1. Chapter 10 Flavor Intensity – From Weak to Powerful!
Flavor Persistency – More Bang for Your Buck!

2. Chapter 10 Outline
Aperitif: Release Weekend Wine and Food Menu – On the Twenty Restaurant
Flavor Intensity in Wine and Food
Identifying Flavor Types in Wine and Food
Food Flavor Categories
Wine Flavor Categories
Assessing Flavor Intensity
The Interaction of Wine and Food Flavor Intensity
Assessing Flavor Persistency
The Interaction of Wine and Food Flavor Persistency

3. Chapter 10 Key Concepts Retro-nasal flavors
In-mouth flavor evaluation process
Umami
Flavor intensity levels
Wine Length, Finish, and Aftertaste

4. Prominent Flavor Categories
The major flavor categories are: fruity, nutty, smoky, herbal, spicy, cheesy, earthy, and meaty.
The food and wine flavor categories used in the evaluation system include:
dominant flavor(s),
flavor intensity,
flavor persistency,
and spicy flavors.

5. Contextual Considerations Prior to and During Flavor Assessment
The measuring instrument (the human element) is a sensitive device which is somewhat unreliable due to a variety of issues:
psychological factors,
physiological factors,
individual differences,
and other factors.
Another complication is that food and beverage factors are unstable and can be impacted by changes in temperature and exposure to the external environment.

6. In-Mouth Smells or Retro-Nasal Process
Determining flavor type and intensity is based on aroma perception and the connection between oral and nasal cavities once the food or wine is in the mouth.
Perceiving flavor type and intensity requires concentration, focus and experience.

7. The Suggested Process For Assessing In-Mouth Flavors
Take a small amount of the food or wine into the mouth and retain it in the back of the throat for several seconds or up to 1 minute.
The chewing process (for both food and wine) can be helpful to open the nasal cavity and to release flavor compounds.
Breathe normally during this time;
Then exhale through the nose with your lips closed.
Try to identify the specific flavors, the dominant one and its intensity. Repeat steps a through d if necessary.

8. What about the Umami taste-flavor?
Umami is described ‘deliciousness’ derived from a variety of sources: soy products, mushrooms, MSG, meat glazes, and tomatoes.
Not a main factor in wine and food matching. It makes most food more wine friendly – unless containing excessive salt or spice.
Highly intense umami flavor will overshadow light whites, but lighter umami flavored dishes work well with all types of white wines.

9. Wines that are Likely to Have Particular Flavors
Fruity:
Whites: Gewürztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Grigio
Reds: Barbera, Beaujolais, Dolcetto
Nutty:
Whites: Fino Sherry, Amontillado Sherry
Smoky:
Whites: Aged Burgundy, Oaky Chardonnay
Reds: Aged Barolo and Barbaresco
Herbal:
Whites: Fumé Blanc, Pouilly-Fumé, Sancere
Reds: Bordeaux (young), Cabernet Franc (Ontario), Some Meritage reds

10. Wines that are Likely to Have Particular Flavors Continued
Buttery:
Whites: Many oaky New World Chardonnay
Reds: Perceptible in some reds that have undergone malo-lactic fermentation
Floral:
Whites: Moscato d’Ast, Muscat, Some Gewürztraminer
Earthy:
Whites: French whites in general, aged Burgundy
Reds: Aged Bordeaux, Aged Burgundy, Some Pinot Noir

11. The Impact of Flavor Type Matching on the Pairing Process
Flavor type matching builds on the positive assessment of components or texture in the wine and food item.
The end goal of flavor type matching is to create a synergistic match between a particular wine and food item.
If the correct flavor type(s) in a wine and food item are paired together, then a synergistic match could be made. Therefore, it is quite important to carefully analyze and identify prominent flavor type(s) in both wine and food.

12. Flavor Intensity Levels in Food and Wine
Non-detectable (no flavor):
Rating intensity is 0 -2.
Sensation is not detectable or if this sensation fades almost immediately. No perception or barely perceptible levels.
Little perception (weak flavor):
Rating intensity is 2-4.
Sensation in which we succeed in identifying or perceiving it in a recognizable way, but, the stimulus is not well-defined. The level of perception is still low.
Sufficiently perceived (moderately strong):
Rating intensity is 4-6.
Sensation in which we succeed in identifying and perceiving it at a sufficient level. Perception is at an intermediate level.

