March 14, 2025 | minerality: fact, fiction, or a secret third option

Minerality: Fact, Fiction, Or a Secret Third Option

Wine can be a fickle friend. The more we learn about it, the more it becomes clear that we really have no idea what we're talking about. Studying wine involves an active practice of learning and unlearning. As we adapt to new information, we must discard previous truths that we took as a core foundation of understanding. It can be a frustrating, humbling, and exciting process nonetheless. 

This week, we're exploring the much contested concept of minerality in wine. A relatively new wine term on the scene, (it began popping up in the 1980's, but you won't find it used in any wine textbooks of that era) there is no consensus on what the true definition is. Is it a smell, a flavor, a sensation? Perhaps it's all of the above. Or none of the above.

Let's discuss.

A mineral can be defined as "an element or chemical compound or chemical compound that is normally crystalline and that has been formed as a result of geological processes" (Thank you, International Mineralogical Association). People will use minerality as a catch-all term to describe a wine that typically displays characteristics that are not derived from fruit or organic earth. Common descriptors include flavors generally related to rocks or fossils, such as stone, flint, gravel, oyster shell, and wet slate. Salinity is also a big contributing factor to the conversation, along with a chalky or gritty texture and high levels of acidity. It is more common to see wines from cooler climates described as being mineral-driven - think Chablis in Burgundy - and can be found in both red and white wines, although it's far more common in the latter. Some folks argue that soil composition is the defining factor in whether or not a wine will display minerality but science still hasn't quite backed up that hypotheses. Others argue that volatile sulfur compounds are the responsible party, but that's also conjecture at this point.

So, while minerality can be a useful term, it is still quite misunderstood. Its elusive definition allows for a lot of room for interpretation, which is where the real fun begins. This week, we're tasting through four very different wines that are evocative of this ambiguous phenomenon in their own unique ways. We're excited to hear your thoughts. Let's kick some rocks!

Read on to learn more about what we're sampling, then stop by from Friday 4-7 to try them yourself!

P.S. Got any plans Saturday? Spring cleaning came early at the shop and we're having ourselves an old-fashioned garage sale. Come through for some discounted delights. Hope to see you there!

Bodega Clandestina 'El Soci' Macabeo Catalonia 2023

Matthiasson Rosé California 2023

Domaine Alexandre Hote Tavel AOP 2023

Béatrice & Pascal Lambert 'Les Terrasses' Chinon AOC 2022