Drinking wines with age

Why Drinking Wine with Age Is an Adventure for Your Taste Buds

Wine is a magical thing - it's not just a drink...it's like a time capsule!
When you sip a wine with some age, you’re tasting history, experiencing how time has transformed its flavors and textures. For many wine lovers, drinking an aged wine isn’t just enjoyable - it’s an adventure. After all, only a certain amount of a wine in that vintage is produced and as the years go by, it gets drunk bottle by bottle! 
So, finding a 2010 Bordeaux or a 2012 Barolo at a great price is a treat...

The Beauty of Aged Wine
Wine is alive. When bottled, it doesn’t stop evolving. The flavors, aromas and the feel in the mouth - called the texture - that you experience from a wine straight off the shelf are just the beginning of its journey. Over time, wine can develop layers of complexity, with new nuances emerging as it interacts with oxygen in the bottle, softens its tannins and transforms its flavors into something truly special. Kind of like us! We get better with age for sure...

For example, a young Barolo might be bold, tannic and intense - which is great!
But give it 10 or 15 years and it develops. Those grippy tannins mellow, the fruit flavor deepens and you’ll find earthy notes like truffle, leather and flavors that remind us of spices. Bordeaux and Burgundy reds also follow this pattern - big, structured wines with layers of fruit, acidity and tannins that gradually smooth with age. Again, kind of like us!

White wines, too, can age beautifully, though not all are built for the long haul. Italian whites like Fiano and Verdicchio are excellent examples. With a few years in the bottle, these wines gain a richer texture and take on nutty, honeyed notes that are really tasty.

Why Reds Often Outlast Whites
You may have heard that red wines age better than whites. That’s often true because reds typically have more tannin - a natural preservative that comes from the grape skins that adds color to the wine and also helps the wine evolve slowly over time. Whites, which lack tannins because the skin isn't used, rely primarily on acidity to age which means their window for aging is shorter. However, high-acid whites like Riesling or some Italian varieties can still stand the test of time.

A Taste of the Past at Tower Square
At our recent Tasting at the Tower event on November 21st (Thank you for all that supported us!) we uncorked a few gems to showcase the magic of aged wine. A highlight was a magnum of Don Melchor 2012, a stunning Bordeaux-style red from Chile. With over a decade of age, the wine was a beauty - its deep blueberry and plum notes perfectly in balance with soft tannins and hints of tobacco and spice.

For those who experienced it, the wine was proof of how patience can pay off. A magnum like this not only ages more gracefully due to its larger volume but also demonstrates how a well-made wine can develop into something extraordinary.

Explore Wines with Age at Springfield Wine Exchange
Whether you’re new to the world of aged wine or a seasoned collector, exploring bottles with a bit of age is one of the best ways to expand your palate. At Springfield Wine Exchange, we stock a selection of wines with age that are ready to drink now, as well as younger wines with the potential to cellar for years to come.

Looking for something special? We’re happy to source aged wines for you on request. Whether it’s a classic Bordeaux, a treasured Barolo or an aged white with a story to tell, we can help you find your perfect bottle.

Stop by the shop to see what’s in store or give us a call to discuss how we can help you discover the beauty of wines with age. Let’s raise a glass to exploring history - one sip at a time!