The three main influences on aroma are fruit, earth and wood.  The four main influences on physical characteristics are bitterness (tannins), Burn (solfurs), Burn in the nose (alcohol) and mouth watering (acidity).

The percentage of old oak and new oak determine the effects of oak storage on the wine.  Old oak doesn't effect the taste of wine the way new oak does, the charring of the barrel of course also plays a part as does the origin of the oak - French or American.

We all know about wine glasses and champagne flutes.  Many can even tell the difference between a red wine glass and a white wine glass.  Specific varietals have their very own glasses too, designed to deliver the different wine varietals to the palette in the most enhancing way.  We decided to try the famous Riedel Vinum Series Bordeaux glasses.  Here's one of my new glasses - and as you can see it's really full at the base of the bowl, so you can swirl your wine as carefree as you wish.  Great wine glasses have pros and cons and easy swirling is my top pro, although the con is that they're expensive enough to make you slightly nervous handling and cleaning them.