Have you ever heard the (very) popular saying “it gets better with age, like red wine”? Well, it’s quite inaccurate. In fact, no wine is made to be aged, i.e., there’s no rule that says all red Bordeaux wines are made to be kept and all white wines should be drunk young.

We can, however, agree on a common denominator for all ageing wines. Since ageing develops a wine’s aromas, giving rise to tertiary aromas and softening its tannins if it’s a red wine, it can be argued that it’s the great wines that are best suited to ageing. As a result, the most elaborate and complex wines are generally those most destined to be preserved.

Tannins, acidity and sweetness

As you know, a good wine achieves harmony between sweetness, acidity and tannins. It will come as no surprise to learn that, depending on the type of wine, a specific level of one of these elements can determine aging capacity.

For red wines, especially those from Bordeaux, Languedoc, Burgundy and the Rhône, the more tannin they contain, the better they are for laying down. By working on the tannin content of wines, without making them astringent and overpowering, the producer can create wines for ageing (grape seeds and bunches, which contain tannins, can be used, as well as mature grapes with more tannic skins, or new wooden barrels). These include the grands crus of Pauillac, Margaux and Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, or the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy, or even Châteauneuf du Pape in the Rhône.

On the other hand, for dry white wines, such as those from Burgundy or the Rhone Valley, it’s generally those with the highest acidity that will have the best ageing potential. Once again, while this acidity is naturally more present in varietals such as Chenin Blanc or Riesling, it can also be worked into other blends. Dry white wines for ageing can be found among the great Alsatian crus, as well as Condrieu and Corton-Charlemagne, to name just one AOC in each region.

For sweet white wines such as Sauternes or Barsac, it’s the sweetness (and therefore the alcohol level) of the wine that determines whether or not it’s suitable for laying down. In fact, the most elaborate and sweetest sweet wines (such as Château d’Yquem in Sauternes) are the ones that can be kept the longest.

For sparkling wines, especially Champagne, it’s the vintage cuvées that are destined for aging. These include vintage blanc de blancs vintages such as Charles Heidsieck’s Blanc des Millénaires. Selecting the best Chardonnay grapes produces particularly fine, complex champagnes that age better.

That said, it goes without saying that wines don’t just have to be tannic, acidic or sweet to keep. Each wine must have the right balance of these elements, sufficient complexity and substance, and of course be produced from ripe grapes. A wine’s harmonious evolution depends above all on good balance.

Precaution

In conclusion, if you’re a collector of fine wines or want to build up a cellar, it’s essential to know the producers and appellations you’re betting on.

If you want to save certain bottles for a special occasion, such as your child’s 18th birthday, a wedding or other special occasion, it’s advisable to opt for a Bordeaux or a cuvée from a leading Burgundy or Rhône producer, who won’t let you down when it comes to aging their wines.

Last but not least, you don’t have to pay astronomical sums to find wines for ageing. If you count on ten years or so, you can find wines between twenty and forty euros that will mature very well.