While they can be eaten raw, blackcurrants are more commonly used for juice, jam, and preserves. The ban was instituted out of concern for a pine-killing fungus called blister rust that used blackcurrant bushes to spread, but overturned in most states in 2003 due to the development of fungus-immune varieties of the plant. Another black fruit tasting note, this sweet, tart berry is ubiquitous in Europe (especially the UK) but little-known in North America due to a US ban on planting blackcurrant that lasted from 1911 to 2003. Blackberry is a surprisingly complex tasting note to isolate chemically-there are actually over 30 aroma compounds associated with blackberry notes in red wines! One 2012 study found that the presence of ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoate (ethyl leucate) was directly associated with blackberry aromas in Bordeaux wines, with ethyl butanoate acting as an important secondary compound that made the ethyl leucate more perceptible.Īssociated Varieties: Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotĪssociated Wine Regions: Bordeaux & Rhône Valley (Southern France), Barossa Valley (South Australia, Rioja (Central Spain), California Blackcurrant
Smoke, Tobacco, Cedar/Oak, Coffee, Vanilla, Chocolate Fruit Wine Aroma Notes BlackberryĪ little sweet, a little tart, this common berry tasting note falls under the “black fruit” category of wine aromas and is frequently found in red wines grown in geographic areas with Mediterranean climates (temperate winters and hot summers). Grass, Herbs, Bell Pepper, Asparagus, Leaf, Mint, Olive, Tomato Inorganic Notes Tropical – Banana, Pineapple, Melon, PapayaĬinnamon, Pepper Herbaceous/Vegetal Notes Wine Aroma Dictionary: Table of Contents Fruit Notesīerries – Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry If you’ve ever wondered what it is you’re smelling when you get notes of citrus in a dry Riesling or enjoy a particularly peppery Syrah, this guide is for you. This wine aroma dictionary is your guide to the most common wine aromas-what they are, the chemical compounds and winemaking processes that cause them, and the wines and regions they’re commonly associated with.
There are so many possibilities, in fact, that it can be a little hard to keep track, which is why we’ve compiled this handy cheat sheet.
Even tasting the same grape variety from two different vineyards can lead to two completely unique sensory experiences! There’s something so exciting about the possibilities of a new bottle of wine, an entire world of wine aromas and flavours just waiting to be discovered.