Tasting
Wine
This
page about tasting wine is organized by the flavors that different
wines often exhibit. If you are looking for information on
how to taste wine such as at a wine tasting, try the rating
wine page.
Tasting
Characteristics of White Wines
Dry, Neutral – The term dry is simply
the opposite or absence of sweetness. Some white wines are
extremely refreshing when you’re very thirsty. The fact
that they are neutral means that they do not exhibit any particular
strong quality. The Italians tend to stay away from aromatic,
strong flavored white wines. Most Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanco,
Verdicchio, Soave, and even Chardonnay (if it is unoaked)
from Italy will have this characteristic. The French use a
grape variety called Muscadet. They call it Melon de Bourgogne.
All of these are an excellent complement to shellfish.
Tangy,
Zesty – Wines of this style are typically described
as sharp or green. This is due to the higher level of acidity
that is only partially balanced out by sweetness. Sauvignon
Blanc from New Zealand is the pinnacle of this style. Rieslings,
when young, can exhibit this quality. Age tends to cause them
to mellow out a bit. The Loirre Valley in France produces
a zesty Chenin Blanc in Vouvray and Savennieres. These wines
are mouthwatering and intense enough that most people either
love them or hate them.
Perfumy,
Aromatic – While this may not seem that a tasting
characteristic, it really is. Aroma plays a huge picture in
tasting wine. The best example of this is made from the Gewurztraminer
(geh-VAIRTZ-trah-mee-ner) grape. They have very exotic floral,
fruity and spicy aromas. The Germans create the most aromatic
and intense versions and the Italians try to tone theirs down
somewhat. Because of the lack of subtlety, stick with strong
tasting, spice foods with these wines. The Viognier grape
is also known for its apricot and floral aroma.
Toasty,
Butterscotch – These flavors are typically
a result of fermenting and or aging the wine in oak barrels.
Other associated flavors are nutty, vanilla-like, and sometimes
smoky. The classic wine of this style is Chardonnay. Chardonnay
is typically dry and very fruity. Try a white Burgundy (white
Burgundy is made from the Chardonnay grape) for a great example.
It is a rich and full bodied wine. If you are not fond of
toasty, butterscotch-like flavors, try a Chardonnay from northern
Italy or France’s Chablis. They tend to stay away from
using oak.
Sweet,
Rich – For the sweet tooth out there, the classic
examples are from Germany and the Sauternes district of Bordeaux.
When grapes are allowed to stay on the vine for a longer than
average amount of time, they will sometimes become infected
by a fungus called botrytis. This fungus, sometimes called
noble rot, dehydrates the grapes which in turn intensifies
the sweetness of the fruit. It also produces a rich, honey-like
flavor. This intense sweetness is somewhat balanced by a high
degree of acidity. These wines can be very expensive and the
German styles are called Trockenbeerenauslese (TRO-ken-BEER-en-OUSE-lay-seh)
and Beerenauslese or TBA and BA for short. A less expensive
wine gets its sweetness by letting the grapes freeze. When
pressing the frozen grapes, the ice separates from the sweet,
syrupy juice, leaving a concentrated sweet wine. This wine
is called Ice Wine and is also produced in Canada.
Tasting Characteristics of Red Wines
Sweet and Sour – The sweet and sour
fruity flavors are common in Italian wines. They prefer to
drink wines with their meals as opposed to by itself, so this
style works well when accompanied with certain foods such
as duck. Many Italian grapes produce that sour, cherry-like
flavor. Some examples are, Sangiovese (san-joe-VAY-say), Barbera,
Dolcetto (dohl-CHET-oh), and even Chianti (key-AHN-tee). Other
places, including California, use these grapes but rarely
do they produce the degree of bite that the Italians achieve.
Fruity
and Juicy – For those that don’t prefer
the mouth drying quality that tannin causes, these wines fit
the bill. They are usually fairly light, with an emphasis
on fruit flavor and are designed to drink young. No need to
age these wines. There can be vibrant blackberry, cherry,
plum or maybe black currant flavors. Zinfandel, Merlot, and
Tempranillo (tem-pra-NEE-yoh) are a few of the grapes used
for this style. California and even Chile produce some fine
examples of light, fruity reds. France, though not quite as
fruity, has Beaujolais (boh-jhoe-lay). Beaujolais is made
from the Gamay grape and is a good wine for those white wine
drinkers who haven’t quite acquired the taste for reds.
These wines also are good for dinner because they go well
with a variety of foods.
Soft,
Strawberry – Mellow, strawberry or raspberry-like
flavors with more noticeable tannin than the fruity wines
above can be found in wines such as Pinot Noir (pee-noh nwahr)
and Red Rioja (ree-OH-ha). Pinot Noir is a finicky grape so
the quality varies wildly. Try a French red Burgundy (made
with Pinot Noir grapes). They make some of the most silky
and delicious examples. But again, cheap bottles are drastically
worse than good ones. Aging also helps to achieve the mellowness
and complex aromas.
Rich,
Spicy – Deep fruit flavors, hints of chocolate,
black pepper and other spices are common in the Syrah or Shiraz
grape. Australian Shiraz sets a benchmark for the style. Sometimes
smoky flavors accent the Rhone Valley’s Syrah in France.
Often these wines have an earthy or mineral quality. These
great tasting wines are better suited to cooler weather because
of their rich, almost warming characteristic.
Firm,
Blackcurranty – For full flavored richness
with the distinct taste of blackcurrant and firm tannins,
Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect choice. Aging makes a big
difference in its mellowness and range of flavors. A good
quality Cabernet Sauvignon or Cab for short, should exhibit
a complex depth of flavors. The aroma sometimes resembles
pencil shavings or cigar boxes. Because of the high tannin
content, they are sometimes blended with Merlot grapes to
soften it up. Even though price and quality varies, the Cabernet
Sauvignon grape creates a fairly consistent tasting wine.
Now
that you have an idea of some of the flavors of various wines,
read about some example wine
and food pairings.
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