"Brambly" is definitely one of my favorite descriptors, particularly since the Pinot Noir from the Oregon, in particular the Ribbon Ridge AVA often has that characteristic. The way I think about "brambly" is sticking your head in a blackberry bush. If you did that, you would smell both the fruit of the bush, but also the greenery. On the palate, I think of a brambly wine as a little bit astringent with an herbal quality to it. A sort of "green" flavor, but (hopefully) in a good way.
I think the brambly quality can often come from the stems in whole-cluster fermented wines.
Like any quality, brambliness (bramblocity?) can add to complexity, but if it overwhelms other qualities, can be a problem.
Hope that helps...
Daniel
-- Daniel R Somerfield CHEHALEM http://www.chehalemwines.com Winery: (503) 538-4700 Downtown Tasting Room: (503) 538-9396
Originally posted by daniel@chehalem: "Brambly" is definitely one of my favorite descriptors, particularly since the Pinot Noir from the Oregon, in particular the Ribbon Ridge AVA often has that characteristic. The way I think about "brambly" is sticking your head in a blackberry bush. If you did that, you would smell both the fruit of the bush, but also the greenery. On the palate, I think of a brambly wine as a little bit astringent with an herbal quality to it. A sort of "green" flavor, but (hopefully) in a good way.
I think the brambly quality can often come from the stems in whole-cluster fermented wines.
Like any quality, brambliness (bramblocity?) can add to complexity, but if it overwhelms other qualities, can be a problem.
Hope that helps...
Daniel
Daniel-
PLEASE SHIP MORE OF YOUR WINES TO UTAH! PLEASE!
We have the 3 Vineyards PN and INOX on the shelves, but nothing else. HELP!
"It's easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stockmarket beat, but the man worth-while, is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat." -Judge Smails
Posts: 1039 | Location: Utah | Registered: Jan 15, 2008
Actually, I haven't seen the term used much in recent years, but it used to be a very common descriptor of big, fruity Zinfandel, and it made sense to me.
Doug Collins Hermosa Beach, California
Posts: 361 | Location: Hermosa Beach, California | Registered: Oct 19, 2007
