What does over the top mean in wine reviews?
Q: I sometimes see in wine reviews that a wine is described as being “over the top” — possibly in reference to the fruit component of the wine. What does this mean? A: “Over the top” may be a favorite phrase of a writer you frequently enjoy reading. Without seeing the full quote, it is pure speculation as to what that person means. If I were to use the term, it would indicate that some component of the wine was way out of proportion with the rest. This might be the fruit, which could have been ripened to the point of becoming downright jammy or raisiny. It could refer to the excessive use of new oak barrels, which can infuse a wine with massive flavors of vanilla and chocolate, masking all else. Or it could be that the whole wine is made in a big, blowsy style, with jammy fruit and high levels of alcohol, which can be felt as heat in the back of the mouth after swallowing. Q: As a wine novice, I was wondering if you could recommend a good bottle or two that would pair with beef and fis
