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Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Want to see more of them? Check out my archive. And here are my most Frequently Asked Questions.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

What does "flint" or "gun flint" indicate in a tasting note?

—Pablo Diaz, Santo Domingo

Dear Pablo,

Both of these terms are used to describe a mineral note that is often found in dry, austere white wines such as Chablis or Sauvignon Blanc. If you know what flint striking steel smells like, that’s it. Another way to think of it is as a wet metal or "steely" aroma. If none of that is ringing a bell, think of a clean earthy, minerally note, like the smell of wet pebbles.

—Dr. Vinny

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