1 Flashcards
Key Choices Affecting Style, Quality and Price in Fortified Wines
How can the grape variety influence the aroma and flavor characters of fortified wine?
either provides its own aroma and flavour characters to the wine or simply used as a relatively neutral base for the flavours of maturation
These wines are made in a very diverse range of styles; red, white and rosé; dry to sweet;
and youthful and aromatic to fully developed and oxidative.
Fortified
the most obvious example of a fortified wine where the grape variety provides the main flavours of the wine
Vins Doux Naturels (VDNs) from Muscat
What kind of wine making is used in the making of VDNs?
protective winemaking and early release from the winery
Name one wine that has been aged in warm and oxidative conditions, the aromatic notes of Muscat are still notable in the best wines.
Rutherglen Muscat
Name a fortified wine that is a relatively neutral variety, and the characteristic aromas of the wine all come from the maturation process.
Palomino
In red grapes, what structural components are important in creating the flavour profile of fortified wines?
Grape Variety, Acidity, Colour, Tannins
What is the main structural characteristic of Madeira
Acidity
Madeira is notable for
high acidity
Name two grape varieties for Madeira
Sercial and Verdelho
In some sherries, the combination of a bone-dry palate and high alcohol can give a sensation similar to
acidity
What is the actual level of acidity in sherry from Palomino?
low - natural characteristic of Palomino
What is an important consideration in red Port which is a blend of grape varieties?
attaining a suitable level of colour in the base wine
What is the colour expectation for Tawny Port?
look aged in a short period of time and hence will be made from wines that are light
in colour
What is the colour expectation for Vintage Port?
To retain a deep colour over decades of bottle maturation
What is the main grape variety for Vintage Port?
Touriga Nacional and Sousão for their deep colour
Name two early drinking styles of red fortified wines in which high levels of tannins are not required nor desirable
Ruby Port
Maury Grenat
How tannins develop with age?
Softens with age
Become integrated into the wine
It provides balance and structure on the palate
Why tannins are necessary for red fortified wines that are meant to age?
Color Stabiliser
Other than grape variety what are the other two important influences on the base material used in the production of fortified wines?
vineyard location and climate