Wines like people have distinct personalities. Therefore just like people, to truly know wines is to understand their personalities. The first step is to choose a certain style or personality of wine that you like, then dedicate yourself to it. This is one of the best ways to ameliorate your wine knowledge. You will discover that while the wines may share similar personalities, no two wines are exactly the same. Your ability to sense their commonalities while also distinguishing their differences will be a significant step in building your knowledge and appreciation of wine. This is true because comparative analysis is an important skill in wine tasting. Learning to distinguish subtleties between similar wines hones your wine skills while building an intimacy with a style of wine you favor. Focusing your studies and tastings on a specific style of wine also protects you from getting utterly dumbfounded by the cornucopia of wines now available in Shanghai.
When we taste wines with the objective of learning, we often do side-by-side tasting tastings of a certain style of wine. Here are two side-by-side tastings of two wines of comparable style, cost and quality that will be fun and educational.
German variety with international floral expressions
Gewurztramminer is a word few people can pronounce properly, but a grape that makes wines definitely worth a try. The name is German but the grape dates back to the early Middle Ages in Italy’s Tyrollean Alps near the village of Termeno in Alto Adige. To better understand the lively and zesty character of this variety I’ve suggest tasting two of wines, one from Spain, the Torres Vina Esmeralda, 2009, and the other from Chile, the Miguel Torres Santa Digna Gewurztraminer, 2009. What make this tasting especially fun is that both wines are made from the same producer on different continents. Both wines exhibit obvious citrus and floral aromas and flavors yet they have their own distinct characters. The Old World wine has level of elegance while the Chilean wine offers typically new world exuberance. When tasted together offer a fascinating insight in this often overlooked variety. The gentle and aromatic nature of these wines make them quite suitable for female drinkers. So next time you want to buy a bottle of perfume for yourself or girlfriend, remember that for the same price you can get two bottles of Gewurztraminer that also offer an abundance of fragrance and lots more fun.
Expressing your Italian spirit with Tuscan tradition & style
Readers probably already know I’m a huge fan of Sangiovese wines. Their unique personality and affinity with many Chinese dishes make them an excellent focal point for aspiring wine connoisseurs in Shanghai. The most traditional expression of Sangiovese is probably Chianti Classico wines made of grapes from a premium zone in the heart of Tuscany. By law all Chianti wines must be at least 70 percent Sangiovese. To understand the different levels of Chianti wines, let’s use an aviation industry analogy, basic Chianti can be considered economy class, Chianti Classico business class and Chianti Classico Riserva first class. This week let’s travel first class! Two of the most important names in Tuscany are Ruffino and Ricasoli, while Castello di Querceto is an excellent smaller, family-owned winery. I know the owners of both wineries and greatly respect their winemaking skills, and most important they both make excellent Chianti Classico Riserva wines. When you taste the Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale ORO DOCG, 2005 and Barone Ricasoli, Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico DOCG, 2005 you’ll notice that both these superior wines offer an abundance of elegant cherry and dark fruit flavors and well-integrated, soft tannins. The finish of both wines is long and complex. In my opinion both wines are winners, in fact, the Ruffino wine was the highest scoring red wine in the medium price chapter of my new wine guide, while the Barone Ricasoli was the top wine in the expensive chapter.
Another fun way to build your understanding of Chianti wines and their various quality levels is to taste all three levels, from Chianti to Chianti Classico to Chianti Classico Riserva. Pick one producer and always start with their most simple wine, the basic Chianti and end with the most complex wine, the Chianti Classico Riserva. Instead of learning to discriminate the styles of similar wines made by different producers, you will taste the different levels of quality.
So whether you are a Gewurztraminer, Chianti or Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rioja, Napa or Barossa aficionado, dedicate yourself to tasting and learning these wines then you can move on to additional treasures of the wine world and deliciously expand your wine horizons.
WINE NOTES:
Torres, Vina Esmeralda, 2009
Region: Penedes, Spain
Variety: Gewurztraminer, Moscatel
Aging method/potential: No oak/enjoy now
Price/Importer: 171yuan/ Everwines
Sweetness: 2/5 Body: 3/5
Pairing Tips: Serve at 8 – 10℃; match with a wide variety of seafood, chicken and pork dishes.
Comments: “from the mountains of the Upper Penedes comes a fragrant and intriguing wine with light golden color, exotic nose of flowers and sweet citrus fruit and smooth and generous flavors of ripe fruit and honey; the wine has an initial touch of sweetness followed by a nice dry finish”
Miguel Torres Chile, Santa Digna Gewurztraminer, 2009
Region: Central Valley, Chile
Variety: Gewurztraminer
Aging method/potential: No oak/drink now
Price/Importer: 146yuan/ Everwines
Sweetness: 3/5 Body: 3/5
Serving & Pairing Tips: Serve at 8 – 10℃;lovely companion to slightly spicy Asian dishes.
Comments: “quite fruity but balanced wine with good Gewurztraminer typicity, the wine features a bright pale golden color, lively nose of tangerines, white flowers and exotic spices and lots of concentrated tropical fruit and candied citrus flavors and a nice clean finish”
Ruffino, Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale ORO (DOCG), 2005
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Variety: 85% Sangiovese, 15% Colorino & Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Aging method/potential: 36 months in a combination of small and large oak/lovely for 10+ years
Price/Importer: 498yuan/ ASC
Sweetness: 3/5 Body: 2/5
Serving & Pairing Tips: Allow 45+ minutes breathing and serve at 18℃; match with elegant lamb, beef and chicken dishes.
Comments: “for 50 years, “ORO” has been Ruffino’s top Chianti Classico wine, made from the producer’s most prestigious Sangiovese vineyards; the wine has dark ruby red color and plum, violet and spices nose and plenty of delicious black cherry, blackberry and tobacco flavors with a hint of chocolate”
Barone Ricasoli, Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico (DOCG), 2005
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Variety: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Carbernet Sauvignon & Merlot
Aging method/potential: 18 months in 2/3rds new French oak/enjoy over next 10+ years
Price/Importer: 532yuan/ Watson’s Wine
Sweetness: 4/5 Body: 2/5
Serving & Pairing Tips: allow 45+ minutes for breathing & serve at 18℃; match with elegant meat dishes including roasted wild and domesticated fowl.
Comments: “top Chianti Classico with concentration and complexity, this elegant wine features a deep ruby red color, red fruit and floral nose and concentrated flavors of black cherries and dark fruit; the wine has a round subtle texture and delicious oak overtones in a long and complex finish”
