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Wine Glossary

Barrel Fermented

Fermentation of the wine takes place in oak barrels instead of in stainless steel tanks, adding richness, complexity, and more oak character. Most commonly used for Chardonnay.

Balance

The right proportion of fruit, acid, tannin and varietal character. Harmonious.

Barrique

A wooden barrel distinctive to Bordeaux.

Blanc de Blanc

An expression found on some Champagne labels and literally means, “white of whites,” referring to the color of grapes used in making it.

Body

The impression of fullness or "roundness" in the mouth.

Bouquet

The aromatic scent as expressed by the winemaking process; the combination of varietal fruit character with all the elements of aging wine.

Buttery

Rich, oily texture. Usually used when describing Chardonnay.

Claret

An English term to describe the Cabernet-based wines of the Haut-Médoc.

Complex

Shows an integration of aroma and flavor, often with subtlety; one of the highest compliments to a wine.

Corked

The smell of the wine when it has been spoiled by a bad cork. Typically musty or wet-cardboard smell; relatively uncommon.

Cru

A vineyard. Only used in reference to the very best properties in Burgundy or Bordeaux.

Cuvée

A single container of wine — a tank or a barrel — sometimes used to designate a special blend.

Gout (goo)

Means “taste” as in “gout de terroir” or “taste of the earth” and is used to describe many rustic-flavored wines.

Malolactic

A second fermentation in which the malic (sour) acid is converted to lactic (softer) acid. Creates softer, silkier, more approachable wines.

Mature

Exhibits the benefits of aging where all the elements have come together.

Nose

The combination of aroma and bouquet of the wine.

Oaky

The smell and/or flavor associated with aging wine in small oak barrels. When properly integrated, a positive element.

Prix de Mousse

A type of yeast that starts the wine fermenting.

Smooth

Soft, balanced.

Sulphur/Sulfites

A compound that forms naturally during fermentation. Winemakers traditionally supplement with minimal amounts to protect the fruit quality and prevent oxidation.

Sur Lie

Wine is aged on the spent yeast "lees" (cells) after fermentation, gaining added flavor and complexity.

Tannin

The natural components from grape skins and oak contact that make young wines lightly astringent and sometimes bitter. Tannin subsides as part of the aging process and contributes to the wine's complexity.