homethe market

New World Wines

New World wines have come of age, and stand comparison with the finest European vintages.

The world's most renowned and influential wine critic, Robert Parker Jnr, has devised a points system by which he can objectively measure the quality of a wine, regardless of whether it comes from Europe or the New World.

The number of Robert Parker points achieved by a wine is regarded by many collectors and investors as crucial to their buying decision.

Our target wines have been awarded 90-100 points, making them amongst the finest in the world.

The demand for quality wine is increasing, but the supply of traditional vintages is extremely limited. The shrewd collector includes the finest New World wines in their portfolio.

Parkers Rating System for individual wines

96-100

An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this calibre are worth a special effort to find, purchase, and consume.

90-95

An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character.
In short these are terrific wines.

80-89

A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavour as well as character with no noticeable flaws.

70-79

An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.

60-69

A below average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavour, or possibly dirty aromas or flavours.

50-59

A wine deemed to be unacceptable.

New World Wines - Old World Vines

Interestingly, the New World vineyards can lay claim to some of the oldest vines in the world. The foundation for the cultivation of vines in Australia was directly based on a large collection of cuttings dating from 1831, the result of an expedition across France and Spain to acquire samples of all the major varieties. Vineyards in Chile have an even more impressive lineage, having been introduced by Spanish Catholic priests during the 14th Century.

In the mid-1800s Europe received a nasty little visitor from North America called phylloxera, a sap sucking cousin of the aphid that devastated European vineyards, particularly in France.

The solution was to develop hybrid strains based on resistant North American rootstock. In this way rootstocks can be chosen to cope with the local soil and weather conditions without interfering with the grape that grows on it.

There is no denying that Europe does produce some of the finest wines in the world, but if you want the original then, ironically, come to the New World.

New World Wines - A Proven History

The best of the New World wines have been attracting accolades and strong prices for two decades or more.

It was in the late 1980s that saw an increase in interest from international collectors and investors. There was an explosion of interest not just within Australia but from the US and all around the Pacific Rim.

One of the greatest of the original Australian fine wines is the iconic Penfolds Grange, but the list of labels has extended to include wines from Wild Duck Creek, Mount Mary, Henschke, James Irvine, Clarendon Hills, Rockford, Cullen and many more.

Innovation, experimentation and a sense of adventure have resulted in New World wine-making expertise being sought by emerging producers all over the world.

Ironically, even the more traditional areas of European winemaking, including France, Italy, Portugal and Spain, have turned to the New World winemakers for inspiration.

The Team

New World's experienced wine brokers bring a wealth of knowledge and market information to their clients.

Charts

New World Wines

What does Fine Wine mean?
Fine wine is the term used to describe a small number of wines produced which are both rare and tend to be quite expensive.

Where does it come from?
These wines are from "Classic" wine-producing areas of Europe as well as New World producers.
The Classic areas of Europe are as follows:

  • France
  • Bordeaux
  • Burgundy
  • Champagne
  • Rhone
  • Portugal
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • Spain
Examples of Fine Wines from the New World are:
  • Penfolds Grange
  • Clarendon Hills
  • Wild Duck Creek Estate
  • D'Arenberg Dead Arm
  • Henschke
  • Greenock Creek
Why is it so expensive?
Most fine wine is expensive because it is produced in limited quantities and it is made in a way that means it will mature (get better with age) over a long period. This means that it is traded by Fine Wine brokers over and over again. One case of fine wine may change ownership many times through its life before it is drunk by its final lucky owner.

Does it really taste that good?
This is a debate which is a cause of many a conversation on the wine market. The price of fine wine is obviously a factor of supply (often very limited and gets more limited as the wine gets drunk!) and demand (there are very eager buyers worldwide for these wines) and therefore is quite high compared with a normal bottle of wine in the supermarket or general suppliers.
The wines themselves are however usually made with extreme care and with no expense spared, many being made organically now days. This means that they are genuinely great wines which are designed to mature slowly and take on complexity and sophistication not found in most everyday wines.
As ever the only person who can answer this question is the person who drinks the wine - taste is a very personal thing and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What difference does the Vintage make?
Vintages are simply the year that the grapes were grown for that particular wine. In most of the European countries the weather is variable from year to year and this has an effect on the quality of the wine produced. Typically sunny hot weather makes for better wine, hence the pacific rim is now a huge benefactor in the fine wine market.

Certain wines (Port and Champagne) have what are called "Declared Vintages". This means that the weather in that particular year was good enough for all the producers to make a wine from just that year's grapes. In other years they will blend the grapes from other years and produce "Non-Vintage" wine.

How soon can I drink it?
Each wine from each vintage will mature differently and therefore there are no hard and fast rules. Generally though, white wine mature faster than reds; more alcoholic wines mature slower than lighter wines and the bigger the bottle the slower the maturation.

