Pourquoi dit-on d'un vin qu'il est fermé ?

Have you ever heard that a wine is closed ? What does that mean ? Discover it with Beaux-Vins : the reference blog on wine…

If you are used to tasting wine, have you ever heard someone say that the "wine is closed". For the others, this expression may seem strange. A "closed wine" is a wine that delivers few aromas. This is a phase of wine development where it is in transition between its primary fruit aromas and future secondary aromas. Acidity, tannins, the structure come out and the wine is olfactoryly blocked.

blog wine fine wines oenology tasting closed

You don't have to worry, because this phase is a simple transition in its evolution where it expresses only a tiny part of its olfactory potential.

The evolution of wine

With this graphic, you will be able to understand the different stages in the evolution of wine :

A. The wine is bottled

B. After being bottled, he knows what is called a " bottle sickness ", this is a period that can last up to several months and where it really doesn't look good. It is therefore important to avoid drinking freshly bottled wine.

C. At this stage, we say that the " wine is on the fruit ". It is still young and expresses immediate and not evolved aromas. The fruit is often the most present and the oak is still too important in its structure.

D. The " wine is closing »And the aromas are much less powerful, as if he had fallen asleep. The structure of the wine, which melts more slowly than matter, appears to be much too powerful.

E. It evolves until it reaches its " Peak ". This is the best time to taste it. The structure has melted and becomes less imposing, while the aromas have developed to reveal tertiary aromas, offering complexity to the wine.

F. This last step is a real drama for any wine lover.. The wine is " declining ". Material and structure lose quality. He is too old.

A diagram to put into perspective

Of course, this diagram is a simplification. Wines go directly from phase A. "Bottle disease" to C. " closed ", others do not know of closure, or know only that. Depending on the wine, a phase can last longer or shorter.

We tend to take as a textbook case two types of wine to explain the phenomenon of closure. Loire whites using the Chenin grape have a strong predisposition to be closed, while simple wines that are vinified on their fruit like Beaujolais hardly ever experience this closing phase.

blog wine fine wines tasting oenology closed

How to avoid drinking a closed wine?

Unfortunately for us, there is no universal answer to this question. Wine is a living product that evolves at its own pace depending on a multitude of factors. However, you can get an idea of the best time to drink it - not too early, not too late —.

The best indication you can have is from the winemaker, who is most likely to know his wine. If you buy it directly from him, remember to ask him the best time to taste it. It is also possible, that the information is indicated on the back label - the one on the back of the bottle —.

You can also search the Internet for information by indicating in your search the name of your bottle, its vintage and the word "peak". By comparing several results, you will be able to get an idea of when to drink it. You have opened a bottle and you realize that it is closed ? Have the reflex to pass it in a carafe to oxygenate it. Oxygen makes your precious liquid evolve faster than normal and bring out the aromas. To understand everything about the use of the carafe, I invite you to read the post " Should we decant or decant ? ".

Finally, you can very well buy several bottles of the same vintage to analyze its evolution and know when you can invite your friends to taste it when it is at its peak.

Jean-Nicolas Mouretin