Quality Over Quantity: How to Make One Exceptional Bottle Last an Entire Week

By TOM MARQUARDT and PATRICK DARR

At a recent wine gathering, we found ourselves politely sipping a wine we really didn’t like, but one that the host had generously offered to us. After nursing a single glass throughout the evening, we returned home unsated but satisfied that at least we didn’t over-consume. We know that sounds snobbish, but everyone has set a different threshold for what we enjoy, and at a time when we are drinking less, we don’t want to spend our allotment on an unappealing wine.

Perhaps you’ve adopted a similar philosophy. If you’re reducing your intake, why compromise on quality? Consider this: rather than sharing a $15 bottle with your partner over one dinner, enjoying a $30 bottle every other evening costs the same while potentially doubling your pleasure. Extend a $40 bottle across several evenings, and the value improves further. Even a premium $50 bottle, savored over five days, breaks down to just $10 per serving—a bargain compared to restaurant pricing. When moderating consumption, we prefer to indulge in selections we’ve carefully curated for our personal enjoyment.

If you intend to drink a special bottle over a week, you need to think about how best to preserve the wine so that it doesn’t degrade with the last glass. Air is what ruins a wine over time. You’ll be fine with just the cork if you intend to drink the wine over a few days. Otherwise, you should invest in a preservation system.  A Vacu Vin that pumps out the air costs less than $20; a Coravin system that can keep a wine open for a month costs $250. It’s best to keep open wines chilled; you can store red wine in the refrigerator, but let it come to room temperature before drinking. You can make a bottle of wine last a week.

With that in mind, here are some wines, ranging in prices, that can deliver something special at each pour when served over time:

Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay South Eastern Australia 2020 ($40). There are more current vintages on the market, but this is the one I found recently.  Highlighted by barrel-fermentation notes and oak, it has that delicious character. Peach and ripe apple notes.

Vanderbilt Reserve Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2020 ($30).  A value in the often-expensive pinot noir category, this medium-bodied delight has forward cranberry and red currant notes, with a lush mouthfeel and a dash of spice.

Cuvaison Napa Valley Pinot Noir 2023 ($45).  Bright raspberry and cherry flavors with a dash of anise dominate this special treat from Los Carneros.  Great mouthfeel and generous plum, allspice aromas.

Baldacci Syrah Napa Valley 2023 ($55). Using estate-grown grapes, this producer has a blockbuster syrah with effusive plum and blueberry notes. Nicely structure and lush in the mouth with a seemingly endless finish.

Le Vigne Winery Estate Nikiara 2021 ($54). OMG, this is a terrific wine. Named the owner’s children, this property’s flagship wine is full of energy. Made from several vineyard blocks and varietals, it offers fresh cherry and plum fruit with a hint of chocolate and leather. Fine-grained tannins make it a powerful wine to complement beef. The blend is 55 percent cabernet sauvignon, 23 percent petit verdot, 17 percent cabernet franc and 5 percent merlot.

Larkmead Firebelle Red Blend 2023 ($100). We can’t speak highly enough about this spectacular merlot-based blend from Napa Valley. The merlot gives the wine opulence and softness while the 23 percent cabernet sauvignon gives it lift and structure. The tannins are distinctly there but fine—an ideal match for a good steak. Generous and forward cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate aromas are followed by black cherry and cassis flavors with hints of cocoa and spice.

Stags’ Leap Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($65). Fresh and abundant raspberry and blackberry flavors with a floral aroma.

Brandlin Estate Cuvee Red Wine 2022 ($75). A blend of cabernet sauvignon (41 percent), cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec, this Mount Veeder wine has layered fruit common to these grape varieties. Plum and raspberry aromas with hint of cedar. Mouth-filling cherry flavors and fine tannins.

Wine picks

Alma Rosa Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2023 ($40). We enjoyed this expressive chardonnay from the estate’s El Jabali Vineyard. Stone fruit aromas with apple and peach flavors with a thread of minerality.

Benziger Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 ($25). Always a reliable wine for the price, this simple yet full-bodied cabernet sauvignon shows off ripe and juicy berry flavors with a hint of spice.

La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2024 ($20). This producer is well-respected for its reasonably priced chardonnay and pinot noir from Monterey. This one is chock full of apple, peach and pineapple notes. Good balance between fresh acidity and creamy lushness.

Paperwhite by J. Lohr Unoaked Chardonnay 2024 ($14). J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines has another hit with this great value from Monterey’s Arroyo Seco AVA. With primary fermentation done in stainless-steel tanks, it retains the freshness and purity of chardonnay. Green apple and citrus highlight the wine, a perfect match to seafood dishes.

Daou Reserve Paso Robles Chardonnay 2023 ($60). This opulent and intense chardonnay draws from old-vine chardonnay grown in Edna Valley. Generous peach, melon and granny smith apple flavors with a round mouthfeel and a dash of vanilla.