Can I invest in Fine Wine?
Anyone can invest in fine wine. There are some broad guidelines worth bearing in mind:
1. Like any investment the value of fine wine can go down as well as up.
2. Fine wine should be part of a balanced investment portfolio and only invest what you can afford to lose (or drink!)
3. Chose wines that have a thorough pedigree and provenance.
4. Buy only in 6’s or 12's in Original Wooden Cases.

Provenance of the wine!
All the fine wines from Nouveau World Wines are sourced through out wine regions across the new world market, namely Australia, Argentina, California, Chile, South Africa and New Zealand. Each vine yard comes with a good trading history in fine wine. The wines are mostly stored in reputable bonded warehouses in perfect storage conditions or stored at the original point of production within in the vine yard. Most wines are available in original wooden cases unless stated.

Useful Fine Wine Links
The following links should help you find out more about fine wine:

General Information

Decanter.com
Wine International.com
Erobertparker.com
Winespectator.com
Wine-pages.com
Wineanorak.com

Vintages
Wine-pages
Wine Lovers Page

South African Wines
Platter Wine Guide

Australian Wine Regions


Adelaide Hills (South Australia): Located in southern Australia, this is a high altitude, cooler climate region. Petaluma is its most famous winery.

Barossa Valley (South Australia): In southern Australia, this huge, well known viticultural area north of Adelaide is the home of some of the titans of Australia's wine industry (i.e., Penfolds, Henschke, and Yalumba). It is the source for Australia?s finest wines, including spectacular old vine Shiraz cuvées produced by Cimicky, Rick Burge, Elderton, Greenock Creek, Rockford, Veritas, Torbreck, and Yalumba. Lastly, Australia?s most renowned wine, Penfold?s Grange, is largely a blend from selected Barossa vineyards.

Bendigo (Victoria): Bendigo is an up and coming area, although it has a long history as a wine producing region. Balgownie, Jasper Hill, and Wild Duck Creek are the finest wineries. Victoria (Victoria): The best-known sub-regions of Victoria are Goulburn Valley, Bendigo, Geelong, Yarra Valley, and Rutherglen, all within a day?s drive of Melbourne.

Clare Valley (South Australia): Located north of Adelaide and the Barossa Valley, this beautiful area is known for its white and red wines. A number of high quality wineries call Clare Valley their home, including Clos Clare, Grosset, Pikes, Kilikanoon, Tim Adams, and Knappstein. Some surprisingly fine Riesling emerges from this area, and don?t discount the high quality reds.

Coonawarra (South Australia): Coonawarra is among the most respected red wine growing areas of Australia. Situated in south Australia, west of the Goulburn Valley, top wineries such as Penley, Parker, Highbank, Majella, and Katnook pull their grapes from Coonawarra.

Geelong (Victoria): Southwest of Melbourne near the coast is the small area of Geelong.

Glenrowan (Victoria): Located in northeastern Victoria, this hot area is famous for its chewy red wines, especially the Shiraz.

Hunter Valley (New South Wales): Less than a 3 hour drive from Sydney is Australia's famed Hunter Valley. It is to Sydney what the Napa Valley is to San Francisco and the Médoc is to Bordeaux ? a major tourist attraction and popular source for Australia's wines. Originally this area was known for its rich, exotic, full bodied red wines from the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, but more recently Chardonnay and Semillon have proven successful as well. No doubt because of their size and the intense competitive spirit here, this area's wineries are well represented in the export market. In spite of this region?s renown, considerable quantities of mediocre, industrial swill emerge from both the "lower" and "upper" Hunter Valley.

Great Southern (Western Australia): In the remote southwestern tip of Australia, approximately 150 miles south of Perth, is a vast, burgeoning viticultural area called Great Southern. Apple orchards thrive more than vineyards, but wineries such as Howard Park, Mount Barker, Frankland Estate, and Alkoomi have well-deserved good reputations.

Margaret River (Western Australia): In the very southwestern tip of this country is the Margaret River viticultural zone. Australian wine experts claim that Australia's most French like Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays come from this area, which produces wines with higher natural acidities. There are many fine producers located here, including the likes of Vasse Felix, Moss Wood, Leeuwin Estate, Cullen, and Pierro.

McLaren Vale (South Australia): The traditional fare of this hot area south of Adelaide was high alcohol, thick, rich Grenache wines. This has all changed in the last 5 years with the advent of cold fermentations and the emergence of more serious producers. Some of the giants of the Australian wine business are in McLaren Vale, including Hardy's and its higher quality sibling, Reynella. Smaller wineries, producing some of Australia?s most exciting wines, include Kay Brothers, Clarendon Hills, Noon, d?Arenberg, Coriole, Maxwell, and Fox Creek.

Mudgee (New South Wales): Located in New South Wales west of the famed Hunter Valley, Mudgee (an aboriginal name meaning "nest in the hills") with its cool nights and hot days has proven not only to be a fine red wine area, but also a consistent source for tropical fruit scented, luxuriously rich Chardonnays. For whatever reason, the wines of Mudgee also tend to be less expensive than those from other top areas.

