Name (also Böxer, Böchser) for a penetrating aroma that occurs above all in young wines. The name is derived from the typical odour resembling the exhalations of a goat. It is one of the most common wine faults and often a reason for rejection in quality wine testing. The forms of "Böckser" can occur in different phases of the winemaking process. They usually occur at the end of fermentation or in the first weeks of ageing on the lees. The causes are complex and not all have been researched yet. The causes, which often occur in combination, include insufficient nutrient supply during vine growth, residues of pesticides, increased use of potassium pyrosulphite, excessively high fermentation temperatures, high pH values (alkaline), excessive use of sulphur, improper dry preservation and insufficient degumming of the must.
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena