Body is the impression of a wines weight, density, or its ‘mouth-feel’. Some wines feel weighty, or full bodied, while others feel light bodied. Wine runs the gamut from light to full, with most falling somewhere in between.
TANNIN
Low
Subtle
Balanced
Pronounced
High
Tannin can range greatly in wine, but it is necessary to some degree, and a necessary constituent for red wines to age well. In high amounts, it can cause a drying affect, which is sensed mostly on the gums and tongue. Tannin is a natural preservative extracted from grape skins, otherwise known as polyphenols that are micronutrients and antioxidants with potential health benefits.
ACIDITY
Soft
Subtle
Balanced
Pronounced
High
Acidity is a foundational component in wine. In fact, low acidity, or ‘flabby’ wine (as the term suggests) is a negative. You can sense acidity mainly on the sides of your tongue. Acidity generally ranges from balanced to high. Crisp acidity adds freshness, making your mouth water. Acidity is a necessary element and helps to balance other components.
SWEETNESS
Dry
Off Dry
Medium Dry
Medium Sweet
Very Sweet
Most wines are characterized as dry to off-dry, but there are some grape varietals, like Riesling, that run the gamut from dry to sweet. The tip of the tongue mainly detects sweetness, which is why it is often the primary characteristic detected. Sweetness is derived from residual sugar that did not ferment into alcohol.
ALCOHOL
13%
Alcohol is the by-product of fermentation. Differing grape varieties have differing potential alcohol levels, but regardless warmer areas result in riper grapes resulting in higher alcohol. Alcohol level is an objective number, but its affect on its palate impression is largely determined with how well integrated and balanced it is with other components.
Light & Bright, with a Piedmontese personality. Uncommon.
GRAPE VARIETAL(S)
Grignolino
100%Gree-nyo-LEE-no
Grignolino is an ancient grape varietal from Monferrato in Piedmont, Italy that makes a complex, very pale red wine with crisp acidity and generally low in alcohol. It is a Light & Bright wine with a distinctive northern Italian character!
Langhe native Giacomo Stupino used his knowledge as a surveyor to selectively purchase favorable vineyards in Barbaresco, eventually outgrowing his modest family cellar and expanding to the historic Castello di Neive in 1964, a castle and property dating back to the 12th century.
Today, the family-run estate continues to produce classic Barbaresco—structured yet expressive nebbiolo wines with rich floral aromatics and complex flavors of red fruits, savory spices, and dried herbs.
In addition to its range of Barbaresco bottlings, Castello di Neive also produces wine from less-heralded grapes like grignolino, a light-bodied, bright expression of this little-known varietal that is distinctly Piedmontese.
Cranberry
Rose
Black Pepper