Padthaway (South Australia): This southern Australian viticultural area has developed a following for its value-priced white wines, especially the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Sadly, Padthaway vineyards have proven how easy it is to produce industrial quantities of uninspiring white and red wines. Among the brightest lights are the wines produced by Sparky and Sarah Marquis, and the efforts of importer Dan Philips, all of whom admirably prove that quality and value can be married.

Pyrenees (Victoria): The attractive, rolling hill countryside of the Pyrenees, northwest of Melbourne, forms a triangle between Redbank, Moonambel, and Avoca. The top wines are the reds from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes. Wineries of note include Redbank, Taltarni, and Dalwhinnie.

Riverland (South Australia): Located in South Australia, Riverland is to Australia what the San Joaquin Valley is to California. This vast source of grapes of mediocre quality is dominated by huge cooperatives and producers who turn out Australia's jug wines and bag in the box generic wines. Some big enterprises have their jug wine business centered here, including Penfolds. While most of the wines from this area are decidedly insipid, some good value, fresh whites at bargain basement prices can be found.

Rutherglen (Victoria): Rutherglen is synonymous with Australia's fortified sweet wines, many of which are extraordinary. The famous sweet, nectar-like, ageless Ports and fortified Muscats and Tokays of William Chambers, Campbells, Stanton and Kileen as well as Seppelt are made from Rutherglen grapes.

Swan Valley (Western Australia): This hot, arid area in Western Australia, just northeast of the coastal city of Perth, produces large framed, muscular red wines and increasingly better white wines.

Yarra Valley (Victoria): This is Australia?s most fashionable viticultural area as well as a darling of their wine press. Its proponents (the provincial Australian wine press) argue that the climate and resulting wines come closest in spirit to those of Bordeaux and Burgundy in France. I am not convinced. Located in Victoria, this is a cool climate area outside Melbourne, and every major red and white glamour varietal is planted, from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. There is much more "sizzle" than substance for most wines from Yarra Valley.

Pinot Noir

Colour: Light - Dark Ruby

Body: Light - Medium

Character: Diversity - Soft and Tart

Flavours: Cherries, forest floor, strawberries, fresh mushrooms, herbs

Drinking: Early (now to 10 years)

Tannin: Moderate

Best From: Burgundy, California (Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Santa Barbara), Oregon, Champagne - sparkling Blanc de Noirs

Syrah/Shiraz

Colour: Dark Ruby - Black/Purple

Body: Medium - Full

Character: Fleshy

Flavours: Blackberries, Cassis, Pepper, Tar, Coffee

Drinking: Early to Long Term (10 to 15 years)

Tannin: Moderate

Best From: Northern Rhone Valley, Southern Australia (Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley), California

Merlot

Colour: Dark Ruby - Dark Purple

Body: Medium - Full

Character: Usually soft

Flavours: Black Cherries, Mocha, Coffee, Black Tea, Tomato Skins, Plums

Drinking: Early to Mid-term (now to 12 years)

Tannin: Moderate

Best From: Bordeaux, Tuscany, occasionally California

Cabernet Sauvignon

Colour: Dark Purple - Black Purple

Body: Medium - Full

Character:Tannic and muscular; wines with gravitas

Flavours: Black currants, cedar wood, cigar tobacco

Drinking: Mid to Late Term - 3 to 20 years

Tannin: High

Best From: Bordeaux (Medoc), California (Napa Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains), Argentina, Chile, occasionally Australia

Grenache

Colour: Medium Ruby to Dark Plum

Body: Medium - Full

Character: Silky and voluptuous

Flavours: Kirsch liqueur - essence of cherries, raspberries, licorice, pepper, Provencal herbs

Drinking: Early to Mid-term - now to 14 years

Tannin: Low

Best From: Southern Rhone Valley, Spain, Southern Australia

Old World Service

We don't expect you to have an in-depth knowledge of the New World wine market. That's where you take advantage of our expertise and market knowledge.

Our brokers are passionate about wines from all over the world, but specialise in the New World. We will advise you on the premier vintages and help you build a collection of outstanding wines.

There are many benefits to using our services, including:

  • Informed selection of premier New World wines

  • A collection designed to suit your requirements and budget

  • Our complete purchasing package from source to storage

  • Fully insured storage in optimum climate controlled conditions

  • Regular market updates and valuations of your holdings

  • Our resale facility when you decide to sell all or part of your holdings


  • Old Fashioned Value

    We believe that the Parker rating system provides us with an objective way to compare wines.


    Old World Taxes

    There is great demand for fine wines. The best vintages are in limited supply to start with, and as they get consumed their rarity increases and their price rises.

    Although prices can and do vary, over time we would expect to see a steady increase in value.

    The current ruling by HM Revenue and Customs is that

    "A wasting asset is an asset with a predictable life of 50 years or less", and generally a collection of fine wines will come in to this category.

