When you hear a wine reviewer say that a Merlot is “hedonistic” or that Chardonnay is “earthy”, they are actually trying to tell you something, even if it’s in the most obtuse way possible. Our friends over at VinePair have a rundown of commonly used wine language and what it means to the rest of us in the real world.
Photo by Paul Aloe
You’ll have to hit the link below for the full list, but here are a few we particularly enjoyed:
Hedonistic: Robert Parker’s favourite word. Wines that just blow you away. Parker likes hedonistic, but you can just say the wine is damn amazing.
Earthy: The wine smells like dirt, leaves, and wood. It is also used to describe wines that have a finish that tastes similar to green vegetables.
Barnyard: This means the wine smells like poop. It is usually not a favourable descriptor. Since the wine smells like poop, might as well just say so.
Hit the link below for even more terms, and what they really mean (and in some cases, what you should just say instead.)
Learn 20 Wine Words Most Wine Drinkers Don’t Know [VinePair]
Comments
One response to “Real World Descriptions Of Snobby Wine Terms”
Mmmm… crushed grapes.
The wine industry just like its partner in crime art is a totally BS industry…yes I can taste the peaches with a hint of blackberry and its been fermented using Cuban cigar boxes, its just grapes for goodness sake. Wine is self perpetuating BS, you either like it or you don’t, the rest is smoke and mirrors and the industry shrouds itself in the mystique of it all.