For 40 years, I have been using the slow oxygenation method, with spectacular results. The method is simple: we open a bottle 4 to 5 hours before the meal, we wipe well the neck with our fingers because sometimes old corks have greased the neck, and we leave the wine in a quiet room temperate atmosphere, or in the door of a refrigerator for dry white wines.

Having opened more than 5,000 bottles over 35 years and having achieved spectacular results with wines that resurrect, I thought it was enough that I testify to be believed. However, it is not the case. Skepticism is very widespread especially with this misconception that a wine, as soon as it is open, will inevitably fade very quickly. On the contrary, the slow oxygenation method not only prevents the wine from fading, but also reinforces the wine, which has a long life in the glass which is greatly increased.

If I have not been able to convince, it’s my fault, and I only have to blame myself. Also, as I hope that this method is finally recognized I launch a great experience open to all wine lovers, based on a single principle: a wine lover who has smelt the wine at the opening will judge the evolution of the fragrance of wine 4 to 5 hours later. It seems to me that everyone must be able to do it.

I therefore ask all amateurs to build a database based on odor analysis at 4 or 5 hour intervals.

The first smell of wine at the opening will be noted as follows:

A – definitely dead wine

B – very probably dead wine

C – wine that smells very bad

D – wine that smells bad

E – wine with uncertain smell

F – wine with a neutral smell

G – pleasantly scented wine

H – wine with a very pleasant smell

I – majestic wine.

I recall the procedure: we open the bottle 4 to 5 hours before, we clean the neck with the fingers; we do not pour any glass because the fact of pouring a glass does not make the oxygenation as slow as it should be, we note on our Smartphone on a note dedicated to this exercise: the year of the wine – the year of consumption – the letter of smell at the opening.

The smell just before the service will be the one felt at the neck, before serving, in the room where the wine was felt at the opening.

The smell at the time of service will be noted as follows:

1 – definitely dead wine

2 – odor deteriorated strongly compared to that of the opening

3 – smell slightly worse than opening

4 – odor without change

5 – odor slightly improved

6 – odor in noticeable improvement

7 – smell in very strong improvement

8 – miracle!

For example, a 1978 wine with a pleasant odor that has improved significantly will be noted as follows:

1978 – 2018 – G – 6.

I will use this rating system for myself and if many amateurs send me their own findings every two months, we can see if the slow oxygenation method is really what I believe, which gave me so many miracles for 40 years.

I especially wish to receive the results of the wines of before 1984 (35 years and more) which for my study have more significance. Send your results by mail every two months and I hope to have a nice database. Thank you very much.

Francois.audouze@wine-dinners.com