The nose knows

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John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson competes in the first annual Manitoba Wine Tasting Championships at The Winehouse Wednesday February 27, 2013. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Last week, I was one of around 60 contestants in the Manitoba Wine Tasting Championship, an event put on by The Winehouse (1600 Kenaston Blvd. -- one of Winnipeg's private wine stores). In our individual prescribed time slot, each contestant was given five wines (one white and four reds) to taste blind -- that is, without knowing the grape, country, region, or vintage. It's those qualities in the wine we had to guess -- up to 10 points total awarded for guessing those characteristics of each wine.

The tasters with the eight highest scores were invited to a live tasting final taking place March 15 at The Winehouse, although the overall champion will be crowned from the initial round's scores. And wouldn't you know it, it just so happens I made it through to the final eight. While you always hope for the best, I honestly had no expectations of making it through.

Blind tasting is a fun and humbling way to taste wine. Preconceived notions about a wine based on where it's from, who made it or how much it costs go out the window.

For me, the key to distinguishing between wines made from different grapes isn't so much in the tasting as it is in the sniffing. A wine's aromatics reveal many more subtle differences than just tasting it. Yes, there are differences in flavours as well, but when it comes to nailing down whether a wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot, for example, the nose knows best.

Whether you're getting together with some serious wine tasters or are throwing a BYOB dinner party, consider keeping the bottles concealed in brown paper bags and making it a blind tasting. You may just come away with bragging rights as the night's best wine taster.

SILVER BEACH 2011 SAUVIGNON BLANC

(Marlborough, New Zealand -- $16.99, Liquor Marts

and beyond)

For textbook Sauvignon Blanc, look no further than New Zealand -- it's their signature white wine grape. Green apple, lemon juice, lime rind and grapefruit aromas are rounded out by a modest tropical fruit component. It's a light-bodied, crisp white offering fresh citrus fruit and light grassy notes on the palate, with medium acidity that doesn't turn too sour. Try with grilled shrimp, chicken souvlaki, or soft cheeses. 86/100

CONO SUR 2011 VISIìN PINOT NOIR

(Colchagua Valley, Chile -- around $20, private wine stores)

Cono Sur does a particularly great job with Pinot Noir in a country where big, robust reds are far more common. Sourced from a single vineyard with some of the country's oldest Pinot Noir plantings (dating back to 1968), the Visión brings big floral, cherry, earth and cola aromas, with secondary spice and subtle hints of mushroom in there as well. A juicy, light-plus-bodied Pinot Noir, the cherry, toffee, spice and earthy notes work well together, offering complexity and delicacy while retaining a core of ripe red fruit. Try with smoked salmon, portobello mushroom burgers or pork tenderloin. Obtained at The Winehouse. 90/100

DELAS 2010 SAINT-ESPRIT CîTES-DU-RHîNE

(C¥tes-du-Rh¥ne, France -- $17.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Ripe raspberry and strawberry aromas are pretty and pure on the nose, with cherry juice, spice and a hint of vanilla in there as well. This medium-plus bodied Rh¥ne Valley red blend is somewhat restrained in the fruit department on the palate, with modest cherry, cranberry and blueberry notes duking it out with pepper and black tea notes from medium tannin. This could use a skirt steak, chili or some big meat dish. 87/100

uncorked@mts.net Twitter: @bensigurdson

Sommelier

101

Whether you're doing a extensive blind tasting with wine geeks or are just having fun trying out new wines with friends, there are a few key descriptors that apply to most examples of popular grape varieties. Here are some key aromatic/flavour components to look for, as well as some suggested food pairings in case you want to make a dinner party out of the whole thing.

White wine

CHARDONNAY

Dry, medium/full-bodied, red apple, peach, vanilla (oaked),

Food pairing: chicken dishes, salmon, lobster

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Dry, light-bodied, citrus (grapefruit, lime), grassy, herbal

Food pairing: light salads, grilled seafood, mild cheeses, Greek cuisine

RIESLING

Dry to off-dry to medium-sweet, lemon, red apple floral, petrol

Food pairing: sushi, ham/pork dishes, American Chinese cuisine

GEWúRZTRAMINER

Dry to off-dry, apricot, tangerine, spice

Food pairing: Thai cuisine, mild to medium-spicy Indian fare, wings

Red wine

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Dry, full-bodied, blackcurrant, mint, anise, eucalyptus

Food pairing: beef dishes, ribs, steak

MERLOT

Dry, medium/full-bodied, plum, blueberry, cocoa,

Food pairing: casseroles, burgers, pasta in a red sauce

SYRAH/SHIRAZ

Dry, full-bodied, ripe cherry, black pepper, licorice, spice

Food pairing: lamb, spicier Mexican/Latin American fare, pizza

PINOT NOIR

dry, light-bodied, cherry, mushroom, earth, raspberry

Food pairing: salmon, mushroom risotto, pork tenderloin

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 9, 2013 E4