What Makes a Bottle “Ready to Drink”?

Apr 15, 2025by David Bachus

A fine wine is considered “ready to drink” when it’s firing on all cylinders - flavor, texture, and structure in perfect harmony. This peak moment depends on grape variety, vintage, winemaking style, and how the wine’s been stored. Some bottles need years to come around, others hit their stride sooner. At Weekend Wine, we skip the waiting game and source rare, perfectly aged wines that are already singing - so you can uncork with confidence and skip the guesswork.

That said, even ready-to-drink wines might benefit from a quick decant. A bit of air helps coax out hidden layers - especially in structured reds like Bordeaux, Barolo, or Northern Rhône Syrah. We’ll always let you know when a bottle needs to splash around the decanter versus being ready to pour straight into the glass. Because wine should wow you the moment it hits the table - not two hours later.

🕰️ Ready or Not? A Guide to Fine Wine Drinking Windows

At Weekend Wine, our focus is drink now bottles - whether that’s an old-vine Meursault or a decade-aged Super Tuscan. Here's a breakdown of typical drinking windows, based on producer style, region, and vintage character.

White Burgundy (Chardonnay)

Typical Window: 5 - 15 years from vintage

  • Younger Village wines: 3 - 7 years
  • Premier & Grand Cru: 7 - 15+ years
  • Drink-now sign: Honeyed notes, soft acidity, integrated oak

We love offering white Burgs that still have freshness but have moved past the baby fat.

Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir)

Typical Window: 7 - 25 years

  • Village wines: 5 - 10 years
  • Premier Cru: 10 - 20 years
  • Grand Cru: 15 - 30+ years (depending on producer and vintage)
  • Drink-now sign: Earthy depth, silky tannins, floral lift

We often target Grand Crus that are 15+ years old and just hitting stride.

Bordeaux (Left and Right Bank)

Typical Window: 10 - 30+ years

  • Classified Left Bank: 15 - 40 years
  • Pomerol / St-Émilion Right Bank: Often earlier drinking like 8 - 25 years
  • Drink-now sign: Secondary notes (cedar, tobacco), softened structure

We avoid offering too-young Bordeaux - our picks usually come with at least 10 - 15 years of polish.

Rhône (Northern & Southern)

Typical Window: 5 - 25+ years

Northern Rhône (Syrah)

  • Hermitage/Côte-Rôtie/Cornas: 10 - 25+ years
  • St-Joseph/Crozes: 5 - 10 years
  • Drink-now sign: Smoky black fruit, bacon fat, olive tapenade, softened tannins

Southern Rhône (Grenache blends)

  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape: 7 - 20 years
  • Drink-now sign: Spice, dried herbs, softened red fruit, earthiness

At Weekend Wine, we often source Rhône wines with 8 - 15 years of age - right as they’re entering their peak and showing that wild, savory depth collectors love.

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Typical Window: 5 - 20 years

  • Modern, plush styles: 5 - 10 years
  • Old School classics (e.g., Ridge, Dunn): 10 - 25 years
  • Drink-now sign: Smoothed-out tannins, mellow alcohol, evolved black fruit, balance

We focus on Napa wines with 8 - 12 years of age - often their sweet spot.

Champagne

Typical Window: 3 - 20+ years

  • Non-vintage (NV): 3 - 7 years
  • Vintage cuvées: 7 - 15+ years
  • Prestige cuvées (e.g., Krug, Dom Pérignon): 10 - 25+ years
  • Drink-now sign: Toast, hazelnut, creamy mousse, not overly tight

We love mature Champagne with a little oxidative richness but still bright.

Barolo (Nebbiolo)

Typical Window: 10 - 30+ years

  • Traditional producers: 15 - 30 years
  • Modern styles: Often accessible by year 10
  • Drink-now sign: Rose petal, tar, truffle, softened but present tannins

We rarely offer Barolo under 10 years old - unless it’s singing early.

Super Tuscans

Typical Window: 7 - 20+ years

  • Young blends (e.g., Sassicaia, Ornellaia): 7 - 15 years
  • Age-worthy bottlings (e.g., Solaia, Tignanello): 10 - 20+ years
  • Drink-now sign: Polished texture, balanced oak, red/black fruit harmony

We taste-test our Tuscan selections to ensure you don’t need to decant for hours.

🔍 How Weekend Wine Curates for “Ready to Drink”

  • Sample bottles before offering them
  • Source wines from trusted cellars with ideal storage
  • Focus on vintages that are in or entering peak drinking windows
  • Include clear drinking guidance in every email or listing

TL;DR: Signs a Fine Wine is Ready to Drink

  • Age appropriate for the style and structure
  • Secondary and tertiary aromas emerging
  • Tannins integrated, acidity in balance
  • Storage has been ideal
  • Weekend Wine says: Pop it
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