Aromas and bouquet are important to wine because they play a role in how our taste buds perceive the taste. Fruity smells are usually predominant, but there are some odd wine aromas you will come across in your wine tasting journey.
1. Raw Meat
Many people consider the raw meat smell desirable because it's often found in powerful red wines. Red Bordeaux is a type of wine that has this aroma. It's a blending of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The exact proportions vary based on brand.
2. Gasoline
High-quality German Rieslings have a gasoline aroma. Unlike most white wine, Riesling ages well; it can last in a bottle for hundreds of years. TDN, a chemical compound in this wine, is responsible for the gas aroma. High levels of TDN and acidity let Riesling improve with age, which is why the gasoline bouquet is desirable in this wine.
3. Cat Urine
When you open a bottle of high-quality Sauvignon Blanc, you may notice a cat urine aroma. Sauvignon Blanc is a popular white wine in the US with a refreshing, crisp taste.
4. Wet Dirt
Wet dirt or a forest floor aroma is common among mature, full-bodied red wines. Although this earthy smell is highly desirable in aged red wines, it's a fault if you smell it in Sauternes wines. The reason it's a fault in Sauternes is the scent results from the grapes being infected by Botrytis fungus.
5. Cigars
An aroma of cigars can be found in Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Nebbiolo and Brunello wines. The tobacco aroma can come from the type of grape or the oak barrel used in making the wine.
6. Fake Butter
Sometimes called a popcorn smell, the fake butter aroma can be a sign of a full-bodied wine. It results from excess diacetyl.
7. Biscuit
Due to contact with oak, some wines have a biscuit aroma. Oak-aged Chardonnays often have this scent in their bouquet.
8. Eucalyptus
This mint-like aroma isn't one you would expect to smell in a wine. You will notice it in some wines from Australia. The eucalyptus aroma comes from eucalyptus trees that surround Australian vineyards. Some Californian Zinfandels also have this minty aroma.
9. Flint
Flint is a type of sedimentary rock that was historically used as a building material and can be found on pebble beaches. It can be detected in white wines and dry reds.
10. Roses
You can find rose aromas in both red and white wines. Barolo, Barbaresco and Pinot Noir are examples of wines that can have a rose smell.
