Hi

I opened a 2003 red wine on Saturday. The nose was a bit sharp and full
bodied but still very fragrant and good to drink.
Having only 1 glass I closed he bottle up with the cork again and left it to
stand. Last night I opened it up again and WOW what a change!
The sharpness has changed into a soft butery taste with a pronounsed oak
flaviour coming through.

Can this change be due to oxidation taking place after I opened the bottle?
Another question is will this be what the wine will mature to in 1 or 2 or
even 3 years in the bottle without being opened?

Your views appreciated.

Your Winemaking friend in South Africa
Mannetjie

I think most of us who have made a lot of wine have run into this. It is
called "allowing the wine to breath". Sometimes you can pour the wine and
let it sit in a glass for an hour and it will improve drastically. Other
times a left over half bottle will taste better the next day. Keep notes on
this so you will know how to treat each wine you make. Your wine may mature
in time so the breathing time will shorten or it may stay the same. It is
amazing the first time you run into this!

Ray

"Mannetjie" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
>
> I opened a 2003 red wine on Saturday. The nose was a bit sharp and full
> bodied but still very fragrant and good to drink.
> Having only 1 glass I closed he bottle up with the cork again and left it
to
> stand. Last night I opened it up again and WOW what a change!
> The sharpness has changed into a soft butery taste with a pronounsed oak
> flaviour coming through.
>
> Can this change be due to oxidation taking place after I opened the
bottle?
> Another question is will this be what the wine will mature to in 1 or 2 or
> even 3 years in the bottle without being opened?
>
> Your views appreciated.
>
> Your Winemaking friend in South Africa
> Mannetjie
>
>

Ray
Thanks for the reply. I must say this is really a intereting find. Like you
say it is amazing.

Mannetjie

"Ray" > wrote in message
.. .
> I think most of us who have made a lot of wine have run into this. It is
> called "allowing the wine to breath". Sometimes you can pour the wine
and
> let it sit in a glass for an hour and it will improve drastically. Other
> times a left over half bottle will taste better the next day. Keep notes
on
> this so you will know how to treat each wine you make. Your wine may
mature
> in time so the breathing time will shorten or it may stay the same. It is
> amazing the first time you run into this!
>
> Ray
>
> "Mannetjie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi
> >
> > I opened a 2003 red wine on Saturday. The nose was a bit sharp and full
> > bodied but still very fragrant and good to drink.
> > Having only 1 glass I closed he bottle up with the cork again and left
it
> to
> > stand. Last night I opened it up again and WOW what a change!
> > The sharpness has changed into a soft butery taste with a pronounsed oak
> > flaviour coming through.
> >
> > Can this change be due to oxidation taking place after I opened the
> bottle?
> > Another question is will this be what the wine will mature to in 1 or 2
or
> > even 3 years in the bottle without being opened?
> >
> > Your views appreciated.
> >
> > Your Winemaking friend in South Africa
> > Mannetjie
> >
> >
>
>

"Mannetjie" > wrote in message
> I opened a 2003 red wine on Saturday. The nose was a bit sharp and full
> bodied but still very fragrant and good to drink.
> Having only 1 glass I closed he bottle up with the cork again and left it
to
> stand. Last night I opened it up again and WOW what a change!
> The sharpness has changed into a soft butery taste with a pronounsed oak
> flaviour coming through.

Allowing a wine to breath is very important. I often open the wine a few
hours before the meal and decant it. Decanting is done to pour the wine off
of any sediment, but it also allows the wine to breath, thus the wide base
to expose a lot of surface to the air. I'm not knowledgable enough to give
you particular times for different types, but experiment and you'll be
pleased.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

"Mannetjie" > wrote in message
> I opened a 2003 red wine on Saturday. The nose was a bit sharp and full
> bodied but still very fragrant and good to drink.
> Having only 1 glass I closed he bottle up with the cork again and left it
to
> stand. Last night I opened it up again and WOW what a change!
> The sharpness has changed into a soft butery taste with a pronounsed oak
> flaviour coming through.

Allowing a wine to breath is very important. I often open the wine a few
hours before the meal and decant it. Decanting is done to pour the wine off
of any sediment, but it also allows the wine to breath, thus the wide base
to expose a lot of surface to the air. I'm not knowledgable enough to give
you particular times for different types, but experiment and you'll be
pleased.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome