red wine for years, no matter the varietal. In reality, only some red wines will last for decades in your cellar; most wine (an estimated 99 percent, according to some experts) doesn’t gain any benefit from aging, so you’re better off…
When my ancestors moved from Italy to the United States decades ago, they did so in turmoil: phylloxera had taken over their vineyards and destroyed the grapevines they worked so hard to cultivate. They were forced to abandon their vines and make a new life in the United States as orchardists. Unfortunately, the small village…
Brunello di Montalcino is the crowning jewel of Italy’s Sangiovese grape, capable of lasting as long as 20 years in a cellar without much effort. Yet when the weather, the winemakers, and the cellar conditions are just right, Brunello can exceed this lifespan by an additional 10 or even 20 years; it’s a rare feat,…
A few weeks into September, like clockwork, I start getting email notifications letting me know that my wine allocations are on their way. If I’m not careful, I’ll end up with multiple cases of wine at my doorstep, and no place to put them. Fall is one of the two busiest times of the year…
As semillon develops noble rot, seen above, the grapes become sweeter, which allows the wine to age longer in a cellar. I have a confession: I used to be intimidated by the idea of collecting any white wine other than Champagne. Like many collectors out there, I loved a crisp glass of Chardonnay, but my…
One common problem I see with many wine collections today is lack of diversity. It’s great to specialize in the wines you love, but a diverse cellar is fun to drink from, as well as being a good investment. I know a wine collector who only invested in Cabernet Sauvignon or red blends made primarily…
Having a home cellar can be a form of torture for those of us who love drinking wine. It takes a lot of willpower to leave that bottle of Bouchard Pere & Fils where it is, knowing that it’s sitting on the shelf just waiting for someone to uncork it. That’s one reason I only…
Deciding on a vintage’s quality before all of the grapes have been plucked from the vines can be a gamble. Years ago, when I first heard reports about Bordeaux’s 2012 grapes, I was ready to write the vintage off entirely; cold, wet spring weather resulted in uneven flowering, and by July, a massive heat wave…
Years ago, I took a tour of a California winery with a few friends. Our guide took us through the gem of the estate: a carpeted wine cellar hidden away behind the kitchen. In the beginning of the tour, our group was loud and boisterous, but the moment we stepped inside that cellar, the mood…