Sniff the glass in short, sharp little in-takes of air. First look for faults. Once you have established that the bouquet is clean, assess its quality. Store the memory of the smell so that you can identify it when you experience it again. We tend to take our sense of smell for granted.
Odours are either pleasant or unpleasant.
We don't tend to break them down and analyze them. Most people find it difficult to describe what they smell in a wine, but when they hear a description that approximates their own experience they will agree. Using an accurate term to describe the bouquet of a wine will help you to remember it the next time you are served it. Enologist Ann Noble of the University of California at Davis has created a tool to help wine lovers identify and describe a whole range of smells found in wines, both good and bad. The smallest contains the most general terms to describe a wine's bouquet.