In Praise of Oversized Wine Bottles

Rudyard Kipling once famously said, “A man can never have too much red wine.” And who are we to disagree? That’s why we have a special admiration for large format wines. They’re not only immensely enjoyable and indulgent but also the perfect accompaniment to parties and celebratory gatherings. And perhaps, just perhaps, they hold the promise of an ample supply of wine.

These magnificent bottles come in a range of sizes, each with a name that could be straight out of the bible: Magnum (1.5 liters), Jeroboam or Double Magnum (3 liters), Rehoboam (4.5 liters), Bordeaux Jeroboam (5 liters), Imperial (6 liters), Methuselah (6 liters), Salmanazar (9 liters), Balthazar (12 liters), Nebuchadnezzar (15 liters), Melchior (18 liters), Solomon (20 liters), Sovereign (25 liters), Primat or Goliath (27 liters), and Melchizedek (30 liters).

But while these oversized vessels certainly meet the requirement for quantity in group settings, some experts argue that they lean towards impracticality due to their sheer size and other factors. Mashed spoke with Mathew Woodburn-Simmonds, an ex-sommelier and the creator of Decoding Wine, to delve into the practicality of large wine formats like the Nebuchadnezzar. According to Woodburn-Simmonds, they score a big zero in terms of practicality. “It’s purely for show. Trying to pour even a 3l bottle of wine is really hard. Most of these bottles are made specifically for parties or events to make an impression. They’re utterly pointless from a practical perspective,” he remarked.

The pain of opening a bottle of wine, only to discover that it has gone bad, is unparalleled. Once a bottle of wine is uncorked, there’s no turning back. The lifespan of an open bottle of wine depends on its type and the way it is stored. When stored correctly, a bottle of red wine can last up to five days. But why does wine go bad once uncorked? In the case of large format wines, they oxidize more slowly than regular wines when corked, resulting in a better retention of flavors and complexity. This makes them ideal candidates for long-term aging. However, once opened and exposed to air, wine begins to oxidize. If not consumed in a timely manner, the wine becomes overly oxidized, leading to an altered taste and color. This is precisely why it’s risky to reseal a larger bottle. “You can recork a larger bottle, but be cautious about how much wine is left. If there’s only 1/3 of the bottle remaining, you’ll be trapping a significant amount of oxygen inside, which will spoil the wine,” advised Woodburn-Simmonds. While having a 750-milliliter bottle go bad is disappointing enough, just imagine the heartbreak of a 20-liter Solomon being spoiled.

So, as much as we may adore the grandeur and allure of oversized wine bottles, it’s crucial to be aware of their practical limitations. They might make a stunning statement at a celebration, but when it comes to everyday use and ensuring the longevity of our beloved wine, it’s best to stick with more manageable sizes. After all, no one wants to waste a drop of that precious nectar.