While much of the wine sold today is designed for immediate or almost-immediate drinking, a small number of wines improve with age and need to be “laid-down” (cellared) for a period of time in order for them to be enjoyed at their best.
How your wine is stored will positively or negatively have a direct effect on the final flavor, colour and character of each bottle.
Which wines need to be laid-down?
The fine wines that require cellaring come mainly from classic Old World regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy, Piemonte, and the Mosel. However, increasingly, the New World is beginning to produce wines that require some bottle age for full enjoyment.
These wines develop complexity in terms of their bouquet and flavour, and generally become more refined over time.
Where and how should wines be stored?
The way in which a fine wine is stored is key to its later enjoyment. The conditions – temperature, humidity and freedom from disturbance – all contribute to its successful evolution.
If you are storing wines at home, look for a cool, dark place that does not see great fluctuations in temperature throughout the year – the obvious choice being, an underground cellar.
Alternatively, your collection fine wines can be stored at Vinothèque, a specialist bonded wine-storage warehouse, via our Portfolio Service.
What are the advantages of buying wines to lay down?
Availability
The purchase of wine en primeur is often the only way to guarantee being able to enjoy a particular wine once it is ready to drink. The supply of mature fine wines on the market is relatively low, particularly amongst the most sought-after names.
Advantageous Pricing
Purchasing a wine en primeur often allows you to purchase at the lowest possible price at which that wine will be available. Storing the wine under bond also allows you to spread the cost of the wine by deferring the payment of duty and VAT until the wine is ready to drink.