    Any gain on a wasting asset is exempt from Capital Gains Tax.

    (See Help Sheet IR293 on www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/ir293.pdf

    Your broker will be pleased to discuss this with you in the light of your own circumstances.

    Caring for your collection

    Ownership

    You will have full ownership of your wine on completion of your purchase.

    We will then arrange for transfer to an independent state-of-the-art storage facility where your holdings can be monitored online.

    Optimum storage conditions

    Your wine is kept in optimum storage conditions. An automated climate control system ensures that the temperature is maintained at a constant 15 degrees Celsius, with a relative humidity of 75%.

    Security

    The wine storage facility is under 24 hour monitored CCTV surveillance.

    Storage & Insurance

    We recommend only state of the art cellaring companies in Australia, ask your broker for full details and costs involved and we will arrange the rest for you.

    Valuation

    Please feel free to contact your personal broker at any time to obtain a latest valuation of your wine holdings.

    Win 12 bottles of Penfolds Grange 2001 worth £2,500

    Take the pleasure of fine wine beyond the glass, and turn good taste into a palatable, profitable enterprise. Interest in wine investment has grown by leaps and bounds over recent decades, hand-in-hand with the margins and profits. In fact, wine investments have yielded returns of over 300% in the past decade. Partake upon this sweet bouquet of success, just as many savvy individuals across the Asia Pacific have done with Nouveau World Wines

    Penfolds Grange 2001

    Nouveau World Wines takes great pleasure in offering the quintessential Australian wine, the Penfolds Grange 2001. Affectionately known as 'Grange', this vintage has an unbroken pedigree of excellence since its first release in 1951. It is now ranked among the top 12 wines in the world.

    As the first ever vintage (1951) was auctioned for over USD$30,000, Penfolds celebrated its 50th anniversary with the release of the almost perfect Penfolds Grange 2001. Rated 98/100 by the world's most influential wine critic, Robert Parker Junior, this vintage is a wine collector's dream. Nouveau World Wines is proud to present you an opportunity to own this extraordinary wine.

    The Nouveau Newsletter

    Stay in touch with the latest relevant wine investment news..
    if anyone asks, just say you heard it through the grapevine.

    Australian Wine price to rise (Video Link)
    The cost of Australian wine is expected to rise because of the impact of drought and frosts.

    Fine Wine Investors Reap Rewards (Video Link)
    Some experts are predicting good returns for those who choose to make an investment in wine. Emma Brannam looks at the benefits of putting money into fine wine and the pitfalls to watch out for.

    Wine competition pits France v US
    The French wine industry has suffered from a decline
    The US has emerged victorious in a blind tasting by experts in London and California pitting US and French wine against each other

    Indians embrace wine drinking
    Wine is becoming big business in India as the country drinks more glasses of red and white wine than ever before.

    Fine wines boost Majestic profits
    Majestic's profits continue to fizz
    Majestic Wine has reported a jump in annual profits, boosted by a strong rise in the sale of fine wines.

    Europe Diary : Wine Culture
    In his diary this week, BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell looks at the European Commission's controversial plans to reform wine production - destroying vines, raising quality and taking lessons from the New World.

    An Education in Wine Terminology

    acetic:
    Wines, no matter how well made, contain quantities of acetic acidity that have a vinegary smell. If there is an excessive amount of acetic acidity, the wine will have a vinegary smell and be a flawed, acetic wine.

    acidic:
    Wines need natural acidity to taste fresh and lively, but an excess of acidity results in an acidic wine that is tart and sour.

    acidity:
    The acidity level in a wine is critical to its enjoyment and livelihood. The natural acids that appear in wine are citric, tartaric, malic, and lactic. Wines from hot years tend to be lower in acidity, whereas wines from cool, rainy years tend to be high in acidity. Acidity in a wine can preserve the wine's freshness and keep the wine lively, but too much acidity, which masks the wines flavors and compresses its texture, is a flaw.

    aftertaste:
    As the term suggests, the taste left in the mouth when one swallows is the aftertaste. This word is a synonym for length or finish. The longer the aftertaste lingers in the mouth (assuming it is a pleasant taste), the finer the quality of the wine.

    aggressive:
    Aggressive is usually applied to wines that are either high in acidity or have harsh tannins, or both.

    angular:
    Angular wines are wines that lack roundness, generosity, and depth. Wine from poor vintages or wines that are too acidic are often described as being angular.

    aroma:
    Aroma is the smell of a young wine before it has had sufficient time to develop nuances of smell that are then called its bouquet. The word aroma is commonly used to mean the smell of a relatively young, unevolved wine.

    astringent:
    Wines that are astringent are not necessarily bad or good wines. Astringent wines are harsh and coarse to taste, either because they are too young and tannic and just need time to develop, or because they are not well made. The level of tannins (if it is harsh) in a wine contributes to its degree of astringence.

