if a bottle of wine is older does it mean that it is better?

Answer 1

No. As mentioned, age can be both good and bad for wine. Some wines are best when they are only a couple of years old. While others require proper aging to bring out the best qualities in them. For example, white wines and some reds are usually best within a few years of their vintage. Many reds get better with proper aging, but only to a point (depends on the tannins). Note the operative term here is "proper aging". A wine that is stored in bad conditions may just turn to vinegar.

Another major factor that will affect the quality of the wine is its vintage (i.e. that year the grapes were harvested). A young wine from an outstanding vintage may be much better than an older wine from a so-so vintage.

Check here for more information:

http://www.robertmondavi.com/WineFacts/aging.asp

Answer 2

No. If a bottle is older, it just means that it is older.

A bottle of Beringer White zin or Arbor Mist is still going to taste like crap in 15 years. But, a Chateauneuf du Pape may reach it's peak in 10-15 years.

Also, a 1975 Lafite may or may not be good. If it's been stored upright in the sun, then it's probably going to taste terrible. However, if it's been properly cellard, it may be wonderful.

There are also variations in the vintages (the year). A 1987 St. Emillion (French) is past its peak, but a 1982 would probably be to die for.

The majority of wines are made to be drunk now. Generally anything under $30-$40 should not really be cellared (aged). I'd say that 75%-80% in that price range are meant to be drunk immediately. Another 20%-25% may benefit from 2-5 years of aging. Very few would do well past that time frame.

I hope this helps! : )

http://www.erobertparker.com/info/vintagechart1.html

Answer 3

It really depends on the bottle of wine. I'm not a wine expert (although I'm trying to learn more) but in general some reds improve with age, most whites should be consumed earlier. Port actually can be kept for a very long time (decades) and if it's from a good year then it can be kept for decades. There is still port around that's 100 years olf. In any case, they should be stored properly. The cork will only last for a few years before it dries out so it should be replaced regularly if it's a wine that's being stored for a few years.

Answer 4

No, a thousand year old bottle of wine would not taste too good. A good wine needs to age. When it hits a certain number of years it will be considered to be in its prime. Also, wine enthusiests know which wine areas had the best years. Years where the amount of rain and sun were just right. So seeing someone get excited to drink a bottle of wine from a specific year means they know that bottle came from one of those good years. If you are really lucky, you will get a good year when the wine is at its prime.

Answer 5

No. The aging of wine is as important to the taste as the other aspects such as grape selection, fermentation process, barrel quality, etc.

Some wines improve over time, some get worse. A very OLD bottle of wine could be very BAD. The quality of the wine is more about the environment and processing than the age.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

some wines are produced with the point that they are going to enhance with time in the bottle if appropriate saved at fifty 5 stages. those wines tend to be costly (over $50 a bottle) and are produced in very small parts. The turning out to be previous enables the tannins in the wine to soften and improve the wine's stability of alcohol, acidity and tannin. The year or vinatge additionally concerns because of the fact all wine grapes are no longer the comparable each year. some year's produce greater valuable fruit and make greater valuable wine.

Answer 7

No, if it is bad wine then aging will make it worse, if it is good wine but aged incorrectly then it will be bad too. Not all wines are meant to be aged and some are only meant to be aged for a short period ( eg 5 years ). So that's an all round 'no' then.

Answer 8

Depends on the wine. If it's a good wine it can be left to improve. the bottle usually says how long it can be stored for. if it's a lower quality
it won't have a long life, so drink it quick!

Answer 9

Really good wine gets better with age, bad wine just gets worse.

Answer 10

no. i had one that turned out to be vinegar. it was about 30 years old. supposed to be really good and was expensive. it depends on how the wine was stored. you can get great wine for under $12/bottle if you shop around. spending anything more is an ego rub for whoever you're trying to rub.