![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.nataliemaclean.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Tasting-Wine3.jpg\" "\\"Tasting")
<\/a>\u201cNow ladies and gentlemen, if you will each raise your wine glass to your nose I\u2019m sure that you will agree that the scent of black cherry, cinnamon, truffle and the slightest hint of wet stone quite typically displays the varietal character of this wine.\u201d<\/p>\nWhat the hell!\u00a0 Am I the only person in the room that has a problem with this?\u00a0 Judging by the expression on the lady\u2019s face sitting across from me, apparently not \u2013 in fact, I think the cork just flew over her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it wrong that all I smell is red wine?\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you like it?\u201d I queried back.<\/p>\n
\u201cYa, it tastes really good but I don\u2019t smell any of those things.\u201d<\/p>\n
With one eyebrow raised, I responded \u201cI doubt that he does either\u201d.<\/p>\n
That was a few months ago at a fancy dinner hosted by a gentleman who\u2019s tie was just a little too tight as he attempted to educate the group on the wines being served while reading from his cue-cards.\u00a0 Ridiculous – yes, but it does bring up a good discussion.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m all about enjoying the fine nuances of a great glass of wine but please don\u2019t make more of this than need be; it\u2019s a drink, not a science project, and there is both a time and place where this sort of critique is valid, but that place is not at the dinner table surrounded by people who really don\u2019t care to know this information.<\/p>\n
So the question remains:\u00a0 Can anyone actually smell or taste the bizarre array of adjectives regularly printed on tasting note cards alongside bottles on the store shelves?\u00a0 The short answer is \u2018yes\u2019 while the abbreviated and slightly sarcastic long answer is \u2018who really cares\u2019, but more so, what do you stand to gain from these tasting notes?<\/p>\n
The author of any tasting note is describing the variety of grape(s) and style of wine.\u00a0 Within that style, he or she may also find a curious scent or taste to complement the typical (varietal) character of the wine in question.<\/p>\n
Shiraz for example will normally display a rather pronounced aroma and taste of dark fruits such blackberries and plums in addition to the sensation of dark chocolate and pepper spice.\u00a0 If the wine is from a warm new world region such as Australia, these characteristics tend to be more obvious than the same from a traditional producer in the cooler climates of France.<\/p>\n
Does that mean that you are wrong to detect something else, like raspberries or leather?\u00a0 Not at all, and that is what makes this subject so interesting.\u00a0 Wine is subjective; your mood, the theme of the restaurant, food pairing choices, and the company you share will all influence the taste of a glass of wine.<\/p>\n
Tyler is the founder of North of 9 Fine Wine<\/a>\u00a0and also writes about wine in Footprints Magazine.<\/p>\n