    austere:
    Wines that are austere are generally not terribly pleasant wines to drink. An austere wine is a hard, rather dry wine that lacks richness and generosity. However, young Rhônes are not as austere as young Bordeaux.

    backward:
    An adjective used to describe (1) a young largely unevolved, closed, and undrinkable wine, (2) a wine that is not ready to drink, or (3) a wine that simply refuses to release its charms and personality.

    balance:
    One of the most desired traits in a wine is good balance, where the concentration of fruit, level of tannins, and acidity are in total harmony. Balanced wines are symmetrical and tend to age gracefully.

    barnyard:
    An unclean, farmyard, fecal aroma that is imparted to a wine because of unclean barrels or unsanitary winemaking facilities.

    berrylike:
    As this descriptive term implies, most red wines have an intense berry fruit character that can suggest blackberries, raspberries, black cherries, mulberries, or even strawberries and cranberries.

    big:
    A big wine is a large-framed, full-bodied wine with an intense and concentrated feel on the palate. Most red Rhône wines are big wines.

    blackcurrant:
    A pronounced smell of blackcurrant fruit is commonly associated with certain Rhône wines. It can vary in intensity from faint to very deep and rich.

    body:
    Body is the weight and fullness of a wine that can be sensed as it crosses the palate. full-bodied wines tend to have a lot of alcohol, concentration, and glycerin.

    Botrytis cinerea:
    The fungus that attacks the grape skins under specific climatic conditions (usually alternating periods of moisture and sunny weather). It causes the grape to become superconcentrated because it causes a natural dehydration. Botrytis cinerea is essential for the great sweet white wines of Barsac and Sauternes. It rarely occurs in the Rhône Valley because of the dry, constant sunshine and gusty winds.

    bouquet:
    As a wine's aroma becomes more developed from bottle aging, the aroma is transformed into a bouquet that is hopefully more than just the smell of the grape.

    brawny:
    A hefty, muscular, full-bodied wine with plenty of weight and flavor, although not always the most elegant or refined sort of wine.

    briery:
    I think of California Zinfandel when the term briery comes into play, denoting that the wine is aggressive and rather spicy.

    brilliant:
    Brilliant relates to the color of the wine. A brilliant wine is one that s clear, with no haze or cloudiness to the color.

    browning:
    As red wines age, their color changes from ruby/purple to dark ruby, to medium ruby, to ruby with an amber edge, to ruby with a brown edge. When a wine is browning it is usually fully mature and not likely to get better.

    carbonic maceration:
    This vinification method is used to make soft , fruity, very accessible wines. Whole clusters of grapes are put into a vat that is then filled with carbonic gas. This system is used when fruit is to be emphasized in the final wine in contrast to structure and tannin.

    cedar:
    Rhône reds can have a bouquet that suggests either faintly or overtly the smell of cedarwood. It is a complex aspect of the bouquet.

    chewy:
    If a wine has a rather dense, viscous texture from a high glycerin content, it is often referred to as being chewy. High-extract wines from great vintages can often be chewy, largely because they have higher alcohol hence high levels of glycerin, which imparts a fleshy mouthfeel.

    closed:
    The term closed is used to denote that the wine is not showing its potential, which remains locked in because it is too young. Young wines often close up about 12-18 months after bottling, and depending on the vintage and storage conditions, remain in such a state for several years to more than a decade.

    complex:
    One of the most subjective descriptive terms used, a complex wine is a wine that the taster never gets bored with and finds interesting to drink. Complex wines tend to have a variety of subtle scents and flavors that hold one's interest in the wine.

    concentrated:
    Fine wines, whether they are light-, medium-, or full-bodied, should have concentrated flavors. Concentrated denotes that the wine has a depth and richness of fruit that gives it appeal and interest. Deep is a synonym for concentrated.

    corked:
    A corked wine is a flawed wine that has taken on the smell of cork as a result of an unclean or faulty cork. It is perceptible in a bouquet that shows no fruit, only the smell of musty cork, which reminds me of wet cardboard.

    cuvée:
    Many producers in the Rhône Valley produce special, deluxe lots of wine or a lot of wine from a specific grape variety that they bottle separately. These lots are often referred to as cuvées.

    decadent:
    If you are an ice cream and chocolate lover, you know the feeling of eating a huge sundae of rich vanilla ice cream lavished with hot fudge and real whipped cream. If you are a wine enthusiast, a wine loaded with opulent, even unctuous layers of fruit, with a huge bouquet, and a plump, luxurious texture can be said to be decadent.

    deep:
    Essentially the same as concentrated, expressing the fact that the wine is rich, full of extract, and mouth filling.

    delicate:
    As this word implies, delicate wines are light, subtle, understated wines that are prized for their shyness rather than for an extroverted, robust character. White wines are usually more delicate than red wines. Few Rhône red wines can correctly be called delicate.

