Dumb Wine

- R
- Rick
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Dec 1, 2003 3:18 PM

The following quote is lifted from the Vieux Telegraphe 2001 thread.

"CdP is a bit deceprive, as it drinks very well in its youth, but then goes dumb and needs time to come back into form. "

I'm trying to find out more about the 'dumb' phase a wine goes through during it development - I only learned the theory behind this process this year so it's still new to me. Do _all_ wines go through a dumb phase or only certain types of wine (wines having some particular characteristic) such as Cdp?

Rick Smith

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- Jim
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Dec 1, 2003 6:56 PM

snipped-for-privacy@rogers.com (Rick) asks.....

it development<

"Dumb" as it refers to wine, is that period during development or during opening of a bottle, in which the wines personality is in a kind of oenological purgatory, that is, not coming forward or revealed. We know it was there once and will be (we hope) down the road, but for now it's simply not to be found.

The chemistry behind dumb and first development can be explained by others, but you know how some wines must breathe upon opening and some or a lot of time only improves their character? That period of lackluster blah is dumb.

- R
- Rick
  
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posted
20 years ago

Tue, Dec 2, 2003 3:54 PM

After re-reading the many posts on this topic (something I should have done before posting) I conclude that the short answer to my question is NO.

With respect to red wines, I've gleaned the following info:

a) some, but not all, wines will experience a dumb phase. b) the onset and duration of the dumb period is likely influenced by terroir, producer and/or vintage. c) a wine may shut down more than once during its development. d) the dumb period may last from 3 to thirty years. e) a 'dumb' wine might evolve from its state or remain stuck there. f) some drinkers might confused a 'mediocre' wine with a dumb wine.

Now it all makes sense.

Rick Smith