What is Minerality?
Descriptors like wet stone, chalk, or slate used to describe non-fruit characteristics in wine.
Understanding Minerality
Minerality is a somewhat controversial tasting term used to describe stony, earthy, or saline flavors in wine. Tasters describe minerality with terms like wet stone, chalk, flint, slate, or crushed rocks. While some link these flavors to vineyard soils, the science is debated—minerals in soil don't directly transfer to wine. Nonetheless, minerality is widely used to describe wines from specific terroirs and is associated with quality.
Why It Matters
Minerality is often associated with terroir expression and wine quality, particularly in white wines and wines from specific regions. Recognizing minerality helps identify wine origins and styles.
Examples
- 1Chablis is famous for its flinty, chalky minerality
- 2Mosel Riesling often shows slate-like mineral notes
- 3Sancerre has a distinctive stony character
Related Wine Terms
Quick Definition
"Descriptors like wet stone, chalk, or slate used to describe non-fruit characteristics in wine."
Explore More Wine Terms
Terroir
The complete natural environment in which a wine is produced, including soil, climate, and topography.
Tasting TermTannins
Natural compounds in wine that create a drying, astringent sensation in the mouth.
Tasting TermBouquet
The complex aromas that develop in wine through aging, as opposed to primary fruit aromas.
Tasting TermBody
The weight and fullness of wine in your mouth, described as light, medium, or full-bodied.
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