WHICH WINES SHOULD I CELLAR?
Similar to a portfolio of shares, it is important to balance your wine collection. One of the main reasons for this is that people’s tastes change over time. Regardless of whether you collect for investment or pleasure, catering for changes in taste is essential.
built to last Not all wines should be cellared. As 95% of Australian wines are consumed within 24 hours of purchase, most wines in your local bottle shop are made to be consumed upon release. There is little point cellaring these wines, as their taste and aroma will only deteriorate with age. At the other end of the spectrum certain wines, stored in the right conditions, are capable of lasting many decades. Strangely, many of these wines will not be particularly enjoyable upon release. In Australia, perhaps due to the youth of our wine industry we are far more likely to find wines capable of being cellared for between 5 and 15 years.
Typically, wines suitable for cellaring are produced from older & more mature vines, grown in dry well drained and temperate conditions. Combined with skilful winemaking, they have the ‘structure’ required to last and improve over time. While price will often help differentiate these wines, it is not always the sole indicator. Numerous wines available for less than $25 are capable of 10 years cellaring or more.
the vintage variable
Each and every vintage of the same wine is different. As a consequence, each vintage also ages differently. While some vintages may be capable of lasting two or three decades, others may be lucky to last a year or two. Therefore it is important to know the cellar potential of each and every vintage of the wine in your cellar. Tracking vintage information is essential.
a balancing act
A balanced cellar is one that continues to provide ‘dividends’ on a regular basis. Unless you want to sell or drink all your wine in the space of one or two years, careful attention must be paid to your cellar selections.