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Wine Spectator Online    Wine Spectator Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  Learn Wine    Viscous taste, no RS
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How can a wine with moderate to low alcohol, no RS, taste high in glycerol?
 
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jan 28, 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Glycerol only imparts a slight sweetness to the wine. While the wording of your question is rather economical, I suppose you are refering to something else than that sweetness? It is generally ascribed a lot of properties, but viscosity is only affected byt it very little.
 
Posts: 1461 | Location: Sydney, NSW, Oz | Registered: Jun 03, 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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You are correct. Looking for why a collection of wines, from the same winery in Alexander Valley, many different varietals, all taste very viscous.
Thank you so much for your responding. I've been looking for some time.
 
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jan 28, 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Are you talking about white wine in particular? I had a very interesting tasting of 05 Chardonnays over the weekend. Half the samples had not gone through ML while the other half had fully completed the secondary fermentation. Both sectors were dry (>2% RS) but the ML portions were as thick as Sauternes at this stage. My best guess so far is that the wines you are talking about have gone through ML, hence the increased viscosity. The lactic acid (same as in milk) is much heavier and can give you the impression you are describing.
 
Posts: 2109 | Location: Pacific City, OR | Registered: Oct 26, 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Interesting information on the effect of glycerol on viscousity here and here.

PH
 
Posts: 9245 | Location: Maryland, USA (DC suburbs) | Registered: Nov 22, 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Great links PH. It would be a very tough task to argue with Waterhouse or Noble in this area.
 
Posts: 2109 | Location: Pacific City, OR | Registered: Oct 26, 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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