I was curious what the ideal drinking window for Vin Jaune is considered to be. I drank a 2004 Macle Chateau Chalon earlier this year and I thought it was still too young, but have also drank Montbourgeau of the same age that was drinking well now. I’m guessing it varies depending on the style, especially how tannic the wine is. The real reason I ask is that, today, I bought a 2004 Ganevat and would like to know when to open it. It’s not an exact science, but I’m curious what other people experienced in Vin Jaune would estimate the peak for this wine could be - now, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
If you have multiple bottles, then you can try one after 20 years, but I think the fun begins at the earliest after 30 years.
Macle 2004 is definitely too young. The 1995 drank well recently (if also still young), but still with potential. Other producers’ Jaunes are more accessible earlier. For example, the 2004 Arbois Vin Jaune and the 2004 Château Chalon from Désiré Petit are young, but fine to drink now. What has helped with young Vin Jaunes in my view is decanting 24 or even 48 hours in advance and letting them sit at cellar temperature.
Last year, I drank some older Vin Jaune with Jean-Francois from the middle of the 1900s that were fresh and “young” tasting alongside the new release vintage (2003 at the time). He was of the opinion that 100 years was a good starting point for his Vin Jaune, but that type of patience didn’t exist in the world any longer.
Frankly, that sounds a bit absurd. It’s totally understandable that that type of patience doesn’t exist anymore. I’m not buying wine to have it drunk after I died.
Put it in your will.
Nice, thanks for the input, guys. Sounds like 20 years is a good minimum date, 30 years for the more concentrated versions, and the longer the better. Arg, I feel old already 
I should send a link to this thread to all of the guys who are bringing Vin Jaune 10 years old or less to dinner on Monday night - LOL!
You don’t have children, do you?
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Yes, Mark. He clearly missed the point of Vin Jaune or, generally speaking, stocking a generational cellar.
As a venerable English friend of mine once told me: “You buy wine for your descendants, store the wine of your parents, and drink the wine of your grandparents.”
Now, being an American, I have trouble not drinking some of the wines I buy. So, I buy extras “for the kids!” It’s about the only excuse left that works with my wife. >:)
Where there is a will there is a wine.
I recently opened a '95 Macle which showed really well…so acid driven…but also so primary and young. Wish I had waited another 20-30 years. -mark