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WSET 2 Wine & Sprits > 3. Black Grape Varieties > Flashcards

3. Black Grape Varieties Flashcards

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1
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon FRANCE

A

France
Climate: Moderate
Style: Dry, medium to full-bodied, medium alcohol with high acidity and tannin for the Cabernet Sauvignon dominant wines. The wines are aged in new oak barrels.
Flavours: Blackcurrant, black cherry and toasty fragrant oak when young develop into vegetal, tobacco and cedar as the wine ages.

In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is at home and the very best wines come from the Cru Classé Châteaux. These are among the world’s most complex long-lived red wines and tend to fetch up to premium prices.

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2
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon CALIFORNIA

A

California
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol and with high levels of soft, ripe tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours; Deeply coloured with ripe dark cherry, blackcurrant and oak flavours of vanilla, smoke and cedar.
The very best Cabernet Sauvignon wines come from Rutherford and Oakville in Napa Valley. They can usually fetch up to premium prices.

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3
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon CHILE

A

Chile
Climate Moderate (influenced by the Andes and proximity to the ocean)
Style Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of soft, ripe tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Pronounced herbal characteristics of green bell pepper and blackcurrant leaf accompany intense black fruit flavours of black cherry and blackberry. There are oak characteristics of cedar and coffee.
The very best Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Maipo Valley, and Colchagua and Cachapoal which are parts of the Rapel Valley. They can usually fetch up to premium prices.

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4
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon SOUTH AFRICA

A

South Africa
Climate Moderate to hot
Style Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of tannin and acidity. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Herbaceous notes of blackcurrant leaf, blackcurrant fruit, black cherry and toasty fragrant oak when young develop into vegetal, tobacco and cedar as the wines age.
The very best Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Stellenbosch. Cabernet Sauvignon is also blended with Merlot for elegant Bordeaux-style wines. These wines are priced up to the premium price category.

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5
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon AUSTRALIA

A

Australia
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of soft, ripe tannins and an intense structure. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Cassis, mint and eucalyptus flavours, with blackcurrant, black cherry, cedar, toast and vanilla oak.
There are two key regions in Australia for Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra - the wines have distinctive cassis, mint and eucalyptus flavours and Margaret River - these wines show more black fruit and herb flavours. The wines are usually priced up to the premium price category.

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6
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon NEW ZEALAND

A

New Zealand
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium to full-bodied, with high acidity and tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Black cherry, blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf with aromas of cedar and vanilla.
Hawke’s Bay is where Cabernet Sauvignon ripens in New Zealand. It is often blended with Merlot and the wines can fetch up to premium prices.

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7
Q

The key characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon are:

A

Cabernet Sauvignon is a black grape variety that is high in acidity and tannin and produces full bodied aromatic wines with distinct black fruit character. This variety benefits from oak, either by ageing in oak barrels or by the addition of oak chips or staves. Some of the best red wines in the world are made from this variety and the top examples can age for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon needs a moderate or hot climate to ripen fully.

The key characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon are:

It is an aromatic red grape variety producing full bodied wines
Aromas are distinctive of blackcurrant, black fruit, generally oaked
It needs a moderate or hot climate to ripen fully
Wines can be single varietal or blended with Merlot and many other varieties
Price and quality ranges from inexpensive to premium and acceptable to outstanding

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8
Q

The key characteristics of Merlot are:

A

Merlot is a black grape variety that is renowned for producing soft, approachable and quaffable red wine. It is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to produce a wine that is more easily drinkable, as the Merlot supplies softness and body to an otherwise quite austere wine. Let’s take a look at this key black grape variety in more detail.

It produces medium to full bodied red wines

These have plum, black cherry and red berries with oak flavours

It grows in moderate or hot climate

Wines can be single varietal or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon among other grape varieties

Price and quality range from inexpensive to premium and acceptable to outstanding

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9
Q

Merlot CALIFORNIA

A

California
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol and with high levels of soft, ripe tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Deeply coloured with blackberry and plum along with oak flavours of vanilla, smoke and cedar.
The very best Merlot comes from Napa Valley and it is sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. They can usually fetch up to premium prices.

