Shared Flashcard Set

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Wine Knowledge
tasting terms, pairing, facts, etc
47
Marketing
Professional
10/07/2010

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Cards

Term
Acidic
Definition
Describe wine whose total acid is so high that they taste tart or sour and a sharp edge or harsh feeling on the palate.
Term
Acrid
Definition
Describes a harsh or bitter taste or pungent smell that is due to excess sulfur.
Term
Aftertaste
Definition
The taste or flavors that linger in the mouth after the wine is tasted, spit or swallowed. The aftertaste or "finish" is the most important factor in judging a wine's character and quality. Surprisingly, this may differ significantly from the taste while the wine is in your mouth. A lingering aftertaste is a virtue, as long as the taste is enjoyable. Great wines have rich, long, complex aftertastes.
Term
Aggressive
Definition
Slightly harsh in taste or texture, usually due to a high level of tannin or acid.
Term
Alcoholic
Definition
Used to describe a wine that has too much alcohol for its body and weight, making it unbalanced. A wine with too much alcohol will taste uncharacteristically heavy or hot as a result. This quality is noticeable in aroma and aftertaste.
Term
Appearance
Definition
Refers to a wine's clarity, not color.
Term
Apple
Definition
A pleasant apple-fruit aroma, particularly characteristic of Chardonnays made without excessive oak.
Term
Aroma
Definition
Traditionally defined as the smell that wine acquires from the grapes and from fermentation. Now it more commonly means the wine's total smell, including changes that resulted from oak aging or that occurred in the bottle--good or bad. "Bouquet" has a similar meaning.
Term
Astringent
Definition
Describes a rough, harsh, puckery feel in the mouth, usually from tannin or high acidity that red wines (and a few whites) have. When the harshness stands out, the wine is astringent.
Term
Austere
Definition
Used to describe relatively hard, high-acid wines that lack depth and roundness. Usually said of young wines that need time to soften, or wines that lack richness and body.
Term
Awkward
Definition
Describes a wine that has poor structure, is clumsy or is out of balance.
Term
Backbone
Definition
Used to denote those wines that are full-bodied, well-structured and balanced by a desirable level of acidity.
Term
Backward
Definition
Used to describe a young wine that is less developed than others of its type and class from the same vintage.
Term
Balance
Definition
A wine has balance when its elements are harmonious and no single elements dominates. Alcohol and tannins may also be elements of structure or backbone.
Term
Bite
Definition
A marked degree of acidity or tannin. An acid grip in the finish should be more like a zestful tang and is tolerable only in a rich, full-bodied wine.
Term
Bitter
Definition
Not common in wines but found occasionally (particularly in the aftertaste, and usually in subtle, refreshing form) in some Italian wines and Alsatian whites. It describes one of the four basic tastes (along with sour, salty and sweet). Some grapes--notably Gewurztraminer and Muscat--often have a noticeable bitter edge to their flavors. Another source of bitterness is tannin or stems. If the bitter quality dominates the wine's flavor or aftertaste, it is considered a fault. In sweet wines a trace of bitterness may complement the flavors. In young red wines it can be a warning signal, as bitterness doesn't always dissipate with age. Normally, a fine, mature wine should not be bitter on the palate.
Term
Blunt
Definition
Strong in flavor and often alcoholic, but lacking in aromatic interest and development on the palate.
Term
Body
Definition
The overall texture or weight of wine in the mouth usually the result of a combination of glycerin, alcohol and sugar. Commonly expressed as full-bodied, medium-bodied or medium-weight, or light-bodied.
Term
Bouquet
Definition
This is a technical term that describes the smell that a wine develops after it has been bottled and aged. Most appropriate for mature wines that have developed complex flavors beyond basic young fruit and oak aromas.
Term
Brawny
Definition
Used to describe wines that are hard, intense, tannic and that have raw, woody flavors. The opposite of elegant.
Term
Briary
Definition
Describes young wines with an earthy or stemmy wild berry character.
