Once fined, the wine is bottled and aged at the château before taking its place in the wine lovers’ cellar.

Bottling the wine completes the whole process. Some châteaux have their own bottling lines, while others call in specialist bottlers. The bottling lines use an inert gas system so that no air reaches the wine. The bottles are then stored in the ageing cellar.

In the bottle, at the château or in a wine lover’s cellar, the wine continues to age slowly, as long, complex biochemical reactions set to work. It will evolve most harmoniously if kept in optimum conditions:

- temperatures : 14°C - 16°C

- humidity : 75% minimum

- no vibrations

- away from light.