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Subject: Aging Vintage vs. NV Champagne
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incidentUser is Offline
Grape Stomper
Grape Stomper
Posts:107


12/27/2005 8:58 PM  
Hi All,
Can I ask about the ability of vintage champagne to age while NV does not?

I presume that NV champagne simply will not improve, while vintage may improve with time in bottle. That said, is there any downside to keeping a NV champagne in bottle for 2-3 years or longer under proper storage conditions?

Thanks.
ChangeMeUser is Offline
Barrel Filler
Barrel Filler
Posts:1475


12/28/2005 4:08 AM  
Hey incident, this has been discussed at some length recently in different threads. Do a search and some things should come up.

Short answer is that it depends. A good rule of thumb is that a little cellar time hurts very little champagne that is worth drinking in the first place. This is especially true for vintage champagne and full-bodied NV champanges (Krug, Bollinger, etc.). I think people often confuse the claims "ready to drink upon release" and "will not improve with age." The first is true for the vast majority of champagne, the second is false more often than not, in my experience.
kpakUser is Offline
Alaska
Wine Thief
Wine Thief
Posts:2836


12/29/2005 1:21 AM  
Quote:

The first is true for the vast majority of champagne, the second is false more often than not, in my experience.




I agree with raybanz. If it is a decent bubbly it will keep nicely. I just opened a NV Domaine Chandon that I'd been stashing in the garage for a couple of years and it was just fine. In fact, it was very nice!

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits...
ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon.
LakersguyUser is Offline
Orange County, CA
Grape Fermenter
Grape Fermenter
Posts:523


12/29/2005 9:39 PM  
But the other question is, do they improve? I think both vintage and NV champagne improve with bottle age. That's my experience.
incidentUser is Offline
Grape Stomper
Grape Stomper
Posts:107


12/29/2005 9:59 PM  
I have tried the search function, and to be honest, I am not thrilled with what I can find.

Lakersguy...I too think that with some bottle age, NV Champagnes do improve. I know that vintage bottles do.

I am really most concerned with what happens to a NV over the long haul (3-5+ years). Do they go totally down the drain, or are there benefits to keeping them.

Thanks.
SeaquamUser is Offline
Barrel Filler
Barrel Filler
Posts:1141


12/31/2005 10:00 PM  
Quote:

I think people often confuse the claims "ready to drink upon release" and "will not improve with age." The first is true for the vast majority of champagne, the second is false more often than not, in my experience.




That's a very good summary, raybanz.

Of course, when I use it tonight, I won't be giving you any credit for it. Thanks, man!

And Happy New Year.
ChangeMeUser is Offline
Barrel Filler
Barrel Filler
Posts:1475


01/01/2006 12:07 AM  
LakersguyUser is Offline
Orange County, CA
Grape Fermenter
Grape Fermenter
Posts:523


01/03/2006 1:50 PM  
I have not stored a NV more than five years, So, I don't know what would happen if you kept a NV more than five years.
ChangeMeUser is Offline
Grape Truck Driver
Grape Truck Driver
Posts:32


01/07/2006 1:29 PM  
I have read in other places the NV Pol Roger is actually better with some cellar time, but I don't know why. What is it about Pol Roger that is different?
ClaretUser is Offline
Reno, NV
Grape Sorter
Grape Sorter
Posts:249


01/07/2006 5:29 PM  
I have a hard time with overly sharp acidity in young Champagne, so I few years of cellar time on an NV is my preference.
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