Technique sounds like studying, not something most people
do when they drink wine. Drinking is for pleasure, not work.
However, by taking just a few moments to think about how
you drink, you will learn to taste – and more fully
appreciate your wine experience in the process.
Be aware that environment affects the taste of wine. A classic
example: the magical vivacity of a crisp white enjoyed during
a leisurely lunch by the seashore or a spicy rose sipped
on a cool summer evening listening to opera in the park will
show quite differently during a mid-winter holiday dinner.
That token bottle you dragged home in your luggage to share
with friends on a special occasion should be shared in a
similar setting. If not, light wines might taste flabby or
watery and big reds may be too alcoholic and overpowering.
Likewise, an elegant wine rich in complexity may not be fully
appreciated in a casual, stand-up party setting.
Tasting entails five basic steps:
(1) Look
The appearance of a wine, examined in a clear, un-etched
glass against a white background, will tell you several
things about the wine. The color indicates age, grape variety,
and potentially the type of extraction and maturation during
the wine making process.
(2) Smell
Smelling a wine accounts for approximately 75% of what you
actually taste. Surprised? Think about smelling or eating
food when you have a cold. Without a sense of smell, food
tastes bland. You may even suffer from a loss of appetite.
Smelling the wine allows you to assess the intensity, age,
fruit character and even the faults of the wine.
Swirl the wine in the glass to help the aromas surface and
then take a sniff or two. Are the aromas powerful or subdued?
Is the wine developing, or is it still fresh and fruity?
Do you smell red or white fruits, herbs, minerals or spice?
How about burnt matches or wet dog?
(3) Taste
Take a small sip of the wine and slosh it around your mouth. “Aerate” the
wine by pulling in a little air through your lips. At first
it sounds and feels funny – some may even feel inappropriate
at the table – but it helps the wine to further expose
its full range of character. Notice not only the flavor profile
but also the tactile elements of the wine. Is the wine smooth
or harsh? Do you feel the back corners of your mouth watering?
Does the wine seem heavy or light on your tongue?
(4) Spit / Swallow
If you are tasting versus drinking wine, you spit. Otherwise,
you won’t be able to assess wines accurately after
a while. After the wine has left your mouth, notice how
long its flavors and tactile aspects remain with you. The
longer the finish of the wine, the better the quality in
most cases.
(5) Evaluate
Think about the overall character of the wine. First try
to make an impartial valuation since you may not like a
well-made wine simply because it is not your style.
Is it simple and easy to drink or complex and multi-layered?
Does it require aging or does it drink well now? Overall,
is it well made? Finally, do you like it?
Saluti!
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