• Wine Aroma Dictionary
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• Wine Characters

Wine Characters

Do you find it hard to express what flavours you sense when drinking wine? You will find that grape varietals exude certain characteristics which change depending on what type of soil the grape was grown on, the region, the winemaker's style, the weather that particular vintage, the age and so much more. The following characteristics are listed to guide you through the Vrede en Lust range to help build your confidence when discussing wine.

Red Wine Varietal Characters

Cabernet Sauvignon - Tomato Leaf, Asparagus, Capsicum, Green Bean, Leafy, Herbal, Black Olive, Cherry, Black Cherry, Blackberry, Black Currant, Mulberry, Rhubarb, Plum, Mint, Menthol, Eucalyptus, Aniseed, Licorice, Violet, Fruitcake, Beetroot, Prune, Tobacco, Chocolate, Mocha

Shiraz - Black Olive, White Pepper, Black Pepper, Spice, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Cherry, Mulberry, Blackberry, Plum, Jammy, Menthol, Eucalyptus, Aniseed, Licorice, Gamey, Grilled Meat, Salami, Earthy, Chocolate, Leather, Soy, and Tar

Merlot - Sappy, Black Olive, Sage, Herbal, Mint, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Mulberry, Bramble, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Plum, Violets, Perfumed, Anise, Earthy, Beetroot, Fruitcake, Spice and Tobacco

Cabernet Franc - Tarragon, Capsicum, Cherry, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Plum, Violet, Musk, Perfumed, Mint, Mineral, Pencil Shaves, Tobacco.

White Wine Varietal Characters

Chardonnay - Cucumber, Celery, Mineral, Flint, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Citrus, Lime, Perfumed, Honey, Apple, Nectarine, White Peach, Pineapple, Peach, Melon, Mango, Quince, Fig, Hazelnut, Chestnut and Tobacco

Sauvignon Blanc - Lantana, Cat Urine, Boxwood, Broom, Tomato Bush, Blackcurrant Bud, Elderflower, Nettle, Asparagus, Artichoke, Capsicum, Green Bean, Pea Pod, Vegetal, Cut Grass, Dill, Celery, Gooseberry, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Citrus, Passionfruit, Melon, Mango, Tropical fruit, Mineral, Flint and Gunpowder

Semillon - Lantana, Asparagus, Green Bean, Pea Pod, Herbal, Gooseberry, Cut Grass, Green Apple, Lemongrass, Lemon, Citrus, Hay, Apple, Pear, Tropical Fruit, Quince, Fig, Honey, Lanolin, Biscuit, Toast, Smoke and Flint

Fault Characters

Oxidation - Aldehyde, Sherry, Bruised Apple, Peanut, Nutty, Wet Paper, Beer Towel and Dull

Volatile Acidity - Nail Polish Remover, Model Glue, Vinegar, Pungent and Acetic

Sulfide - Boiled Eggs, Garlic, Onion, Cabbage, Rubber, Dirty Socks, Cooked Corn, Stagnant Water and Boiled Potato

Cork Taint - Musty, Mouldy, Wet Hessian, Dank Cellar and Old Books

Brett - Band-aid, Horsey, Horse Stable, Creosote, Wool Grease, Medicinal, and Datura

Mousy - Mouse Cage, Mouse Urine, Corn Chip, Popcorn and Bread Crust

Winemaking and Maturation Characters

Oak Maturation - Pine, Resinous, Sawdust, Raw Wood, Citrusy, Dusty, Vanilla, Coconut, Cedar, Pencil Shavings, Sandalwood, Oak, Cigar Box, Peaty, Incense, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, Allspice, Spice, Cashew, Roast Almond, Walnut, Nutty, Bacon, Toasty, Smoke, Charry, Charcoal, Cold Ash, Burnt, Sardine, Roasted, Caramel, Toffee, Coffee Grounds, Chocolate and Mocha

Malolactic Fermentation - Butter, Butterscotch, Yoghurt, Milky, Condensed Milk, Cheese, Caramel, Vanilla, Nutty

Lees Contact - Yeasty, Dough, Bread, Bread Crust, Malt, Creamy, Cheese, Savoury, Bonox, Marmite, Sweaty, Lager, Leesy

Aged Whites - Toast, Biscuit, Buttered Toast, Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Lanolin, Quince, Fig, Raisin, Walnut, Nutty, Almond, Smoke, Kerosene

Aged Reds - Leather, Tobacco, Forest Floor, Mossy, Tea Leaf, Savoury, Soy, Earthy, Ink, Tar, Chocolate, Coffee, Cigar Box, Prune, Walnut, Chestnut, Barnyard, Gamey, Truffle, Fungal, Salami, Grilled Meat, Bacon Fat

Carbonic Maceration - Cherry Stone, Kirsch, Banana, Confectionary, Bubblegum, Cinnamon, Violet, Jasmine, and Incense