Drinking a very attractive Bandol tonight – one that illustrates the benefit of cellaring wine. It’s Domaine Tempier’s 1999, from a half bottle. Now half bottles age faster than regular bottles, and they don’t tend to reach as good a destination (otherwise halves would save us the hassle of extended cellaring). But this is drinking at peak now.
Domaine Tempier Bandol 1999 Provence, France
Evolving nicely, this has a savoury, mature nose with some iodine, mushroom and blood/iron notes. The palate is mellow with some spicy notes and hints of earth and minerals, as well as plummy fruit. Finishing dry, this is quite an elegant wine, drinking at its peak. 91/100
Nice! I love a mellow red.
“Now half bottles age faster than regular bottles, and they don’t tend to reach as good a destination (otherwise halves would save us the hassle of extended cellaring)”
Jamie I understand, to a degree, how size affects the speed of aging but not how it affects the ~quality~ or “desination” as you’ve put it?
Hope you don’t mind the nerdy question.
It’s about the dose of oxygen the wine is exposed to. If you take a glass out of a bottle and then recork it, six weeks later it will be unpleasant – the large slug of oxygen will cause oxidation. Different chemical reactions will take place than if that same amount of oxygen had been delivered over, say, 10 years. It’s the same with higher temperatures. The wine will develop faster at higher temperatures than ideal cellaring conditions, but it won’t develop well – different chemical reactions will take place.
Bet it will still be drinking great in another 10 years or more.
By the way do you ever answer your emails Jamie?
Keith!!!! I have the same problem and I am his brother-in-law !!!!!!
Maybe we should get togther William and have a drink to moan about him!!
Actually, maybe I shall invite you to the lunch at the Square instead of him.
Keith I have always found you to be man of great honour, learning and unquestionable style and breeding……..:) 🙂 :)…..
William—how did you manage to get those smiley faces—–been looking for those on this blog for ages!!
just did 🙂 (colon and closing bracket)
😉