Which wines can be kept for more than 10 years?

Wines capable of ageing for 10 years or more are generally Grands Crus or Premiers Crus from exceptional terroirs: red Burgundy Grands Crus (from Gevrey, Chambolle, Vosne), white Grands Crus (Corton-Charlemagne, Montrachet, Chablis Grand Cru), Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage from the Northern Rhône, Alsace Grands Crus (Riesling, Pinot Gris) and vintage Champagnes from the great houses. What they have in common: high acidity, and a concentration and structure that allow them to evolve without falling apart.

How should you store wines intended for long ageing?

A natural cellar or a temperature-controlled wine cabinet is essential for ageing of 10 years or more. The ideal conditions: a stable temperature between 10 and 13 °C (stability matters more than the exact level), humidity between 70 and 80% to keep the corks moist, total darkness and no vibration. Bottles should be stored horizontally. Avoid basements exposed to seasonal temperature swings.

Is it risky to wait too long before opening a great wine?

Yes, every great wine has a peak window beyond which it starts to decline. A red Burgundy Grand Cru generally reaches its peak between 10 and 20 years, but may decline after 25-30 years. A Chablis Grand Cru is at its best between 8 and 15 years. The best strategy is still to buy several bottles of the same wine and open one regularly to follow its evolution.

Are great wines for ageing affordable?

Burgundy Grands Crus represent a significant investment, but there are less expensive alternatives with equivalent ageing potential: Premiers Crus from the Côte Chalonnaise (Mercurey, Givry), Chablis Premiers Crus, Côte-Rôtie from lesser-known estates, or Alsace Grands Crus. These wines often offer a remarkable balance of quality, price and ageing potential compared with the most famous labels.

Great wines to cellar for 10 to 15 years: ageing potential and nobility

Rare and structured wines, to be kept for 10 to 15 years. Complexity, depth and great potential for development are guaranteed.

Pommard Premier Cru Les Epenots rouge 2020 - Domaine Dubreuil Fontaine

Pommard Premier Cru Les Epenots red 2020 - Domaine Dubreuil Fontaine

14,5 % vol
Pommard Premier Cru AOP
0.75 L

72,00 €

Riesling Clos Saint Landelin Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg blanc Bio 2016 - Domaine Muré

Riesling Clos Saint Landelin Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg organic white 2016 - Domaine Muré

13,5 % vol
AOC Alsace
0.75 L

30,00 €

Riesling Clos Saint Landelin Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg blanc Bio 2021 - Domaine Muré

Riesling Clos Saint Landelin Alsace Grand Cru Vorbourg organic white 2021 - Domaine Muré

13,5 % vol
AOC Alsace
0.75 L

35,00 €

William Deutz blanc brut 2014 - Champagne Deutz

William Deutz white brut 2014 - Champagne Deutz

12 % vol
Champagne AOC
0.75 L

159,00 €

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Which wines should you keep for 10 to 15 years?

A wine that has spent a decade in the cellar is a transformed wine. What you laid down in the cellar (a taut Corton-Charlemagne, a concentrated Côte-Rôtie, a structured Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru) bears no resemblance to what you will draw from it at maturity. That is the magic of great wines: time becomes an ingredient in its own right, one that rounds, adds complexity and refines. Our 10-15 year selection brings together the wines that deserve this patience.

Great reds for ageing: Burgundy and the Northern Rhône

Here the Côte de Nuits reigns supreme. The cuvées from Edouard Delaunay in Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, Gevrey-Chambertin or Clos de la Roche Grand Cru fall squarely into this category: their tannic structure and careful extraction allow them to evolve beautifully over 10 to 15 years. Rare wines such as the Echézeaux Grand Cru or the Chambertin Grand Cru can even go beyond 20 years.

In the Northern Rhône, the Côte-Rôtie wines from Georges Vernay and Christophe Pichon reach their peak after 10 to 12 years, developing the notes of violet, black olive and smoked bacon that are characteristic of mature northern Syrah.

Great whites: Burgundy and Alsace

Burgundy's white Grands Crus rank among the greatest wines for ageing in the world. Our Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru from Domaine Rapet or Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine, or the Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses from Grand Calcaire, are built to last 12 to 15 years while revealing an incomparable mineral depth. The Alsace Grands Crus from Domaine Muré (Riesling and Pinot Gris Clos Saint Landelin Vorbourg) offer ageing of remarkable complexity and originality.

Storage and serving conditions

For long ageing, conditions must be impeccable: a cellar at a constant temperature between 10 and 13 °C, humidity between 70 and 80%, total darkness and no vibration. Investing in a dedicated ageing cellar is recommended for wines of this level. Before serving, uncork the great bottles 3 to 4 hours in advance, or gently decant the oldest ones. Serve the reds at 16 to 18 °C and the whites at 13 to 15 °C.