Be serious and drink it over a couple of days

When customers buy a slightly more expensive or “serious” wine, we often suggest that, if possible, they should drink it over a couple of days.

Some are horrified with this idea, thinking it might go “off”. While opened wine will eventually “go off” this will never happen to a well-made wine overnight.

Over days it will gradually lose its life, brightness and flavour, and eventually turn acetic and unpleasant.

But in certain cases, the wine may, over days, change and to some palates often improve, building flavour in the bottle.

This is particularly true of some reds, the wine opening up, revealing aspects of flavour that were not evident immediately.

For me, this year, this happened with one my favourite white wines.

For a number of years, it has been my pleasure to drink Bannockburn Vineyards Chardonnay.

Moorabool Chardonnay is a particular taste, and those that like it enjoy it vintage on vintage.

Round, full, mouth-filling, with oak present but not overbearingly so, and long on the palate. A satisfying drink.

It can be on the expensive side, but these wines take time and are costly to make, with yields strictly controlled to ensure grape quality. Great wines start in the vineyard.

We were lucky enough to visit the winery at Bannockburn, and try the latest vintages with the winemaker, Matt Holmes.

It is fascinating to discuss the methods employed by winemakers with them, and Matt is generous with his sharing of information.

One important aspect of Bannockburn Wines is that they do not buy in grapes from other growers; they use estate-grown fruit only. This being the case, Matt has a greater level of control in the vineyard, consulting with the vineyard manager on all aspects of growth and, importantly, when to pick for the wine he wishes to make.

When we were finished trying the wines we were offered the (significant) remains of the bottle to take home. I, of course, opted for the Chardy.

I had been a little disappointed in the wine on opening (I always have high expectations of this one!). Not as generous and fleshy as I had been expecting, but it was better, fuller that evening.

As I was the only one at home for a couple of days, there was no one to share it with and I drank it over three days. Truthfully, it got better every day, revealing layers of flavour one could only guess at on opening.

Bannockburn Vineyards 2015 Chardonnay ($50)

The wine is rich, with a great line of acid. Abundant in aroma, with apples, vanilla, some nuttiness, with a hint of citrus. The palate is full and generous, great with food or without it. This is one of those wines that you sip carefully, but fairly rapidly because it is delicious. Drinks well now, but, based on its history, will build further for a number of years. A classic, and at $50 a bottle, a bargain!