Six for Now, Six for Later Collection
by Anthony Lynch
Cabernet Franc in the cellar
© Gail Skoff
Save some for later and enjoy a real treat down the road—after all, the lasting joy in opening a great old bottle at the right time truly can help us to age like a fine wine.
Cabernet Franc in the cellar
© Gail Skoff
Save some for later and enjoy a real treat down the road—after all, the lasting joy in opening a great old bottle at the right time truly can help us to age like a fine wine.
Six for Now, Six for Later Collection
by Anthony Lynch
We often say we wish to age like fine wine, rarely considering that very little wine—even within the subset of what might be considered “fine”—is meant to withstand aging. I, for one, certainly hope to age like the very best grand cru crafted by a master vigneron in a perfect vintage. To achieve such a destiny—for your wines, that is—you should consider a number of factors.
First, knowing your personal preference is crucial to hitting the sweet spot in the curve of a wine’s evolution. Aged wine is not necessarily better, and it is not unheard of for great producers in prestigious appellations to have a strong preference for younger wines, even if their own bottlings are capable of long aging. If you prefer fruit and vivacious freshness to the earthier nuances of old wine, the answer is simple: drink ’em up, before they start tasting stale to you.
Another crucial factor is proper storage conditions. Should you lack a chilly basement, wine fridge, bomb shelter, or subterranean limestone cave, you might consider aging your wines for a shorter length of time, or simply consuming them immediately upon acquisition.
Assuming good storage and an appreciation for the mystique of uncorking old wine, one must judge which bottles will most benefit from cellaring. Terroir, grape variety, and vintage are the first and foremost determinants of a wine’s overall balance, which is generally understood to be the key to longevity. But vineyard and winery decisions—yields, aging vessel, filtration, type of closure, and countless other factors—are just as important in governing whether a wine’s life span will more closely resemble a short-lived fling or a long-term affair.
This collection includes a set of two bottlings (one for now, one for later) from six regions: Chardonnay from Burgundy, Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, Marsanne from northern Rhône, Gamay from Beaujolais, Nebbiolo from Piedmont, and Sangiovese from Tuscany. While every bottle is enjoyable right now, each set features one example meant for immediate consumption and one capable of significant aging. Opening both wines of a given type will reveal the differences that inherently make one more age-worthy than the other: heightened complexity, intensity, and structure, for example. Alternatively, save some for later and enjoy a real treat down the road—after all, the lasting joy in opening a great old bottle at the right time truly can help us to age like a fine wine.
Wines In The Collection
Ferretti Italy | Tuscany
Drink Later: The hype about 2016 is justified, and Ferretti’s first-ever release delivers all you could ask for in a great Brunello.
Guido Porro Italy | Piedmont
Drink Later: Both succulent and structured, this Barolo bursts with explosive aromas and flavors of black cherries, rose petals, black tea, and spices.
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
From vines that are more than eighty years old comes this Marsanne with magnificent floral, pit fruit, and bitter notes.
Jean Foillard France | Beaujolais
This cuvée shares the satin texture of all Foillard Morgons, and should age similarly well for those willing and able to wait.
Domaine de la Chanteleuserie France | Loire
Vinified with a gentle, terroir-focused touch—few reds will slake your thirst with the ease and finesse of Cuvée Alouettes.
Henri Perrusset France | Burgundy
Perfect for an apéritif and versatile at table with all sorts of appetizers, this charmer makes for an excellent house white.
Cantine Elvio Tintero Italy | Piedmont
Drink Now: There’s no mistaking this red for anything other than Nebbiolo—perfectly ripe fruit and the telltale scents of tar and roses.
Italy | Tuscany
Drink Later: The hype about 2016 is justified, and Ferretti’s first-ever release delivers all you could ask for in a great Brunello.
Italy | Piedmont
Drink Later: Both succulent and structured, this Barolo bursts with explosive aromas and flavors of black cherries, rose petals, black tea, and spices.
France | Northern Rhône
From vines that are more than eighty years old comes this Marsanne with magnificent floral, pit fruit, and bitter notes.
France | Beaujolais
This cuvée shares the satin texture of all Foillard Morgons, and should age similarly well for those willing and able to wait.
France | Loire
Vinified with a gentle, terroir-focused touch—few reds will slake your thirst with the ease and finesse of Cuvée Alouettes.
France | Burgundy
Perfect for an apéritif and versatile at table with all sorts of appetizers, this charmer makes for an excellent house white.
Italy | Piedmont
Drink Now: There’s no mistaking this red for anything other than Nebbiolo—perfectly ripe fruit and the telltale scents of tar and roses.
More Collections
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Without further ado, and with no shortage of expressions to describe these offerings: mousseux, pétillant, frizzante, or spumante . . . dive into our selections and discover what the many regions across France and Italy have to offer…
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Bourgueil through the Eyes of the Boucard Family
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I have a serious problem: I can’t remember people’s names for the life of me. It’s in one ear and out the other, and that’s why you can find me hiding by the hors d’œuvres station at parties instead of socializing.
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Heirloom Grapes of France and Italy
Here you will discover twelve examples from Italian and French vignerons who have resisted the tendency to globalize their vineyards, honorably sustaining the varieties native to their respective terroirs.
Jean Foillard: Humble Legend of Morgon
Even the most renowned vignerons in Villié-Morgon tend to be laid back and unassuming despite the monumental Gamays they produce—perhaps none more so than Jean Foillard. One of Morgon’s “Gang of Four” Kermit first championed thirty years ago, Jean farms some of the cru’s most celebrated vineyards and his translation of these schist, granite, and sandstone terroirs is never anything short of breathtaking.
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!