Maturity notes
German: Reifenoten Also known as: Tertiäraromen, Reifearomen
Aromas created by ageing, such as honey, leather, tobacco or nuts, that distinguish matured drinks from young ones.
Maturity notes or tertiary aromas arise from slow chemical changes during storage, in the cask or in the bottle. Typical are honey, nuts, leather, tobacco, dried fruit, mushroom or forest floor. They replace the fresh fruit aromas of young drinks.
Not every drink gains from maturity; many are made for early enjoyment and lose freshness over time. Maturity notes are therefore a style feature, not an end in themselves. What matters is whether they are harmoniously integrated or tip towards oxidation.
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