For many wine drinkers there is an assumption that the more you spend on a bottle of red the nicer it will be.This is often not the case as many wines, especially the more expensive ones ,will not be ready for drinking until several years after their release.
The reason for this is that, in many cases, the grapes for these wines come from top class vineyard sites which manage to ripen the grapes slowly and with great concentration and power. Wines made from such high quality grapes take time for their component parts to knit together to provide a balanced harmonious glass of wine. In addition to this, time spent in bottle allows wine to develop secondary characteristics, which lend complexity and individuality to the wine. This is known as bottle age and is considered as a desirable attribute by seasoned wine drinkers.
For most consumers choosing wine is a bit like choosing cheese. Some people like Cheddar others a very mature Cashel Blue. It is a matter of personal taste and identifying the style that you like. Spending big money on an old expensive
For the modern wine drinker the challenge is to source wines that are drinking well. Wineries release wine for sale each year thus, freeing up space in the winery for the next vintage not to mention, releasing funds to pay bills. They are not guaranteeing the consumer that they are ready for drinking. Thus the challenge!
As a wine buyer I will generally relate the age of the wine with its price when considering what to stock. For inexpensive whites I am looking for youth and vibrancy because the grapes for such wines will only offer primary fruit character. For more expensive whites I would be looking for some age so that the more nuanced complex qualities of these superior grapes have time to shine through. For all reds I am looking for at least a couple of years age but not too much for basic inexpensive reds.Generally the more expensive the red the more age I would be looking for.
There is no point in spending €30 on a red that is only two years old as it has not had enough time to settle itself and develop.Better to spend €10 if you cannot find something with a bit of age. The chances are that the component parts have knitted together in the €10 wine because it is made from less concentrated grapes and will therefore mature more rapidly.
Hope this info is useful,!
THE VINTRY,RATHGAR
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