Things you hear at a wine
club’s wine tasting
A
lot of the wine tastings language you hear if you’ve been invited to a tasting
is simple. If you’re familiar with the smell and taste of various fruits,
vegetables and spices, much of the description of the aroma and flavor of wine
will make intuitive sense. As for the physical sensations, a hot wine is one with
a little too much alcohol. A wine with high acidity is one that’s slightly tart,
and can also be called “bright.” A rich wine is “fat,” “massive” or “opulent,”
unless it has no acidity — then it’s just “flabby.”
But
there are many stranger terms. What does it mean to say a wine is “angular” or
“round?” This refers to the mouthfeel. The effect of a round wine is evenly
distributed over the whole inside of the mouth, like a rounded surface. If it’s
fruity with low acidity, it can be called “silky.” An angular wine gives the
feeling of points and edges inside the mouth, and is less pleasurable.
Wine tastings at a vineyard
just outside St. Helena
Anderson’s
Conn Valley Vineyards in Napa Valley, a 10-minute drive from downtown St.
Helena, holds tastings in its barrel caves. One wine you might get a chance to
try is the 2011 Right Bank. Harvest was late and yield was low, but the
resulting wine is perfectly balanced. It has a nose and palate of roses, red
currants, clove and allspice. Its grape and oak tannins blend smoothly together
to accompany the bright acidity and fruit. This wine is expected to age well
for up to 30 years. Join Anderson’s wine club today.
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