&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been holding these wines for years,&rdquo; my dad tells me excitedly as we hurry toward the basement to grab some liquid goodies for our Christmas dinner. &ldquo;1995. French,&rdquo; he assures me. Sounds promising. Images of Burgundy Corton or Bordeaux Latour dance like sugar plums in my head. He reaches into the bar and pulls out a bottle. It&rsquo;s a 1995&hellip; Beaujolais. My heart sinks. I know it won&rsquo;t be good but I humor him hoping for a Christmas miracle. Instead, we got Christmas vinegar.

You may be asking yourself, &ldquo;Why? Don&rsquo;t all wines get better with age?&rdquo; The answer, alas, is no. Only one percent (yes I said it, only one percent!) of wines age. The rest are made to drink in the first 3-5 years. And as producers scramble more and more to cater to consumer tastes, because who has patience anymore these days, the number could become even less. Don&rsquo;t worry, you and my father are not the only ones who didn&rsquo;t know this. I didn&rsquo;t know it myself until I began studying for my sommelier exams, where it was one of the first things they taught us because so few people do. So how do you avoid your own wine disaster and vinegar puckered face in the scene I described above? Read the following tips.

&nbsp;

Red Wines that Age

The skins of grapes contain tannins. Tannins cause a dry, astringent quality that sucks all the moisture out of your mouth when you drink certain wines. They are also the reason red wine often pairs with fatty meats. The fat makes the tannins feel less harsh, and the tannins make the fat feel less greasy. Tannins also contain natural preservatives so wines with a very high level of tannin age longer.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a very small grape so the skin to fruit ratio is much higher than other varieties. Therefore, it&rsquo;s a great grape to age. Merlot, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Pinot Noir are other grapes that can age if (and this is a big IF) the winemakers choose to make the wine in a style of higher tannin. They can do this by picking the grapes earlier and letting the juice sit on the skins for prolonged periods.

The regions that usually have wines that age are: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Barolo, Chianti Classico, Super Tuscans, California Cabs from Napa, Sonoma, or Santa Cruz Mountains, and Australian Shiraz.

High end producers in these regions make wines that are extremely tight and tannic upon release. You do not want to drink them right away. If you taste a bunch of new release Bordeaux your tongue quickly feels like sand paper. Take my word for it, it is not a pleasant experience. These producers make wines specifically to age. The fascination is that only old wines develop tertiary notes of mushroom, cigar smoke, leather and deep earth. I know these may not sound intriguing on the page but in the glass an old Bordeaux is so beautiful it can make you cry. After tasting a 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, I literally did.

High end producers chase this experience of beauty in a bottle. To do this, they buy the best land, pick only the best grapes, and use the most expensive oak barrels. Oak also contains its own tannins that help wine age. All of these things are expensive, however, so a good rule of thumb if you&rsquo;re aging a wine is to first check the region, then the price. If the region is correct, but the price is $25, it&rsquo;s not going to age. Stick to wines that are $50 and up when it comes to purchasing to age. $100 is even better.

White Wines that Age

Much fewer white wines age. This is because the wines are pressed right away and have less skin contact with tannins. The most likely white grape to age is Chardonnay, and a lot of this has to do with the fact it&rsquo;s often aged in oak. White Burgundies and California Chards often age well, or wines from the Jura in France because they are made in an oxidative style. This means they are intentionally exposed to oxygen during fermentation, something that is usually a huge no-no. Oxygen gives wines a nutty flavor that can be interesting and, when made in this manner are able to withstand the oxygen encountered over years of aging. Roussanne and Marsanne from the Rhone in France are other possible aging contenders, or Greco de Tufo from Italy.