13. Flavor Intensity in Food and Wine Continued
Abundantly Perceived (strong):
Rating intensity is 6-8.
Sensation in which we can clearly identify and perceive in a much defined way. The taste-smell sensation is at an emphasized level.
Highly perceived (powerful):
Rating intensity is 8-10.
Sensation that can be unmistakably identified with much emphasis. High perceptibility with a lot of emphasis.

14. The Relationship between Wine and Food Flavor Intensity
A correct pairing of a wine and food dish, a pairing that compliments each other’s intensity.
Should achieve its end goal by creating a synergistic match as opposed to a good or neutral one.

15. Persistency In Food
Sensory analysts use the concept of the time-intensity curve to tie intensity and persistency together in food products.
The typical time-intensity curve includes:
assessing maximum intensity,
time to maximum,
total duration,
maximum rates of onset and decay,
lag time, plateau time, and areas before and after maximum intensity.
Persistency in food is part of an overall assessment of intensity, duration, and aftertaste.
Persistency in food flavor is more closely related to the intensity of ingredients included in the finished dish.

16. What is Indicated by The Length of Persistency in Wine Flavor?
Persistency in wine is an important indicator of quality.
The finish should be sufficiently long with pleasant flavors lingering in your mouth/nasal cavity.
A low quality wine may only have a finish of 3-5 seconds.
A high quality wine may have a finish of 15, 25 or more seconds.

17. The Relationship between Wine and Food Persistency
If the wine and food selections enhance each other, then an appropriate lingering of these flavors should provide the taster with a longer period of sensory stimulation.
A lengthy and enjoyable marriage provides a bigger bang for your buck and greater gastronomic satisfaction.
In this instance, the food and wine will neither overpower nor under whelm each other.

18. Persistency Measurement in Wine/Food
Take a good-sized sip of wine or small taste of food.
If a liquid - roll the liquid around your gums, cheeks and the roof of your mouth for 2-3 seconds.
If a solid – chew the food to release the flavors and to cover all of the mouth surfaces.
Ensure complete contact with taste receptors.
Then swallow (or spit) and don’t talk – talking closes the nasal cavity
Keep your mouth closed and force the air out through your nose.
Count the number of seconds that the wine or food flavors persistent.
Finish in wine can last up to a minute in some cases.

19. Chapter 10 Lagniappe “Something extra”
Comparative Intensity Ratings

20. Flavor Intensity
Intensity varies substantially across wines even within the same varietals.
The following charts provide some general ranges for typical white, red and specialty wines.
Caution should be taken when trying to generalize from these approximations.

21. Relative Flavor Intensity Typical in White Wines*
None Weak Moderate Intense Powerful
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Gewürztraminer
Pinot Gris
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Trebbiano
Chablis Burgundy California Australia
Loire
New World Alsace
Veneto Alsace
Mosel New World Rheingau
Loire Bordeaux New Zealand
Bordeaux Australia
Soave Orvieto
*Adapted from Jackson, R.S. (2000) Wine Science. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, p. 602.

22. Relative Flavor Intensity Typical in Red Wines*
None Weak Moderate Intense Powerful
Barbera
Cab. Sauvignon
Corvina
Gamay Noir
Merlot
Nebbiolo
Pinot Noir
Sangiovese
Syrah/Shiraz
Tempranillo
Zinfandel
Piedmont
Bordeaux New World
Valpolicella Amarone
Beaujolais
Bordeaux New World
Barbaresco Barolo
Burgundy Oregon
Chianti Brunello
Cote de Rhone Australia
Rioja
‘Blush’ California Red
*Adapted from Jackson, R.S. (2000) Wine Science. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, p. 602.

23. Relative Flavor Intensity Typical in Specialty Wines*
None Weak Moderate Intense Powerful
Sparkling
Sherries
Ports
Vinho Verde Cava Champagne Vintage Champagne
Manzanilla Fino Pale Cream Amontillado Dark Cream
White Tawny Ruby Vintage
*Adapted from Jackson, R.S. (2000) Wine Science. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, p. 602.

24. Additional Reading
Jackson, R.S. (2000). Wine Science. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Charley, H. & Weaver, C. (1998). Foods: A Scientific Approach, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.