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10
Q

Merlot CHILE

A

Chile
Climate Moderate (influenced by the Andes and proximity to the ocean)
Style Dry, medium to full-bodied, with high levels of soft, ripe tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Pronounced black fruit flavours of black cherry and blackberry along with ripe dark plum, fruitcake and chocolate. There are oak characteristics of vanilla and coffee.
The very best Merlot comes from the Maipo Valley, and Colchagua and Cachapoal which are parts of the Rapel Valley. The wines range from inexpensive to high priced.

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11
Q

Merlot FRANCE

A

France
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium to full body with medium acid and medium tannins for the Merlot dominant blends. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Red fruit character of strawberry, plum and red berry with spicy, oak flavours of vanilla and coffee. The wines can develop cedar and tobacco aromas as they age.
In Bordeaux the best Merlot based wines come from Saint-Émilion AC, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AC, and Pomerol AC. These wines tend to fetch up to premium prices.

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12
Q

Merlot SOUTH AFRICA

A

South Africa
Climate Moderate to hot
Style Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of tannin and acidity. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Dark fruit of blackberry and plum along with oak flavours of vanilla and sweet spice.
The best examples of Merlot come from Stellenbosch and are typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines are priced up to the premium price category.

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13
Q

Merlot AUSTRALIA

A

Australia
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, full-bodied, with high levels of tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Black cherry with blackcurrant and oak aromas of vanilla and cedar.
Margaret River in Western Australia produces premium Merlot blends with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are usually priced up to the premium price category.

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14
Q

Merlot NEW ZEALAND

A

New Zealand
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium to full-bodied, with medium to high acidity and tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Black cherry and plum with aromas of cedar and vanilla.
Hawke’s Bay is home to the top examples of Merlot in New Zealand. It is also blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

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15
Q

The key characteristics of SHIRAZ are:

A

This black grape variety is called Syrah in France and more often than not, Shiraz in the New World. For simplicity, we will refer to it as Shiraz.

Shiraz is a black grape variety grown in France but also has an international reputation for premium quality wine, particularly in Australia. The wines produced are full bodied with black fruit character and spice which we will now look at in this section.

Shiraz (Syrah) is a black grape variety that produces deeply coloured red wine with medium to high tannins and medium acidity. The wines have a black fruit character along with spice and dark chocolate. Shiraz benefits from oak, either through traditional ageing in oak barrels, or by the addition of oak chips or staves. Shiraz prefers a moderate to hot climate.

Shiraz is also known as Syrah

It produces full bodied red wines with oak influences

It needs moderate or hot climate to ripen

Wine can be single varietal or blended with Grenache in parts of France or Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia

Quality and price from good to outstanding and inexpensive to premium

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16
Q

Shiraz FRANCE

A

France
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium acidity, full body, and medium to high levels of tannins. They are generally aged in oak.
Flavours Blackberry and dark chocolate with hints of smoked meat and black pepper spice. With age the wines develop flavours of leather, wet leaves and earth. The oak can give toast, smoke, vanilla and coconut flavours to the wine.
The Northern Rhône is where Shiraz is home and the wines display black pepper and dark fruit character. The best appellations are Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage for the more intense examples of this variety. Crozes-Hermitage is a larger appellation and the wines are less complex. In the Southern Rhône and the south of France Shiraz is typically blended with Grenache. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

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17
Q

Shiraz AUSTRALIA

A

Australia
Climate Moderate to hot
Style Dry, medium to high tannins and full bodied. They are generally aged in oak or in contact with oak chips or staves.
Flavours Intense blackberry and plum, sweet spices of cinnamon and vanilla with notes of dark chocolate. The use of oak can be pronounced giving flavours of smoke, vanilla and coconut.
100% Shiraz wines can come from the hotter regions of the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley (these wines being particularly powerful). In the more moderate climates of Victoria the Shiraz is intensely flavoured and complex and is similar in style to the northern Rhône. Shiraz is classically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to add softness to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines range in price from inexpensive to premium.

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18
Q

The key characteristics of PINOT NOIR are:

A

Pinot Noir is a black grape variety that can be difficult to grow but a very easy wine to drink and is loved by wine drinkers the world over. It has soft, light tannins and lots of red fruit character of strawberry and raspberry which are apparent in youth making this a very enjoyable wine early on. Although a lot of Pinot Noir is for drinking in its youth, the best Pinot Noir can evolve in bottle for decades. It is commonly aged in oak but care is taken not to overpower the delicate red fruit character.

