Table of Contents
Preparing the Palate: The Art of Wine Smelling
Having scrutinized the wine’s visual cues and engaged in the rhythmic swirl, the final precursor to the tasting symphony is a mindful exploration of its aromas.
Unveiling Aromas: How to Smell Wine
1. The Significance of Smelling
- When you smell a wine, you are priming your brain for the tasting journey that awaits.
- Our sense of smell profoundly influences the brain’s processing of flavor.
- A simple experiment with a strawberry highlights how much more you taste when your sense of smell is engaged.
2. The Art of Smelling Wine
As you approach the wine, immerse your nose into the glass, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. It may feel a bit whimsical, but this method enhances your olfactory experience, allowing you to discern a myriad of scents.
- For White Wine:
- Possible scents may include bananas, lemon rind, pineapple, or even the beach’s salty breeze.
- For Red Wine:
- Aromas may range from prunes, cherries, strawberries, peppers, plums to tobacco.
- No Wrong Answers:
- There are no wrong answers in wine smelling; it’s a personal and subjective experience.
- Individuals may detect different scents based on their memories and experiences.
3. Identifying Red Flags
Before sipping, it’s essential to scrutinize for any off-putting scents that could indicate issues with the wine, such as cork taint.
- Corked Wine:
- Recognizable by scents like wet newspaper, moldy basement, old wet rags, or wet dog.
- If in doubt, consult with companions or the server. A corked wine should be replaced.
- Corked Wine Myth:
- A corked wine is only possible if sealed with a real cork. Synthetic corks or screw caps eliminate this concern.
How to Smell Wine at Wine Tastings
- Hold your wine glass by the stem to maintain the ideal serving temperature.
- Initiate your tasting experience with an initial sniff to assess the wine’s health and prepare your nose for more intense aromas.
- Swirl your wine in the glass to bring aroma compounds to the surface above the wine.
- Take a quick, deep sniff, getting close to the airspace of the glass.
- Observe and identify the variety of aromas you detect, noting how they connect with the flavor.
- Continue exploring the aromas using short, gentle, and quick sniffs, experimenting with techniques like the hoover, sniff, and retro.
- An extra tip is to keep your mouth slightly open to enhance communication of aromas.
Interesting ones to try
2019 Bouchaine Hyde Vineyard Merlot Carneros – Napa Valley
- The legendary Hyde Vineyard unveils a brilliantly structured Merlot
- Ripe tannins dominate, yet irresistibly approachable in its early evolution
- Sarsaparilla, cola spice, and cigar humidor dance with black licorice
- Layers of plum sauce, blackberries, cassis, and black raspberries unfold
- Scrubby herbs emerge with perky acidity, keeping the experience lively
- Immerse yourself in the world of wine with Hyde Vineyard’s masterpiece
- Elevate your tasting experience with this captivating Merlot
2019 Chappellet Merlot Napa Valley
- Inky richness, bursting with toasty cacao, espresso, and grilled vanilla
- Silky mouthfeel framed by sweet, integrating tannins
- Spiced plums, cassis, and bright acidity lingering through a blueberry-kissed finish
2019 Cuvaison Arcilla Merlot Los Carneros – Napa Valley
- Pure evocation of strawberries with evolving tea-like tannins
- Flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, and smashed blueberry
- Notably savory with hints of carob, mineral, black licorice, and plum sauce layers
2019 Duckhorn Three Palms Vineyard Merlot Napa Valley
- A beautiful expression with sweet tannins and well-integrated oak spicing
- Hoisin sauce, cassis, violets, and candied orange peels
- Sandalwood, floral peppercorns, espresso beans, warm vanilla, and loam
2019 L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot Walla Walla Valley, Washington
- Estate-grown brilliance structured for mid-term aging
- Ripe red berry fruit and cherries finding counterpoints in dusty tannins and carob
- Minerality pulsing through each sip, delivering a brilliant wine experience
2019 La Jota Vineyard Co. Howell Mountain Estate Merlot Napa Valley
- A classic effort from winemaker Chris Carpenter with astounding mountain-grown grapes
- Age-worthy tannins allowing notes of licorice, granite, cacao nibs, and well-steeped tea to shine
- Cardamom and violets lingering through the long, elegant finish
2020 Macari Vineyards Merlot North Fork of Long Island
- A spicy and fascinating expression, dominated by crushed peppercorns
- Remarkably translucent, revealing red cherries, raspberries, and toasted fennel seeds with oak spice
2018 Meeker Winemakers’ Handprint Collection Merlot Sonoma County
- Lifted and well-delineated, expressive of black raspberries, ripe cherries, and goji berries
- Loamy earthiness, sarsaparilla-dusted tannins, and a bay-leaf note creating an intriguing wine experience
- Elegant yet powerful, structured for cellaring or enjoying now with grilled meat
2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley
- Toasty, rich, and brooding, a wine rewarding patience
- Notes of blackberry liqueur, kirsch, cassis, purple plums, and cardamom promising complexity
- Impressive balance and structure with graphite-like tannins and singed laurel nuances
2019 Northstar Premier Merlot Columbia Valley, Washington
- Velvety texture, ripe with a counterbalancing punch of acidity
- Crushed blackberries and mulberries, vanilla, clove, and toasty oak through the finish
- A stellar example of what the wine variety does best in the Columbia Valley
2019 PlumpJack Estate Winery Merlot Napa Valley
- A toasty, modern, crowd-pleasing beauty with rich, chocolatey notes
- Plums, blackberries, and cassis lifted by candied violets
- Aging potential of five to seven years, but delightful fruitiness makes it enjoyable now
2019 Ridge Vineyards Estate Merlot Santa Cruz Mountains
- Shining with the character of the venerable Monte Bello Vineyard
- Cedar, incense, brambly berries, elegant balance, and beautifully calibrated acidity
- Promising another ten to fifteen years of life ahead
2019 Rutherford Hill Winery Merlot Napa Valley
- Silky and herbaceous, less fruit-forward than typical Napa Merlot
- Layers of black and red raspberries, cherries, and chocolate with lively mineral finish
- A solid value delivering a unique wine experience for less than $30
2019 Seavey Merlot Napa Valley
- Estate-grown Merlot marked by toasty oak, cafe mocha notes, and woodsy spices
- Silky tannins, density, and underlying pulse of minerality providing real energy
- A captivating wine experience with impressive aging potential
2020 Seven Hills Winery Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Walla Walla Valley, Washington
- Fruit-forward Merlot from a vineyard planted in the early-1980s
- Underlying bergamot note with nuances of sage, oregano, and cracked peppercorns
- Sweet tannins lingering through flavors of red and purple plums and huckleberries
2018 St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery Rutherford Estate Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley
- Rich, chocolatey aromas of hoisin sauce and spiced blackberry liqueur
- Balanced acidity with minerality, hint of dried herbs, and fantastic kirsch finish
2019 Vérité La Muse
- One of the most intriguing and appealing new-release Merlots
- A balance of perfume and depth with red currants, raspberries, cherries, plums, graphite, and hints of tobacco and sandalwood
The Culmination: Time to Taste!
Having assessed the wine’s aromatic symphony and ensured its integrity, the final step is to indulge in the much-anticipated sip.
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