Karen MacNeil
WINESPEED
August 16, 2026
winespeed-by-karen-macneil

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“Dear Karen, at a dinner party, should an older, library wine be served first or last?”The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Hi Stan, Many people serve an old wine last as the crowning moment of an extraordinary evening. But most wine pros would serve an old wine first. Older wines usually have more delicate, understated flavors. If you serve an old wine after a younger (and therefore more robust) wine, chances are it will simply end up tasting thin, weak, and uninteresting by comparison. That would be a shame. So, far from being the crescendo of an evening, an older wine should be the sensational opening act.

—Karen

The Super Tuscans are: The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

A. Red wines made in Tuscany from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes

B. Red or white wines made in Tuscany from any variety except Sangiovese

C. Red blends made in Tuscany from Sangiovese plus any other red variety

D. Red wines made in Tuscany in an “international style”

“Wine, land, agricultural skills, and entrepreneurship are gifts from God—the CreatorThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.