WINE GUIDES · WOUTER PARENT
How to store unopened red wine
An unopened bottle still needs protection from heat and light. Red wine is not automatically long-lived, and a high price does not guarantee that a bottle will improve over many years.
Find a stable place
A cool, dark cupboard away from heating and appliances is better than a warm display shelf. Frequent swings between warm and cold are unhelpful. If you collect bottles for ageing, consider a dedicated wine cabinet.
Check what you are keeping
Grape variety, acidity, tannin, winemaking and storage history all affect how a wine develops. Look for advice on the specific producer and vintage rather than relying on a single age limit for all reds.
Open a bottle and learn
If you have several bottles, taste one and write down how it is developing. Fading fruit, a flat palate and unpleasant oxidative notes can suggest that it is past the stage you enjoy. Mature notes alone do not mean the wine is faulty.
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