Decoding the Language of Wine: Fruit and flavour.

Welcome to the second blog in a series that clarifies the often complex language used by wine writers, sommeliers, and educators. Deciphering wine descriptors can be challenging for the average drinker. This post focuses on the fruit descriptors commonly applied to wine. Whether you're a seasoned sommelier or an enthusiastic wine lover, this vocabulary guide will enhance your appreciation of wine's visual aspects. Let's demystify these descriptive terms and bring confidence to your wine-tasting experience!

Fruit-Forward

A wine where the dominant aromas and flavours prominently showcase the fruity characteristics of the grapes used in winemaking. These wines often display ripe, fresh, and vibrant fruit notes easily perceivable on the nose and palate, providing a delightful and juicy drinking experience.

Ripe

A wine where the grapes have reached optimal ripeness before harvesting. This ripeness is reflected in the wine's aromas and flavours, showcasing the full expression of matured and sweet fruit characteristics.

Super-Ripe

A wine where the grapes have been allowed to stay on the vine for an extended period, leading to a higher level of ripeness and concentration. As a result, the wine exhibits intensified, almost jammy, and sometimes pruned fruit flavours.

Opulent

A wine that is characterised by its luxurious and abundant fruit character. It refers to a wine that offers rich, ripe, and lavish fruit flavours, often accompanied by a velvety mouthfeel and a sense of extravagance on the palate.

 Rich

A wine that boasts a significant presence of ripe and concentrated fruit flavours. These full-bodied wines have a luscious texture, delivering a wealth of fruit-driven sensations.

 Generous

A wine marked by its ample and expressive fruit profile. It suggests an open and forthcoming wine with its fruit aromas and flavours, leaving a lasting and satisfying impression on the taster.

 Supple

Refers to a wine with a smooth and velvety texture, often accompanied by gentle and harmonious fruit flavours. These wines are known for their softness and easy-drinking nature.

 Highly Concentrated

Refers to a wine with an exceptionally intense and dense fruit character. Such wines have a potent concentration of fruit flavours that make them stand out for their richness and depth.

 High-Toned

A wine with bright and lively fruit aromas, often characterised by elevated notes of acidity and a vibrant, almost tangy fruit profile. These wines exude energy and freshness.

 Bouncy

A wine that displays a lively and playful fruit character. The term suggests a wine with animated and exuberant fruit flavours that dance on the palate.

 Lively

A wine characterised by its vivacious and animated fruit qualities. These wines often exhibit crisp and refreshing fruit notes, making them vibrant and invigorating.

 Undertone

This refers to subtle and secondary fruit notes that complement and add complexity to the primary fruit flavours. These understated nuances contribute to the wine's overall aromatic and flavour profile.

 Precise

A wine where the fruit expression is well-defined, clear, and accurate. It suggests that the wine's fruit flavours are distinct and easily identifiable without being overshadowed by other elements.

 Juicy

A wine with mouth-watering and succulent fruit flavours. These wines are refreshing and thirst-quenching, often associated with a burst of fruitiness on the palate.

 Vinous

A wine with a pronounced grapey or wine-like quality. It implies that the wine's fruit flavours closely resemble the natural taste of the grapes used in winemaking.

 Sinewy

Describes a wine that displays a lean and muscular fruit character. It suggests a wine with firm and well-structured fruit flavours, often accompanied by robust tannins.

 Lean

Describes a wine with a restrained and subtle fruit profile. It implies the wine has a more delicate and lightweight fruit expression, showcasing finesse and restraint.

 Clean

Describes a wine where the fruit characteristics are pure and unadulterated. It suggests a wine free from any off-flavours or faults, allowing the fruit to shine without distractions.

Succulent

Refers to a wine with a juicy and mouth-filling fruit character. These wines often have a fleshy and inviting fruitiness that enriches the overall tasting experience.

Stewed

Denotes a wine where the fruit flavours have developed in a way that resembles cooked or stewed fruits. This might result from grapes picked when very ripe or winemaking techniques that encourage this particular flavour profile.