Usually, whites will not age as long as reds, however. On average, I wouldn&rsquo;t let a white age for more than 20 years. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule but it&rsquo;s a gamble. I once had a 1972 Greco de Tufo by Mastroberardino that blew my socks off, but it tasted more sherry-like and nutty so be prepared. A lot of people like to experiment with very old Chardonnays from the 1970&rsquo;s. This is always interesting because some wines are still kicking, but a lot are nearing the grave. Hold these wines at your own risk.

&nbsp;

Price Point

I&rsquo;m going to hit this one more time. Wines at the grocery store do not age. This is what happened in the story at the top with my father. Someone probably picked him up a decent Beaujolais for $25, and if they had drunk it that night it would&rsquo;ve been great. But it&rsquo;s made from the Gamay grape that has very little skin contact or oak and is fashioned to be drunk young. (They even make a category called Beaujolais Nouveau that is meant to drink immediately after harvest).

A $40 Bordeaux will not age, either. In this case, the producer made a choice to cater to the crowd that wants to drink now, and made a lighter fruitier style with less oak or skin contact. There is nothing wrong with drinking these wines, they just can&rsquo;t age.

Here is a list of producers I recommend for aging. This is not an all-inclusive list, just a few I recommend.

<ul>
	<li>Bordeaux: Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Calon Segur, Cos d&rsquo;Estournal, Chateau Palmer, Chateau Haut Brion, Phelan Segur, Leoville Las Cases, Lynch Bages</li>
	<li>Burgundy: Domaine de la Romanee Conti, l&rsquo;Enfant Jesus by Bouchard Pere &amp; Fils, Hospices de Beaune, Georges Latour</li>
	<li>Rhone: Jean-Louis Chave, E. Guigal, Jaboulet, Beaucastel</li>
	<li>Super Tuscans: Sassicaia, Tignanello, Brancaia, Ornellaia, Le Macchiole, Luce</li>
	<li>Cabs from California: Bond, Harlan Estate, Diamond Creek, Mount Eden, Ridge Montebello, Stag&rsquo;s Leap</li>
	<li>Cabernet from Lebanon: Chateau Musar (a personal favorite of mine)</li>
	<li>Australian Shiraz: Penfold&rsquo;s Grange, d&rsquo;Arenberg</li>
</ul>

Not all wines are meant to age. Deciding on when to enjoy a wine often comes down to the region, varietal and price point.

Aging Wine: The Little Known Truth

Certified sommelier and CorkRules’ resident Somm, Michaela Quinlan shares her expertise on the wine list of il Buco. il Buco’s wine cellar holds a selection of over 400 wines and includes an exciting range of lesser-known, artisan wines from Europe. This restaurant has been called "one of the best and most exciting in America" by Gourmet magazine and the wine list has won Wine Spectator’s "Award of Excellence" several times.

Artisan Wines at Il Buco

Orange wine is made from white grapes, but the skin stays in contact with the juice longer during the maceration period, which increases the tannins and turns the normally white wine a more golden hue. The longer the contact,  the darker the hue, which increases the tannins and a stronger intensity. Pinot gris and malvasia are two common grape varieties used to make orange wine, but if you dig a little deeper, explore a little further, you can find some delightful orange wines along the border between northeastern Italy and Slovenia where orange wines are madefrom indigenous grapes on the region, including sauvignon vert (friulano), ribolla gialla, and pinot grigio.

Pairing Orange Wines at Pasquale Jones

The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what’s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Fine Wines at The Lobster Club

Unless you are born into a vineyard, grow up in wine country, a career in wine is not a go-to profession for most graduates. But for some people, their love of wine and career path are intertwined. This is how it was for Jane Lopes, sommelier, co-founder of Legend Imports, and author of Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles.

Stories of Wine & Life with Jane Lopes, Sommelier, Author and Co-Founder of Legend Imports

CorkRules has been presented with the BMMA ‘Best New Mobile App” Platinum award, the highest award achievement in category.

