The methodical chemical analysis of the quality of the wine is inseparably attached to the Meron BCL wine information system. Every participant is committed to test his wine assortment twice yearly and to have a tasting session along with it. With this commitment the maintenance of the system is anchored and the quality assurance is guaranteed.
The wines are, on instruction of the client, bought by Meron BCL from a designated store of the retailer. According to the assortment list two samples of every wine are bought. Besides the vintage of the wine, the bottling code is also a criteria for the selection. One bottle is used for chemical analysis and the other for organoleptical analysis.

All wines are classified by designated tasting code, country, and region of origin and consumer price. Furthermore, the chemical analysis reports of all wines are selected. The tasting panel always consists of the three members of the professional tasting panel of Meron, one independent wine taster and the responsible officials of the retail chain involved.
The wines are judged by various criteria: taste, the designated tasting code and on the matter of the wine being representative for its country or region of origin in relation to the consumer price. After the organoleptical judgement the chemical analysis is taken into account: is the analysis according to earlier results and according to the specification of the wine?

After the tasting session, an evaluation is made together with the client as well as a list of 'next steps'.

tasting sessions

results

These tasting sessions are a valuable source of information for the client. One gets a good overview of the current wine assortment during a couple of days, not just in terms of quality, but also in terms of countries and regions of origin, consumer price, deviations of quality demands, interchangeable products etc. etc. Moreover, a list of next steps is made and the chemical analyses are looked into and (where necessary) explained. The retailer can take action as soon as the tasting session is finished and by conferring with the importers or producers about the necessary corrections to be made.

The main goal of these sessions is PRODUCT OPTIMISATION.
The buying department can use these data to give a sense of direction to the wine assortment, make the necessary adaptations and list wines on the basis of the conclusions from these sessions.

About 6,500 wines are being tasted by the tasting panel of Meron BCL on a yearly basis in her own tasting facility. This amount concerns not just the regular tasting sessions as mentioned above, but besides those, a large number of tasting sessions are held with the goal of product selection. In these sessions, the client delivers the wines in a coded way and with a neutral exterior to Meron and together with the client we taste the various options for a certain selection. In these sessions only organoleptical aspects are important. The best wines are selected and afterwards, the final choice is being made by the client.

product-
specification

After the product selection by the client, the wine will be chemically analysed by the laboratory of Meron BCL. The product specification will return to the client, who will send it on to his supplier. If all parties agree upon the specification for the amount of bottles and the period of sale, the specification will be anchored in the monitoring system of Meron BCL.
At the first delivery and by means of (random) sample surveys, the wine is tested on the basis of the specification. This preventive approach can and will lead to the final goal of product optimisation and the reduced risk factor within this diffuse and not quite so transparent product group.

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