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Olfactory memory: how to recognise wine aromas

• aromas • memory • wine

Olfactory memory: how to recognise wine aromas

Have you ever smelled a wine and noticed an aroma you know perfectly well, yet couldn't quite identify? It's familiar, you're sure of it. Perhaps it reminds you of a fruit, a spice or a flower. Maybe even a place you visited many years ago. And yet, the name escapes you. It's on the tip of your tongue. Or rather, on the tip of your nose. It happens even to people who have been tasting wine for years. That's because perceiving a scent, recognising it and being able to describe it are three closely connected, but not exactly identical, processes....

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Black pepper in wine: the secret starts in the grape

• aromas • pepper • perfume • red wine • rotundone

Black pepper in wine: the secret starts in the grape

You smell a red wine and, among the fruit and other aromas, recognise something familiar: freshly ground black pepper. The same smell that rises from a dish when you turn the pepper mill. But how does a spice find its way into the aroma of wine? It is not an added ingredient. Behind this resemblance lies a story that begins with the grape and involves a little-known molecule capable of leaving a distinctive impression: rotundone. The name rotundone comes neither from wine nor from pepper. It derives from Cyperus rotundus, a plant commonly known as purple nutsedge, in which the...

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Mushroom aromas in wine: a note worth exploring

Mushroom aromas in wine: a note worth exploring

You smell a red wine and think: “This reminds me of a forest after the rain.” There is fruit, perhaps a little spice, and something that brings leaves, earth and mushrooms to mind. Is it an intriguing aroma, or a sign that something is wrong? A mushroom note in wine can spark curiosity because it takes us beyond more immediately familiar aromas, such as cherry or raspberry. Understanding it means taking a closer look: noticing the smell, describing it and considering it alongside the other aromas in your glass. In this little aromatic adventure, we explore three related but different...

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Autumn in your glass

• aromas • autumn • perfume • red wine • season • sommelier • Tasterplace

Autumn in your glass

When temperatures drop and autumn arrives, red wine naturally becomes the star of our tables once again. It’s the season of convivial dinners, rich and enveloping dishes, but also of slow reflections in front of a glass. In this context, the pleasure of red wine expands not only through taste but above all thanks to its aromas, which in autumn reveal themselves as particularly fascinating. Training the nose to recognize the typical aromatic families of autumnal red wine means deepening the tasting experience and living it more consciously. In this article, we’ll explore the most common and significant notes: fruity,...

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Why Lemon Won Our Poll

• aromas • citrus • sommelier • Tasterplace

Why Lemon Won Our Poll

In our latest poll, we asked you to choose the citrus aroma that best represents summer. Among different shades of freshness, energy and vitality, one clear winner emerged: lemon. The result made us reflect. Why lemon? Perhaps because it is one of those rare aromas that speaks to everyone, regardless of passions, expertise or habits. You don't need to be a wine expert to recognize the scent of freshly grated lemon zest. You don't need to be a sommelier to associate it with a summer day, a walk by the sea, a refreshing drink shared with friends, or a homemade...

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