CorkRules Wins the 2023 BMMA Platinum Award for "Best New Mobile App"

Pairing wine with Asian food is a common dilemma. Just what should you order with the Spicy Yellowtail Yu Sheng or the Mongolian Lamb Chops? How do we make palatable choices that cross cultures and bring out the best in each location’s use of herbs and spices?

Pairing Wine with Asian Food at Buddakan

With the exception of sommeliers and vintners, for most of us who love wine, no matter how many bottles you drink in your lifetime, and no matter how delicious, you rarely think of the terroir, the grape, or the growing process as you drink it.

Chris Phelps on Wine and Life

Felice is an Italian restaurant located on Manhattan’s upper east side. Owner Jacopo Giustiniani opened this establishment in 2007 and it has been a popular spot where diners can experience authentic Tuscan cuisine while sampling Italian wine from the extensive Italian-focused wine list. Italy has 20 wine regions each with unique characteristics in climate and terroir, and this list is inspired by the spirit of the Italian countryside and the wines of Jacopo’s family’s vineyard.

Italian Wine Regions Explored at Felice

The San Francisco Giants have upped their wine game by offering a curated selection of wine for fans at games. In fact, serving wine at Giants’ games is so popular with fans that, in 2022 they hired their own Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein. The goal is to enhance the gameday experience and we at CorkRules wholly agree.

San Francisco Giants' Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein is Upping the Wine Game

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas to enjoy the speakeasy vibe at Yvonne’s. 

Wine List Review of Yvonne's, Boston

Sam Hohl

Yvonne's

Yvonnes

Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Sam,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

SH: Hey Robert, great to be back.

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

You can now download our CorkRules app available on the apple app store. Where you can access all your favourite restaurant wine lists, get personalized recommendations and connect, share and learn with your friends.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today Sam and I &hellip;

Yvonne&rsquo;s 

Overview

Yvonne&rsquo;s is tucked away in the Downtown Crossing neighborhood of Boston, MA. They offer a New-American-inspired menu along with craft beverages and bottles to pair. Yvonne&rsquo;s ambiance is dark and intimate, giving off speakeasy vibes.

Where to start

Yvonne&rsquo;s is such an experience, and I would honestly be happy just sipping a glass of wine or cocktail while taking in all their stunning decor has to offer, like their library shelves, fireplace and chandeliers. But it&rsquo;s also great that their menu has plenty of delicious small plates and their 3 pages wine list packs in some fantastic options.

I&rsquo;m excited to point out some wonderful finds and will start with a white that stood out to me, which was the 2016 Tocai Friulano from Larkmead Vineyards. There&rsquo;s some really awesome history here since Larkmead Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley and was started in 1895. Tocai Friulano is a varietal usually found in Italy so another unique part of this winery is the small amount of Tocai Friulano they produce from vines that were planted before prohibition! This bottle is beautifully balanced with body and acidity, and has really pretty floral, herbal and tropical notes as well. This wine is&nbsp; fun to pair and goes with a variety of dishes. You could try it with dishes like the Seared Brussel Sprouts or the Wild Gulf Shrimp.

The 2017 I Nove Fratelli from Masseria del Pino is a really great find for a red. This bottle is made from mostly Nerello Mascalese grapes grown on 120 year old vines on the slope of Mount Etna. The grapes are foot-stomped and then fermented in tanks made from volcanic basalt which are volcanic stones from Mt Etna. It&#39;s rich and complex, filled with volcanic notes of tar, smoke and minerality and bright cherry and raspberry flavors. It&rsquo;s a fantastic example of an Etna Rosso wine. It would be great with the Seared Trumpet Mushrooms or the Ribeye Steak but it&rsquo;s food friendly and flexible so it will be fun to accompany a variety of dishes.

