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Can a wine truly be great if it can’t age?

The following article appeared in the March issue of Wine Enthusiast.

A bottling’s ability to stand the test of time has long been considered a mark of quality, but that might not be the case for every wine or even every region.

We’ve never had to question the ageability of wines from Old World regions like France and Italy—we already know the answer. Wineries throughout these countries date back generations, and top vintages of, say, Bordeaux or Barolo can last for decades; we have the pleasure and ability to taste such older bottlings as proof of their prowess. Can New World wines age the same way? More importantly, should they even be held to the same standard?

Read the full article here.

1 comment:

  1. This article is confusing. What is not addressed as to what (in your opinion) makes a great wine. Ageabilty has always been a measure. What needs to be clear in rating wine, is if one gives a high rating as to why it is so much better than its peers. I do not find that in descriptions much. Can a wine that was made last year really be judged great? If so what makes it so. I have wines in my cellar that truly taste great after 10+ years and am certain they have evolved over the years. That being said, I have many that have not improved much if at all. All wine changes with age, whether it is 1 month or 20 years. To me a great wine is one that will last and will give great pleasure a decade after bottling, not one that you which you drank a year after bottling.

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