SENSORY CHARTS/ MARKERS
- SUB-TOPICS Of SENSORY CHARTS/ MARKERS CHAPTER
- Wine Tasting
- Demystifying The Vine Sensory Chart
- Words to Make You Sound Like a Sommelier
1) WINE TASTING
Sensory Evaluation of Wine Using Formalized Methodology and Standards That Have Been Established and Evolved Since 14th. Century. Specialized Terminology is Used to Describe the Range of Perceived Aromas Flavors, Structure and Other Characteristics of a Wine.
- Salivation is Essential In Initiating the Digestion Process of Certain Foods.
- DEMYSTIFYING PROCEDURE~ ~Appreciate Your Wine When You Drink.~
- “Think When You Drink Wine, Don’t Be a Passive Drinker. Take the Time and Effort to Appreciate the Scents, Flavors and Structure That Grapes and Vinification Gives Us. Get Your Mind Focused, Free and Clear to Concentrate of the Wine In the Glass.”
- WINE & PHILOSOPHY? “Can You Persuade Your Palate to Evolve? Can You Resist Your Palates Evolution or Transformation?”
- “Tasting by Tasting, Bottle by Bottle, Year After Year as Your Exposed to More Wine and Different Styles of Wine Your Palate Will Evolve. A Young Person or Inexperienced Palate Will Except Sweetness and Reject Bitterness and High Acidity. Someone With an Advanced Palate Will Look Back at the Wine They Enjoyed When Younger and the Thought of What They Drank and Deemed Acceptable Will Make Them Cringe. Can You Persuade Your Palate to Evolve? Yes, Over Time by Having an Adventurous Palate and Constantly Trying New Wine and Wine Styles Will Lead Your Palate Like and Appreciate New Wines.”
- DEMYSTIFYING PROCEDURE~ ~Work On Developing Your Wine Palate.~
- “Evaluating Wine is a Complex, Multi-Sensory Experience. It’s Up to You to Coax Your Palate and Brain to Make the Connection Between Sight, Smell and Taste to Create a Personal Impression of Wine.”
“Our Palates Are Mostly Based On Our Life and Personal Experiences. Someone Who Has Never Ate a Cloud Berry or Doesn’t Eats Rhubarb Will Never Pick Out Those Markers In the Wine.”
2) SENSORY CHARTS
Demystifying “The Vine” Sensory Charts
- Disclaimer- “The Demystifying “The Vine” Sensory Charts is Mostly Based On the Guild of Sommelier Tasting Grid, With About a 15% Variant.”
SIGHT Scale “Visual Elements”
- CLARITY
- WHITE= Clear Pale Hazy Cloudy Turbid
- RED= Clear Rose Murky Opaque Full
- COLOR
- WHITE= Water Straw Yellow Gold Brown
- ROSE= Pink Salmon Light Orange Amber Gold
- RED= Purple Ruby Red Garnet
- INTENSITY/ CONCENTRATION
- WHITE= Low Medium High
- RED= Low Medium High
- BRIGHTNESS
- Dull Star-Bright Day-Bright Brilliant
- RIM VARIATION
- Yes / No Watery Pink
- GAS
- Yes / No Detectable Little Prevalent
- SEDIMENT
- Yes / No Detectable Little Prevalent
- VISCOSITY
- Low Medi- Medium Medi+ High
AROMA Scale “Scent Elements”
- CONDITION/ CLEAN/ FAULTY
- Clean / Faulty Flawed Other?
- INTENSITY
- Low Medi- Medium Medi+ High
- FRUIT
- 1- 2- 3- Other?
- EARTH
- Yes/ No Mineral Forest Other?
- WOOD
- Yes/ No Old/ New Other?
