Written on 11/11/2020
The language of wine
Wine has its own language. It is discussed as much as it is tasted. From the erotic to the scientific, the wine lexicon is vast and sometimes mysterious. We've heard the terms a thousand times without ever admitting we don't understand them. Here's a selection of words you need to know and master to talk about "wine" without getting your feet stuck in the vine...
BOUQUET
These are the aromas that emerge from a wine, which can be smelled at first or in "retro-olfaction". The term "bouquet" refers to the aromas developed during barrel ageing and bottle ageing. It's simply "what the wine smells like". It's obviously an essential aspect in judging its quality and enjoying it!
AN ENVELOPED WINE
It's a characteristic of a wine. It's said to be enveloped when it's rich in alcohol, fat and mellow. A quality that will be appreciated by some and shunned by others. For me, it's simply a question of timing. A wrapped wine, with your feet under a blanket and a black-and-white film, can be very comforting during that second confinement...
BIODYNAMY
This definition would perhaps merit a full article, as more and more "biodynamic" wines are appearing in our wine shops.
This technique relies mainly on theexchange between the soil and the vine. Fertilizers are replaced by natural products to strengthen the vines. It is based on a lunar calendar and onexposure to the sun. The aim is to make the most of the biodiversity surrounding the vine (flowers, insects, fruit...) to influence the future taste of the wine.
Biodynamics is not necessarily synonymous with quality! This technique is highly complex to master, and it takes time to achieve your taste objectives!
PERFORMANCE
The quantity of wine produced from a given surface area. Yield is often expressed in hectolitres per hectare (hl/ha). To regulate yield, bunches can be cut to limit the number per vine. In this way, the sap is more active on the remaining bunches.
Low yields are generally considered to be a guarantee of wine quality, and winemakers will often tell you about this when extolling the virtues of their product.
Here are a few dog-eared pages in the never-ending dictionary of wine. We could still have talked about closed wine, complete wine or bâtonnage... but that's only part of the story!
