Bordeaux Serving Temperature – How to Store it Properly
The renowned French wine region of Bordeaux has given the world some of the finest vintages, but in order to fully enjoy them, we must master the delicate art of preserving these red wines.
Join us as we uncover the mysteries of appropriate serving, temperature control, and storage to make sure that every Bordeaux drop in your glass is nothing less than sublime.
Table of Contents
The Perfect Serving Temperature for Bordeaux Wine
The optimal temperature range for Bordeaux wine is between 63°F and 65°F (16°C and 18°C). This temperature enables its complex flavors to come out and lure you with a gorgeous bouquet that perfectly captures the region’s terroir.
Cooler temperatures can mute the aromas and accentuate astringency, while warmer temperatures may make the wine taste flat. The recommended range also helps manage the tannins present in Bordeaux wines, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
How to Store Bordeaux Wine
For Bordeaux to be stored properly, a certain combination of time, temperature, humidity, and darkness is necessary.
Storage Temperature for Bordeaux Wines
The best storage temperature for Bordeaux wine is generally between 55°F and 60°F (13°C and 15°C). This temperature is often considered ideal for the long-term aging of Bordeaux wines.
The wine continues to mature and develop in the bottle, and a consistent, cool temperature allows for a slow and steady aging process. This slow maturation helps the wine develop complex flavors and aromas while maintaining its structure.
Monitor the Humidity
A humidity level of 60-70% is necessary to maintain the cork moist and provide a secure closure. This stops air from entering the bottle and spoiling the priceless elixir.
Wine cellars with natural humidity levels are usually great for Bordeaux wine aging, but if you don’t have one, try utilizing a humidifier to keep the proper moisture level in your storage location.
Keep your Bordeaux Wines Away from Light
Wine’s sworn enemy is light, particularly UV rays. An unpleasant taste might emerge from unfavorable chemical reactions brought on by too much exposure to light.
To protect your Bordeaux bottles from harmful rays, store them in a space that is dimly lit or completely dark. If at all feasible, use UV-resistant glass or opaque containers for extra safety.
Lay Them Down
To keep the cork moist and airtight, store wines with natural cork closures horizontally. As a result, the aging process is slowed down and oxygen is kept out of the bottle, allowing the wine to gradually acquire complex flavors and textures.
Patience Is a Virtue
Bordeaux is a wine that needs time to age properly; it should not be rushed. While certain Bordeaux wines benefit from aging for a decade or more, others are more appealing in their youth, exhibiting a glimpse of their aging potential while you are waiting for them to reach their full glory.
To evaluate its aging potential and to reveal the genuine essence of the wine, become familiar with the vintage, varietal, and producer.
Keep an Inventory
Maintaining a detailed record of your Bordeaux collection enables you to keep track of each bottle’s journey, resulting in a personal wine library that tells the story of your oenophilic adventures.
This also lets you know when a wine has reached its peak, eliminating the risk of drinking it past its prime and helping you choose the right moment to indulge in the masterpiece you have nurtured.
Conclusion
Finally, mastering the skill of storing and aging Bordeaux wine is a task worth all the effort. You’ll discover a world of flavors that only become better with age if the correct circumstances are present and if you’re willing to trust time’s transformational power.
So raise your glass in a toast to Bordeaux’s beauty and may your cellar be stocked with memorable experiences and top-notch wines! Cheers!
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