What’s the difference between aroma and bouquet in wine? How does "bright acidity" taste? Why does Pinot Noir from different regions in California taste dramatically different?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Kerith Overstreet, the winemaker at Bruliam Wines in Sonoma, California and a former medical doctor.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Giveaway

One listener in the U.S. will win a bottle of Bruliam's gorgeous Pinot Noir.

How to Win

To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and tell me that you’d like to win the bottle. I’ll select the winner randomly from those who participate.

Good luck!

Highlights

How do different areas in Sonoma and Monterey counties express themselves in Bruliam Pinot Noir?

Which decisions can winemakers make to influence how a Pinot Noir ends up?

Where is the Petaluma Gap AVA and how does the climate impact grapes?

What does bright acidity mean for your tasting experience?

How does the topography of the Mayacamas Mountain Range impact the weather pattern in surrounding grape-growing regions?

Why is oxygenation desirable but oxidation to be avoided when it comes to winemaking?

What’s the difference between aromas and bouquet in wine?

How does Kerith use humour to bring a human element to her wine writing?

Which embarrassing encounter led to Kerith’s sourcing her dream Santa Lucia Highlands fruit?

What characteristics does Kerith look for when tasting wines?

What’s the tasting experience like with 2019 Torrey Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir?

Which foods should you try with your next glass of Pinot Noir?

How would you describe tasting 2018 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir?

What’s Kerith’s favourite childhood scent memory?

Which childhood favourite would Kerith pair with Champagne as an adult?

What are Kerith’s favourite wine book and wine gadget?

Which wine world celebrities would Kerith love to share a glass of wine with?

Key Takeaways

Kerith’s distinction of the differences between aroma and bouquet in wine was helpful, especially that bouquet is anything beyond the grape varietal character.

I liked her definition of how "bright acidity" tastes.

She gave us a great overview of how and why Pinot Noir from different regions in California taste dramatically different.

Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live

Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video.

I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?

Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621

About Kerith Overstreet

Kerith Overstreet is the winemaker at Bruliam Wines. When she was small, her dad used to say, “You can be whatever you want after medical school.” So she did. After completing medical school (U. of Rochester), residency, and two fellowships (UCSD), she thought winemaking sounded more fun.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/195.