Studying for WSET2 meant learning some fun and funky new words to describe wines. There are plenty that make sense to find in the glass – such as fruity characters, oak and spices. But others, like gasoline, seem absurd when you first hear them. I mean, finding gasoline in wine? Not something that sounds appealing. Another one of these flavour notes is forest floor, and so I decided it was worth diving into what forest floor in wine is. Seems ridiculous right? I mean who would want something like forest floor in their wine? But much like Gasoline in Riesling, this flavour isn’t necessarily a bad thing. So let’s dive into what it is, how to pick it and where to find it.
What is forest floor in wine?
You’d be forgiven for thinking that forest floor is something that comes from a vineyard being near a forest. I mean, surely those flavours would be more prominent in a wine that is next to a big, dense wood, than one without right? Well, much like wines that smell like pepper don’t have pepper added to them, forest floor is simply an aroma that can be developed in a wine.
Forest floor in wine is traditionally a tertiary aroma that comes from ageing a bottle in some red wines. It’s associated with similar notes of mushroom and leather which can develop over time. You might also find a wine that is described as ‘earthy’ will have a smell of wet forest floor. If you want to get really fancy, you can use the French term for it which is “sous bois”. Personally I’d have no idea what someone was talking about if they said that but completely up to you!
What does forest floor in wine smell like?
Picture yourself in an old forest. There’s a certain musty, funky and dense smell to it, as well as the scent of dirt. Well, if that doesn’t appeal to you fair enough, but that is the aroma of forest floor. Now, to get this flavour in your glass, you don’t need to go licking the dirt to compare, ok? The flavour will be the same as the smell of the forest floor, just so we are clear.
If it sounds like something you don’t want in your glass, that’s fair enough. It is a bit funky. But this flavour, along with those of mushrooms and leather develop in some red wines as they age and add complexity to the wine that balances out the fresh fruit flavours. As a result, you’ve got more dimensions to it, and it can add to the enjoyment of it.
Where will you find it?
Now there are only some red wines that are known for this forest floor characteristic, but if you pick it up in your wine, why not put it down as a tasting note? It could be there for you! It might also mean there is something funky going on with the wine, so make sure you look out for it!
If you are looking for it, you’ll be most likely to find forest floor in Pinot Noir. This term is regularly used to describe Pinot, particularly those from Burgundy. The tertiary earthy aromas will overlay floral and red fruit notes. It is also something that is being found in some examples of Pinot from California, Oregon and New Zealand. Even wines from the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula can have these characteristics, especially in wines that have been aged.
In summary: forest floor in wine isn’t a bad thing
So should you be concerned the next time you sip on a glass of wine and it smells of the earthy forest floor, aka dirt? Well, not if you’re drinking a Pinot! This isn’t necessarily a bad thing unless it is really out of place in the variety. So you shouldn’t be concerned if you are smelling forest floor in wine. It is simply an added complexity to the aroma that comes from ageing.