White wines can age just as well and as long as red ones. And just like their red cousins, white wines go through several stages of ageing. Let’s take a deeper look.
To begin with, we should say that the following information is based on wines of a slightly above-average quality, those that will likely be found in a cellar for ageing and storage. And there could be great variations for wines from the same area and made of the same grape variety depending on the style the winemaker follows. Some craft wines that bring out their fruitier side, while others focus more on how their wines will change with time. The table that we have put together below is therefore only informative and there will be some exceptions.
So, how do white wines change over time? How do their aromas and palates evolve?
Infancy
- Colour: A young white wine will almost always be yellow in colour going from straw yellow to an intense yellow depending on the grape variety and the vinification methods used (stainless steel vats or wooden barrels). In very young wines, pale green highlights can often be seen.
- Nose: The nose is very likely full of fresh aromas from the vegetal and floral families (acacia, honeysuckle, broom, lime blossom, jasmine, cut hay, box tree, and fern) to the fruity family, often dominated by white fruit (apple, pear, and peach) and sometimes yellow fruit or citrus fruit depending on the variety. Fermented aromas (white bread, brioche) can often be found in young wine. The notes found in a young wine’s nose are often very close to those that can be found in the grapes that made them with a touch of relative complexity.
- Palate: Just like the nose, the palate is bursting with fresh fruit flavours with tautness and liveliness in most cases. This is especially true if the wine comes from a cool region. There may also sometimes be some slight bitterness or glycerol-like sensation for white wines from warmer climates. In general, white wines are fruitier and reflect the grape variety that made them more than red wines. Their origin is often easier to identify, especially when the wine is in its infancy.
Youth
- Colour: There is little change compared to the previous stage. Any green highlights that were there will have disappeared and the colour may have become a little deeper.
- Nose: A bit like red wines, you have to determine which wines can be aged in the medium term and those that can be aged for longer. For the former, a young wine will be a little less exuberant that in its infancy, but it’ll remain very fruity and charming. The aromas are a little more subdue but they’re still very present and enjoyable. A white cut for long-term ageing will often be a bit closed, a little more reserved than when it was first bottled.
- Palate: It remains very similar to the characteristics of the nose. For wines perfect for medium-term ageing, the expressive fruit flavours are marked, while the wine itself becomes slightly more subdued even if they stay very fresh. It can give the impression that the wine is already ready to drink, such is the sense of fullness it conveys. On the other hand, wines cut for cellaring are more reserved and more subtle on the palate. It can have a beautiful structure, a maturity, a certain density, a fine acidity/alcohol balance, but the aromatic expression will be a lot more subtle. Do not hesitate to decant such wines, at least two hours before the meal, even if it is generally recommended to leave them in the cellar for a few years!
Mature
- Colour: The colour of a white wine general evolves faster than that of a red wine. They tend to be darker, going from straw yellow to golden yellow, in a more or less intense colour depending on the grape varieties. You should be wary of colours becoming copper or with pronounced grey or brown hues, as this means the wine has gone past its best. The exception to this is mature sweet wines like Sauternes as they are expected to become brown with age.
- Nose: Just like for red wines, the nose of a mature white wine can become highly complex. The aromas match each other. Generally, you will find notes of wax (very often), honey, dried flowers, dried apricot, dried herbs, white tobacco, often with a spiced touch (nutmeg, amber, musk, vanilla, and cinnamon) or even white truffle.
- Palate: With time, the palate of a white wine cut for ageing melts different elements together. In particular, the richness and density dance together as do the structure and acidity. Young wines that were the tautest lose this nervousness and calm down with age. The flavours on the palate are generally the same as the nose with waxy, honey, and dried fruit notes. These generally characterise most white wines that have spent a longtime ageing. A true magical experience for those for those who didn’t think that white wine could be aged for a long time (apart from the legendary Sauternes and other fine sweet wines).
Table indications the 3 ages for white wines depending on where they come from
Something to note: Vin Jaunes are only released onto the market after 6 years and 3 months of ageing
| Appellation | Infancy | Youth | Mature |
| Bourgogne Village | 1 – 2 years old | 3 – 6 years old | 7 – 12 years old |
| Burgundy Premier Cru | 2 – 4 years old | 5 – 9 years old | 10 – 15 years old |
| Burgundy Grand Cru | 2 – 4 years old | 5 – 10 years old | 11 – 20 years old |
| Bordeaux | 2 – 3 years old | 4 – 8 years old | 9 – 15 years old |
| Bordeaux sweet wine | 2 – 5 years old | 6 – 15 years old | 16 – 40 years old |
| The Rhone Valley | 1 – 3 years old | 4 – 9 years old | 10 – 20 years old |
| Jura (Chardonnay) | 2 – 3 years old | 4 – 8 years old | 9 – 15 years old |
| Jura (Vin Jaune and Château-Chalon) | – | 7 – 15 years old | 16 – 40 years old |
| Alsace Riesling (grand crus or equivalents) | 2 – 4 years old | 5 – 10 years old | 11 – 25 years old |
| Alsace Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles | 2 – 4 years old | 5 – 10 years old | 11 – 25 years old |
| Savoie | 1 – 3 years old | 4 – 6 years old | 7 – 12 years old |
| Dry Loire (Chenin), Vouvray, Montlouis, etc. | 1 – 4 years old | 5 – 9 years old | 10 – 20 years old |
| Loire (Sauvignon): Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, etc. | 1 – 3 years old | 4 – 8 years old | 9 – 15 years old |
| Loire sweet wines | 2 – 4 years old | 5 – 12 years old | 13 – 40 years old |
| Dry Jurançon and Irouléguy | 1 – 3 years old | 4 – 8 years old | 9 – 15 years old |
| Jurançon | 2 – 4 years old | 5 – 12 years old | 13 – 25 years old |
| Languedoc / Roussillon | 1 – 3 years old | 4 – 8 years old | 9 – 15 years old |
Shop all wines currently for sale on iDealwine
Also on the iDealwine blog:
The three stages of evolution of red wines
Mature vintages: Service tips and pairings
What is the Perfect Cellar Temperature to Store Wine? Debunking the 14°C Myth.
