How to Choose a Good Bottle When Out and About
1. STORED WITH CARE
Steer clear of bottles stored close to strong light or heat sources like a shop window or near a radiator (as we covered here). Exposure to light and heat take away wine’s subtler characteristics, like freshness and fruit, and mean a less pleasurable drinking experience.
If closed with a cork, bottles stored horizontally will keep the cork wet, any oxygen out and the wine in good, drinkable condition. This is not hard and fast if you’ve used the store before and trust that they look after their wines.
2. CHECK THE NECK
Check the level in the neck. Be cautious if there is a space of more than 2 or 3 centimetres at the top of the bottle when upright as this may indicate the wine has been exposed to oxygen and therefore its condition compromised. If you like mature bottles, this is difficult to avoid, so ensure to get a second opinion before jumping in (some retailers will tweak their pricing to reflect condition so can’t hurt to ask).
3. WINEMAKING > WINE MARKETING
Wine bottles that go on about the brand’s vision or the wine flavour characteristics suggest marketing intervening to mitigate corners cut in production. Detail in terms of how the wine is made (e.g. varietal, altitude, amount of sulphur) – while no guarantor of preference do indicate a correct focus on winemaking over wine marketing bumf.
4. A GOOD YEAR?
If spending more on a special bottle, vintage can make the difference between a good and revelatory bottle. Some use the Rule of 5, stating that vintages falling at 5 year intervals from the ’85 vintage are good bets. We suggest consulting with staff or your smartphone to go a level deeper good vintages vary by region but also by palate. For example, 2015 in Burgundy as with many nearby locales, was a warm year giving riper fruit and a more generous flavour profile, which in turn suits a wider range of palates. 2014 by contrast is heralded as one the great recent Burgundy vintages, particularly for white, because of its ‘classic’, more austere, higher acidity flavour profile which appeals to the wine purist. Check several times, buy once.
5. CONSULT OPENLY
Consult apps like Wine Searcher and Cellar Tracker, which provide ratings and commentary from wine experts and fellow wine lovers. Bear in mind, not all opinions are created equal so attribute and act accordingly (particularly other platforms which shall remain nameless).
Use along side advice garnered from staff in store. If you ask with an open minded about the specific style, region or price point of interest, then you should expect sensible guidance. If the response you get is haughty or high handed, feel free to go with your (informed) instinct.