Ageing Ageing Basically, each wine improves with age, provided that it is properly stored. As from their third year they often lose their freshness and fruitiness. Consequently, most of the white wines destined for consumption are best when drunk between their first and third years.
Red wines are usually better suited for storage than white wines.
The maturation span of red wines is assumed to be between 3 and 6 years, generally speaking. If the season was very good, i.e. when the grapes had the chance to mature fully, the life span of the wine can often be considerably higher. In extraordinary vintages, the life span of a high-quality wine can even double before its quality deteriorates more or less quickly.