10/23/07 Aging Wine

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Determining which wines to buy for aging can be tricky. On today's program I'll give you a few pointers about selecting wines to age. First off, when aging wines we focus on red wines. But how to decide which red wines to buy for aging is best done when you keep a few things in mind. First of all do you have relationship with a wine merchant who knows your taste and your budget? Then ask them for advice. Do some research on your own; is the producer of the wine that you're considering reputable? Was the vintage a good one? If it's an imported wine, find out if the shipper has a good reputation? But the best way to choose a wine is to taste it with a couple of knowledgeable people, who will help you to understand the characteristics that you look for in a wine to age. First and very important look at the color, it should be ruby red. It should have an outstanding fragrance of the kind of grape that it was made from. If you are just learning, this is especially obvious in young cabernet sauvignon. It should have plenty of fruit, good acidity and firm tannins. Although the tannins may make you pucker now, they will soften with age. If your wine passes these criteria then it is likely that you can keep it around for awhile. I recommend buying at least one case and trying a bottle every so often to observe the changes that your wine goes through. So - do your homework and never hesitate to ask for advice when choosing a wine to invest your time. And thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.