Why Wine Professionals Swear by Magnums — and Why You Ought to Too

Magnums include baggage. They’re usually perceived as extravagant or meant for collectors — one thing you’d deliver to an enormous banquet and depart unfinished. However in observe, the format serves a really totally different goal, particularly when it comes to how wine ages over time. Wanda Mann, a wine educator and the founding father of Wine With Wanda — who might be speaking about all issues Cabernet Franc at this yr’s Meals & Wine Traditional in Aspen — views them as one of the efficient codecs for preserving high quality and construction over time.

“Generally, individuals mistakenly consider magnums are all about flash and never perform,” says Mann. “There’s no denying the dramatic visible attraction of a large-format bottle, however many winemakers want to bottle their high wines in magnums as a result of they’re a great vessel for getting old.” That’s very true for wines that don’t all the time get high billing, like Cabernet Franc. The format provides them room to evolve — quietly, confidently — and present up with extra construction when it counts.

What adjustments in a magnum?

A magnum holds 1.5 liters of wine — twice the usual bottle — however each permit in roughly the identical quantity of oxygen over time. This shift in ratio slows oxidation and extends the wine’s improvement. “Wines do age in another way, and dare I say higher, in magnums,” says Mann. “That slower oxidation permits the wine to develop complexity and depth over time.”

Producers usually reserve this format for wines that profit from getting old — reds with acidity and tannin or complicated whites made for extra than simply short-term consuming. Cabernet Franc suits neatly into that class. Equally, Barolo, Pinot Noir, and structured kinds of Chardonnay and Champagne are additionally notable examples.

Magnums aren’t nearly preserving wine perpetually. They’re about permitting it the time to achieve its full potential — particularly should you’re opening one thing that may in any other case drink somewhat younger.

Not essentially extra cheap, however usually smarter

There’s no price benefit to purchasing magnums. “Magnums aren’t normally cheaper than shopping for normal bottles,” Mann notes. Nonetheless, they will provide worth in different methods. They age extra gracefully, serve about ten glasses — sufficient for a desk of friends, and take away a number of the guesswork round bottle timing. “If we’re targeted on getting old,” Mann provides, “magnums are perfect for wines with a construction that helps longevity.”

That applies to a variety of wine kinds, from Champagne and Verdicchio to age-worthy reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc. The slower evolution permits these wines extra space to open up, notably in vintages the place the construction is there, however the fruit hasn’t absolutely softened. And in sensible phrases, bringing one magnum to the desk is commonly simpler — and extra placing — than juggling two bottles.

Why the magnum format feels totally different

Magnums don’t simply serve in another way. They learn in another way. There’s a shift in tone when a magnum hits the desk — not as a result of it’s costly, however as a result of it feels intentional. “Magnums are enjoyable,” Mann says. “They’re instantaneous dialog starters that captivate friends and add the proper of drama to the consuming expertise.”

They don’t need to be splurges both. Inexpensive Proseccos, pét-nats, and lighter reds are more and more obtainable in massive format. The impression stays the identical, even when the worth doesn’t climb. And in a time when residence dinners typically carry extra weight than eating out, this format delivers somewhat further with out doing an excessive amount of.

The case for getting magnums

Magnums aren’t simply shelf items or occasion props. They’re instruments for higher getting old, smarter serving, and a barely extra beneficiant pour. When you’re holding a wine that’s not fairly able to drink — or trying to elevate one thing extra informal — the format helps on each counts.

For varieties like Cabernet Franc that profit from construction and persistence, a magnum affords the suitable circumstances. It’s not about making a splash. It’s about giving the wine time and giving the second extra space.