When someone asks me "how long will this wine age?", I always respond back to them "well, how do you like your wines to taste?" You see, age of a wine and how you perceive the "quality" of the wine as it ages is very personal.
Ernst Loosen (our partner with our Eroica Riesling) hardly ever opens a bottle of wine at his house (Riesling included) that is less than 10 years old, enjoying the mature flavors and nuances that come with age. Many other people don't like the "leathery, mature" flavors of some wines as they lose their youthful fruit. I, as a winemaker, taste young wines every day at work, so I tend to like youthful exuberance and fruit over complex maturity; although there are perfect combinations I find all the time! So we are very hesitant to recommend whether or not you should "hold" or "drink now".
Here is what I can tell you-if you enjoy older, mature wines (and most importantly have the right place to cellar them) then here is a list of our wines that will continue to develop and change nicely with age (notice I hesitate to say improve).
Long Aging Potential (10-20 years)
Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon
Ethos Merlot
Ethos Syrah
Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Cold Creek Merlot
Late Harvest White Riesling
Eroica Ice Wine
Eroica Single Berry Select
Chenin Blanc Ice Wine
Late Harvest Chenin Blanc
Medium Aging Potential (5-15 years)
Artist Series Meritage Red Blend
Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot
Eroica Riesling
Ethos Chardonnay
Cold Creek Chardonnay
A little age can be nice (1-5 years)
Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay
Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon
Indian Wells Merlot
Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley Merlot
Columbia Valley Dry Riesling
Columbia Valley Syrah
Drink it when you get home
Columbia Valley Riesling
Harvest Select Riesling
Cold Creek Riesling
Columbia Valley Gewurztraminer
Columbia Valley Chardonnay
Keep in mind that I make all wines to be approachable in their first year of release, as that is when a vast majority of the bottles are consumed. And, of course, food pairings can change how a wine tastes as well.
As far as recent vintages and age ability (reds mainly I am referring
to), I would put them in these categories:
2003 - Medium aging potential
2004 - Complex, elegant vintage, more Bordelaise in style and age ability
2005 - Very long life, big, extracted vintage'
2006 - Most elegant, refined year
2007 - Almost as big as 2005, should age very nicely although don't
wait too long to experience the "juicy" quality of the vintage.
Cheers!
Bob Bertheau, Winemaker
