Do White Wines Age?
Question: You often suggest aging tough, young red wines to let the tannins soften. But since white wines don’t contain tannins, what is the benefit of aging them? Answer: Much more happens in the bottle besides tannins dropping out and giving a wine a softer feel. The chemical composition of the wine is changing gradually through many tiny processes, causing other flavors to emerge (often referred to as “bottle bouquet”). At the same time, the youthful fruit flavors that had been prominent start to diminish. Most wines aren’t built for long-term aging, and red wines, with the structure that the tannins give them, are generally better able to stand up to cellaring. But some white wines gain delicious layers of extra flavor with time in the bottle. Better Burgundy and Chardonnay, as well as Riesling and Sémillon (both dry and sweet), are among the white wines worth aging. Ultimately, any wine — red or white — will lose all fruit and color and just taste flat. The trick is to drink it
