How long does Bordeaux age?

This is a very hard question to answer because there are so many different kinds of Bordeaux on the market and they're all at different quality levels. Does the price of the wine dictate who well it will age? The answer is not always. I have had wines from Bordeaux that retail under twenty dollars that have aged nicely for over a decade, and wines over a hundred go bad just as fast.

The real answer to this question lies in the history of the Chateau. Have the wines produced from this winery aged well in the past? Is the wine from a strong vintage which produced wines of concentration? Was it a vintage that produced acidic wines with big phenolic profiles? If the answers to these questions are in the affirmative then you can be sure that with proper conditions it's safe to let a wine age for a decade or two.

Generally speaking wines of average quality from Bordeaux will age gracefully for about ten years. Wines of a higher profile may live 15-20 years, while wines of superior distinction that are collectible can last several decades and beyond.

Finally, the last question to be asked is if you as a consumer enjoy the taste of older wine. Some may argue that when as wine has youth, it also has fruit and is impactful on the palate. Some may really love the muddled and subtely nuanced flavors of aged wine. Each person will have his or her preference and aging wine is not for everyone.

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