Yes, you can age wines that have been aged in concrete eggs or egg-shaped tanks. In fact, these vessels are becoming increasingly popular among winemakers for their unique ability to enhance the aging process and produce exceptional wines.
How do concrete eggs or egg-shaped tanks affect wine aging?
Concrete eggs or egg-shaped tanks offer several advantages for aging wines:
- Micro-oxygenation: Concrete is slightly porous, allowing for a gentle exchange of oxygen. This micro-oxygenation helps soften tannins and integrate flavors, resulting in a smoother, more complex wine.
- Temperature stability: Concrete has excellent thermal properties, providing a stable temperature environment for the wine to age evenly and consistently.
- Lees aging: The shape of concrete eggs promotes the circulation of lees (sediment) in the wine, leading to increased complexity and texture.
- Neutral vessel: Unlike oak barrels, concrete eggs do not impart any flavors or aromas to the wine, allowing the true expression of the fruit and terroir to shine through.
Factors to consider when aging wines in concrete eggs or egg-shaped tanks
While concrete eggs offer many benefits for aging wines, there are some factors to consider:
- Porous nature: Concrete is porous, so it’s important to ensure the vessel is properly sealed to prevent any unwanted oxidation or microbial growth.
- Cleaning and maintenance: Concrete can be more challenging to clean than stainless steel or glass, requiring special care to avoid any off-flavors or spoilage.
- Size and shape: The size and shape of the vessel can impact the aging process, with smaller eggs offering more surface area contact and potentially faster aging.
- Cost: Concrete eggs can be more expensive than traditional aging vessels, so winemakers must weigh the investment against the benefits for their specific wines.
Examples of wines aged in concrete eggs
Many wineries around the world are now using concrete eggs or egg-shaped tanks to age their wines, with notable examples including:
- Tablas Creek Vineyard (California, USA): Known for their Rhône-style wines, Tablas Creek uses concrete eggs for aging some of their white and red wines to enhance texture and complexity.
- Antinori (Tuscany, Italy): The renowned Italian winery Antinori utilizes concrete eggs for aging some of their premium Chianti Classico wines to achieve a unique balance of fruit and earthy notes.
- Clos des Fous (Chile): This Chilean winery experiments with concrete eggs for aging their cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, highlighting the purity of fruit and minerality.