TIPS TO ENJOY BORDEAUX

Enjoying Bordeaux can be as simple as uncorking the bottle and pouring a few glasses for friends. But if you wish to take your experience to another level, here are a few, simple tips to maximize your Bordeaux enjoyment.

SERVING

Temperature is a very important factor since it directly influences the aromatic potential of wine. If a wine is served too cold, then its bouquet cannot achieve full expression. If it is too hot, then the oxidization process is accelerated thereby destroying the more volatile aromas. Here are the general rules:

Serving Whites or Reds:

The average refrigerator temperature is around 40°F, which is too low. This means most white wines only need an hour or two in the fridge before being served. The old adage of serving reds at room temperature is a good rule to abide by, but in many homes today, the average temp is higher than appropriate for a red. So to reach the optimal  57°F – 64°F range, a red can be chilled for a quick half hour in the fridge.

Decanting wine, or using a carafe, can be useful in certain cases. To develop its bouquet – or aroma – after opening, wine needs oxygen. Just like us, it must breathe. Pouring a young wine into a carafe opens it, rounding its tannins and making its aromas more expressive. Between 30-45 minutes is ideal, but sometimes a little more time is required when the wine is very powerful and tannic, like a Medoc.

TASTING

Tasting Bordeaux starts with more than just your mouth. To fully appreciate and savor Bordeaux wines, use your senses of sight, smell and taste.

First, pour the wine into a glass, and then look at it through the glass with a white paper behind it to see its true color. Is it a deep red or a light red?

Second, sniff the wine. You may detect hints of fruits and flowers, and earthy or oaky scents. As your appreciation of Bordeaux grows, you’ll soon be able to pick out wines for these unique aromas.

Third, take a sip. You’ll taste the full flavor of the wine. Is the wine sweet, acidic or smooth? Different regions of Bordeaux are known for higher or lower attributes of taste.

STORING

A good value wine should be enjoyed within the year of its purchase, whereas the pleasure of enjoying a Grand Cru Classé can be put off for a much longer period of time. While most of us aren’t lucky enough to have a wine cellar hidden beneath our home, we do have a wine rack – or at least a bin. Then store bottles horizontally, in a cool dry area, away from heat or sudden changes in temperature.

Want more? See what Le Wine Buff recommends.