The following quote is lifted from the Vieux Telegraphe 2001 thread.

"CdP is a bit deceprive, as it drinks very well in its youth, but then
goes dumb and needs time to come back into form. "

I'm trying to find out more about the 'dumb' phase a wine goes through
during it development - I only learned the theory behind this process
this year so it's still new to me. Do _all_ wines go through a dumb
phase or only certain types of wine (wines having some particular
characteristic) such as Cdp?

Rick Smith

(Rick) asks.....

>I'm trying to find out more about the 'dumb' phase a wine goes through during
it development<

"Dumb" as it refers to wine, is that period during development or during
opening of a bottle, in which the wines personality is in a kind of oenological
purgatory, that is, not coming forward or revealed. We know it was there once
and will be (we hope) down the road, but for now it's simply not to be found.

The chemistry behind dumb and first development can be explained by others, but
you know how some wines must breathe upon opening and some or a lot of time
only improves their character? That period of lackluster blah is dumb.

>Do _all_ wines go through a dumb phase or only certain types of wine<

I would have to say all do at some point or another and further my unsupported
guess would be that reds suffer longer than whites, but that's just a guess
based on overall complexity of the finished product.

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.
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(Rick) wrote in message om>...
>Do _all_ wines go through a dumb

After re-reading the many posts on this topic (something I should have
done before posting) I conclude that the short answer to my question
is NO.

With respect to red wines, I've gleaned the following info:

a) some, but not all, wines will experience a dumb phase.
b) the onset and duration of the dumb period is likely influenced by
terroir, producer and/or vintage.
c) a wine may shut down more than once during its development.
d) the dumb period may last from 3 to thirty years.
e) a 'dumb' wine might evolve from its state or remain stuck there.
f) some drinkers might confused a 'mediocre' wine with a dumb wine.

Now it all makes sense.

Rick Smith