Wines Words

A name for the series of aromas that evoke the animal kingdom, including musk, venison and leather, that are frequently found in older red wines. These aromas are created in the bottle and appear only after a wine has been aged.

Vin de garde. This term refers to a wine that is well suited for aging due to its aromatic power, tannic structure and acidity.

Said of a wine that is high in alcohol but not unpleasant (as opposed to a heady wine).

The graft is a branch of a vine plan, chosen for its interest in terms of wine production. It is grafted onto the rootstock.

Term for odors or aromas that evoke freshly cut grass or hay (this terms often has a negative connotation as it usually applies to grapes that have not attained an optimum level of maturity before being harvested).

Used to describe a wine that is too acidic.

Vin Gris, French for “gray wine”. This refers to a white wine produced from red grapes that is not pigmented enough to be considered a rosé.

Name given to the Folle Blanche grape variety in the region around Nantes.

A flavor in wine that is reminiscent of the flint used to produce sparks in guns. It is particularly noticeable in wines produced on limestone soils such as those of Sancerre. These mineral notes then later evolve into the kerosene or diesel aromas that can be found in aged Alsatian Rieslings.