Having a refined palate and being able to recall wines takes time and certainly lots of practice. The most important elements to remember when tasting wine are: the look (color), the smell (red/black fruits, citrus…), the taste (texture and length), and then to think it over (did you like it, was it tannic or too strong?). Of course, the smell and taste will enable you to savour and appreciate the wine whereas the look and having a mull over will encourage you to reflect upon what you have just tasted and in turn develop your palate. Don’t hesitate to swirl your glass and double check your first impressions (look, color and taste…). It’s also a good idea to write down the flavors that first spring to mind and share your ideas with your friends if you are in a group. Sometimes they will evolve with the conversation and a general consensus will be formed. Often you will find that you’re not the only one who can taste chocolate notes; which could seem ludicrous but yes, it’s possible. When trying to develop your palate it’s very important to try and see past your first impressions. For example if you don’t like the design of the sticker on the bottle or you know that it was relatively cheap. By doing this you can really start to taste the wine rather than be judgmental.
If you are a budding connoisseurs and want to know more about wine tasting, please contact our local team in France via the Planet Provence Website.