Hedonism Wines stocks an array of large formats for key wine categories from Bordeaux and Burgundy to Champagne and Port. The perfect answer to large gatherings, special occasions and festive celebrations, why not choose a large format to be the centrepiece of your table…
What are large format wines?
To put it simply these are larger sized bottles – anything bigger than the standard 75cl that is a usual wine bottle size. From 150cl up to 27 litres, the world of large formats is an exciting one to discover. Wines of vast proportions are given magnificent Biblical names to match - Melchior and Balthasar to name just two.
Which wines are sold in large formats?
In theory any category of wine could be offered in large format, but there are a few key categories that stand out for offering large formats - Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, United States, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
What are the large formats for Champagne?
The most commonly found large formats for Champagne are 150cl and 300cl, but here at Hedonism we stock all the way through to the 12 litre Balthazar format. To learn more about all things Champagne, why not take a look at our guide to everything you ever needed to know about Champagne.
Why buy large formats?
The wines age more slowly than in smaller formats, allowing for further complexity and longevity over time. This is because larger bottles reduce the ratio of a wine’s surface area exposed to oxygen in relation to its volume.
The perfect solution to your vinous needs for large parties and gatherings – all in the one bottle!
Rarity value – a chance to enjoy some of the most sought-after wines in large format. The perfect gift for the true Hedonist in your life!
What are large wine bottles called?
The names for these formats vary between wine regions in particular between Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne - so can be confusing. We’ve created a handy summary below...
1.5 litres – Magnum
2.25 litres –Tappit Hen or Marie-Jeanne
3 litres – Double Magnum
4.5 litres – Rehoboam
5 litres – Jeroboam
6 litres – Imperial or Methuselah
9 litres – Salmanazar
12 litres – Balthazar
15 litres – Nebuchadnezzar
18 litres – Melchior
Do large format wines age better?
We ask a couple of top producers for their take on this question: For internationally renowned vigneron Pierre Seillan, ‘Wines in larger formats age and evolve far more slowly than in smaller ones. This point is proven when doing side by side comparisons but also well documented within the wine world. The larger the amount of wine in a bottle, the slower the evolution of the wine will be and the longer it will age for. This is obviously a very good thing.’
For Champagne Louis Roederer winemaker, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, ‘The size of the format has an impact on the amount of oxygen going into the wine through cork, and therefore the speed at which it matures. Half bottles mature more quickly and are best drunk slightly earlier, whereas larger formats will age differently often showing a slower pace of maturity and therefore a slightly different tertiary development.’
How should I serve a large format wine?
Vcanters are your answer here: a high quality decanting cradle for fabulous large formats. Hand made in the idyllic Swiss city of Lucerne, these superb decanting cradles are an object of highest precision and quality. With easy-to-use gear arms and a very stable bottom plate, the bottles are safe and stable on the device, to ensure utmost enjoyment at every occasion.
Tempted by the idea of a large format? Discover the magnums, jeroboams, imperials and more that we stock at Hedonism Wines.