Wine Anxiety?

Let’s face it: we have no shortage of choices when shopping for a bottle of wine.   Sometimes confronting all those bottles, with their little swirly scripts and, frequently, terms in a foreign language, might make your head hurt when all you want is to find a good bottle that’s going to remind you why you really love wine. Given the huge number of labels available in the US market, in a range of styles and at all levels of quality, it’s little wonder some of us might experience a little wine anxiety now and then.

Relax. Minimize stressing out in the wine aisle by getting to know how to read these labels and knowing what to look for on an old world wine label.

Julienas.  One of the ten Beaujolais crus.  As Beaujolais Nouveau has become increasingly popular with its young, vibrant fruit, the more serious side of Beaujolais has been lost.  Julienas represents that serious side in an earthy and fruity style.

Jadot.  Burgundy based wine negociant-grower.  If you are ever in a situation where you are unsure of what wine to pick and you see a bottle of Jadot, pick it.  They do not make a bad bottle of wine.  It is a label you can trust in a sometime confusing Burgundy market.

Krug.  The king of Champagne.  Expensive but enjoying a bottle of Krug should be on every wine drinkers “bucket list.”  There are many producers who try to piggy back off the name Krug but there is only one and you will know it by the price.

Kabinett.  German wine labeling term.  Refers to the lightest style of quality wine in Germany.  Germany is a northerly country so it values sugar levels and it rates its quality wines on potential alcohol (sugar content).  Kabinett is the lowest level of sugar and hence is rather low in alcohol.  Note that these German labelling terms do not indicate the level of sugar in the bottle but rather the in the grapes, so a Kabinett wine may very well be sweet or dry.

Latour.  A sometime confusing name.  Refers to both Bordeaux and Burgundy wines.  Chateau Latour is a very famous First Growth Bordeaux wine.  There is only one Chateau Latour but there are many other Bordeaux brands that use this name for other wines.  Do not get them mixed up.  Louis Latour is a Burgundy negociant.  You can rest assured that any bottle with Louis Latour on the label will be tasty.  There are also many other Latours in Burgundy.  These are the two most famous and well recognized Latours, so pay close attention to which Latour is in front of you before buying.