Lately many of our members have been asking questions about the blind tasting process and how we sommeliers conclude the make-up of the final wine just by using three senses of sight, nose, and taste. So last week, we had the honor to host an entertaining, yet educational blind tasting event for our inquisitive members. We tasted through six red wines as Ryan Tedder led us through the classic characteristics of the possible grapes that made up the wines in each glass. For those who were not able to join us, I will go over the blind tasting process and what clues to look for in the wine to guide you to the correct final conclusion; if not, then at least a great second call.
As somms, it is important that we accurately blind taste wines that are classic in the wine world, not just for the bragging rights, but so that we can taste any given wine and judge that bottle based on pure quality as opposed to making any biased judgments. Blind tasting is a difficult feat on its own; but with the solid the knowledge and skills of deductively tasting wines from classic wine regions made in traditional methods, then the more esoteric wines should not be as hard. The wine world is so vast so how would one decide if a region is ‘classic’? As Tedder stated, “If you cannot name at least three producers, all with {for the most part} a distinctive similar wine style of the same winegrowing area, then it is not considered a classic wine region.” There are classic wine regions in both “Old World and New”: ‘Old World’ being from the great vines of France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, and Greece, while the ‘New World’ takes us to the opulent wines of California: specifically Napa. Washington State and Oregon are two other classic North American regions with Argentina, Chili, South Africa, and Australia and New Zealand all playing large rolls in the typical New World of wines spectrum. So put your tasty Texas Tempranillo aside and let’s begin to blind.
You have six wines and four minutes to break down each glass. The clock starts when you touch the glass. The first wine was one of the hardest, so I will go over each specific element so you can get a gist of what to look for in each glass.
Wine#1: Sight: was clear, with a moderate concentration of ruby core with a light garnet rim. No gas, no sediment, with a moderate plus viscosity. 30 seconds: done.
Nose: There was no flaw on the nose, with moderate plus intensity, slightly developing, red fruits of dried cranberry, tart raspberry, ripe strawberry and plum. Non fruits were: dried red petals, dried dill, tar, and spice. There was a strong earth component baked inorganic earth and possible mix of American and French wood influences with aromas of dill and sandalwood.
Palate: The wine was dry with a moderate body. The fruits on the palate confirmed the tart red fruits on the nose along with added dark raspberry. The floral note is the same, the non-fruits components were also the same on the palate as the nose but hints of smoke, and a deeper savory and organic earth component. The wine was moderate plus in acid, alcohol, and tannins, and with moderate plus complexity and finish, this wine was balanced.
Initial conclusion: Old World or New World? My group decided Old World, due to the mineral and acid driven nature of the wine, as opposed to fruit and alcohol. This wine is from a temperate climate, possible grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Sangiovese. Possible countries: France, Spain, Italy. Age range: 4-8 years
Final Conclusion: Grape variety or blend: Tempranillo, Country: Spain, Region: Rioja, Quality Level: Gran Reserva, Vintage: 2005
Wine#2 was the easiest for everyone. Obvious clues in sight: lighter in concentration, ruby in color with very little rim variation. All this indicates that it is a youthful red wine from a thin skinned grape. So immediately we can rule out the heavy weights: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec which has a bright purple hue than ruby. Obvious markers on the nose: tart red fruits, raspberry, ripe strawberry, ripe red cherry. Non fruit notes were equally present with cardamom spice, rhubarb, dried herbs, and red licorice. The palate drove this wine home for most of the members as it confirmed this wine was more mineral and non-fruit driven with clues of lean mineral earth like limestone and white mushrooms, dried sage, loads of spice, and a slight but distinctive good funk.
Wine#3: Obvious Markers: light ruby, more garnet core fading into a noticeable orange rim. Nose: Tart cherry, tart plum, ripe blackberry with stronger non-fruits of luscious rose petals, licorice, dried fennel, cigar paper, heavy spices and tar. To finish it off, this grape variety has distinctively strong tannins.
Wine #4: Evident Markers: more hazy than clear and darker ruby in hue. Nose and Palate: Red fruits that are fresh, ripe, tart, and cooked. Red flowers and loads of spice, earth, and rich savory components. One of our members kept calling sweet BBQ spice. There were also strong notes of leather, black pepper, and black tea with more earth driven elements of gravel and stone.
Wine#5: Clear Markers: sweet fruit (doesn’t matter what kind), dark chocolate and sweet mocha, sweet vanilla, and alcohol.
Wine#6: Was also one of the most difficult in our lineup. Obvious Markers: raisins, dried red fruit, syrupy black fruit. The wine is highly floral with dried potpourri and lush rose petals. Other distinctive notes are leather, chocolate covered raisins, tar, tobacco and gamey meat, also high in alcohol and body.
How did you do? With distinctive markers picked up in the sight, on the nose and palate; we can take the vast classic wine world and deduct what one region or grape varietal the wine cannot be and chisel down to get to an accurate final conclusion, making the right call on what the wine is and how and when it was made. Taste your wine tonight and try to pull out as many flavors as you can and try a little blinder yourself, or you could just leave the tasting grid shenanigans to the somms and simply enjoy the wine.
The Reveal:
2005 Muga Predo Enea Gran Reserva Rioja (Tempranillo)
2012 Henry Gouges Nuit-St-Georges Red Burgundy (Pinot Noir)
2010 Vietti Castiglione Barolo (Nebbiolo)
2010 Chateau la Nerthe Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Grenache Blend)
2012 Chappellet Signature Napa (Cabernet Sauvignon)
2009 Allegrini Amarone Classico (Corvina Blend)