The Sommpour — D1 Audible Cheat Sheets (13B)

For Chapter 13B, this is where you score by showing intent. When an exam question asks why two wines from the same region taste different, this is your toolkit: whole bunch versus destemmed, press type and press fractions, must adjustments for sugar and acid balance, cultured versus ambient yeast, fermentation temperature choices, vessel choices, and whether malolactic conversion is encouraged or blocked. Every one of those is a lever that changes structure, aroma profile, texture, and ageing potential — and often the cost base too. The distinction move is to connect the choice to its consequence. Not “they used oak” but “they chose a vessel and oxygen regime that shaped extraction, stability and flavor development.” Not “MLF happened” but “acidity softened, pH rose, microbial stability changed, and buttery notes appeared.” If you can write cause-and-effect like that, you’ll turn Chapter 13 into marks almost every time. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesommpour.substack.com/subscribe