An Introduction to Wine Tasting

Talk the talk

Whilst wine is essentially a sensory pleasure, there is also we believe something to be gained from analysing and describing the experience. The words that we use to describe our perception of a wine are useful as they enable us to identify and to communicate our preferences. In this article, we would like to invite you on a virtual tasting tour, and to introduce you to some of the tastes and aromas of the wines of this region.

Setting the scene

Clearly you don't need to be an expert to enjoy a glass of wine. However there are a few factors which can enhance the experience and we ought to mention a couple of them up front. The temperature at which a wine is served will clearly have an impact on the sensation. Much depends on personal preference and the occasion on which you are drinking the wine. However, as a general rule the reds from this region are best appreciated at around 14-16° (i.e. not too warm), whilst the whites and rosés are best served chilled.

Decanting a wine mixes it with air and has the effect of smoothing out tannic or alcoholic flavours, letting some animal or earthy aromas escape and allowing some hidden aromas to develop. It is also a method for removing the deposit that may be present in an old or unfiltered wine.

When decanting, the aim is to maximise the contact of the wine with air, so use a wide-based decanter and pour it in a thin dribble, letting in splash. This can be done a few hours ahead, though even 15 minutes will make a difference. Most red wines will benefit from being transferred into a decanter before drinking, and this is even the case for some rosés and whites - try decanting one of our aromatic white Viognier wines a couple of hours before drinking and you will be well rewarded.

On the whole, the whites and rosés that PicWines offers are best drunk young, i.e. within a year. Some red wines are made to be kept, and are unpleasant when drunk young. We do offer red wines on the site that will develop and even improve with age, a good example currently is Puech de Glen. However, this wine, like all of our wines can also be drunk straight away.