Wine 101: Complexity
What makes a wine complex? Complexity, in terms of wine tasting and evaluation, is a word meant to describe the various aromas, flavors and character of a wine. When wine tasting, it is recommended to place the glass on the counter, holding the base firmly to the counter, and gently but vigorously swirl the glass in a circular motion to try to aerate the wine before holding it to your nose. Once you have swirled, quickly place the glass so that the bridge of your nose practically touches the rim of the glass and inhale. The aromas you get from that first inhale might seem overwhelming at first, which is why you swirl and inhale several times before taking your first sip. Most wines will give you fruity smells – white wines can hold a lot of citrus type smells for instance while oak aged reds might smell earthy (like fresh potting soil, or the inside of an old wooden trunk)- but wines aromas are certainly not limited to fruit or earth (check out this aroma/flavor chart to help you learn how to describe your wine). The variety of scents you detect from this process help in determining the complexity of the wine. If you smell a lot of different characteristics in the wine, you describe the wine as having a “complex nose” (nose means aroma or smell). Hopefully a complex nose is actually indicative of complex taste, too, so that every sip you might be able to pick out one of the many aromas you initially detected. This is the complexity of wine. If you drink a wine that smells a bit like citrus but does not have a lot of flavor, the wine is not complex. Complexity is usually linked to the quality of the wine, but as with all wine drinking – your individual preference is all that matters. Whether you like your wine complex or simple and easy going, all that matters is that you are responsibly enjoying your wine experience. Happy tasting! Sponsored by Su Vino Winery’s Almond Champagne.
Tags: Almond Champagne, Su Vino Winery, Wine 101, Wine Aromas
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