There’s something impressive about a magnum. It makes a statement without trying too hard and holds enough wine for around ten glasses. In other words, it’s made for sharing.
And with the festive season bringing friends and family together around the table, why open two bottles when one will do the job rather beautifully?
But a magnum isn’t just about size. Wine lovers have another reason to appreciate it: wine ages more slowly in a magnum, allowing it to develop at a gentler pace.
Here’s why. A magnum holds 1.5 litres – two standard bottles. Every bottle has a little space between the wine and the cork, known as the ullage. It holds a little oxygen, with tiny amounts more seeping past the cork over the years. The ullage in a Magnum has roughly the same amount of air between the wine and the cork as a 750ml bottle. That means much less oxygen per litre of wine.
Over time, oxygen helps wine evolve, softening tannins and allowing more complex aromas and flavours to emerge. In a magnum, that evolution tends to happen more slowly.
So, when is a magnum worth it?
When you’re four or more people. A magnum makes sharing easy. There’s something rather satisfying about placing one in the middle of the table.
When you want to keep it. If you’re buying a wine to cellar for a decade or more, a magnum can help it age more gracefully.
When the occasion deserves more. A birth-year wine, a wedding anniversary or a milestone worth remembering. A magnum is still worth opening when the special date comes around.
A magnum won’t make every wine better. But for the right wine and the right occasion, it’s a very good place to start.