Not all wines are better when aged: The types of wine, the method of storage and on your own preferences identify when you should open a bottle.

Remember that wines have different maturity cycles: they reach their best quality at different period.

The matter of opening or storing a wine bottle is important to get the best out of it. Some simple rules will help you to make the right decisions.

Rule 1: Tannins-rich and acidic wines are better fit to age

Look at the tannins and the acidic taste in it. The richer in tannins or the more acidic the taste is, the better when aged.

To keep a bottle for long time, choose a powerful, complex and rich wine. So look for cépages like chardonnay, chenin or sauvignon for white wines, and cabernet-sauvignon, syrah or mourvedre.

Rule 2: General aging times: Not over 20 to 30 years

Most of the wines produced nowadays will be over aged after 20 to 30 years. If you have that old bottles in your cave, it is time to open them…

Refer to the list below for some average ageing time of red and white wine types:

- White wines

• Except for the vintage champagnes, the champagnes are to be open in three years.

• The sweet white wine (typically a Château d’Yquem or a Sauternes 1er cru) can be stored for 5 to 25 years.

• The white wines from Alsace (like a Gewürztraminer 1er cru) the aging time is between 5 to 25 years.

• The white wines from Jura, particularly the late-harvested wines because they have a higher content of natural sugar, can be aged 10 to 20 years.

• The “vin jaune” from Jura (appellations like Château Châlon or l’Etoile) can be tasted after 30 years! They developed over time a nice nut flavor.

- Red wines

• The Beaujolais Nouveaux are generally better to drink straight after purchase than after one or two years. Same for some aromatic white wines, which are better “young”.

• The Bordeaux grands crus red wines (Pauillac or Margaux) can be kept between 5 to 30 years.

• The Burgundy red wines like Vosne Romanée or Bâtard-Montrachet can also be stored for 5 to 30 years.

Rule 3: The price tag tip

As you could deduce from above, the more expensive wines are, the longer they can age. That what you should keep in mind if you don’t recall all the appellations.

A simple tip to remember: Bottles below 50 dollars should be opened in a period of three years. Above that price, they can be kept longer.

Rule 4: Trust your sommelier

Aging a wine is a complex question. The best is to ask for advice from your sommelier or your wine retailer.  All the wines from The French Cellar  are delivered at your doorstep with our sommelier's tasting guide.

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