15.6 Post-Bottling Maturation Flashcards
What types of wines are typically best consumed within a year of bottling? Why?
- fresh, fruity flavours
- maturing them results in a loss of their primary fruit flavours
Name some famous wines that benefit from bottle aging.
- Vintage Port
- premium German Rieslings
- crus classés Bordeaux
Name a famous wine that legally requires minimum bottle aging before release.
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
What are the costs associated with post-bottling maturation?
- the winery must have/build suitable storage conditions
- pay insurance while the wine is in their ownership
What is the standard packaging used for wines that are intended for further ageing? Why?
Glass bottles
- impermeable to air; however, it is possible for a small amount of air to ingress through the closure.
What is oxygen transmission rate?
- aka OTR
- the rate at which a cork transmits oxygen to the wine
What factors at bottling have a significant impact on the development of the wine in bottle?
- amount of oxygen trapped in the headspace of the bottle
- the amount of oxygen dissolved in the wine
Describe the effects of a small amount of oxygen on wine during post-bottling maturation.
- allows wine to develop slowly in bottle
- primary aromas become tertiary aromas
- tannins soften
- any aroma compounds from oak become better integrated
- the colour moves towards brown and becomes paler in red wines and darker in white wines
What can occur if the wine has been exposed to too little oxygen before bottling?
this can lead to the formation of volatile, reductive sulfur compounds in the bottle
How should bottled be stored while aging?
- undisturbed
- cool dark place
- a constant temperature (10–15°C / 50–59°F)
- constant humidity
- if sealed with cork, bottles should be stored lying on their side
Why should bottles sealed with a cork be stored on their sides?
So that the corks remain moist and an optimum seal is maintained
