During the process of wine tasting, smelling the aroma is a very important step, and when we taste a glass of wine, the aroma is also the first flavor of the wine in the glass that we can perceive, taking a deep breath, the aroma slowly refreshes the mind.
It can be said that the reason why wine is so beloved is that the rich and diverse aromas are an important reason that cannot be ignored.
Different grape varieties and different terroirs will add more mysterious atmosphere to the aroma of the wine, just like an elusive feline woman, making you unable to resist continuing to explore her secret garden.
It is said that preferences for the aroma of wine can reveal what level of wine enthusiast you are!
These aromas often come from the grapes themselves, mainly including fruity (blackcurrant, cherry, mango, lychee, etc.), floral (rose, lavender, etc.), and herbal (mint, grass, bell pepper, etc.) scents.
Each type of grape has a specific aroma, so these scents are also an important basis for identifying varieties during blind tastings, and they are most obvious in young wines.
Common Grape Varieties and Their Aromas
Cabernet Sauvignon: Blackcurrant, black cherry, green bell pepper, mint, cedar, etc.
Merlot: Raspberry, strawberry, herbal leaf fragrance, etc.
Pinot Noir: Raspberry, strawberry, red cherry, and other red fruits.
Syrah/Shiraz: Black cherry, black pepper, mint, spices, etc.
Chardonnay: Apple, pear, greengage, citrus, lemon, peach, etc.
Entry-level – Prefers floral and fruity fragrance
Sauvignon Blanc: Green bell pepper, green grass, nettle, passion fruit, elderflower, etc.
Riesling: Apple, citrus, peach, osmanthus, and acacia, etc.
For beginners, these aromas are often the most obvious and intuitive experience of wine.
Smelling the fragrance is a pleasant experience in itself, and familiar scents are more likely to stimulate the purchasing desire of enthusiasts. Therefore, some people even fall in love with drinking because of the aroma of wine. If you are also a beginner, you might as well try a bottle of fruity wine.
Generally, these aromas come from the winemaking process, and many winemakers choose to ferment and age in oak barrels, which often gives the wine a certain oak barrel flavor.
In addition, these aromas also include the scents of fermented bread, yeast, nuts, biscuits, butter, buttermilk, and mushrooms.
However, these aromas are often not very obvious, and it is difficult for beginners to clearly perceive them, let alone develop a fondness for them.
Adding this type of aroma is not as fresh and pleasant as floral and fruity scents, so wine lovers who prefer this type of aroma have less superficial requirements for wine. They often have a certain level of accomplishment in wine and belong to advanced enthusiasts.
It is worth mentioning that in the past, there were always some pseudo-advanced enthusiasts who believed in the theory of “the stronger the oak flavor, the better the wine.” In fact, this is not advisable.
Overusing oak barrels can cover up one type of aroma in wine and destroy the overall balance of the wine’s aroma. Therefore, it is okay to prefer the taste of oak barrels, but do not blindly pursue the oak flavor excessively.
As the wine ages, it gradually loses almost all of its primary aromas, giving rise to a series of aged aromas.
Especially after the wine has been oxidized in moderation, it brings a more complex aroma, such as hazelnut, roasted peanut, tobacco, almond, smoky, wet leaves, and vanilla.
Compared with the aromas brought by the oak barrel, this type of aroma is more complex and hidden, and it is also more difficult to identify.
Advanced version – Prefers oak barrel flavor
Only those with extensive wine tasting experience can clearly perceive and distinguish this type of aroma, and those who prefer this aroma are often mostly advanced enthusiasts.
Whether it is the fragrance of fruit, fermentation, or aging, they are all indispensable and important aromas in wine, and of course, they are also the key to the balance of aroma.
A wine that only has the fragrance of fruit may seem too simple, a wine that is completely filled with the smell of oak may be repellent, and a wine that only has the fragrance of aging may seem a bit old.
It can be seen that without any one of these three types of aromas, the wine is incomplete.
Therefore, in the eyes of those who truly love and understand wine, only when the combination of these three types of aromas reaches an absolute balance can it be considered the most perfect taste experience!
