Guide to Tasting Bordeaux Red Wines: Decanter Methodologies Presented by Georgie Hindle DipWSET
Understanding the tasting methodologies used by Georgie Hindle DipWSET, one of the leading experts on Bordeaux red wines and a correspondent for Decanter, is crucial for Italian producers aiming to grasp the evaluation process of the American publication and, perhaps, are considering strategies for entering the French wine market. Hindle, with her extensive experience in the wine industry, guided participants of the wine2wine Business Forum through a tasting session, highlighting the essential criteria for assessing the quality of wines from this renowned French wine region.
The Decanter Tasting Process
Georgie Hindle DipWSET led an in-depth discussion on the tasting and evaluation process for Bordeaux red wines, offering an overview of the unique characteristics of right bank wines and the attributes that signify excellence. To illustrate these concepts, a blind tasting of three Bordeaux red wines was conducted, focusing on technical parameters such as aromas, acidity, tannins, balance, persistence, and aging potential.
Hindle explained how to translate these evaluations into scores, emphasizing the importance of factors like vintage, terroir, and production context. These elements, along with the specific styles of the wines, significantly influence their perceived value. A crucial point highlighted in the seminar was the role of price as a determining factor in the overall assessment.
The Impact of Wine Evaluation on Different Markets
Being able to taste with a technical approach is essential, since it allows for an objective description of the wine and determining whether it is flawed, correct, good, very good, or exceptional, without subjective influences. However, wine evaluation is not an exact science. It is important to understand the standards of evaluation and recognize that markets can vary significantly in their perception and the importance they place on wine scores.
Some markets, such as the United States, prioritize high-scoring wines as indicators of high quality. In these markets, a score below 90 can negatively impact sales. Conversely, in markets like Europe, consumers may place greater importance on factors such as tradition and the specific characteristics of the wine, rather than solely relying on scores. In these contexts, a wine with a score of 80/100 can still be appreciated if it meets local tastes and enjoys a good reputation.
Georgie Hindle DipWSET
Georgie Hindle DipWSET studied multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University and in 2009 she was accepted onto the IPC Media undergraduate program in London. In 2011 Hindle began working for Decanter as Deputy Online Editor. She has developed expertise in the wine industry, traveling frequently to the Bordeaux region and obtaining the WSET Diploma. In 2019 she became Regional Editor for France and in 2020 she became Premium Editor, a role in which she oversees fine wine content and manages the online subscription strategy. Having moved to France in 2021, she became Bordeaux correspondent for Decanter. In 2022 she was a judge on the Bordeaux panel at Decanter's World Wine Awards and co-led two Bordeaux masterclasses at Decanter's New York Fine Wine Encounter.