Legs!!!

[lizardbrains]

Okay, so I've been reading for a little while now, on the board... And I now know more about SW, Cabs, etc. But I can't figure out what "legs" are.


...just trying to learn... :-)

[summa]

Ok LB rusty here, but...
So far as I remember, legs can involve two completely different things:
1) if you swirl a glass of wine, and watch it afterwards and notice drops running straight down the sides of the glass...those are called legs, and supposedly are a sign of a "more concentrated" wine, though I don't think they really mean a damn thing.

2) how well a wine can be cellared, of course in the proper conditions....will it improve with longer cellaring, is it closed or young now...read maybe too tannic...and will it continue to evolve in a way that will make it better after a few, or many, years. That is the wine's legs.
Remember only certain wines, such as some cabs, some bordeaux, some burgandy, some heavier italians or rhones or german reislings are even expected to have this quality.

[This message has been edited by summa (edited 08-04-2001).]

[Innkeeper]

Rusty? Summa, you appeared to be well lubed with that answer.

[winoweenie]

LB, the answer from the Summit is rite in both respects but there is a lil' contoversy on one of his points. Bad wine ( read jug ) will not show legs generally because the viscosity isn't there. Fine wines of ALL types ( Red, White , Purple, Or Orange ) that have glycerene present will show legs. The alcohol is also a component that makes for them pretty 'lil dudes cascading down the interior of your glass. This is also the component that makes for the silky, oily, and lasting mouthfeel you'll get from fine wines. A fine white burgandy or SW from Calif is capable of showing its legs. Don' know from 'spierence but was tolt by ole Wallace it do happen. Legs Be Good. WW

[Innkeeper]

It is controversial. Have seen many whom I consider to be experts insist that legs on the inside of the glass means nuthin'. It certainly is the last evaluator on the quality of any given wine.

[lizardbrains]

So... when tasting a wine, one can comment "My, what fine legs my wine has!"?

And, the legs (or drips) coming down the glass after swirling it... are they the things that indicate a wine will age well? Or... did I just not follow what you said at all?! :-)

[Innkeeper]

Option 1 is an option.

Option 2 is not. There is no connection what-so-ever between the two definitions of legs.

[Thomas]

and sometimes the legs in the glass are referred to as tears (as in watery eyes)...