A 4-step checklist for assessing wine quality.
When tasting any wine - whether formally or just for your own pleasure - there are three main components to look at:
- appearance,
- the nose and
- the palette.
You might even use terms like 'tears' (an indication of alcohol content), or dredge up a whole list of fruity, spicy or savory aromas you perceive in the nose. If you're really a "geek," you might even start discussing the different sugar, acid and tannin levels in the wine, and what those components do to the overall structure.
But at some point you ask yourself the most important question: is this wine actually good?
Once you have the description of the color, the aromas in the nose and the flavors and structural components on the palette behind you, it is time to gauge the quality of the wine. Mind you, that's a different question than "do I like this wine?
You may love a cheap supermarket wine for various reasons, but when you go through this four-step checklist, you will understand the difference between determining whether you like a wine or whether it is a good wine.
Balance
This word is used ad nauseam in the wine world, and is perhaps the most important element for a quality wine. The trick in detecting and assessing balance is understanding what is balanced with what: fruit with tannin; alcohol with sugar; acids with fruit. If all those things work together - meaning that one component does not conflict with or overpower another - then you can put a check mark in the proverbial "Balance" box.
Length
Length describes how long the flavor or other components of a wine linger on your tongue. When assessing length, ask yourself if the flavors of the wine linger in your mouth for several seconds, or if they dissipate quickly after swallowing. Are those flavors pleasant, or are they more likely to be sharp, stiff or bitter? The length and finish of a wine can be mesmerizing and practically beg you for another sip (or maybe a second glass!). So, when a wine has a long, intriguing and satisfying finish, you can check off "Length.
Intensity and expressiveness
Intensity is perceptible in both the nose and the palette. When a wine's aromas jump out of the glass, or when the flavors feel almost three-dimensional, these are signs of an intense wine. When a wine has recognizable characteristics that are clearly linked to a specific grape variety, region or terroir, you can say it is expressive of that particular grape or region. In other words, if you sip a Premier Cru Chablis and you taste green fruit and minerality, then the "Intensity and expressiveness" box can be checked off.
Complexity
Some wines can be considered "simple" if they show only one or two characteristics. For example, an entry-level Pinot Grigio may have high acidity, citrus and perhaps a hint of floral notes; that is considered a simple wine. However, that does not mean it is not well-made or unpleasant; it is simply the inherent style of some Pinot Grigios.
But to be considered "complex," a wine must have several aromas and flavors that are primary (fruit, herbs, floral notes from the grape), secondary (flavors and aromas that come from wood aging or fermentation techniques such as bâtonnage), and tertiary (flavor components that come from bottle aging, such as earth and mushrooms). In addition, there should be prominent acids and/or tannins that give the structural composition an interesting personality. So, when a wine combines all these glorious aromas and flavors with potentially refreshing acids, firm tannins and a full body, well then you have a complex wine on your hands.
Conclusion
Now that you have determined whether a wine has these four key characteristics, you can determine its overall quality. If none of the boxes get a checkmark, it may be a sign of a poorly made wine, as all wines should exhibit at least one quality characteristic. If only one box is checked, consider that wine acceptable, but perhaps nothing special. If you taste a wine with two checkmarks, you probably have a good wine on your hands. And when a wine gets a checkmark in every box on this list, you are lucky to be drinking an excellent wine ... and then life is good!
Source: Wine Enthusiast