It produces light to medium body red wines

It prefers cool to moderate climate

Wines can be single varietal or blended in Champagne and many sparkling wines

Price and quality depends strongly on where the wine is produced. The best value coming from Chile and the top examples coming from Burgundy

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19
Q

PInot Noir CALIFORNIA

A

California
Climate Moderate (influenced by the proximity to the ocean)
Style Dry, medium/full bodied with medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Intensely fruity with flavours of red cherry and strawberry. Some wines display pronounced leather, meat and wet leaf characteristics as they age.
The best examples are found in the cooler vineyards of Carneros, Sonoma and Santa Barbara. The wines are priced up to the premium price category.

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20
Q

PInot Noir CHILE

A

Chile
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium to full bodied, with medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Intensely fruity with flavours of strawberry jam and hints of vanilla.
Casablanca is the region that produces fruity, easy drinking Pinot Noir. The wines can range in price up to high price.

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21
Q

PInot Noir FRANCE

A

France
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium body, with medium to high acidity and medium levels of tannins. The wines are aged in new oak barrels.
Flavours Red fruit character of strawberry, raspberry and cherry and developing nuances of mushroom and gamey-meaty aromas with age. Aromas of toast and vanilla are evident from the oak.
Burgundy is the classic home for Pinot Noir and the very best wines come from Grand Cru vineyard sites such as Le Chambertin. These are the most powerful, long-lived and complex Pinot Noir wines in the world, selling in the premium price category because of their quality and rarity.

x

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22
Q

PInot Noir GERMANY

A

Germany
Climate Cool
Style Dry, light bodied, with medium to high acidity and low tannins. The wines can be aged in oak.
Flavours Pronounced, perfumed red currant, raspberry and strawberry fruit. The wines aged in oak have toasty, vanilla flavours.
The main areas are the southern regions of the Pfalz and Baden. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

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23
Q

PInot Noir SOUTH AFRICA

A

South Africa
Climate Moderate (influenced by the proximity to the ocean)
Style Dry, medium bodied, with medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Redcurrant, cranberry and red cherry flavours support the vanilla and cedar from the oak. The wines age well developing vegetal, wet leaves and gamey flavours.
Walker Bay is known for its Burgundian style Pinot Noir and these wines can fetch up to premium prices.

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24
Q

PInot Noir AUSTRALIA

A

Australia
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium body, with low to medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Delicate fragrant aromas of red fruit flavours of strawberry, plum and red cherry with aromas of vanilla and toast.
Most Australian regions are too hot for Pinot Noir but the cooler sites of Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula regions in Victoria benefit from the cooling effects of ocean breezes or altitude and can produce premium quality wines. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

x

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25
Q

PInot Noir NEW ZEALAND

A

New Zealand
Climate Moderate
Style Dry, medium bodied, with medium acidity and medium tannins. The wines are aged in oak.
Flavours Intense red fruit flavours of cherry and strawberry with some spicy notes of cinnamon and vanilla.
Central Otago makes the ripest most intense New Zealand Pinot Noirs. It is also grown in Marlborough where a lighter style is made. The wines can fetch up to premium prices.

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26
Q

Which grape variety is used for red wines from the Côte d’Or (Burgundy)?

A

Pinot Noir

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27
Q

What flavours are associated with Pinot Noir

A

Strawberry, Mushrooms, Blackcurrant

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28
Q

Which region produces inexpensive wines from Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

South Eastern Australia

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29
Q

Which tasting notes are most accurately describes a young wine from Pauillac AC

A

Deep purple, black fruit and oak aromas, low tannins

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30
Q

Which region are famous for premium wines made from Shiraz/Syrah?

A

Hermitage AC and Barossa Valley region

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31
Q

Which grape variety is used to make AC Côte Rôtie?

A

Syrah

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32
Q

Which of the following grape varieties would struggle to ripen properly, if grown in a cool-climate wine region?

a) Grenache
b) Chardonnay
c) Sangiovese
d) Zinfandel

A

Grenache

33
Q

Which variety is often used for rosé wines in Spain and Southern France?

A

Grenache

34
Q

Flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon in moderate climate?

A

Black fruit (blackcurrant; black cherry) herbaceous notes (bell pepper, mint)

35
Q

Flavours of Cabernet Sauvignon in hot climate?

