On Nov 10, 12:53*am, "Tom Kunich" > wrote:
> "Doug Miller" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > Ya know, Tom, the main reason for making your own wine is to make
> > something that _you_ enjoy. The only way that you're going to learn what
> > works _for you_ is to experiment.
>
> > So I suggest you try this: After you bottle your next batch of wine,
> > divide the bottles into groups of at least three or four bottles each, and
> > mark them to be consumed:
> > - immediately
> > - three months after bottling
> > - six months
> > - one year
> > - eighteen months
> > - two years
> > - three years
>
> That's a good idea. I'll try it.

I've the last bottle of a wine I made 4 years ago from red grapes of
unknown variety for my father in law. It made a beautiful, rich,
pleasantly tannic and dark wine which was delicious at bottling! It
was even better the year after. The year after that it was ok, a
little bland, but I was starting to worry that it was degrading or
that my memory was aggrandised. The following year it was smooth and
pleasant but much less fruity. We plan to drink the last of it this
Christmas and then I will know if it peaked at 1 year, if I added
insufficient sulfites or if it is better again... I hope so.

I think there is a lot of craft in getting the balance right for even
a rich wine.

Jim