A Wine Tasting Gathering

I was invited by an alumnus of our lab – Stephan, to joined a wine tasting Gathering

The wine tasting GatheringTime: 2007/9/15 SaturdayPlace: 寂寞聖賢 Lonely Sage RestaurantPrice: about NT1000/each

The organizer will select a few wines (red wine and white wine), and teach you how to taste

A Wine Tasting Gathering

寂寞聖賢 Lonely Sage Restaurant

NTU

South AmericaChileArgentina

DM

Two alumni

Stephan & Steven

Old worldOld world wineries must follow strict rules

governing the types of grapes used in their wines , the area in which these grapes must be grown, as well as vineyard and winemaking practices.

Old world countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain

New worldLess rules and varietal labelingNew world countries:

Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, and USA

Old World & New World

Common white grapesChardonnay ( 夏多內 )Sauvignon Blanc ( 白蘇維翁 )Riesling ( 麗絲玲 )Semillon ( 榭密雍 )

Common red/black grapesCabernet Sauvignon ( 卡本肉 ~ 蘇維濃 )Merlot ( 梅洛 )Syrah (Shiraz) ( 希哈 )Pinot Noir ( 黑皮諾 )

Grape Varieties

Arguably today’s most popular white grape Able to adapt to a variety of climates Exhibits green apple and citrus( 柑橘 ) notes

in cooler climatesExhibits baked pineapple and tropical fruits

in hotter climates The best expression of Chardonnay can be

found in Burgundy( 布根地 ), France

Chardonnay

High in acidity with a light body and relatively low alcohol level

Intensely flavorful, with apricot( 杏仁 ), melon( 甜瓜 ) and/or peach flavors

Best Rieslings come from all over GermanyPrimarily the regions of Mosel-

Saar-Ruwers and Rheingau

Riesling

Arguably the greatest of the black grapes

Distinct flavors of cassis ( 黑醋栗 ), as well as cedar( 香柏木 ), leather( 皮革 ) and plum( 梅子 )

Medium- to full-bodied( 黏稠度 ), rich and high in tannins( 丹寧 )

Age better than most winesBest Cabernet Sauvignon wines

come from California and the Médoc region of Bordeaux in France

Cabernet Sauvignon

Flavors are quite similar to Cabernet Sauvignondeeper colorintegrated flavors of baked

cherry and mocha( 咖啡 )Softer tanninsMerlot excels in the Pomerol

and St.-Émilion, two regions in the so-called "Right Bank" of Bordeaux, France

Merlot

2 white wines and 4 red winesAll new world’s wines: Chile and Argentina

The Wines We Tried

Valdivieso – Chardonay 2005Curico Valley, ChileFlavor of apple, high acidity, medium-bodiedNT315

Luis Felips Eward – Relising 2005Colchagua Valley, ChileFlavor of flowers and citrus( 柑橘 )NT385

BP – Carmenere 2004Colchagua Valley, ChileFlavor of black chocolate and spicesNT385

The Wines We Tried

BIANCHI – Malbec 2005Mendoza, ArgentinaFlavor of violet( 紫羅蘭花 )NT385

Valdivieso – Merlot 2005Centeral Valley, ChileMixed flavor of flowers, cherry, and leatherNT385

LAJOYA – Cabernet Sauvignon 2003Colchagua Valley, ChileFlavor of cassisNT525

The Wines We Tried

Lets Begin

The tutor

Serving, pouring and breathingLookingSmellingTasting

Wine Tasting

Serving temperatureRed wine: 18 ~ 20 ˚C

Place in refrigerator 30 minutes before openWhite wine: 7 ~ 12 ˚C

Place in refrigerator 1.5 hours before openPouring

Don’t touch the glass with bottleFill the glass no more than halfGrasp the stem of the glass, don’t hold the body

Temperature of hand will affect the wineBreathing

Allowing the air penetrate the wineNot always clear when and and for how long

Depends on different wines and personal preferenceRegular red wine: 10 ~ 15 minutes

Serving, pouring and breathing

Sightslightly tilt the wine in the glass look at it against a white or pale backgroundclear or cloudy?

SwirlObserve the streaks of wine (legs)Full-bodied wines are heavy and come down the sides of

the glass in sheetsMedium-bodied wines are less thick and break into

"legs“Light-bodied wines are not heavy and will not cling to

the sides of the glass when swirled

Looking

Pleasant NoseFresh nose, flowery nose, fruity nose, spicy

nose, clean nose Ok to drink

Unpleasant NoseMetallic nose, moldy nose( 發霉 ), cory nose( 木塞味 ), sulfuric nose( 硫磺味 ), vinegary nose( 酸味 )Unfit to drink

Smelling

Letting the wine spread across the tongue from front to back and side to side before swallowing

Initial taste first impression

TasteExamine the body and texture of the wineFlavor, balance, etc

Aftertaste The taste that remains in your mouth after you

have swallowed the wine. How long did the taste last? Was it pleasant?

Tasting

Pictures

Pictures

Pictures