Term
Bright
Definition
Used for fresh, ripe, zesty, lively young wines with vivid, focused flavors.
Term
Brilliant
Definition
Exceptionally clear and transparent. Describes the appearance of very clear wines with absolutely no visible suspended or particulate matter. Not always a plus, as it can indicate a highly filtered wine.
Term
Browning
Definition
Describes a wine's color, and is a sign that a wine is mature and may be faded. A bad sign in young red (or white) wines, but less significant in older wines. Wines 20 to 30 years old may have a brownish edge yet still be enjoyable.
Term
Burnt
Definition
Describes wines that have an overdone, smoky, toasty or singed edge. Also used to describe overripe grapes.
Term
Buttery
Definition
Indicates the smell of melted butter or toasty oak. Also a reference to texture, as in "a rich, buttery Chardonnay."
Term
Cedary
Definition
Denotes the smell of cedar wood associated with mature Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends aged in French or American oak.
Term
Cheezy
Definition
Organic, ripe natural cheese aromas, almost always a flaw, typically indicating filthy wine making and an unwanted secondary fermentation in the bottle.
Term
Chewy
Definition
Describes rich, heavy, tannic wines that are full-bodied.
Term
Cigar Box
Definition
Another descriptor for a cedary aroma.
Term
Closed
Definition
Describes wines that are concentrated and have character, yet show little aroma or flavor. This may be a temporary condition (akin to "dumb") in an age worthy wine that is past its youth but not yet mature.
Term
Cloudiness
Definition
Lack of clarity to the eye. Fine for old wines with sediment, but it can be a warning signal of protein instability, yeast spoilage or refermentation in the bottle in younger wines.
Term
Cloying
Definition
Too sweet and lacking the balance provided by acid, alcohol, bitterness or intense flavor.
Term
Complexity
Definition
An element in all great wines and many very good ones; a combination of richness, depth, flavor intensity, focus, balance, harmony and finesse. They offer multiple dimensions in both their aromatic and flavor profiles, and have more going for them than simply ripe fruit and a satisfying, pleasurable, yet one-dimensional quality.
Term
Corked
Definition
Always a flaw, this describes a wine having the off-putting, musty, moldy-newspaper flavor and aroma and dry aftertaste caused by a tainted cork.
Term
Delicate
Definition
Complex with many flavors working together. Used to describe light- to medium-weight wines with good flavors. A desirable quality in wines such as Pinot Noir or Riesling.
Term
Dense
Definition
Describes a wine that has concentrated aromas on the nose and palate. A good sign in young wines.
Term
Depth
Definition
Describes the complexity and concentration of flavors in a wine, as in a wine with excellent or uncommon depth. Opposite of shallow. Often refers to a more mature wine.
Term
Dilute
Definition
A description of a wine whose aromas and flavors are thin and watery.
Term
Dirty
Definition
As the name implies, this covers any and all foul, rank, off-putting smells that can occur in a wine, including those caused by bad barrels or corks. A sign of poor wine making.
Term
Dry
Definition
This doesn't mean the opposite of wet; it is the opposite of sweet. Having no perceptible taste of sugar. Most wine tasters begin to perceive sugar at levels of 0.5 percent to 0.7 percent. It can describe wines with a rough feel on the tongue.
Term
Earthy
Definition
Imparts a characteristic earthy aroma. Used to describe both positive and negative attributes in wine. At its best, a pleasant, clean quality that adds complexity to aroma and flavors. The flip side is a funky, crude smell that borders on or crosses into dirtiness.
Term
Elegant
Definition
Used to describe wines of grace, balance and beauty, not intense.
Term
Elusive
Definition
A secret wine-taster's term meaning "I can't figure out what this wine smells like."
Term
Empty
Definition
Similar to hollow; devoid of flavor and interest.
Term
Fading
Definition
Describes a wine that is losing color, fruit or flavor, usually as a result of age.
Term
Fat
Definition
Full-bodied, high-alcohol wines low in acidity give a "fat" impression on the palate. Can be a plus with bold, ripe, rich flavors; can also suggest the wine's structure is suspect.
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