Greetings

   To age or not to age . . . that is today's Cyber Circle Newsletter question.

   Of course, as human beings, we have no real choice in the matter. We're aging every day. Some fight it. Some do it gracefully. But nobody escapes it.

   Aging wine, however, is an entirely different matter. For one thing, it's a matter of choice -- we can choose either to age or not to age a bottle. Furthermore, it's absolutely true that some wines do get better with age.

   But how can we make sure that we don't wait too long before uncorking an ageworthy wine?

   Click on, and all the mysteries of aging -- wine aging, that is -- will be answered . . .

Enjoy!

Why Some Wines Improve With Age

   Many wines, particularly in their youth, possess very strong tannins and/or high levels of acidity. While neither quality is a flaw, either can detract from the enjoyment of the wine.

   Allowing such a wine some time to age provides an opportunity for these qualities to "mellow out" or "smooth out," creating a beverage that is said to be more "balanced." Aging also tends to allow the fruit character of the wine to shine through, rather than being somewhat muted.

   The amount of time needed for a wine to reach its prime varies by varietal and by vintage. There are no hard and fast rules. That's what makes aging somewhat of a guessing game.

   But armed with just a little information, you can make educated guesses and experience more pure enjoyment in your wine drinking.

   This is where aging gets tricky, because all wine enjoyment involves personal taste. The Wine Advocate (writer/critic Robert Parker) can tell you that a particular wine rates 95 on a 100-point scale and that it should be consumed between 2008 and 2015, but when all is said and done, that's just his opinion. It's a well-informed opinion, to be sure, but it addresses only his personal preferences.

   For instance, if a wine figures to reach its peak in 2012, that means it will be in excellent balance (assuming it's stored properly) with good fruit flavor. But what if you prefer "big" wines -- wines that are more tannic in their makeup, that are more "in your face" than subtle?

   Just because Parker (or some other pundit) says a wine will reach its peak in 2012, that doesn't mean YOU will like it best at that time. It's all relative. It's all a matter of personal taste. It's all about YOU. Never forget that as you move forward in your wine drinking experiences, and as you decide which bottles to uncork and which ones to lay down.

Storing Wine In Your House

   Aging wine is not as simple as leaving the cork in and waiting. It requires proper storage.

   Don't panic. That's not as problematic as it may sound. You don't need to invest in costly, temperature-controlled units.

   If you plan to age a wine for a year or less, it should fare just fine in the typical household setting -- between 68 and 72 degrees -- as long as you keep it away from direct sunlight or hot lamps.

   For more ageworthy wines -- those you plan to lay down for a number of years -- a few other factors come into play. You need to find an area of your dwelling that is constantly cool (between 50 and 60 degrees), dark and even a little bit damp (to prevent the corks from drying up, becoming brittle, and allowing oxygen to find its way into the bottles).

   Houses with a cellar are ideal. If your house doesn't have a cellar, you may need to purchase a temperature- and humidity-controlled unit. Again, don't break the bank when making such a purchase. You don't need the "super-duper deluxe" model -- just one that works.

We hope you found this week's Cyber Circle newsletter both informative and helpful.

Cheers
Martin Stewart, Jr.