- Old vs. New French vs. American Barrique vs. Large
- OTHER
- Chemical Floral Herbs Spices Vegetative
- Primary Aromas Secondary Bouquet Tertiary Aromas
PALATE Scale “Structure Elements”
- TANNIN
- Low Medi- Medium Medi+ High
- –Tannin Descriptors– Aggressive, Astringent, Bitter, Chewy, Coarse, Dry, Firm, Grainy, Granular, Grippy, Hard, Harsh, Leathery, Powerful, Pungent, Rigid, Rough, Sand Paper, Silky, Smooth, Structured, Supple, Squeaky, Velvety
- ALCOHOL
- –ABV.(Low) ABV.(Medium) +ABV.(High) Fortified
- ACIDITY
- Low Medi- Medium Medi+ High
- –Acidity Descriptors– Astringent, Austere, Bright, Crisp, Flabby, Flab, Lively, Nerve, Racy, Sour, Soft, Tart, Zippy
- BODY
- Light Medi- Medium Medi+ Full
- –Body Descriptors– Body, Creamy, Full, Hollow, Rich, Tight, Viscosity, Volume, Weight
- TEXTURE
- Smooth Sand Course Rough
- LENGTH
- Short Medi- Medium Medi+ Long
- BALANCE
- Yes/ No
- FINISH
- Short Medi- Medium Medi+ Long
- COMPLEXITY
- Low Medi- Medium Medi+ High
PALATE Scale “Flavor Elements”
- SWEETNESS
- Dry Off-Dry Slightly Sweet Sweet Desert
- FRUIT
- 1, 2, 3- Other?
- EARTH
- Yes / No Old / New Other?
- WOOD
- Yes / No Old / New Other?
- OTHER
- Chemical Floral Herbs Spices Vegetative
- AGE ASSESSMENT
- (1-5 Years) (6-10 Year) (10-14 Years) (+15 Years)
MARKERS– “Something Familiar That the Wine Smells Like.”
- FRUITS
- CONDITION: Ripe Over Ripe Under Ripe Bruised Cooked Stewed Baked
- ARTIFICIAL
- Candied, Cotton-Candy, Fruit Cocktail, Fruit-Loops, Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher, Juicy Fruit Gum, Licorice(Black), Licorice(Red), Skittles, Starburst
- BERRY
- (RED)– Cranberry, Logan, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Red-Current, Strawberry
- (BLACK)- Acai-Berry, Blackberry, Blueberry, Black-Current/ Cassis, Boysenberry, Elder Berry, Gooseberry, Marionberry, Mull-Berry
- CITRUS
- Grapefruit, Grapefruit(Pink), Grapefruit(Ruby), Kumquat, Leeche, Lemon, Lemon(Meyers), Lemon(Zest), Lime, Orange, Orange(Blood), Orange(Burnt), Orange(Clementine), Orange(Mandarin), Tangelo, Tangerine
- DRIED
- Cassis, Current-Black/ Red, Date, Fig, Prune, Raisin(Golden/ Green/ Black)
- MELON
- Cantaloupe, Melon, Melon(Honey Dew), Green-Melon(Green), Melon(Ogen), Melon(Christmas), Melon(Persian), Melon(Water)
- POMACEOUS
- Apple, Apple(Fiji), Apple(Green), Apple(Golden), Apple(Macintosh), Apple(Red) Pear, Pear(Bartlett)
- PIT/ STONE FRUIT
- (LIGHT)- Apricot, Nectarine, Peach, Tangerine
- (DARK)- Cherry, Cherry(Bing), Cherry(Black), Cherry(Sour), Cherry(Rainer), Persimmon, Plum, Plum(Damson), Plum(Black), Plum(Red)
- TROPICAL
- Banana, Dragon Fruit, Coconut, Guava, Longan, Loquat, Lychee, Mango, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Plantain, Pineapple, Quince, Starfruit
Earth
- EARTH
- Decaying, Wet
- ORGANIC
- Barn, Compost, Dusty, Earthy, Farm Yard, Forest Floor, Horse-Manure, Garden Soil, Mildew, Moldy, Moss, Mushroom, Musty, Potting Soil, Rustic, Truffle
- NON-ORGANIC
- Chalk, Concrete, Flinty, Gravel, Gunflint, Minerals, Petrichor, Slate, Steal, Stone, Tin, Wet Stone/ Asphalt
- WOOD
- (PHENOLIC)- Vanilla
- (RESINOUS)- Cedar, Oak, Sawdust, Toast, Tobacco
- (BURNED)- Burnt Sugar, Campfire, Cereal, Charcoal, Charred, Coffee, Graham Cracker, Mesquite, Mocha, Roasted, Smoke, Tobacco, Toasted, Tree Bark, Wood
