TEST YOUR PALATE

A great way to enjoy your wine shipment is with a comparative tasting at home. We recommend starting with a few wines that share a common theme – such as grape variety, vintage, region, or another unifying characteristic. Having a theme will make your tasting both more entertaining and more educational for you and your guests.

One exciting comparative tasting you can try at home with fellow oenophiles features ISOSCELES, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and RIGHT ANGLE. All three are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting wines from the same vintage and appellation allows you and your guests to explore the subtle differences in aromas and flavors that distinguish each wine – as well as the similarities they share.

As you evaluate each wine, here are some elements to consider:

Sight

How do the wines look compared to one another? Is one more concentrated? Are the tears and staining more pronounced in a particular wine?

Nose

Is one wine more aromatic or intense than the others? What aromas do they share? Which scents stand out in each wine?

Palate

How do the structure – acidity, tannins, and alcohol – and the body (or weight on the palate) compare? Which wine has the fullest body? Does one offer a longer finish than the rest?

For added fun, take turns pouring one wine blind and see if others can identify it based on their previous observations.

And if you happen to run out, you can always order more at justinwine.com, or contact the Wine Society at 805.591.3200 or winesociety@justinwine.com.