Knowing when to drink wine?

[MitchT]

I recently looked at a wine chart which explained when certain wines would be ready to drink, but there was a sort of disclaimer that this only applied to the best examples of the given wines. What if I have a wine that isn't one of the finest examples of its type. Will the chart sill be a decent guide?

The reason I ask is that I just consumed a £24 bottle of 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape which tasted distinctly average and gave me a headache. By contrast, most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

[Buster Bakdorzin]

MitchT said:

most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

Cant help specifically, but Im sure there must be a guide out there somewhere.

[Bebs]

MitchT said:

I recently looked at a wine chart which explained when certain wines would be ready to drink, but there was a sort of disclaimer that this only applied to the best examples of the given wines. What if I have a wine that isn't one of the finest examples of its type. Will the chart sill be a decent guide?

The reason I ask is that I just consumed a £24 bottle of 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape which tasted distinctly average and gave me a headache. By contrast, most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

Yup, almost certainly too young and would have benefitted with decanting
05 a huge vintage and very powerful wines. a £24 bottle needs time - my 98 and 2000 Rhones haven't even been ready to drink (even though I sank them quite happily)
Sadly with wine its never black and white and there's no definitive guide.
But £24 is a decent amount for a CNDP and should be high quality i,e, very young to drink now..

Cheers

[grumbledoak]

According to Johnson, '01 is the most recent CNDP recommended for drinking now. So, yes, probably a little premature. But, if you were having fun, why not? It was a big year for them, there will be plenty left.

[silent k]

Buster Bakdorzin said:

MitchT said:

most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

Cant help specifically, but Im sure there must be a guide out there somewhere.

Hugh Johnsons Pocket Wine book ( here) has a guide as to when a wine should be drunk. For some specific wines (normally the expensive ones!) it has a guide to the vintage and tells you if it should be drank yet, and also there is more general guide broken out by region and year.

[neilsfishing]

MitchT said:

I recently looked at a wine chart which explained when certain wines would be ready to drink, but there was a sort of disclaimer that this only applied to the best examples of the given wines. What if I have a wine that isn't one of the finest examples of its type. Will the chart sill be a decent guide?

The reason I ask is that I just consumed a £24 bottle of 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape which tasted distinctly average and gave me a headache. By contrast, most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

Its all Cp your taste buds will let you know if its good or not, a chart nor the price can take account or the environment, what you have eaten, or are about to eat, wither you are dehydrated, or are hungry, all of witch will play a part on the experience you will have on any wine, if you smoke well your taste buds are knackered any way
For example south of France early evening, relaxing on a patio looking over fields good company a selection of cheese local wine (even in a box yes a box)

[Bebs]

neilsfishing said:

Its all Cp

Bold statement - I dare say its not always that black and white

[neilsfishing]

Bebs said:

neilsfishing said:

Its all Cp

Bold statement - I dare say its not always that black and white

I have listened to people harp on about what is good wine, what / when and how to drink what temperature, what year and so on, my point is if you like it its good for you

[Mark-C]

I didn't realise PH was so damn posh ... tenner for a bottle huh?

[jimothy]

neilsfishing said:

MitchT said:

I recently looked at a wine chart which explained when certain wines would be ready to drink, but there was a sort of disclaimer that this only applied to the best examples of the given wines. What if I have a wine that isn't one of the finest examples of its type. Will the chart sill be a decent guide?

The reason I ask is that I just consumed a £24 bottle of 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape which tasted distinctly average and gave me a headache. By contrast, most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

Its all Cp your taste buds will let you know if its good or not, a chart nor the price can take account or the environment, what you have eaten, or are about to eat, wither you are dehydrated, or are hungry, all of witch will play a part on the experience you will have on any wine, if you smoke well your taste buds are knackered any way
For example south of France early evening, relaxing on a patio looking over fields good company a selection of cheese local wine (even in a box yes a box)

Problem is, once its opened if your taste buds tell you its a bit early to drink, its a bit late...

[Mattt]

Mark-C said:

I didn't realise PH was so damn posh ... tenner for a bottle huh?

Presumably cooking wine.

[neilsfishing]

jimothy said:

neilsfishing said:

MitchT said:

I recently looked at a wine chart which explained when certain wines would be ready to drink, but there was a sort of disclaimer that this only applied to the best examples of the given wines. What if I have a wine that isn't one of the finest examples of its type. Will the chart sill be a decent guide?

The reason I ask is that I just consumed a £24 bottle of 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape which tasted distinctly average and gave me a headache. By contrast, most of the wines I've had that cost around £10 have been fantastic. Am I wasting my expensive wines by drinking them too young?

Its all Cp your taste buds will let you know if its good or not, a chart nor the price can take account or the environment, what you have eaten, or are about to eat, wither you are dehydrated, or are hungry, all of witch will play a part on the experience you will have on any wine, if you smoke well your taste buds are knackered any way
For example south of France early evening, relaxing on a patio looking over fields good company a selection of cheese local wine (even in a box yes a box)

Problem is, once its opened if your taste buds tell you its a bit early to drink, its a bit late...

use it for cooking

[VTECMatt]

A lot can be said for ensuring you open the wine for a fair few hours before drinking, if you opened it and drank it that could explain a lot and also keeping the temperature just right.

I am sorry but I am not into this decant any vintage of wine, load of old bks unless it is a particularly fine vinatage with age. I would say a lot of the taste difference will be down to the fact the wine will have been allowed to breath.

[Stamp]

I have recently bought a case of 95 La Chapelle. ( Thanks Bebs!! )

Still a bit young, and most of the case is for laying down, but it was our first wedding anniversary and we had that particular wine on honeymoon. I gave it 12 hours breathing and then decanted it.

Wow, what a wine, but it still needed the time in the air. ( I did sample some 10 mins after opening it )