From Athenaeus’ Deipnosophists (1.47)
“Pindar praises “old wine, but the blossoms of newer songs” (Ol. 9.48). Eubulus notes that:
It is strange that the escorts always praise
Old wine but rather than an old man
They prefer a young one.
Alexis says nearly the same thing except that he says “very high” instead of “always”. In fact, old wine is not only sweeter but it is better for your health. It digests foot better since it is more refined itself, it is more readily absorbed; it also gives your body strength, reddens your blood and makes it absorb more; and it offers untroubled sleep.”
‘παλαιὸν μὲν οἶνον, ἄνθεα δ’ ὕμνων νεωτέρων’ Πίνδαρος ἐπαινεῖ (ol. IX 48). Εὔβουλος δέ φησιν(II 209 K)·
ἄτοπον δὲ τὸν μὲν οἶνον εὐδοκιμεῖν ἀεὶ
παρὰ ταῖς ἑταίραις τὸν παλαιόν, ἄνδρα δὲ
μὴ τὸν παλαιόν, ἀλλὰ τὸν νεώτερον.
τὸ αὐτὸ δὲ καὶ ῎Αλεξις σχεδὸν ἀπαραλλάκτως (II 400 K), τοῦ σφόδρα μόνου κειμένου ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀεί. ὄντως δὲ ὁ παλαιὸς οἶνος οὐ πρὸς ἡδονὴν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς ὑγίειαν προσφορώτερος. πέσσει τε γὰρ μᾶλλον τὰ σῖτα καὶ λεπτομερὴς ὢν εὐανάδοτός ἐστι δύναμίν τε τοῖς σώμασιν ἐμποιεῖ τὸ αἷμά τε ἐνερευθὲς καὶ εὐανάδοτον κατασκευάζει καὶ τοὺς ὕπνους ἀταράχους παρέχει.
