Can a wine stored in ideal conditions outlast its recommended drink window?
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
Can a wine stored in ideal conditions outlast its recommended drink window?
—Andrew, Toronto
Dear Andrew,
Absolutely. Recommended drinking windows—the “best from” period in which a wine reviewer thinks the wine will be at its peak—are estimates, and any given wine might under- or overperform in terms of ageability.
But it’s important to note that Wine Spectator’s drink windows are already based on the assumption that the wine will be held in ideal storage conditions.
Remember also that our drinking recommendations tend to be conservative, so if you prefer your wines on the younger or older side, let your own advice be your guide. Finally, young wines and aged wines can taste very different—I don’t recommend aging wines without first confirming that you like the taste of older wines.
—Dr. Vinny
