tasting notes. To take or not take? When you're out wine tasting, the truth is that there are many subtleties of what we experience. The difference between the wines are often very subtle. Even if you think a movie or a book you read - the human brain can not remember parts of it, and not all. It's just how we got together. As such, it would be impossible to have a memory capable of storing all the subtle tastes and flavors that we live in a glass of wine.
In general, people tend to feel the wine, taste wine, and spit or swallow. They then decide whether they liked it or not, and almost forget the rest. This is where the tasting notes taken is very practical. First, it helps you keep a record of all the wines you have tasted - the variety and vintage, which helps refresh your memory after the tasting. But on the other hand, putting into words the tastes and smells that you experience, it really focuses your mind to the task. You have a better tasting. You are more aware of the tastes and flavors you encounter.
Here are some items you should include in your wine tasting:
Wine Name *
* Producer
* Region / appellation - not only to the country, but between the specific region
* The variety of grape
* Vintage - Include the year the wine was produced. Sometimes you get the non-vintage wines (NV) which means it does not come from a single vintage year. This is more common with port and sherry.
Color and appearance - a commentary on the depth of color, clarity and color.
* Nose - describe the bouquet of wine. Take notes of all shades and subtleties specific.
* Mouth / Taste - think its sweetness, body, acidity and tannins. How does the wine feel in your mouth? Think balance and aftertaste.
* General Thoughts / Ideas - wrap your mind. Did you like it? What food should we go? Would you buy it? Any general thought should be included here.
* Score is - give it a score of 100. Or use the system 5 *. It's your choice how you score, after all, is your opinion on a very subjective matter.
Posted on January 5, 2010.
