Wine takes its time. It can sit quietly for years, sometimes decades, becoming more interesting with age. The least we can do is store it properly while it waits.
The golden rule - bottles, especially magnums, should lie flat, not stand upright.
Why? It comes down to the cork. That small disc of bark is the only thing standing between your wine and the outside world. When a bottle lies on its side, the wine keeps the cork moist and sealed. Stored upright, the cork begins to dry out. Once that happens, air starts to seep in - and air is not a friend to wine. Oxidation turns something elegant into something lifeless.
There is also the matter of how it looks. A few magnums resting on their sides, labels facing out, can make even the corner of a kitchen feel like a cellar.
So let your bottles lie back and rest. Upright is for soda water and olive oil. A good bottle of wine deserves better. Let it sleep, quietly, until the moment is right.
