Managing a large sample of wines in sensory analysis: An example with Bordeaux red wines

Bordeaux is one of the largest winegrowing regions in France, with contrasting vineyards and different terroirs. By blending several grape varieties, many styles of wine can be produced. This study investigated whether the check-all-that-apply (CATA) method can be used with a large number of wines according to their organoleptic characteristics. A wine panel assessed 143 entry-level red Bordeaux wines using 62 descriptors and a 10-point quality rating. Despite the large number of samples, the method proved repeatable and capable of discriminating wines into four groups. Twenty wines representative of the overall sampling were analysed by quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), and the results obtained with both methods were compared. The CATA was validated for assessing a large number of samples. Selecting a representative sample of a product is essential when setting up a study in which the organoleptic diversity of the samples under evaluation may complicate their identification. The CATA method proved to be a fast, repeatable technique that allows non-trained wine experts to select a representative sample among a large number of wines.