10 Best Aged Wines in the World
Wine just keeps getting better and better with age. Why wine is better with age is due to the chemical reactions that occur in wine among the sugars, acids, and substances in it. That said, not all wines taste better as they age. You can also over-age wine.
Here are the ten best aged wines and how long to store them so that they are still drinkable:
1. Port Wine (20-50 Years)
A vintage Port wine ideally should be aged between 20-50 years. If you have a vintage Port wine, cellar it for at least a couple decades before you open it. It can depend on the exact vintage though. Be sure to follow the advice of what’s given by the producer, if any is given.
2. Tannat Wine (4-12 Years)
Tannat takes 4-12 years to age gracefully to peak taste. The tannins in a Tannat are powerful. This doesn’t mention the intense fruitiness and spicy flavors that make up the wine’s primary characteristics. Tannats can be enjoyed on the young side in their aging although once they achieve peak taste, a bottle can last upwards of two decades.
3. Riesling Wine (2-30 Years)
Riesling wines are to be aged between 2-30 years. The best Rieslings have a long life, however, once again not all wines are meant to be aged to such a degree. Most will reach peak maturity around the 17-year mark. Most Rieslings will maintain this peak potentially for decades before starting on a long and gradual decline in quality.
4. Furmint Wine (3-25 Years)
Furmint takes 3-25 years of aging to reach its full potential. As with Tannats, the best time to indulge in a Furmint is probably on the young side. Some of the higher quality Furmints can last much longer, gradually building in their complexity between influences of honey, spice, sugar, and cooking apple.
5. Tempranillo Wine (2-8 Years)
Tempranillo wine has a shorter aging period compared to other wines on this list. Tempranillo’s going to take 2-8 years to achieve its best taste. This type of wine ages very well and is already partly developed. This is due to the barrel and estate aging many of these wines go through before reaching consumers. Tempranillo is traditionally left in barrels for long periods before bottling.
6. Saperavi Wine (3-10 Years)
Saperavi takes 3-10 years to age, although this isn’t the case for every bottle. Made all over the world, Saperavi is a semi-sweet dry wine. Some varieties require only a single year of aging. Higher-quality Saperavi wines have some strong aging potential, with the beverage’s grapes being particularly strong and robust.
7. Chardonnay Wine (2-6 Years)
Chardonnay is meant to be aged for 2-6 years. Some of the best Chardonnays, however, are opened after having aged a decade or longer. Don’t think this will be the case for your bottle though. It’s best to stick with the ‘five years or less’ philosophy.
8. Bordeaux Wine (8-25 Years)
Bordeaux wine requires 8-25 years of age to achieve its potential. After roughly a decade, you will have peak Bordeaux on your hands. It is worth noting that Bordeaux wine can quickly begin to lose its peak after roughly 25 years of aging. Thankfully, the aging curve is on the longer side which gives a wine lover ample time to get the most from a bottle.
9. Xinomavro Wine (4-10 Years)
Entering the world of Greek wines, a Xinomavro should be aged between 4-10 years. Known for its structure, richness, and similarities to Pinot Noir, some Xinomavro wines can age gracefully for decades. For those that have the time and patience to properly age a Greek Xinomavro, the effort will pay off when it comes time to finally open the bottle.
10. Cabernet Sauvignon Wine (4-20 Years)
For a Cabernet Sauvignon wine, you may want to give it 4-20 years in age before opening a bottle. A lot of Cabernet Sauvignon wine lovers will give a bottle a decade to age beautifully, though you can hang onto it for longer. Due to the tannins in it, Cabernet Sauvignon is widely considered to be one of the best aged wines in the world.