- (OAK)- Barrel Room, Carmel, Grilled, Timber-Yard, Toast, Vanilla
Other
- ANIMAL
- Animalesque, Bacon, Beef Jerky, Grilled-Meat, Horse-Sweat, Hot Dog, Leather, Meat Raw, Meaty, Smoked, Venison
- CHEMICAL
- (PETROLEUM)- Gas/ Petrol/ Diesel, Kerosene, Plastic, Tar
- (PUNGENT)- Garlic, Nail Polish, Rotten Eggs, Vinegar(Accetic Acid)
- (SULPHUR)- Ammonia, Iodine, Match, Rubber, Skunk, Sulphur, Wet Dog
- FLORAL
- (COLORED)- Gardenia, Jasmine, Lavender, Lilac, Rose-Petals, Violet
- (WHITE)- Acacia, Blossom, Blossom(Apple), Blossom(Citrus), Blossom(Orange), Chamomile, Elderflower, Geranium, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, Lily, Peony, Rose-White
- HERB
- Anise, Basil, Chives, Dill, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Ginger, Lavender, Licorice, Medicinal, Mint, Pine, Rosemary, Safran, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, Vegetal, Wild Herbs
- MICRO-BIOLOGICAL
- (CARMEL)- Honey, Butterscotch, Chocolate, Dark-Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Bitter, Molasses, Creme-Belay, Fudge, Coco, Soy Sauce
- (DAIRY/ LATIC)- Butter, Cheese, Cream, Lactic, Marshmallow, Saurercrout, Vanilla, Yogurt
- (OXIDATIVE)- Biscuits, Bread, Cheese, Medicinal, Sherry, Toast, Vinegar, Yeast
- (YEASTY)– Bakers Yeast, Leesy
- NUTTY
- Almond, Coconut, Hazelnut, Mocha, Peanut, Walnut
- OTHER
- Coffee/Espresso, Graphite, Pencil Lead, Pencil Shaving
- SPICE
- Ajwain, Asian, BBQ, Galangal, Juniper, Licorice, Mulled, Pepper-Pepper/ White/ Cracked, Saffron, Tarragon
- –Baking Spices– Anise, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Nutmeg, Salty, Vanilla
- VEGETATIVE
- (FRESH)- Basil, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Chive, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Grass, Grass(Cut), Green Peas, Hay, Lemon-Grass, Mint, Pepper, Pepper(Bell), Pepper(Red), Tomato, Tomato(Leaf), Peppermint, Rhubarb
- (COOKED)- Artichoke, Asparagus, Green Beans
- (DRIED)- Tea, Tea(Leaf), Tea(Green), Straw
- (OTHER)- Olive, Olive(Green), Olive(Black), Plum Sauce, Soy Sauce, Tobacco(Dried, Wet, Sweet)
- –Discriptors– Stemmy, Stalky, Grassy
- WINE & PHILOSOPHY? “Can You Pick Up On a Wine Aroma if You Aren’t Familiar With it or Have Never Smelled It?”
- “If Everyone is Picking Up Rhubarb or Dill In a Wine But You Have Never Smelled or Aren’t Familiar With Rhubarb or Dill it Isn’t Likely You Will Find It In That Wine. The Best Thing You as a Wine Assessor is Go Out and Find Yourself the Scents You Are Missing.”
BLIND TASTING
- **Refer to “WINE EVALUATION/ Blind Tasting” For Details Information.
OTHER THINGS To ASSESS FROM The WINE
- Concentration On the Wine Deduction is Key, But Keep In Mind These Things and Tie Them Into Your Final Conclusion.
OLD WORLD/ NEW WORLD
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
CLIMATE
- Cool | Moderate | Warm | Hot
AGE
- 1-3 Years | 4-6 Years | 7+ Years
3) WORDS To MAKE YOU SOUND LIKE a SOMMELIER
- DEMYSTIFYING PROCEDURE~ ~Construct Your Personal “Wine Vocabulary” and Hone Your Verbal Skills.~
- “The Best Way to Learn “Wine Speak” is to Construct Your Own Personal Wine Sensory and Description Vocabulary. One That You Have a True Understanding of and One You Posses Complete Command of.”
