Ageing Guidelines

Ageing Guidelines
• Chardonnay – 3 months to 2 years
• Bordeaux Blends – 12 months
• Cabernet – 1 to 2 years
• Merlot – 1 to 2 years
• Pinot Noir – 18 months

A Barrel’s Lifespan
Year 1 – 70% oak flavours leached out
Year 2 – 20% oak flavours leached out
Year 3 – 10% oak flavours leached out

Pinot Noir
The choice of oak for Pinot Noir is very important in the winemaking process.  Normally this wine will require ‘new’ oak.  It is very easy to spoil Pinot Noir by leaving it in the oak for too long.

Ageing of Wine
It is important to remember that there are no rules for the length of time required for ageing the barrel.  This depends on the cellar conditions:-
• Humidity, daily temperature and seasonal temperature variations
• Air movement
• Wine characteristics
• Wine variety
• Characteristics of the particular vintage (maturity, grape quality, sugar-acid balance etc)
• Chemical and biological make-up and wood characteristics, it’s treatment, porosity and other general traits

 

Please contact Stephen Forrest for further information on +64 9 2924 960