Does The Color of a Wine Have a Huge Impact on Quality or Age?

Does The Color of a Wine Have a Huge Impact on Quality or Age? – Episode #290

August 9, 2007

A fantastic website I often visit did an interesting article on the color of wine that has gotten a lot of attention on the web so I am here to address it!

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Comments on this episode(182) Leave a comment ›

“Great episode. I love it when you say, “This smells like a 3-year-old…” by Phredd
“One heck of an educationa on colors….but brownish tint means the win…” by Adrian aka AnGkEr
View all 182 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Domaine Barat Chablis FourneauxChablis
2004 Cascina Morassino Langhe NebbioloNebbiolo d’Alba
2005 Clayhouse Syrah Paso RoblesOther California Syrah/Shiraz
1981 Lopez De Heredia Bosconia Gran ReservaRioja
1996 Clarendon Hills SyrahAustralian Shiraz/Syrah

Links mentioned in todays episode.

182 Responses

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August 10, 2007

Caesar D
Hey GV,

Your episode on color was good…but I would argue that it contained some serious flaws. When comparing the color of wines as it pertains to age, you have to compare the same grape type form the same producer (ie: a Vertical tasting of the same wine). In this case, you can see how age affects the color of the wine over time. Comparing color on the 2004 Nebbiolo vs. 81 Rioja was a big boo-boo. Your best comparison, which DID show how color can indicate a wines age is the the 1975 vs. 2005 Chablis.

Love the Clarendon…
CDF
August 10, 2007

B. Napa
Great new wine film.

check it out.

http://www.virb.com/donandsonsfilms/videos/20806
August 10, 2007

luvgrapesqeezings
Thanks again for making another interesting show! I agree that color doesn’t indicate the quality of a wine. However, as you pointed suggested color can give someone clues to a specific wine’s stage of development.

QOTD: Off the cuff, I typically say blue, but honestly, it’s a difficult question for me to answer because so many colors can bring or reflect so many different things to people. For instance, how many of us have been awestruck by the natural beauty of a sunset, or by the different shades of green and blue the ocean shows, or have been moved by an Impressionist painter’s use of color to express emotion etc…?
August 10, 2007

Deano
Gary great show it was a learning experience which is sweet.

QOTD:
-Green!!!!
August 10, 2007

StaceyS
My favorite color is every shade of blue.
August 10, 2007

Patrick C
Gary,

In regards to color, you forgot to mention/discuss the variances in color depth as pertaining to the meniscus. Within the miniscus you will see and be able to identify whether a wine is young or more aged. This is very important to look at when comparing and assesing a wines age.

Cheers!
August 10, 2007

StaceyS
Thanks talksnmaths…I appreciate it!
August 10, 2007

talksnmaths
StaceyS – I’m taking a stab at this, but I think it’s the “Riedel Sommeliers Burgundy Grand Cru” (Item No. 4400/16). http://www.riedel.com
August 10, 2007

Sassodoro
I always check out the color of the wines at home, but in most restaurants I can’t even read the menu without a flashlight.

QOTD: the green of my wife’s eyes and the tortoiseshell of my cat’s fur.
August 10, 2007

Jeff
What a great intro! Nice job, Josh.

QOTD: Mine’s green too! (Or blue.)
August 10, 2007

StaceyS
I love the big-a$$ glass…what type and brand is it?
August 10, 2007

Medo
Very nice show Gary! I had an 1995 E & E Black Pepper Shiraz some time ago and it was absolutely amazing!

QOTD: blue!
August 10, 2007

phermented1
Another great show. I always use color to help determine the wines age but it has to be used in conjunction with the nose, palate, and finish. You can not go by color alone (as you have proved).
QOTD: Blue
August 10, 2007

wmole
Wow Jen, thanks for the c/note vid yesterday, I blushed. Love canyon club, are you there each thurs?
August 10, 2007

Gabriel
Gary, you need to work on your pronuciation man! Morsianino??? It clearly says Morassino on the label. Usually you do the Italian wines OK but the french needs a whole lot of work.

Love what you are doing though! Keep it up!
August 10, 2007

vibemore
Blue.
August 10, 2007

Brendan McGuigan
Great episode, Gary. Not an issue I think has too much bearing on how I interact with wine, quite frankly, as I think there are too many factors that come into play to make just sweeping statements â€“ but still an interesting view, and a good way of addressing this meme.

QOTD: Depends so much on context… but the verdant green of the hillside in County Waterford or in Anderson Valley really does it for me. Otherwise, that amazing metal-grey the Pacific Ocean gets right before a storm.
August 10, 2007

Steve-o
Gary, I am officially in love with your new outro: “Whether you like it or not”. It totally sums up the youthful irreverence that makes what you do so great.

QOTD: black…it’s not that I’m emo, or that it “expresses my soul”…I just think things look good in black. Gadgets, cars, thongs…you know that i mean.
August 10, 2007

Panoca
Gary, you know i’m an old fan. This episode, for some reason, brought me a lot of joy. SPECTACULAR EPISODE!
Congrats Gary, you are consistent as a good vintage port.
QOTD: Blue!!
August 10, 2007

Does The Color of a Wine Have a Huge Impact on Quality or Age … | Wine News
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August 10, 2007

OldVinesJim
Most of the time, the color won’t tell you much, but older red wines do get orange at the edges and you rarely see that in a young red.

QOTD: Blue
August 10, 2007

Nico
Cool show today, Gary!

QOTD: RED RED RED RED RED
August 10, 2007

Mudd
Great info. Thanks Gary.

QOTD: Dark Green.
August 10, 2007

TheThriller
Dirty diapers? Baby craping jalapenos? I love it!!! I’ve never read that in Wine Spectator.

QOTD: Blue
August 10, 2007

Capt M
Clearly, the winners here are the Nebbiolo and the Clarendon Hills. I liked when you described the concept of “stinkers”. I appreciate that in wine, and in other instances in life. Very good show!