Nez du Vin Review – Educate your nose… the shortcut!
I always found the smelling part of wine tasting the most DIFFICULT part. In our current society, we are not used to using our NOSE. Moreover have you ever been suprised by the SMELL of fruits when you are off at your grand-parents house in the country and when you are back home at your local grocery store? With the industrialization and all, even fruits do not smell as they should, so how can you educate your nose, especially if, like me, you live in town?
Let me present you my go-to solution, or what I like to call it my short-cut.
Product overview
This MASTERKIT is a book which includes 54 vials representing 54 aromas that you can find in the wines of the world (not only french wine). It comes with 54 index cards explaining the link between the aromas and the wine and a book that explains the origin and classifies the aromas, it helps you with practical exercises how to learn to recognise an aroma and taste a wine.
It covers all the basics in the THREE categories of aromas : the primary aromas and secondary (with the floral, fruity, vegetable and spicy notes) and the tertiary aromas (with the animals and roasted notes).
You can find out more and purchase the book from Amazon.
Sure it’s expensive but progress doesn’t come cheap
The price is scary. To be honest, it took me a few months between the time I discovered the product and before I actually bought it. So why DID I buy it?
First PROFESSIONAL sommelier wouldn’t stop bringing this book up. It was in every advice they gave : this is definitely a “must-have”.
Second, some of my friends had it and I just ADMIRED the way they could recognise distinctive smells in the wine.
But the thing that really got me excited was the fact that I could find NOTHING to criticise (well, okey, perhaps the price at first, but then again, the best wines are also expensive). This product is guaranteed five years (and can last up to ten years) and if some vials do eventually lose their smell, you can contact Le Nez du Vin and they change your vial (personal experience).
It works, meaning progress DOES come FAST and it’s elegant. It is also a brilliant and fun way to entertain your guests at the beginning of a dinner party for example.
Fun fact : I met two brothers the other day, at a wine tasting seminar, and the “Nez du Vin” was what they played with as children (instead of the usual Monopoly or even video games).
Still too expensive? Split it (and split the price)
The masterkit gathers 54 aromas in one kit. However, you can find 24 aromas-kit or even 12-aromas kit on Amazon as well separately.
There is also on book-object, as they like to call it, on the defects of the wine and the effects of new oak
Check out the Masterkit out and start educating your nose!
Let me know in the comments what you think about le Nez du Vin! I would be happy to answer any questions and have your opinion on it.
Oh and while you’re at it, grab an aroma wheel! It’ll definitely help you with putting a name on what you smell.
An alternative, less expensive as well and can be a good start for beginner is the taster place aroma set
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
6 Comments
Danny
Although the overall price is quite high, I know a few people that would really appreciate any of the smaller kits as gifts. Do you know how quickly the average person would be able to recognise the different aromas when tasting a new wine without looking at the label? Assuming they were to practice with the vials included in any of the Nez du Vin products.
Mademoiselle
Your question is really interesting but it has a complicated answer… Firstly it depends how much the person works on it’ consistency is the key : try testing yourself with 5 vials every day (more, you will not be able to smell anything). And the first results will be that it will help you decompose aromas in the smell of the wine (that’s what it did for me). After, all our nose and receptors are different… So it really depends actually… But, in a few months, you get results, you get to recognise some aromas
me278
The job of a sommelier has always been interesting to me. I have an acquaintance who is engaged in that profession. It’s fascinating to me how he knows a lot of information about a wine just by using his sense of smell. He is well trained. I think the price of the Masterkit is too high, but it is worth it in the long run for people who want to be sommeliers.
Mademoiselle
Yes, it is a high price but I think it is worth the money: it really has helped me decompose the smell of a wine. But for people who like wine “like that”, it would be too much of an investment. It took me a few months before deciding on it, I don’t regret it, but I get some people might find it too expensive.
Parameter
Getting insight into 54 different aromas from one book is a lot of treasure, instead of spending time searching and learning the different aromas from various locations. I can now see and know of them from the comfort of my house. As you said, 399 bulks is a lot of cash, but the cost is highly justified
Mademoiselle
yes, and you can buy them separately if you don’t have the money lying around. But having all of it at the same times really helps you develop your smelling!
let me know how your training goes