2 minute read
Club Association lunch
COMMON WINE TASTING TERMS
Acetic The wine has been
“ got at” by bacteria. Acidity The essential natural component which gives wine freshness and zing and prevents it from cloying. Aggressive Over-tannic or over-acidic. Alcoholic Over-alcoholic wines tastes “hot” , burns the palate. Apple A smell often found in young white wines. Aromatic Often associated with wines made from grapes such as the Gewürztraminer and Muscat. Baked Like stewed fruits, probably from an over-warm vintage. Balance A balanced wine has its fruitiness, acidity, alcohol and tannin (for reds) in pleasant harmony. Bite High acidity, good in young wine. Blowsy Exaggeratedly fruity, lacking bite. Body A full-bodied wine fills the mouth with flavour. Bouquet Smell. Chocolate For some people, a sure sign of the pinot noir grape. Closed Has yet to show its quality. Complex Having a diverse, well blended mixture of smells and flavours. Corked A wine spoiled by a bad cork has a musty smell and flavour. Crisp Fresh, lively, with good acidity. Depth Wine with depth fills the mouth with lingering flavour. Dry Having no obvious sweetness. Elegant Restrained, classy. Fat Used to describe mouth filling wines, especially Chardonnay and white wines from the Rhone and Alsace. Finesse Understated, classy. Finish How a wine ’ s flavour ends in the mouth. Can be “long ” or “ short” Herbaceous Think of a cross between grass and flowers –“ planty ” . Hollow Lacking depth and roundness. Hot Used to describe over-chaptalised, over-alcoholic wines. Jammy A jammy fruit smell often signifies red wines from hot countries. Legs The visible evidence of glycerine in a wine, these are the “tears ” that run down the glass ’ s side after swirling. Lemon Young whites may display a lemony freshness. Length The time the flavour stays in the mouth. Nose The smell of a wine. Nutty Especially of Chardonnay and sherry. Oaky In moderation, pleasant, like vanilla. Oxidised If a table wine looks and smells of sherry, it’ s oxidised. Palate The flavour, and what you taste it with. Quaffable Everyday wine, usually soft, fruity and undemanding. Residual Sugar The natural grape sugar left in a wine which has not been fermented into alcohol. Ripe Grapes were fully ripe when picked. Robust Solid, full-bodied. Round Smooth and harmonious. Short Wine with a short finish.
