Vertical refers to a tasting of multiple vintages of the same wine (same producer, same vineyard, same wine type). Verticals allow assessment of how a wine evolves across different vintage conditions. A vertical tasting might include five or ten vintages of a single wine, revealing vintage variation and aging potential. Verticals are educational, helping collectors understand how different years affect wine and how wines age. Vertical tastings are common among serious collectors and critics.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR COLLECTORS
Vertical tastings are educational, revealing how vintage and age affect wine character. Collectors often organize verticals to understand their favourite wines' development.
Tasting cues
- A vertical tasting is multiple vintages of the same wine — vintage weather becomes the variable.
- You learn a producer’s signature vs year-to-year swing.
- Contrast with a horizontal: same vintage, different wines.
Examples
- Five vintages of one Barolo cru, or a decade of a favourite Bordeaux estate.
- Library releases and back-vintage merchant offers make verticals easier to build.
Cellar actions
- When you love a wine, buy multiple vintages instead of only more of one year.
- Open verticals from oldest to youngest (or reverse) with a plan — take notes.
Related terms
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