“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…”
So began perhaps the most famous political speech in American history. It was delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, consisted of a mere 271 words, and concluded by underscoring the concept of an American government “of the people, by the people, for the people [that] shall not perish from the earth.”
It referenced the war as a test that ultimately would determine whether such a nation, founded 87 years earlier, could endure.
Lincoln gave the speech on November 19, 1863. Although there have been challenges along the way, our nation has endured. So I hope that if you haven’t done so already, you will get out there today and let your voice be heard by voting.
In political elections like today’s mid-terms, every vote counts. But when it comes to wine evaluation, only yours counts. Only you can determine what types of wine you really, really love and what types you don’t.
Learning to identify common characteristics found in the various varietals and cuvees is the first step in the evaluation process. Here’s a “cheat sheet” to help you get started…
COMMON AROMAS
* Toast
* Tobacco
* Leather
* Mushroom
* Jam
* Chocolate
* Coffee
* Smoke
* Pepper
* Mint
* Spice
* Almond
* Citrus
* Melon
* Oak
* Berries
* Nutmeg
* Vegetal
* Honey
* Apple
* Tropical Fruit
* Grass
* Floral
COMMON FLAVORS
* Dark Fruits
* Berries
* Plum
* Mushroom
* Tobacco
* Chocolate
* Earth
* Pepper
* Vanilla
* Coffee
* Licorice
* Leather
* Toast
* Grass
* Citrus
* Melon
* Lychee
* Almond
* Nutmeg
* Vegetal
* Floral
* Honey
* Pear
* Peach
Again, these are just a few of the impressions you may encounter in any given wine. When you identify a characteristic, write it down and then pen a plus (+) or minus (-) sign next to it, indicating whether you like it or not.
With each bottle you open, add to the list. Over time, you’ll develop your own personalized “cheat sheet” that will help you select the types of wines you like and avoid the ones you don’t.
The choice is yours.
The vote is yours.
It’s the American way.
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