Let's grind some gnat shit ... what do you mean when you use the word "Linear" in a tasting note?

[Karl_K]

@Doug Schulman

There have been a couple of previous threads on this. What I’ve come to realize is that many people have made up their own definition, and there isn’t one that’s generally accepted. For some people it’s positive, for some it’s negative, for some it’s neither. So, there’s clearly no value to anyone else who reads a note with that word in it. I’ve stopped using it entirely in favor of describing what I would have meant (my own made up definition) with other words.

I would use it more in the way of C. Mc Cart, as something positive rather than negtive.

But Doug makes a good point, which I think can be ascribed to loads of wine descriptors - minerally, e.g. Then there are the ones which to me I don’t get, though I do hear: flat (used to describe a non-sparkling wine).

What words can we all agree on?

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

I don’t think we need to agree on meanings, necessarily; rather, it’s simply nice to know with which words one, perhaps, shouldn’t be making an assumption as to its meaning.

The array of responses thus far is certainly interesting — I had no idea they would be this varied!

[Ken_V]

@A. So

@Ken V

Has the form ax+b.

So elementary school.

A wine W is linear over a field F if, for a and b in F, and c scalar, W(ca + b) = cW(a) + W(b).

I was being audience appropriate.

[Ken_V]

After reading this thread, I searched my TN and found I’ve never used the word “linear”. Now I’m glad of it.

[Jeff_Leve]

Copied from my favorite website “Linear wines offer flavors that remain on the same path and do not change. For example, in the mouth, a dark fruited wine will not change in flavor to red berries.”

[Markus_S]

@Doug Schulman

… What I’ve come to realize is that many people have made up their own definition, and there isn’t one that’s generally accepted. For some people it’s positive, for some it’s negative, for some it’s neither. So, there’s clearly no value to anyone else who reads a note with that word in it. …

“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’ (Lewis Carroll)

[Ian_Sutton]

Wonderfully apt quote Markus

[Doug_Hein]

From this discussion, I have gathered that “linear” is quite simply a poor descriptor, due to it’s vagueness, ambiguity and ill-defined meaning to the wine community!

It seems to me to say what you mean with simple words that are commonly understood by anyone: long legs, musky, stemmy, cat’s pee, wet asphalt, geranium, flabby, angular, nerve.

[Michael_Martin]

What’s the difference between linear and monolithic?

[Karl_K]

@Doug Hein

From this discussion, I have gathered that “linear” is quite simply a poor descriptor, due to it’s vagueness, ambiguity and ill-defined meaning to the wine community!

It seems to me to say what you mean with simple words that are commonly understood by anyone: long legs, musky, stemmy, cat’s pee, wet asphalt, geranium, flabby, angular, nerve.

Seems like angular could also, like linear, be held to have different interpretations.

[A_So]

@Ken V

@A. So

@Ken V

Has the form ax+b.

So elementary school.

A wine W is linear over a field F if, for a and b in F, and c scalar, W(ca + b) = cW(a) + W(b).

I was being audience appropriate.

Touché

[Michael_Martin]

@Doug Hein

From this discussion, I have gathered that “linear” is quite simply a poor descriptor, due to it’s vagueness, ambiguity and ill-defined meaning to the wine community!

It seems to me to say what you mean with simple words that are commonly understood by anyone: long legs, musky, stemmy, cat’s pee, wet asphalt, geranium, flabby, angular, nerve.

Legs though are one of more useless ways to describe a wine. How does a long leg wine taste?

[Doug_Hein]

@Karl K

@Doug Hein

From this discussion, I have gathered that “linear” is quite simply a poor descriptor, due to it’s vagueness, ambiguity and ill-defined meaning to the wine community!

It seems to me to say what you mean with simple words that are commonly understood by anyone: long legs, musky, stemmy, cat’s pee, wet asphalt, geranium, flabby, angular, nerve.

Seems like angular could also, like linear, be held to have different interpretations.

Agreed - I was being facetious. Most of us know what legs and flabby mean, but I’m note sure I’d be able to tell you what wet asphalt denotes, except that I saw it on a chart of wine terms!

My notes tend to be fairly straightforward to other wine drinkers. E.g.:

1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia

“Decanted for about 1.5 hours. Medium ruby with slight bricking. Very smooth and fresh with medium-light mouthfeel. Tannins fully resolved creating a polished, elegant wine. Primary cherry, strawberry and raspberry with citric (lemon-lime) undertones driving the wine. Tertiary flavors of leather, cedar, tobacco and a dusty finish. The wine was excellent on its own, but it absolutely POPPED when served with seared duck breast and a cherry-blueberry balsamic reduction sauce. It was a truly magnificent pairing! This was my first of six bottles in pristine condition. So glad I have more!”

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

I quite like that note, Doug! Are you on CT?

[Doug_Hein]

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

I quite like that note, Doug! Are you on CT?

Yes - lifebreath at CT. Sometimes my reviews are REALLY simple!

• 1995 Château d’Yquem - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (7/28/2016)
  Heavenly. (97 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m]

Cool. Thanks!

[Dave_McCloskey]

@Ian Sutton

Linear can be a modest swipe at a lack of complexity in an expensive wine, but potentially fine in a cheap wine.

I see other opinion though, illustrating the danger of using an ambiguous term.

That’s precisely how I’ve used “linear” in the past. Sometimes interchange it with “monochromatic”. Basically a one trick pony that lacks complexity.

[Peter_Kleban]

@Peter Petersen

Of course, Ken got it right!

I’d say “straightforward” is the best connotation and a far better descriptor. Not sure what else it could mean.
I do understand that can be used as a synonym for focused but then “polar” would work far better to describe the meaning.

Yes, I’m lining up to congratulate Ken on a fine post.

[john_stimson]

@Michael Martin

What’s the difference between linear and monolithic?

They are in the same category of meanings, but in my mind, monolithic has a “bigness” attached to it that linear doesn’t.

[Ken_V]

@Peter Kleban

@Peter Petersen

Of course, Ken got it right!

I’d say “straightforward” is the best connotation and a far better descriptor. Not sure what else it could mean.
I do understand that can be used as a synonym for focused but then “polar” would work far better to describe the meaning.

Yes, I’m lining up to congratulate Ken on a fine post.

That’s not just hyperbola?