Breathe deep the gathering gloom watch lights fade

[underwraps50]

Its amazing how a wine (an older wine) can change with a little bit of breathing time. I have been working my way through a half dozen Rosemount Hill of Gold Cab Sav 2003. Different friends all commented that it was a bit 'sharp' - meaning a bit more acid or maybe tannin than they expected. I had to agree with them but tonight I opened the second last to drink on my own (actually a 2002 that got in there somehow) and it opened the same but as it had a chance to breathe the 'sharpness' faded away and the full flavour and body came to the fore. This had not had a chance to happen with the others because we had consumed them within an hour of opening. I really enjoyed this one and now I am sorry I did not think to open the others well in advance of drinking.
Have others had this experience?

[griff]

Lovely subject quote.

I'm confused. Are you comparing the 2002 to the 2003's? Maybe it is the different vintage that is exerting more of an effect than the time from opening?

As as for breathing wine I have seen a lot of things that have surprised me. The most surprising for me is when an oxidised white (usually a barrel aged chardy) tightens up with air and gains youth. I also find it surprising then volatile acidity in some reds blows off with time giving the perception that is gaining youth as well as the sharp taste reduces.

cheers

Carl

[underwraps50]

Hi Carl, I thought the '02 was very similar to the '03 I'd had the week before. I had noticed previously that the '03 did seem to soften a bit towards the end but as it was finished within an hour or so of opening it never got the chance to show what it could do. The '02 opened exactly the same as the '03 and drank the same way for the first hour also, but then softened up nicely. No, I don't believe it was my palate going off as I drank more of the wine - I drank the bottle over 7hours with a meal in the middle. I always used to decant old wines, more for the 'theatre' than anything else, but gave it up years ago when all my friends had had enough of the 'theatre' and just wanted to drink the wine. This experience has been a timely reinforcement for me that some older wines will definitely benefit from a deep breath.