Wines can have an uncanny ability
to mimic the flavors, and especially the scents of things around us. While
tar and roses are reserved for certain “winter wines” (think Barolo, Cabernet
Sauvignon), when mild weather returns, we can’t wait peel off the wool and enjoy the light springy scents in the air. But just as art imitates life (or is it the other way around?), wines and outdoor scents can also feel interchangeable and refreshing to the senses.
Earthy, floral, fruity, grassy – these are all natural aromas that
can also be found in specific varietals or regions. See if you can identify these notes the next time you are sipping and swirling.
Grassy: “Grassy” scents, from asparagus to
herbaceous notes, are classic markers of a cool-weather Sauvignon Blanc.
Coupled with the pungently fragrant note of gooseberries, Kim Crawford’s
Sauvignon Blanc from
Floral: Think “floral” not only for your
garden, but also in the delicate white wines for sipping on their own or during
a Spring brunch with friends. For example, sweet Rieslings from the
Earthy: Here is a prime
opportunity to emulate that salt-of-the-earth heartiness that comes from
smelling fresh Spring rain or digging up damp soil to plant new blooms. To
capture this scent in a glass is quite amazing, considering that wine’s process
begins with grapes – which, in their raw state often smell like, well, grapes.
This tip is not for the fainthearted, as an “earthy” wine can sometimes border
on the “barnyardy” – which may put off the novice sniffers. To find a truly
earthy wine, ask your wine retailer to direct you to the red