There’s a common saying about wine, In Vino Veritas, which means in wine there’s truth. However, the truth only prevails if the wine is good and up to the quality standards. Georgians invented wine around 6,000 years ago, and soon enough, the entire world got fond of it. Wine is a great compliment for luxury food because it activates the taste buds.
The preparation method for wine differs regionally and largely depends on the quality of the grapes used. Additionally, proper aging and storage are crucial to wine quality. Usually, we spend a fortune to get our hands on premium wine, but we get disappointed. So, here are five ways to test the quality of your wine.
Smell
Wine tasting is not limited to taste. 4 of your five senses must engage equally to determine objective standards. The first sense that engages is our smell. Put your nose in the glass and try to soak in the smell and different flavors. A good wine smells like a vineyard.
It gives a feeling that you are walking through the process of winemaking. It is an entire experience in itself. Some of the French wines also have a floral smell, which is equally good.
Good smell indicates that the wine has been prepared with passion and keen interest. However, if your wine smells like fermented juice, it’s up to no good. If the first impression comes off as a soaked newspaper made into a drink, you probably have a low-quality wine.
Balanced flavors
Wine has four major components, tannins, acidity, alcohol, and fruit. A perfect balance of these four components is crucial to delivering a world-class experience. If the wine is high on tannins, it’s more likely to warm your throat, giving a feeling of a warm summer afternoon.
Similarly, high acidity will disturb your body’s pH balance and give you a sense of uneasiness. If your wine is more on the fruity side, it will give a feeling of expired fruit juice. Lastly, overpowering alcohol will burn your throat and hamper your buzz.
Balancing all the flavors requires refined skills and craftsmanship. Balanced wine will instantly become your favorite, even if you are not a seasoned taster. Hence, if you feel that your wine is balanced with proportionate flavors, you are off to a good start.
Depth
Saying that a good wine must have depth seems like a spiritual argument. But, here, by depth, we mean depth of flavors. This means the number of flavors you can detect in your mouth when you swirl a sip.
Usually, the grape has a strong essence, so it seems very prominent, and amateur tasters end up liking the quality of grapes used. However, premium winemakers slip in a few other flavors in layers to add versatility to their wine.
If you can detect grapevine or nuts or a tinch of chocolate beneath the dominating grapes, you have got your hands on good wine. Such wines develop their tastes through meal courses. They tickle your taste buds and instigate them to explore more on the palette.
Finish
After you have finished tasting, it’s time to swallow it. If the flavors that you managed to detect remain on the palette for a few seconds, it’s a mark of superior quality. You need to get your hands on several useful resources regarding wine tasting France if you truly want to make an informed decision.
We expect good wine to leave its taste for at least four to five seconds, but if it stays beyond ten seconds, you probably have a treasure in your hands. A smooth finish is the last benchmark for good wine.
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