In the world of wine, there is an important distinction between subjective assessments (i.e. simply liking a wine for personal reasons) and objective determinations of a wine's level of quality. Professional tasters examine the following qualities when assessing whether a particular wine is objectively great:
1. Varietal Character: When a wine that has been made from single grape varietal presents its inherent aromas and flavors in a straightforward, clear, and focused way, it is said to have varietal character (put in terms of a different type of produce, the more "Granny Smith-ish" a Granny Smith apple is, the more it can be appreciated on its own terms).
2. Integration: A state whereby the components of a wine (acid, tannin, alcohol, etc) are so impeccably interwoven that no one component stands out.
3. Expressiveness: The quality a wine possesses when its aromas and flavors are well defined and clearly projected.
4. Complexity: A force that pulls you into a wine and impels you to repeatedly return for another smell and sip because each time you do, you find something new.
5. Connectedness: The bond between a wine and the plot of land it was born in - the transportive sense of place known as terroir (this concept is akin to cultural identity in the social sciences).
Estate Wine Brokers is proud to feature a wide range of wines that embody these characteristics, and we invite you to experience them yourself:
Integration: Far from the unctuous and oily styles of Chardonnay from California, White Burgundy represents a seamless integration acidity, oak, and body. Fine examples include Baron Thenard Montrachet Grand Cru 2009, Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 2015, or Domaine Coche-Dury Meursault Perrieres 1er Cru 2013.
Expressiveness: Consider the intensity and concentration of a classic Napa Valley Cabernet such as Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 2005, Joseph Phelps Insignia 2001, or Schrader CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 2013.
Complexity: Ponder the layers of flavor in mature, top-notch Bordeaux such as Chateau Latour 1982, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1982, or Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 1989.
Connectedness: The wines of the northern Rhone Valley in France are famed for their sauvage, savory, peppey flavors, and some of the best examples include E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline 1985, E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque 1985, and Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 1990.