How do you recognize a great wine? This is the question that most neophytes often ask themselves when buying a bottle of wine as a gift or on the occasion of a special dinner, or simply out of curiosity. Here are some explanations to define the bases of a great wine.
The Absence of Flaws
The quality of a wine begins with the flaws it does not have: acetic sting (vinegar taste), oxidation (chard apple taste), iron haze (metal taste), Brettanomyces (stable taste), etc. We are fortunate to live in an era where most wines are of good quality. Thanks to the generalization of the profession of oenologist and to technology, the defects are certainly always present but increasingly rare, especially if you buy your great wine on a reliable site like millesima-usa.com.
On the other hand, the presence of a flaw may appear to some as a sign of quality. As a matter of fact, some fans of natural wines are looking for oxidation because it means that there are no sulfites in the wine.
The Organoleptic Quality
The organoleptic quality refers to the balance of the wine in the mouth, more precisely the balance between acidity, alcohol, glycerol and tannins. Aromatic richness, freshness, or even tannic suppleness are currently sought after. This being very variable compared to the tannic concentration and the alcoholic power formerly prized by the greatest number.
The consistency of this organoleptic quality is another essential factor, particularly with regard to the volume produced. It is obvious that it is easier to concentrate on a parcel selection of 2 hectares than on 5,000 hectoliters of trade.
The Typicality of the Region
It is often said that a wine should reflect the expression of the place where it was born. Who would not expect the liveliness of a white wine from Bordeaux? The fruit of a red wine from the Rhône Valley? The suppleness of a Beaujolais? The illustrations are numerous and easily declinable. We all project stereotypical expectations before we start tasting a wine that comes our way. And this is the reason why few people taste before asking the origin of the wine present in their glass.
This projection to an origin is specifically French, even European. In contrast, the quality factors of a New World wine are more related to technology, the winemaker’s know-how and the grape variety. It doesn’t matter where the latter will have grown as long as the expected organoleptic quality is present and constant. Click here to learn more about great wines.