The Wine Ladies

Are aroma and bouquet are interchangeable?

Dear Wine Ladies,

My partner and I are just getting acquainted with wine and are wondering if the terms aroma and bouquet are interchangeable? Secondly does the length of wine refer to its age ability?

Bruce

Dear Bruce,

Welcome to the gloriously delicious and exciting world of wine. Actually the terms are not interchangeable as “aroma” refers more to the smell of the specific grapes that are used to make the wine as well as to the smell of younger fresh wines; those that have not had the luxury of time to develop more complex smells. Bouquet on the other hand describes those smells that come together after some bottle aging, much like a bouquet of flowers, each offering something unique. In more matures, the smell of the fruit is replaced with a “nose” of more complex and interesting smells such as the earth, chocolate, leather and tobacco. Not all wines will benefit from long term aging, as a word of caution, in fact the great majority of wines are meant for early consumption. Length of a wine, has nothing to do with age ability, rather it is a word used to describe how long the aftertaste remains on your palate after the wine has been swallowed. Good quality wines should leave a long pleasant aftertaste.