Toasting

Charring the inside of new barrels over an open flame. Charring caramelizes the staves of the wood. Wine stored in barrels treated this way will pick up a VANILLIN, toasty character.

Which of the following is not one of the five communes in Bordeaux that can produce Sauternes wines?

A. Loupiac

B. Fargues

C. Preignac

D. Bommes

Yeah, this is a tough one. The communes of Sauternes, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac, and Barsac in the southern Graves region of Bordeaux all produce sweet wines that are legally allowed to use the umbrella name Sauternes for their production. Although Loupiac is an appellation also dedicated to sweet wine in Bordeaux, it is not a part of the Sauternes designation. Sometimes called “the poor man’s Sauternes,” Loupiac’s wines are made in the same manner from botrytised grapes.

Briary

A term used to describe a briar patch or light bark-like taste in a wine. Briary wines can sometimes also have a slightly scratchy texture.

Get WineSpeed