Backward wine

I've read this description before, but I never stopped to think about it. A wine I am considering purchasing, has been described as being a bit backward. Is this a trait that the wine can overcome with time, or is this a flawed wine?

I like “The Wine Lover’s Companion” definition of “backward wine”- not as developed as expected for its vintage, style, and type.
Will it “always” remain “backward”, or will it eventually come “around”? That’s a very good question Diane. I guess that will all depend upon the vintage, grape variety/varieties and style/type of wine produced.

Salute

[Jenise]

I like “The Wine Lover’s Companion” definition of “backward wine”- not as developed as expected for its vintage, style, and type.

Which might be how the reviewer found it on a given day when the wine was in an awkward stage or possibly suffering from travel shock.

Diane, when I read that, I tend to think it as a caveat of sorts, that it applies to THAT bottle at THAT time vs. it being an authoritative generalization about all bottles of that wine in that vintage. I'd fall back to the producer's track record and what I know of the vintage in general.

This was actually the winemaker's comments (as repeated to me by someone who spoke to the winemaker), so I will take it to be representative of this particular wine for the current vintage.

Will it “always” remain “backward”, or will it eventually come “around”? That’s a very good question Diane. I guess that will all depend upon the vintage, grape variety/varieties and style/type of wine produced.

Salute

Well, it's a 2005 cabernet sauvignon from Sonoma - some grapes are from the Sonoma valley floor, which is making the wine backwards.

Diane,

Good question and one that has a few potential answers. There are certain wines that show very tannic when young but with bottle age mellow out quite a bit . . .

On the other hand, there are certain wines that, because of vintage or winemaking, will NOT come around and will remain 'backwards' or 'unevolved'.

When I hear this term, I tend to think of a wine that is either very tannic or very acidic or both . . . traits that most often mellow with time . . .

As an example, I work with grenache quite a bit. If I pick too early, because of how thick the skins are and how much tannin they contain, that wine will have a high level of tannins and not the 'softness' I am after in my wines. In that case, the 'backwards' element of the wine may remain through the life of the wine.

Hope that helps and does not confuse even further! Cheers!

Hi Diane,
Since the winemaker himself/herself made the comment the wine was “backwards” maybe to him/her the wine is not “bottle aging” as he/she expected. Predicting how a wine will “bulk age” in an oak barrel is a lot easier than predicting how a wine will “bottle age”.

Salute

Larry - your explanation does help, but when a wine I drink is acidic or tannic, that is how I describe it as opposed to being backwards.

Thank you all for your help in understanding this term, and in the case of this wine I was considering, I think I will pass.

I've read this description before, but I never stopped to think about it. A wine I am considering purchasing, has been described as being a bit backward. Is this a trait that the wine can overcome with time, or is this a flawed wine?

Hi Diane,

Slow also comes to mind. Wines that are dense and tannic and slow to evolve. 1975 and 1986 Bordeaux are often described this way. The 1996 Ducru is kind of backward. Parker said it just entered it's very long drinking plateau. One of my bottles still has your name on it; but as I remember, you already tried one; so it won't be such a big deal to try mine. How was the bottle you tried? I don't remember your description.

Covert

Hi Covert - I think your wording of slow to evolve makes sense, and I believe that many 1995 Bordeaux could fit into that category.
I'm pleased to see that the 1996 Ducru still has my name on it. Yes, I did try a bottle about 3 or 4 years ago, but since wine continues to evolve, it could be a totally different experience when I have the opportunity to drink it again. I'm too lazy to search for my notes, but I remember it being a very, very enjoyable, albeit young wine.

Hi Covert - I think your wording of slow to evolve makes sense, and I believe that many 1995 Bordeaux could fit into that category.
I'm pleased to see that the 1996 Ducru still has my name on it. Yes, I did try a bottle about 3 or 4 years ago, but since wine continues to evolve, it could be a totally different experience when I have the opportunity to drink it again. I'm too lazy to search for my notes, but I remember it being a very, very enjoyable, albeit young wine.

Hi Diane,

The only really long-haul 1995 I have is a single Margaux. The wait for it is so very long. And because of the "weight" and magnitude of the idea behind the bottle, it will probably be profoundly enjoyable or disappointing when I finally open it.

Three or four years is a long time, too. Maybe we should open a bottle of the Ducru sooner than later. I still get to Long Island once or twice a year. I have thought at times that we could potentially drink the bottle at my father's home on Lloyd Neck; even though it is a bit of a trek for you and your husband. We could follow the glow with a short walk on the beach, maybe, or just visit the ocean for a couple of minutes, depending on the weather.

My father, with the same name as my wife, Lynn, is interesting in that he never touched a drop of alcohol in his entire life. Never even knocked back a bottle of beer with his numerous buddies at college. But he loves to play classical music on his baby grand for anybody who can suffer to listen. We could potentially have him play a Liszt sonata for background. And his wife, Jean, always looks forward to our visits because she really loves wine, but of course drinks very little when we are not there. She often drinks more wine, both red and white, than I do over the course of an evening (my Lynn always keeps up with her), and takes time to research and buy a bottle she thinks we might like prior to our arrival. It would be fun to share a truly great bottle with Jean before she passes to the other side (they are both 88 years young). I don't think she has ever experienced one.

Covert