Visual analysis

The best and the traditional way to visually examine Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is against the flame of a candle. The key attributes to evaluate are density, color, and clarity.

To evaluate the density, rotate and gently shake the vinegar against the bottle's internal walls and observe the coating formed on the walls.  12 year old Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena will be sufficiently fluid; the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena aged 25 years should have a syrupy density.  Excessive fluidity or density indicates flaws.

To evaluate color and the clarity place the bottle in front of the flame, rotating slowly slightly angled bottle.  The different nuances in color can range, depending on the grape variety, cooking variety, and aging period, from an amber to a dark or very dark shade of brown.  High quality vinegar should be clear, containing no sediments or particles.

Olfactory analysis

After gently shaking the bottle, bring your nose to the neck of the bottle and inhale deeply.  High quality vinegar will have pleasant and complex bouquet of the balsamic fragrances, and an intense, penetrating but always enjoyable and velvety 'volatile acidity'.

In Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena aged for 12 years the volatile acidity will be more alive, penetrating while in the one aged for 25 years it will be less pronounced, more subtle and the aromatic fragrances of the wood varieties of the casks in which it was aged will predominate.  Look for the aromas of ripe cherry, wild cherry, vanilla, and spices such as nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.

Taste analysis

Pour a small amount of our Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena in a porcelain and glass teaspoon.  Confirm through tasting the notes that you detected through olfactory analysis.  Then evaluate the type, the quality, and intensity of the "fixed acidity" which, unlike "winey" acidity, does not burn taste buds.  This fixed acidity is immersed in the sweetness of the vinegar, and in high quality vinegars it should come across as complete, harmonic, round and ripe.  Equilibrium and harmony are the key attributes to look for.


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