Every time I open a magnum or double magnum bottle of wine, I’m thrilled. The large-format wine bottles I open are at least 10 years old, and the wine tastes perfect! Well balanced, deeply mature, with a lot of dark berry notes. I know that had the wine been in normal 750 ml bottles, it wouldn’t have tasted nearly as good. Let’s take a look at why large-format wine bottles are so great for aging wine.
Thank you to VinePair, The Wine Cellar Insider and TheFinestBubbles for your very informative articles.
Large-Format Wine Bottles Slow Down the Aging Process
According TheWineCellarInsider, “It is a fact that wine from larger format wine bottles age more slowly, and possibly even develop more complexity and nuances than wines from smaller wine bottle sizes.” The main reason for this is that the space between the bottom of the cork and the wine’s surface, also known as the ullage, is the same regardless of the size of the bottle. With larger bottles, you have a much greater volume of liquid exposed to the oxygen from the cork. So, the impact of oxygen is greatly reduced, thus reducing the likelihood of oxidation.
Interestingly, TheFineBubble says that the slowing down of aging in large wine bottles is more pronounced for Champagne and Sparkling Wine than for still wine. It might be time to get some large-format bubbly!
Large-Format Wine Bottles Offer More Protection
Large wine bottles have thicker glass than regular-sized bottles, which means greater protection. They also do a better job of protecting your wine from heat, temperature changes and travel-related vibrations. And the glass is typically dark green, which does a better job of keeping out the light.
You Can Find Great Bargains
According to VInePair, “Most rosés are designed to be chugged during the current vintage; they start to lose value as they age. However, large format rosés will still taste fresh and fruity well beyond their vintage, since they aren’t aging as quickly as standard bottles. In turn, that can mean big deals as retailers try to offload enormous, happy bottles of rosé.”
They Make Wonderful Centerpieces
Large wine bottles are impressive. They set a festive tone for big celebrations, including big birthday parties, anniversaries, the Super Bowl or something else. At WineShop At Home, we sell great personalized double magnums for $283. If you’re interested in buying one, please let me know.
As an independent wine consultant with WineShop At Home, I absolutely enjoy bringing a taste of the Napa wine country home to you one sip at a time. Whether you simply love to drink wine, seek a special personalized wine gift, or are in search of a new wine jobs opportunity as a wine consultant, feel free to contact me for a truly unique wine tasting experience!
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4 comments
Betty,
Great article! That is the best,most succinct explanation of why larger bottles are a good idea.
Thanks.
Thanks, Jim!
My wines normally start at $8-$21 a bottle. On several occasion I’ve purchased some of my fav low end brand wines & find certain ones to be very potent, they give u a “buzz” however when i buy the larger 1.5 litre bottles they dont have the same potency the buzz drops quite a bit or is not there! Why is this?
Hi Gigi. I’m sorry you had that experience. I’ve never had that experience. And what I love about the big bottles is that they store the wine so well that you can keep it for many more years than you can keep a 750 ml bottle.