What wine should I go out and buy to put in a beginning wine cellar?
I like dry wines. I drink more red than white. I am looking for something to save for a while, until I have a nice collection built up.
Tagged with: dry wines
Filed under: All Things Wine
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Most people decide to collect wine either for pleasure or profit. While it need not cost a fortune to begin with, the hobby will require a certain investment on your part — of money as well as time.
No matter what your motive is, the crucial aspect to consider is the storage of the collection. It is all about preserving your investment, no matter what the value, so that it will improve.
Wine that has been protected under the proper conditions will age the way the master of the vintage intended. By contrast, a wine that has not been cared for will not last at all, no matter what kind of quality it had to begin with.
Keep in mind that not all wine is meant to be stored over a long period of time. Therefore, before you begin to invest, you should discover which wine you should buy and for what purpose.
One basic tenet to adhere to in purchasing wine is to determine the "provenance" of the vintage — that is, the quality of the storage conditions. If possible, ask for certification before making a major purchase. It may seem insignificant but wine is not bottled water. A bottle of wine is host to a variety of chemicals, microorganisms and gases that react with each other over time, changing the composition of the liquid.
Cabernet Sauvignon can be aged up to eighteen months in oak barrels before bottling. Peak flavors can be reached after aging somewhere between five and ten years, depending on the producer and the vintage year.
Merlots should be aged between four to eight years depending on the producer and the vintage year. Certainly you can consume younger vintages, but for the best of the crew, aging is the best choice to attain the highest quality.
The aging range of Pinot Noirs can be broad, from three to twelve years depending on where the grapes have been picked and the vintage of the wine.
While Zinfandels can sometimes be aged up to eight years, most are made to be drunk early rather than late.
Shiraz can be made to be consumed within a year or two of bottling. Other Syrah wines can require many years of aging.
Napa Valley Pinot Noire - Estate Bottled.
I would start by adding the wines you enjoy.
the wines of france are traditionally red, and keep as well as their value.. Italianians are a good close second.
the 05 bordeauxes are said to be the vintage of a lifetime, so if you are looking for some good cellar candidates they would be the ones, these are investment caliber wines , so get them now.
In addition to what the others have said, try getting some cheaper wines. If you have a dozen or two cheaper wines, you will be less inclined to drink the good stuff.