Five Tips for Buying Wine for Your Cellar

5 Jan

1. Attend Wine Tastings Regularly

This is a fantastic way to gain a better understanding of the types of wine you like to drink. As well as the tastings that we can arrange at Cru Cellar Management, wine retailers frequently hold them (there are many in Melbourne and Sydney). And there is also the option of visiting wineries. Whatever the case, tastings allow you to try several wines in a short period of time and develop an idea of what appeals. You may discover, for example, that you prefer aromatic whites to more neutral styles or Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon. Equipped with this knowledge, you are better placed to buy bottles for your cellar.

One caveat is that our preferences can change over time. It’s common to hear, for instance, of collectors who initially enjoyed ripe and full-bodied reds transitioning to lighter-bodied ones. The moral of the story? Buy what you like but leave some room in your cellar to allow for the evolution of your palate.

2. Research Producers

Once you know your wine preferences, the golden rule is “producer, producer, producer”. This is often cited in reference to Burgundy where experienced palates will tell you that you are better off buying a good producer’s wine from a more modest appellation (such as Bourgogne or Village level) than a mediocre producer’s wine from a more prestigious appellation (such as Premier Cru or Grand Cru level). Regardless of where on the scale of hierarchy for vineyards a good producer’s wine comes from, it will tend to have an authenticity, character and joie de vivre, which a mediocre producer is unable to achieve. Of course, if circumstances allow you to combine a good producer with a top vineyard, then go for it!

3. Buy a Range of Vintages

Part of the fun of collecting wine is seeing how different vintages of a given bottling develop over time. And how the memories of seasons reveal themselves in the glass. There are heralded vintages (like 2016 and 2019 in the case of Barolo), difficult vintages and everything in between. Bottles from heralded vintages are often worth seeking out in great numbers but don’t disregard the others. They may provide you with some earlier drinking wines while you wait for others to become ready. And they may also possess disarming idiosyncrasies. This was the case with a recently opened bottle of Domaine Fourrier’s Combe Aux Moines from the 2011 vintage (a challenging year in Burgundy), with its captivating purity and delicate structure. While choosing wines from vintages such as this is riskier and requires research, it can be very rewarding. Again, staying with skilful and quality-focused producers is key.

4. Keep a Wide Horizon

Variety is the spice of life and so it should be with your wine cellar. It’s easy to confine your collection to the classics. But there is a world of wine out there that’s worth seeking out. This is especially true as approaches in the vineyard and winemaking techniques have improved in recent decades lifting the overall quality of production in regions across the globe. It’s a much more even playing field than it used to be. So if you like Riesling, consider adding some Grüner Veltliner, Chenin Blanc and Albariño to your cellar. And if you fancy Pinot Noir, look out for Cru Beaujolais, Mencia and new-wave Grenache. This will give your cellar more depth, with a range of options for different occasions, and be a source of delight as you discover something new and delicious.

5. Open Your Good Bottles

While not strictly a tip for buying wine, this is the end game. Wines are meant to be opened, not left in a cabinet like trophies. Life is short. Pull the cork and enjoy the pleasure of taste, culture and connection. There’s always another bottle.

Jim Mullany