Why Some Wines Jump Out of the Glass (And Others Fall Flat)

I’ve realised something recently.

I’m not just chasing flavour anymore.

I’m chasing wines that actually feel alive, the kind that jump out of the glass before you’ve even really thought about them.

I was sat with a glass of Lafite Rothschild 2011 and Tignanello 2014 and a Vega Sicilia Pintia 2018 all class wines

Before I even got my nose in properly, I noticed how they looked.

They just had more about them.

Darker, denser not that thin, see through red you get with a lot of wines. You couldn’t really see through the middle of the glass, it just sort of held its shape.

Sounds daft, but it almost looked heavier.

Then I put my nose to the top of the glass and the aroma came whooshing out it was an experience in itself.

The Frustration about buying from supermarkets etc

It made me realise why I’ve been slightly underwhelmed with a lot of wines I’ve bought rIt made a few things click for me.

I’ve had quite a few bottles recently that were absolutely fine. Nothing wrong with them at all.

But they didn’t really do anything, they are nice enough, bit of fruit, easy to drink and then you forget about them.

And when I think about it, most of them look quite similar too. Lighter, a bit more transparent, just lacking that depth you see in something like the Lafite.

The Realisation

II think what I’ve been missing is concentration.

Not in a big, heavy, over the top way, just something with a bit more presence.

The wines that stick with me seem to have a bit more weight to them. More going on, more coming out of the glass, more staying with you after you’ve swallowed.

Whereas a lot of everyday stuff feels slightly watered down in comparison.

The only way I can really describe it is like cooking.

One tastes like something that’s been left to simmer properly, the other feels like it’s been thrown together quickly and does a job.

Why Those Wines Hit Different

I’m still figuring this out, but a few things seem to come up again and again.

Lower yields, older vines, less messing about in the winer just letting the wine keep a bit more of itself.

And importantly, it’s not that jammy, overripe thing either. It’s more savoury than that. There’s depth without it feeling sweet or heavy.

What I’m Looking For Now

This has definitely changed how I’ll buy wine.

Before it was quite simple grape, region, price, maybe something I’d heard about.

Now I think I’ll be paying more attention to how the wine is made, not just what it is.

I’m starting to realise that two wines from the same place can be completely different depending on how much care has gone into them.