Use the proper glass when tasting wine from a barrel.
Tasting wine from a barrel is the same as tasting wine from a bottle. The difference is the need for a siphon to draw the wine out and pour it into a glass. However, wine in a barrel can hold different stages of maturity. Some wines will be mature and ready for release, while young wines will taste raw and astringent from the unripened tannins. Generally, most barrel tastings are done when wine is near or at maturity and all flavor components have come together.
Instructions
1. Remove the bung from the barrel. A bung is the cork or rubber stopper that allows you to remove wine with a siphon, also known as a thief. Made of glass or plastic, the thief is similar to a turkey baster.
2. Use the proper glass for the type of wine you are tasting. A red wine, or Bordeaux glass, is a tulip-shaped glass with a long stem and large bowl that tapers to a narrower rim at the top. A white wine glass is similar to a Bordeaux glass but slightly taller and narrower at the rim. Each glass is designed to enhance the varietal characteristics of the wine.
3. Pour the wine into the center of the glass.
Pour enough wine in the glass to fill it a quarter of the way. Do not fill the glass more than halfway. Try to pour the wine down the center of the glass so that it creates a bit of froth. This will aerate the wine and release its aroma.
4. Observe the color of the wine. A red wine with a deep, dark color usually indicates a wine that is full-bodied. The lighter the color, the lighter the wine. The same is true of white wines.
5. Place the glass on a flat surface, and holding it by the stem, slide the glass on the surface in a circular motion, swirling the wine to further release its aroma.
6. Sniff the wine and take in its aroma. Young wine of any color will usually have pronounced, fresh fruit scents, while mature wines will have subtle but more complex aromas.
7. Sip and savor the wine. Allow the wine to coat the inside of your mouth for a few moments to get an impression of its mouth-feel. Does it feel thin and watery, or does it feel thick and viscous? Take in its flavor components. Red wines usually display red fruit characteristics such as cherries, plums, raspberries and red currants. White wines typically have flavor profiles of white fruit such as lemons, pears, pineapple and apricots.
8. Swallow the wine and take in its finish, which is the lingering aftertaste of the wine. Wines with good concentration will have a longer finish.
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