    demi-muid:
    650-liter Burgundy barrels which are essentially the equivalent of three regular barrels.

    diffuse:
    Wines that smell and taste unstructured and unfocused are said to be diffuse. When red wines are served at too warm a temperature they often become diffuse.

    double decanting:
    This is done by first decanting the wine into a decanter and then rinsing the original bottle out with non-chlorinated water and then immediately repouring the wine from the decanter back into the bottle. It varies with the wine as to how long you cork it.

    dumb:
    A dumb wine is also a closed wine, but the term dumb is used more pejoratively. Closed wines may need only time to reveal their richness and intensity. Dumb wines may never get any better.

    earthy:
    May be used in both a negative and a positive sense; however, I prefer to use earthy to denote a positive aroma of fresh, rich, clean soil. Earthy is a more intense smell than woody or truffle scents.

    elegant:
    Although more white wines than red are described as being elegant, lighter-styled, graceful, balance red wines can be elegant.

    extract:
    This is everything in a wine besides water, sugar, alcohol, and acidity.

    exuberant:
    Like extroverted, somewhat hyper people, wines too can be gushing with fruit and seem nervous and intensely vigorous.

    fat:
    When the Rhône has an exceptionally hot year for its crop and the wines attain a super sort of maturity, they are often quite rich and concentrated, with low to average acidity. Often such wines are said to be fat, which is a prized commodity. If they become too fat, that is a flaw and they are then called flabby.

    flabby:
    A wine that is too fat or obese is a flabby wine. Flabby wines lack structure and are heavy to taste.

    fleshy:
    Fleshy is a synonym for chewy , meaty , or beefy. It denotes that the wine has a lot of body, alcohol, and extract , and usually a high glycerin content. Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage are particularly fleshy wines.

    floral:
    Wines made from the Muscat or Viognier grape have a flowery component, and occasionally a red wine will have a floral scent.

    focused:
    Both a fine wine's bouquet and flavor should be focused. Focused simply means that the scents, aromas, and flavors are precise and clearly delineated. If they are not, the wine is like an out-of-focus picture-diffuse, hazy, and possibly problematic.

    forward:
    An adjective used to describe wines that are (1) delicious, evolved, and close to maturity, (2) wines that border on being flamboyant or ostentatious, or (3) unusually evolved and/or quickly maturing wines.

    foudre:
    Large oak barrels that vary enormously in size but are significantly larger than the normal oak barrel used in Bordeaux or the piece used in Burgundy. They are widely used in the Rhône Valley.

    fresh:
    Freshness in both young and old wines is a welcome and pleasing component. A wine is said to be fresh when it is lively and cleanly made. The opposite of fresh is stale .

    fruity:
    A very good wine should have enough concentration of fruit so that it can be said to be fruity. Fortunately, the best wines will have more than just a fruity personality.

    full-bodied:
    Wines rich in extract , alcohol, and glycerin are full-bodied wines. Most Rhône wines are full-bodied.

    garrigue:
    In the southern Rhône Valley and Provence, this is the landscape of small slopes and plateaus. This Provençal word applies to these windswept hilltops/slopes inhabited by scrub-brush and Provençal herb outcroppings. The smell of garrigue is often attributed to southern Rhône Valley wines. Suggesting more than the smell of herbes de Provence, it encompasses an earthy herbal concoction of varying degrees of intensity.

    green:
    Green wines are wines made from underripe grapes; they lack richness and generosity as well as having a vegetal character. Green wines are infrequently made in the Rhone, although vintages such as 1977 were characterized by a lack of ripening.

    hard:
    Wines with abrasive, astringent tannins or high acidity are said to be hard. Young vintages of Rhône wines can be hard, but they should never be harsh.

    harsh:
    If a wine is too hard it is said to be harsh. Harshness in a wine, young or old, is a flaw.

    hedonistic:
    Certain styles of wine are meant to be inspected; they are introspective and intellectual wines. Others are designed to provide sheer delight, joy, and euphoria. Hedonistic wines can be criticized because in one sense they provide so much ecstasy that they can be called obvious, but in essence, they are totally gratifying wines meant to fascinate and enthrall-pleasure at its best.

    herbaceous:
    Many wines have a distinctive herbal smell that is generally said to be herbaceous. Specific herbal smells can be of thyme, lavender, rosemary, oregano, fennel, or basil and are common in Rhône wines.

    herbes de Provence:
    Provence is known for the wild herbs that grow prolifically through- out the region. These include lavender, thyme, sage, rosemary, and oregano. It is not just an olfactory fancy to smell many of these herbs in Rhône Valley wines, particularly those made in the south.

    hollow:
    Also known as shallow, hollow wines are diluted and lack depth and concentration.

    honeyed:
    A common personality trait of specific white Rhône wines, a honeyed wine is one that has the smell and taste of bee's honey.

