In article
>,
michael > wrote:
> I have been drinking a 2006 Regent( a European hybrid developed for
> early ripening in cool climates ) red wine recently and have been
> amazed at the difference temperature makes.My mini vineyard is in
> Herefordshire,in southern England,and whereas I have been making some
> excellent dry white wines(as judged by others),I am new to red wine
> making.
>
> The year 2006 was very good in England,with all grapes ripening very
> well,and earlier than usual.I fermented the grapes on the skins and
> with the grapes natural yeast,and achieved full fermentation after 2
> to 3 weeks-the grapes were pressed after 6 days maceration.The wine
> was matured in gallon glass demijohns for three years,and bottled
> recently.I tried the wine in my cool pantry (it has been pretty cold
> in England this winter),and was a little disappointed.It had a very
> nice fruity nose but seemed a little tannic.We compared it with a
> commercial Australian Cabernet ,and was not convinced that mine was
> that much inferior.We decided to serve it to our friends at a dinner
> party,as English red wine made from English grapes is quite unusual.
>
> The surprise came when I warmed up the wine to about 65For room
> temperature.The wine had lost its tannic nature and was very good,with
> absolutely no comparison to drinking the wine at 50F.I am well aware
> that red wine should be drunk at room temperature,but had no idea that
> its character should change so much;it makes it difficult to assess
> wine being stored in a cooler place.
> I would welcome comments
> Michael
Good reds and whites: 14C - 16C
Young fruity reds, rosés, and dry whites: 11C - 12C
Sparkling: 7C - 8C
Dessert Wines: 6C
Chilling a wine, reduces your ability to taste it. Too warm and it will
seem flat. Then again, wines are like steaks. No one can tell you the
right way to serve it (well done, rare), or what is the best temp to
serve wines, for you. Learn the rules, and then you can break them ;O)
--
³When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.²
-Archbishop Helder Camara
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