Finesse

Used to describe a wine with elegance and BALANCE. The term implies that the wine is polished and sophisticated. Hearty, rustic country wines would not be described as having finesse, while a well-made Champagne or top white Burgundy might be.

These words in these countries all mean the same thing: Alte Reben (Germany), Vinas Viejas (Spain), and Antico Vitigno (Italy).

Answer: True.

Old vines are treasured everywhere in the world—so much so that the term "old vines" is often printed right on the label. As a vine ages, it becomes very well adapted to its environment. It learns not to expend energy forming unnecessary leaves or shoots. And rather than producing dozens of clusters of grapes, it focuses on just a few that it can ripen perfectly. Interestingly, what makes an old vine old is not regulated or defined by law. That said, most top producers in the world consider a vine to be old once it's over 40 years old.

“For a long time Sherry was a victim of changing tastes, with fortified wines, like sweet wines, having fallen out of style around the time Churchill was born. The category has come back in vogue lately, partly because of its affinity for complex foods, and also because anything grandmothers approve of inevitably ends up becoming hip again.”

—Adam Leith Gollner, Saveur, February 2018

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