Minerality
Intermediate Tasting & SensoryDefinition
A controversial descriptor suggesting stone, chalk, or wet-rock flavors.
In Depth
Minerality is one of wine's most debated terms. Tasters associate it with flinty, chalky, or saline sensations, particularly in wines from limestone, slate, or volcanic soils. Scientists dispute whether soil minerals transfer to wine in perceivable quantities. Regardless of the mechanism, minerality remains a widely used and understood tasting term, especially for Chablis, Mosel Riesling, and Santorini Assyrtiko.
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Details
- Category
- Tasting & Sensory
- Difficulty
- Intermediate