Intermediate
Understanding how (good) red wine ages
To untutored wine taster, older red wines seem to be softer and gentler than harsh, inky young red wines. Those who notice such things will also observe a change in colour, typically from deep purple to light brick red. There should also be more sediment in old wine than a young one.
All of these phenomena are connected, and they are particularly related to the behavior of phenolics. These phenolics are compounds found in grapes, particularly in the skins…