Drinking Windows

Drinking windows give an indication when a wine is likely to be at its peak for drinking. Opening a bottle at the right age will mean that the tannic structure of the wine has softened whilst still maintaining its freshness and concentration of fruit.

As we are predominantly specialists in Bordeaux and Burgundy, we have given our recommendations for these regions below. These are general guidelines so please see the appropriate vintage breakdown for more detailed advice.

Drinking windows give an indication when a wine is likely to be at its peak for drinking. Opening a bottle at the right age will mean that the tannic structure of the wine has softened whilst still maintaining its freshness and concentration of fruit.

As we are predominantly specialists in Bordeaux and Burgundy, we have given our recommendations for these regions below. These are general guidelines so please see the appropriate vintage breakdown for more detailed advice.

Bordeaux

For Classed Growth Bordeaux, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2016 are not yet ready to drink. Some 2019, 2018 and 2017 wines are starting to hit their drinking windows, along with most 2015 and 2014. We generally recommend that customers drink and enjoy vintages 2013-2011 and 2009 and older.
If you have mature vintages stored with us under bond, we would advise you to have them delivered (duty, delivery and VAT charges are applicable) or we will be pleased to buy them back from you.
2005 and 2009 are two great vintages that are now ready to drink. The First Growths and best Classed Growths still have a long life ahead of them but many can be opened now and enjoyed.
By comparison the great 2010 vintage still needs patience. While the 2009s are starting to show their best, most 2010s will reward further cellaring.
For Dry White Bordeaux our advice is to drink these in their youth as few benefit from keeping. For Sweet White Bordeaux, these can be enjoyed young or old and remain under-valued and under-appreciated in our view.
Red Bordeaux Vintage Breakdown

Burgundy

For red Burgundy, all Bourgogne rouge should be opened and enjoyed while village wines can afford to be cellared for 2-3 years after release.
Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines from 2022-2018 are not yet ready to drink, but the 2017s are already showing beautifully. Premier Cru wines older than 2009 should be drunk. The same applies for Grand Cru wines however the 2005 vintage will also continue to improve in the bottle with additional cellaring.
Our advice for White Burgundy is not to store these for too long, though the increasing use of the DIAM closure has certainly helped with bottle ageing. Most wines older than 2017 should be withdrawn now.
Red Burgundy Vintage Breakdown

Drinking Recommendations

Please see below an explanation of the recommendations we include in your portfolio. These are intended as a rough guide only. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding specific wines and one of our team will be happy to provide further information regarding drinkability and value.

Recommendation	Explanation
Hold	The wine is not yet regarded as being mature and our advice is to keep it in storage, although it can, of course, be sold at any time.
Drink/Hold	The wine is just ready to drink but it has plenty of life ahead of it. It can be held in storage, taken out for drinking, or sold.
Drink/Sell	The wine has reached full maturity and you should consider either removing it from storage to drink or selling it back to us.
Withdraw	The wine is fully mature and may well decline in quality with further ageing. It should be removed from storage for immediate consumption.

For further advice on specific wines or vintages or for advice on other regions, please email Ben Browett.

Drinking Windows

Bordeaux

Burgundy

Drinking Recommendations

London Office

Farr Vintners

Hong Kong Office