What are tannins?

Tannins are an astringent substance found in the seeds and stems of grapes. It is an important ingredient in the making of good red wines, helping them in the ageing process. When wines are young, the tannin often gives them a noticeable sharp quality that reduces as the wine ages.

You can test this yourself at home by getting a red grape and biting down on the pip and that is what you taste in red wine.

Taste

Try a range of wines and learn to pick out the familiar flavours.

Enjoy taste testing at home by choosing wines with different berries and accompanying then with the fruit such as strawberries or raspberries. Get use to the flavours and train your palette so you can pick the wines you enjoy.

Why do we decant?

1. With an old wine
It helps to separate the sediment which remains in the decanter when you pour your wine.

2. With a young wine
It is beneficial for some young wine to be decanted, to release their aromas.

Wines tasted;

Chateau de Roques, 1er cote de Bordeaux, 2004 £7.85 from Longford Wines

Chateau Lezongars Bordaux, 2002 £9.05 from Jeroboams

Dancing Bull Zinfandel, California, 2006 £8.99 from Wine Rack

Happy tasting!