In accordance with wine lore (sort of), we like dividing the recommended lifespan of a wine into thirds to better understand how it’ll perform.

First third:

• Bright colours. Whites have a touch of green and reds have a touch of pink in the rim.
• Young aromas and flavours dominate.
• Tannins and acid are yet to integrate. They may be obvious.
• Decant and allow to breathe at this stage.

Second third:

• Colours fade. Yellow gold and duller reds appear.
• Mature aromas and flavours develop, otherwise known as the tertiary character. This will present with balance and begin to dominate more youthful flavours.
• Integration takes place, resulting in a much smoother wine. You can expect a tactile silk character from our cool-climate wines.
• Decant to prevent sediment from reaching the glass.

Last third:

• All wines move towards brown by this last third of their lives. A hint of green and pink indicate the wine may still be alive.
• Mature aromas and flavours continue to evolve, while youthful characters can still be found in the background.
• The wine is best enjoyed by those who respect its age.
• The wine is on the decline now, and its fragility will increase. Decant with care to prevent sediment reaching the glass. Allow it to open up in the glass and be careful not to overexpose or oxidise the wine. We like to decant mature cool-climate wines at the table, not before the meal.