I see this word used in tasting notes. Every time I see it, I have to look up again what it means. Then after looking it up, I still don’t really get it. How is it correctly used in a wine tasting note; i.e. what is it describing?
Thanks.
2 Likes
following, enquiring minds want to know!
There is an old thread on this topic. It looks they mostly means juicy feeling that comes from combination of youthful fruit and acidity. It also seems used more by Burg drinkers so I suspect one of the Burg critics frequently use this description which propagated to a certain group of wine drinkers, but I’m not very sure about that.
https://www.wineberserkers.com/t/what-does-the-term-sap-or-sappy-mean-to-you/33425
My bad, sapid and sappy are two different things I guess? Haven’t see much “sapid” in tasting notes before.
As examples, some random, unattributed uses of the word in wine tasting notes from a quick google search online. . .
“The Hermitage Blanc 2014 is pristine now, displaying a sapid and textural development”
“ Morello cherry, tobacco leaf and dried herbs mark the nose. On the palate, the wine is sapid and fresh”
“ On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and sapid, with melting tannins and a long, sapid, perfumed finish.
“ So: sweet-sapid — and the acid is a melty, briny blast mingled among quince skin chew. A brulée, poached tarte tatin thing too.”
“
I see. Google search gives me a bunch of different answers as to what it means. Some argues savoriness and another says it’s minerality. Decanter article mentions Italian people often use it to mean salinity, which might be adjacent to minerality to some extent. ChatGPT says it’s high aromatic intensity fwiw.
So, I suspect there’s no consensus on this at all. It’s not uncommon a wine descriptor means different things for different people, but this variation is a little wild.
2 Likes
Using AI…
From Claude:
Sapid and sapidity come from the Latin “sapidus” meaning “tasty” or “having flavor.” In general usage, sapid means having a strong, pleasant taste or flavor.
In wine tasting and evaluation, sapidity refers to a pleasing freshness, minerality, and savory quality that makes a wine mouthwatering and creates a desire for another sip. It’s often associated with a slight saltiness or mineral character that enhances the wine’s overall taste profile.
A sapid wine typically has:
- Good acidity that creates a mouthwatering sensation
- Mineral notes that add complexity and depth
- A savory quality that makes the wine particularly food-friendly
- A clean, refreshing finish that invites another taste
You might see sapidity referenced in wine reviews like: “This Verdicchio shows excellent sapidity, with mineral notes and a mouthwatering finish,” or “The wine’s sapid character makes it an excellent companion for seafood.”
The term is particularly common when discussing Italian wines, where “sapido” is frequently used to describe wines with these characteristics. It’s especially applied to white wines from regions with mineral-rich soils or coastal areas, though it can apply to reds as well.
From ChatGPT:
Sapid refers to something that is flavorful or has a pleasant taste. It often implies richness and complexity in flavor. Sapidity is the noun form, describing the quality of being sapid—essentially, how flavorful or palatable something is.
Context in Wine:
In the world of wine, sapid and sapidity are used to describe a wine’s flavor profile, particularly its savory, mineral, or salty qualities. These terms often highlight how a wine engages the palate in ways that go beyond sweetness or fruitiness, emphasizing its depth, complexity, and balance.
For example:
• A wine with good sapidity might have mineral notes, a saline finish, or a clean, vibrant character that makes it particularly appealing and food-friendly.
• Sapidity is often associated with wines from regions with mineral-rich soils or coastal vineyards, as the terroir can influence the wine’s saline or savory qualities.
Usage Example:
• “This Sancerre has a remarkable sapidity, with crisp acidity and flinty mineral notes that linger on the palate.”
• “The sapid character of this white Burgundy makes it an excellent pairing for seafood.”
Essentially, sapidity adds to a wine’s intrigue and its ability to pair harmoniously with food.
2 Likes
Open a Bedrock Evangelho Heritage wine. That’s it!
Not to confuse myself even more, David, but are you thinking of “sappy” or ‘sapid” with the wine that you mention. I don’t think that they are synonymous. If you do mean “sapid”, could you tell me more about the tasting impressions that are behind your use of the word.
Thanks.
Boldly calling on @William_Kelley , to tell us the meaning he has for the word. I have occasionally seen him use the word including in one of the examples that I provided above.
“On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, fleshy and sapid, with melting tannins and a long, sapid, perfumed finish”
from CellarTracker Tasting note, 3/25/23
2011 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan Reserve
I have historically been loose with my wording, and so have oftentimes used sappy where sapid was probably more appropriate. Not sure how to translate it to other words, but when I drink an Evangelho wine there is often (especially with Bedrock, D&R/Yeah!, and Desire Lines) an extra gear to the depth of flavor in the mid-palate. It’s not heavy, but there’s just more there there.
1 Like
For me, the meaning is of savoriness and flavorfulness. As opposed to sweet/sour/salty tastes.
3 Likes
Savory is something that always comes to mind when I am drinking Mourvedre or Carignan from the Evangelho vineyard.
Thanks very much. 