    hot:
    Rather than meaning that the temperature of the wine is too warm to drink, hot denotes that the wine is too high in alcohol and therefore leaves a burning sensation in the back of the throat when swallowed. Wines with alcohol levels in excess of 14.5% often taste hot if the requisite depth of fruit is not present.

    inox vats:
    This is the French term for stainless steel vats that are used for both fermentation and storage of wine.

    intensity:
    Intensity is one of the most desirable traits of a high-quality wine. Wines of great intensity must also have balance. They should never be heavy or cloying. Intensely concentrated great wines are alive, vibrant, aromatic, layered, and texturally compelling. Their intensity adds to their character, rather than detracting from it.

    jammy:
    When wines have a great intensity of fruit from excellent ripeness they can be jammy, which is a very concentrated, flavorful wine with superb extract . In great vintages such as 1961, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1990, and 1995, some of the wines are so concentrated that they are said to be jammy.

    Kisselguhr filtration system:
    This is a filtration system using diatomaceous earth as the filtering material, rather than cellulose, or in the past, before it was banned, asbestos.

    leafy:
    A leafy character in a wine is similar to a herbaceous character only in that it refers to the smell of leaves rather than herbs. A wine that is too leafy is a vegetal or green wine.

    lean:
    Lean wines are slim, rather streamlined wines that lack generosity and fatness but can still be enjoyable and pleasant.

    lively:
    A synonym for fresh or exuberant , a lively wine is usually young wine with good acidity and a thirst-quenching personality.

    long:
    A very desirable trait in any fine wine is that it be long in the mouth. Long (or length) relates to a wine's finish, meaning that after you swallow the wine, you sense its presence for a long time. (Thirty seconds to several minutes is great length.) In a young wine, the difference between something good and something great is the length of the wine.

    lush:
    Lush wines are velvety , soft , richly fruity wines that are both concentrated and fat . A lush wine can never be an astringent or hard wine.

    massive:
    In great vintages where there is a high degree of ripeness and superb concentration, some wines can turn out to be so big , full-bodied, and rich that they are called massive. A great wine such as the 1961 or 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle is a textbook example of a massive wine.

    meaty:
    A chewy , fleshy wine is also said to be meaty.

    monocepage:
    This term describes a wine made totally of one specific varietal.

    monopole:
    Used to denote a vineyard owned exclusively by one proprietor, the word monopole appears on the label of a wine made from such a vineyard.

    morsellated:
    Many vineyards are fragmented, with multiple growers owning a portion of the same vineyard. Such a vineyard is often referred to as a morsellated vineyard.

    mouth-filling:
    Big, rich, concentrated wines that are filled with fruit extract and are high in alcohol and glycerin are wines that tend to texturally fill the mouth. A mouth-filling wine is also a chewy, fleshy, fatt wine.

    musty:
    Wines aged in dirty barrels or unkept cellars or exposed to a bad cork take on a damp, musty character that is a flaw.

    nose:
    The general smell and aroma of a wine as sensed through one's nose and olfactory senses is often called the wine's nose.

    oaky:
    Many red Rhône wines are aged from 6 months to 30 months in various sizes of oak barrels. At some properties, a percentage of the oak barrels may be new, and these barrels impart a toasty, vanillin flavor and smell to the wine. If the wine is not rich and concentrated, the barrels can overwhelm the wine, making it taste overly oaky. Where the wine is rich and concentrated and the winemaker has made a judicious use of barrels, however, the results are a wonderful marriage of fruit and oak.

    off:
    If a wine is not showing its true character, or is flawed or spoiled in some way, it is said to be "off."

    overripe:
    An undesirable characteristic; grapes left too long on the vine become too ripe, lose their acidity , and produce wines that are heavy and balance. This can happen frequently in the hot viticultural areas of the Rhône Valley if the growers harvest too late.

    oxidized:
    If a wine has been excessively exposed to air during either its making or aging, the wine loses freshness and takes on a stale , old smell and taste. Such a wine is said to be oxidized.

    peppery:
    A peppery quality to a wine is usually noticeable in many Rhône wines that have an aroma of black or white pepper and a pungent flavor.

    perfumed:
    This term usually is more applicable to fragrant, aromatic white wines than to red wines. However, some of the dry white wines (particularly Condrieu) and sweet white wines can have a strong perfumed smell.

    pigéage:
    A winemaking technique of punching down the cap of grape skins that forms during the beginning of the wine's fermentation. This is done several times a day, occasionally more frequently, to extract color, flavor, and tannin from the fermenting juice.

    plummy:
    Rich, concentrated wines can often have the smell and taste of ripe plums. When they do, the term plummy is applicable.

    ponderous:
    Ponderous is often used as a synonym for massive , but in my usage a massive wine is simply a big, rich, very concentrated wine with balance, whereas a ponderous wine is a wine that has become heavy and tiring to drink.

    precocious:
    Wines that mature quickly are precocious. However the term also applies to wines that may last and evolve gracefully over a long period of time, but taste as if they are aging quickly because of their tastiness and soft , early charms.

