Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ?

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Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/12/2008 5:01:26 PM

zitarell

Posts: 26
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline

I just happened upon this tasting note:

quote:

Nose: Very linear lime/citric nose with some mineral and a hint of gym locker room that, thankfully, blew off with time. Palate: Laser-like acidity, crisp and bone dry with some mineral hints on the finish. The finish is somewhat lengthy given the lean, angular nature of the wine. This wine screams shellfish and although not a very good wine still has some appealing attributes.

which happens to contain three terms that I see in occasional notes and really don't understand. Can some explain a wine with a "linear nose" and an "angular nature?" And while you're at it, talk to me about laser-like acidity.

Sometimes I feel like I need a Rosetta stone to understand these TNs.

Post #: 1

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/12/2008 5:18:06 PM

JohnNezlek

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Joined: 12/14/2006
From: Gloucester, Virginia
Status: offline

Dear Z,

I could not agree more. I suspect there is some type of competition out there. I have read "poop", "piss", and a host of terms that refer to objects that are not that tasty to me. You might find British wine writing a bit more platable. Fewer adjectives -- More sense.

John

(in reply to zitarell)

Post #: 2

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/12/2008 7:28:52 PM

Paul S

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Joined: 1/15/2008
From: Singapore
Status: offline

I've seen people used the terms in varied ways - when they are praising a wine, I think linear and laser-like refers to a seamless flow, or beam of flavour from start to finish. Another word I have seen used in this context is "focused". Otherwise, the other usage of the word linear seems to equate to "angular", or four-square, meaning very straight, simple, lacking interest.

Anyone else has any other ideas on how theses terms are used?

(in reply to JohnNezlek)

Post #: 3

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/12/2008 7:43:29 PM

rloomis

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Joined: 1/29/2007
From: San Diego, CA
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I sometimes use angular to refer to lack of integration and characteristics which tend to stick out rather than be in harmonious balance.
I might use linear to indicate a straightforward characteristic which lacks depth or complexity. Laser-like: something beyond angular or pronounced that really hits you hard.

I don't know who's TN that is or what wine he's talking about (although I'll guess either a lesser Chardonnay like a Macon, or for a second guess maybe a Loire Sauv Blanc: Sancerre or Sevre et Maine?)

I would interpret your example TN like this:

quote:

Nose: Very linear lime/citric nose with some mineral and a hint of gym locker room that, thankfully, blew off with time.

Very pronounced and straightforward lime like the juce from a plastic lazy-lime squeeze bottle as opposed to a nice blossomy, fresh off a tree kind of lime.

quote:

Palate: Laser-like acidity, crisp and bone dry with some mineral hints on the finish. The finish is somewhat lengthy given the lean, angular nature of the wine.

Man, that's some serious lime, yo! Acidic and dry -- so we're not talking sweet and fruity key lime; which brings us back to that plastic squeeze bottle kind of lime juice. But, the acid up front dissipates to allow a little mineral character to emerge at the finish -- which is somewhat lengthy considering this is not a particularly full bodied wine, nor well balanced and integrated.

quote:

This wine screams shellfish and although not a very good wine still has some appealing attributes.

If you have sweet and buttery flavors from your food, like shellfish, that would balance well with a cleansing, not too full bodied and overpowering wine -- you got a winner if you can get some of this stuff on the cheap.

How's that?

(in reply to JohnNezlek)

Post #: 4

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/12/2008 7:43:51 PM

gbm

Posts: 136
Joined: 3/12/2008
From: Connecticut
Status: online

I have to admit that I find "cat piss" to be very appropriate in most cases, especially when it comes from Serge.

(in reply to JohnNezlek)

Post #: 5

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/13/2008 1:13:49 AM

pjaines

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Joined: 5/26/2008
From: London
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I wonder if Serge has ever had a wine that had cat piss and condom smells in the same wine?

_____________________________

-- Paul

(in reply to gbm)

Post #: 6

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/13/2008 3:30:34 AM

Maestro

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Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: online

As you go through the wine experience (nose, attack, mid-palate, and finish) the sensory experiences change. Actually each phase (nose, palate, and finish) can consist of multiple mini-phases with different sensory experiences.

When there are no changes in a particular phase or between phases, many tend to use the word "linear" to explain that (I think "linear nose" is a bit hard to understand -- it should mean that the olfatory experience remains stable and predictable before you put the wine in your mouth). But a "linear wine" would be one with very smooth/predictable changes between nose, palate, and finish. A "linear palate" denotes a lack of perceptible transition between attack and mid-palate.

Angular, on the other hand, is usually a bad characteristic, and denotes elements that "stick out" in the sensory experience in an out-of-balance fashion. Usually the feeling described as "angular" is perceived in the transition between attack and mid-palate, when one element of taste just comes across as harsh and out of balance.

Laser-like is an adjective used to pinpoint that an element (usually the acidity or the fruit) is in perfect shape and definition in relation to other elements. Usually it is a positive comment, which indicates balance -- for example "laser-like acidity" means that the acidity is perfectly placed and not volatile.

Of course, these are semantics of a highly subjective usage of language, so you may discount the whole thing as BS -- but the sensory experiences exist (that is the magic of wine), and so we strive for words to describe them (with various degrees of success).

(in reply to pjaines)

Post #: 7

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/13/2008 9:27:34 AM

zitarell

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Joined: 7/1/2008
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Very interesting responses. As someone with a math background, it's funny to me that "linear" is generally a positive term while "angular" isn't. Go figure.

I definitely don't chalk terms like that up as BS. I just want to make sure I understand them, and while I have seen some good wine glossaries for the basic sensory experience, there are still terms that come up repeatedly in TNs that are a complete mystery to me.

But that's why this forum is so helpful for a relative beginner like me!

Oh, and by the way, this tasting note was for the 2004 Domaine des Baumard Savennières, which is indeed from the Loire (impressive, rloomis!) but is in fact a Chenin Blanc.

- Paul Z

(in reply to Maestro)

Post #: 8

RE: Linear + Angular + Laser-like = ? - 8/13/2008 10:06:27 AM

Maestro

Posts: 521
Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: zitarell

Very interesting responses. As someone with a math background, it's funny to me that "linear" is generally a positive term while "angular" isn't. Go figure.

While "angular" is almost always negative, "linear" is not necessarily positive either. It depends on the context. It is often used to describe something simple and not too exciting.

(in reply to zitarell)

Post #: 9