What type of wine is worth to keep for years?

Question

One of my friend told me that I can buy a $30 or $40 dollar bottle of wine and keep it for years; then, it will turn out to be just like those expensive and old aged wine, is that true?

Can I do that to any wine, red, white and even dessert wine?

Thanks!

What about those wine from 1980s? It's been almost 30 yrs If I have right place to keep?

Answer 1

Simple answer: No

Question 1 Can you store it properly? That means 58 degrees. 70 % humidity. On its side. In the dark. Free from vibration.

If you can't provide that kind of environment, don't expect ANY wine to age properly.

Very few white wines are worth more than 8-9 years, and the few French white burgundy wines that are typically cost hundreds to thousands a bottle.

Many red wines will cellar for a long time and will improve with age such as California Cabernet, French Bordeaux, and many others. Some are even available for $30 or less. But age doesn't improve all wines. Merlot , Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel are examples that have more limited shelf lives.

Some dessert wines age very well also.

Bottom line, unless you have a natural wine cellar space in your basement, you'll be lucky if that old bottle of cab is drinkable let alone valuable.

That being said if you do your research and make an investment of time and space, what your friend said can be exactly true. I have in fact 15 cases of a French Bordeaux that I paid about $33 a bottle for, which I plan to lay down for another 10-15 years. I won't necessarily be able to sell it for a huge profit, but it will be exquisite and I guarantee I couldn't buy one like it then if I tried at almost any price.

Amazingly enough there is a statistic that 90% of all wine sold is consumed within one month of purchase.

Answer 2

There is a system in place for which wines will benefit from aging and which will start to lose their flavor after 1-2 years. The cost of the bottle is not a determining factor here other than the fact that many aging-worthy wines tend to be a bit more expensive. Both reds and Whites have varieties that age well, such as certain Bordeaux and Burgundies, but I'm not as certain for dessert wines. Since they often have a higher alcohol content, they will probably keep well, but I don't know if the flavor will improve over time.

Try asking a professional at a good wine store, I believe www.totalwine.com will have some information that can help point you in the right direction :)

Find some good bottles, a few for now and a few to keep for a few years, and you'll have years of sipping enjoyment! I wish you the best!

Answer 3

Actually Cabernet Sauvignon is a great wine to age unless you are looking for a French wine (in which I have very little knowledge). Great California cabs to age would be Staglin, Grace Family, Colgin, Silver Oak, Spottswoode, Beringer and Araujo to name a few. A lot of these you will only find online or at the winery itself but sometimes you can get lucky and they become available in fine wine shops. Cabernets you can age for 20 years, other red wines will have less of an aging time. Never age a white wine but there are a few dessert wines you can age such as French Sauternes or fortified wine such as Port. Always store your wine lying on it's side and store in a cool, dry place. I have friends who have sold their cases of wine for 3 and 4 times of the purchase price. The value depends on the vineyard you choose and the year on the bottle. Do a little research and someday you will have a valuable wine collection.

Answer 4

Age is not the only factor of a great tasting wine. Region, environmental influences, soil, what kind of weather they had that year...all these things effect the taste. The exact same type of wine can taste different from year to year because of these reasons. If you're looking for a great wine to hang onto, try Stag's Leap Merlot (2002) or a Jarvis 2003 Cab-Sav. Both are excellent choices.

Answer 5

No, it's not true. The expensive wines are kept in a certain type of conditions and made to be the best they can. If you have a wine in your fridge, my suggestion is to drink it and enjoy it pretty soon after you buy it. Wine is so good!!!! Try it with different kind of cheese types and light bread:)

Answer 6

If you want to age a wine that will improve your best bets for doing this are: Port, Bordeaux, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine must be stored properly as mentioned above. We bought Bordeaux produced in the years our children were born to open when they turn 21.

Answer 7

I think that, that is an oldwise tale...maybe i am wrong...but i have done that once...and it tasted like piss...well...not really just a little like some stale vinegar. I think that a dessert wine is the "ticket" to aging a bottle of vino...i'd try that. Who knows? Good luck crackin' that open in ten years.

Answer 8

you can buy any wine and hold it forever as long as you do not open it.

note: many wines turn bitter after about 50-75 years