- Abrupt, Absurb, Abundant, Accented, Accessible, Additional, Aftertaste, Aggressive, Alluring, Amazing, Angular, Agreeable, Alluring, Ample, Angular, Appealing, Appearance, Approachable, Aromatic, Assertive, Astringent, Attack, Attractive, Attributes, Austere
- Approachable- A Wine That’s Ready to Drink, the Tannins Have Smoothed Out Without Pronounced Acidity or Undeveloped Flavors
- Background, Balance, Backbone, Background, Beautiful, Bitter, Blast, Boasts, Boisterous, Booming, Bountiful, Bouquet, Bright, Brilliant, Brooding, Bursting
- Capacity, Captures, Challenging, Character, Charming, Classic, Clean, Closed, Cloudy, Coarse, Compact, Compelling, Component, Complement, Complexed, Concentrated, Conservative, Consistent, Contains, Core, Coating, Crescendo, Crisp
- Chewy- Wine With Weight, Body On Palate, Higher Alcohol, Ripeness and Concentration of Fruit.
- Dances, Dedicated, Deep, Defined, Delicate, Delightful, Delineated, Delicious, Dense, Depth, Developed, Displays, Distinct, Distinguished, Dollop
- Edgy, Elegant, Elements, Emphasizes, End, Energy/etic, Enhanced, Entice, Epitomizes, Erupts, Ethereal, Exhibits, Exotic, Expression, Explosion, Expose, Extra, Extracted, Exuberant
- Fantastic, Fat, Feature, Feminine, Fine, Finesse, Firm, Flabby, Flanked, Flat, Flavors, Fresh, Flashy, Flamboyant, Fleshy, Focused, Foxy, Fragrant, Frame, Fresh, Friendly, Front
- Generous, Gentle, Glamorous, Glistens, Gorgeous, Grippy
- Harmonious, Haunting, Harsh, Heavy, Hedonistic, Hefty, High, Hints, Hollow, Honed, Hyper
- Ideal, Immense, Impressive, Impact, Incredible, Indicative, Integrated, Intense, Interpretation, Inthralling, Insipid, Intoxicating, Introduce, Inviting
- Juicy, Juxtaposed
- Kick
- Laced, Lasting, Layered, Leads, Lean, Lifted, Light, Lined, Linear, Lingering, Lively, Loads, Lovely, Low, Luminosity, Luscious, Lush, Luxurious
- Masculine, Massive, Mature, Meaty, Medium, Mellow, Middle, Mingle, Moderate, Modest, Mouthwatering, Muscular
- Negative, Nervy, Notes, Noticeable, Nuances
- Offering, Opened, Opulent, Outstanding, Overwhelming
- Penetrates, Perfect, Penetrating, Perception, Persistent, Piercingly, Pleasant, Plenty, Plump, Plush, Polished, Positive, Potential, Powerful, Precise, Predominant, Pretty, Pristine, Pronounced, Provides, Pungent, Pure
- Quite
- Racy, Refined, Refreshing, Reminiscent, Rendition, Rendering, Resolved, Restrained, Reveals, Rich, Ridge, Round, Rustic
- Salivate, Saturated, Savory, Seamless, Seductive, Sensation, Sharp, Shimmer, Showcases, Short, Showing, Silky, Sits, Skrict, Sleek, Smidge, Smooth, Soft, Solid, Soothing, Sophisticated, Stimulating, Structured, Stunning, Stupendous, Subtle, Subdued, Substantial, Succulent, Suggests, Superb, Supple, Super, Superbly, Supple, Supporting, Swirling
- Steely- Metallic Flavor With High Acidity With the Suggestion of Minerality.
- Tantalizing, Taut, Tension, Texture, Thin, Tickle, Tight, Tinge, Toned, Touch, Traditional, Transparent/cy
- Unabashed, Unctuous, Underscores, Underlying, Understated, Unmasked, Upfront
- Velvety, Venial, Verve, Vibrant, Vinous, Vivid, Voluptuous
- Waft, Waves, Whiffs, Whisper
- Youthful
- Zesty, Zingy, Zippy
**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.