Value

This list has really wonderful variety for pricing and there&rsquo;s some unique and delicious bottles on here that won&rsquo;t break the budget. A white that caught my eye is the 2019 Lindquist Family Marsanne. Bob Lindquist is the winemaker located in California in the Etna Valley and has over 40 years of experience. He&rsquo;s known for his beautiful expressions of Rhone varietals and this bottle of 100% Marsanne is no exception. It&rsquo;s medium-bodied with refreshing notes of citrus, along with flavors of honey and stone. Marsanne is a great choice as well since it&rsquo;s food friendly and goes well with spiced and flavorful dishes. You could try it with the Lobster Dumplings or the Coconut Rock Shrimp.

A really lovely option for a value red would be the 2019 Terre de l&#39;Elu Maupiti. This is a blend of mostly Cabernet Franc and Gamay with a little bit of Grolleau that are grown organically and harvested by hand. It&rsquo;s from winemakers Charlotte and Thomas Carsin from the village of Anjou in the Loire Valley who focus on making tasty wines to be enjoyed around the table. It&rsquo;s got lots of red fruit, and some earthy and herbal tones. It&rsquo;s rich, elegant and the tannins are well integrated. Pair it with something like the Bavette Steak or the Beef Sausage Fired Pita.

Celebratory options

Along with having a great range of value bottles this list also has a variety of special or celebratory bottles for every budget. A bottle that would be just beautiful quality and elevate the evening would be the 2018 Domaine Marcoux Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Domaine Marcoux has been run by sisters Sophie and Catherine Armenier since 1989 but they can trace their family history in the area back to the 1300s. Made from Roussanne and Bourboulenc grapes this wine is crisp with a fuller body. It&rsquo;s going to have some pretty floral tones, along with pineapple and pear flavors. It&rsquo;s a really well-crafted bottle that would just be a delight to sip on for the evening.

They&rsquo;ve got an incredible section for bubbles and you can definitely find some stunning bottles in the 400-600 dollar category, but If you are in the mood for something bubbly and memorable that isn&rsquo;t quite in that range you could try the&nbsp;2015 Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Brut Champagne is a great choice. Pierre Gimonnet This bottle is made with precision and care by blending Chardonnay from the oldest vines on the estate. It&rsquo;s complex and electric, with notes of citrus, pear and mineral qualities with a lengthy and elegant finish. It would pair nicely with the Crispy Tuna Fregola or the Lobster Fritters.

RT: Sam Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Yvonne&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself.&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please download our CorkRules app and check out our website for all other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

Hy's Steakhouse

Frasca Food and Wine

Blu Ristorante

Alcove

Tatiana's

Urban Farmer Portland

Urban Farmer

Mariel

Chiado

Jory at the Allison

Casually hip hangout offers an unpretentious American menu plus craft cocktails in a snug space.

The Painted Lady

Larkspur

Elways

Fall Line Kitchen & Cocktails

Fall Line

Market del Mar

Et Voila

Tutti Mangia Italian Chophouse

Tutti Mangia

homepage

Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

Yves

Da Luca

Prosecco NV

Prosecco, Italy

Paumanok Dry Rose Blend Long Island New York

New York, USA

Tinto Pesquera

Crianza 2018

Castilla y Leon, Spain

Franck et Sylvain Godon Sancerre 2021

Loire, France

Barton & Guestier

Chablis Chardonnay 2018

Chablis, France

Lan

Gran Reserva Rioja 2018

Rioja, Spain

Wittmann

Riesling Trocken NV

Rheinhessen, Germany

Victorine Chastenay

Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut Rose NV

Bourgogne, Burgundy, France

Château Peyrabon

Haut-Medoc 2015

Medoc, Bordeaux, France

Château Vieille Tour La Rose

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018

Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

Ogier

Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France

Domaine Bailly Reverdy

Chavignol Sancerre 2019

Loire, France

Giovanni Almondo

Vigne Sparse Arneis Roero 2018

Roero, Piedmont, Italy

Domaine Huet

Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec 1990

Loire, France

MicroBio Wines Ismael Gozalo Respublica Verdejo, Castilla y Leon 2018

Castilla y Leon, Spain