From Bordeaux with Love

The now-popular name for the grape variety côt (CO), malbec (MAL-beck) is native to southwestern France. The offspring of two obscure French grapes—madeleine noire des Charentes and prunelard—malbec is the leading grape variety in Argentina, where it has been planted since the mid-nineteenth century after crossing the Atlantic from Bordeaux. Most Argentine wines labeled as malbecs are 100% that variety. Malbec tends to be lower in acidity and slightly less tannic than cabernet sauvignon. The best are inky rich wines with soft textures.

What is the difference between the aroma of a wine and the bouquet of a wine?

A. Both terms are synonymous for a wine’s overall smell

B. Aroma is used to describe the smell of an old wine and bouquet is used to describe the smell of a young wine

C. The bouquet of a wine is its initial smell when it is first poured into a glass; the aroma is the smell associated with a wine that has been aerated

D. Aroma is used to describe the smell of a young wine and bouquet is used to describe the smell of an old wine

Contrary to common belief, aroma and bouquet are not synonymous terms. Aroma is used to describe smells associated with a young wine. Bouquet, on the other hand, describes the smell of a wine that has been aged for a considerable period of time, and thus all of the early smells have evolved and coalesced. Bouquets (unlike aromas) are almost impossible to describe.

Bonbonne

A bonbonne is a large glass jar used for storing small lots of wine. Bonbonnes—which hold 6.6 gallons—are typically used when the producer does not want the wine to be influenced by oak flavors or… Continue reading

From Bordeaux with Love

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