    pruney:
    Wines produced from grapes that are overripe take on the character of prunes. Pruney wines are flawed wines.

    raisiny:
    Late-harvest wines that are meant to be drunk at the end of a meal can often be slightly raisiny, which in some ports and sherries is desirable. However, a raisiny quality is a major flaw in a dinner wine.

    rich:
    Wines that are high in extract , flavor, and intensity of fruit.

    ripe:
    A wine is ripe when its grapes have reached the optimum level of maturity. Less than fully mature grapes produce wines that are underripe, and overly mature grapes produce wines that are overripe.

    round:
    A very desirable character of wines, roundness occurs in fully mature wines that have lost their youthful, astringent tannins, and also in young wines that have soft tannins and low acidity.

    savory:
    A general descriptive term that denotes that the wine is round, flavorful, and interesting to drink. shallow:
    A weak, feeble, watery or diluted wine lacking concentration is said to be shallow.

    sharp:
    An undesirable trait, sharp wines are bitter and unpleasant with hard, pointed edges.

    silky:
    A synonym for velvety or lush, silky wines are soft, sometimes fat , but never hard or angular.

    smoky:
    Some wines, either because of the soil or because of the barrels used to age the wine, have a distinctive smoky character. Côte Rôtie and Hermitage often have a roasted or smoky quality.

    soft:
    A soft wine is one that is round and fruity, low in acidity, and has an absence of aggressive, hard tannins.

    spicy:
    Wines often smell quite spicy with aromas of pepper, cinnamon, and other well-known spices. These pungent aromas are usually lumped together and called spicy.

    stale:
    Dull, heavy wines that are oxidized or lack balancing acidity for freshness are called stale.

    stalky:
    A synonym for vegetal , but used more frequently to denote that the wine has probably had too much contact with the stems, resulting in a green vegetal, or stalky character to the wine.

    supple:
    A supple wine is one that is soft, lush , velvety , and very attractively round and tasty. It is a highly desirable characteristic because it suggests that the wine is harmonious.

    tannic:
    The tannins of a wine, which are extracted from the grape skins and stems, are, along with a wine's acidity and alcohol, its lifeline. Tannins give a wine firmness and some roughness when young, but gradually fall away and dissipate. A tannic wine is one that is young and unready to drink.

    tart:
    Sharp , acidic, lean,, unripe wines are called tart. In general, a wine that is tart is not pleasurable.

    thick:
    Rich, ripe, concentrated wines that are low in acidity are often said to be thick.

    thin:
    A synonym for shallow; it is an undesirable characteristic for a wine to be thin, meaning that it is watery, lacking in body, and just diluted.

    tightly knit:
    Young wines that have good acidity levels, good tannin levels, and are well made are called tightly knit, meaning they have yet to open up and develop.

    toasty:
    A smell of grilled toast can often be found in wines because the barrels the wines are aged in are charred or toasted on the inside.

    tobacco:
    Some red wines have the scent of fresh tobacco. It is a distinctive and wonderful smell in wine.

    troncais oak:
    This type of oak comes from the forest of Troncais in central France.

    unctuous:
    Rich, lush , intense wines with layers of concentrated, soft, velvety fruit are said to be unctuous.

    vegetal:
    An undesirable characteristic, wines that smell and taste vegetal are usually made from unripe grapes. In some wines, a subtle vegetable garden smell is pleasant and adds complexity, but if it is the predominant character, it is a major flaw.

    velvety:
    A textural description and synonym for lush or silky , a velvety wine is a rich, soft , smooth wine to taste. It is a very desirable characteristic.

    viscous:
    Viscous wines tend to be relatively concentrated, fat, almost thick wines with a great density of fruit extract, plenty of glycerin, and high alcohol content. If they have balancing acidity, they can be tremendously flavorful and exciting wines. If they lack acidity, they are often flabby and heavy.

    volatile:
    A volatile wine is one that smells of vinegar as a result of an excessive amount of acetic bacteria present.
    It is a seriously flawed wine.

    woody:
    When a wine is overly oaky. It is often said to be woody. Oakiness in a wine's bouquet and taste is good up to a point. Once past that point, the wine is woody and its fruity qualities are masked by excessive oak aging.

    London
    2nd floor,
    Berkeley Square House,
    Berkeley Square,
    London, W1J 6BD

    t. +44 (0) 207 887 6153

    info (a) nouveauworldwines.com

    Australia
    Level 50,
    120 Collins Street
    Melbourne
    Vic 3000, Australia

    t. +61 (0) 3 9225 5287

    info (a) nouveauworldwines.com


    Hong Kong
    18th &19th floor one international
    Finance centre No1
    Harbour view Street
    Central Hong Kong

    t. +852 2166 8888

    info (a) nouveauworldwines.com

  • Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Accessibility
    Nouveau World Wines Limited is a UK based company, registration number: 5233815