A

Fuller-bodie with softer tannins. More black cherry fruit and less herbaceous notes (bell pepper, mint)

36
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon wine making techniques..

A

Oak ageing and soften tannins: wood (toast, vanilla, smoke, coffee, cedar)

37
Q

Flavours of Merlot in moderate climate?

A 
Red fruit (strawberry; red berry; plum) and some herbal notes (mint)
Maturity: cedar and tobacco
38
Q

Flavours of Merlot in hot climate?

A

Black fruit (blackberry; black plum; black cherry) and super-ripe display even fruitcake and chocolate flavours

39
Q

Merlot wine making techniques..

A

Oak ageing and soften tannins: wood (toast, vanilla, smoke, coffee, cedar)

40
Q

Merlot in blends…

A

Add softness and body to Cabernet Sauvignon and local varieties, make it easier to drink

41
Q

Cabernet Sauvignon in blends…

A

Add colour, acidity, tannins and aromatic fruit to Merlot, Shiraz and local varieties

42
Q

Flavours of Syrah/Shiraz in moderate climate?

A

Black fruit (blackberry), herbaceous, smoked meat, black pepper

43
Q

Flavours of Syrah/Shiraz in hot climate?

A

Black fruit (blackberry), dark chocolate, plum, sweet spice (liqourice)

44
Q

Flavours of mature Syrah/Shiraz?

A

Can develop animal and vegetal notes (leather, wet leaves, earth)

45
Q

Winemaking technique of Syrah/Shiraz?

A

Oak ageing: barels, chips or staves (toast, smoke, vanilla, coconut)

46
Q

Syrah and Grenache in blends…

A 
Grenache to Syrah:
increase alcohol level
lower tannins and acidity
adds a red fruit character
extra spice flavours
adds body

Syrha to Grenache:
boost level of colour, tannins and acidity
adds drak fruit character

47
Q

Flavours of Grenache in hot climate

A 
Red fruit (strawberry; raspberry) and spice ( white pepper; liqourice)
Mature: animal (leather ) and toffee
48
Q

Flavours of Grenache in rosé wines?

A

Red fruit (strawberry; raspberry)
best consumed young
oak not often used

49
Q

Flavours of Pinot Noir in too cool climate

A

Excessive vegetal (cabbage, wet leaves)

50
Q

Flavours of Pinot Noir in cool to moderate climate

A

Red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry), vegetal and animal nuances (wet leaves, mushroom, game meat)

51
Q

Flavours of Pinot Noir in hot climate

A

Loses delicate flavours

excessively jammy

52
Q

Winemaking technique of Pinot Noir?

A

Wood (toast vanilla) Oak can easily overpower delicate aromas

53
Q

Pinot Noir in blends…

A

Component in sparkling wines incl Champagne. In Burgundy can blends with Gamay. Red Burgndy will be 100 per cent Pinot Noir

54
Q

Which is the classic region of Pinot Noir?

A

Burgundy - medium-bodied red with a balance of red fruit and savoury aromas, light tannins and medium to high acidity

55
Q

Which are the most powerful, long-lived and complex Pinot Noir in the world?

A

Grand Cru Red Burgundies, Le Chambertin

56
Q

Which country’s specialities are wines made from Malbec and Torrontés?

A

Argentina

57
Q

Which one of the following statements is true of Pinot Noir?

A

It is at its best in cool to moderate climates

58
Q

Within the Côte d’Or, wines from the very best vineyards will be indicated by which words on the label?

A

Grand Cru

59
Q

What flavours are commonly associated with Pinot Noir

A

Strawberry, mushrooms, cherries

60
Q

Which of the following regions produces inexpensive wines from Cabernet Sauvignon?

A

South Eastern Australia

61
Q

Which variety is often used for rosé wines in Spain and Southern France?

A

Grenache

62
Q

Which one of the following is a full-bodied red wine with high levels of tannin, acidity and alcohol?

A

Barolo

63
Q

Gamay is…

A

A grape variety used to make Beaujolais

64
Q

Premium wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon age well because they have…

A

High tannins and high acidity

65
Q

Grenache grapes typically have…

A

High sugar, low acidity

66
Q

Which one of the following region is renowned for powerful Shiraz-based wines?

A

Barossa Valley

67
Q

Which grape variety is used to make full-bodied reds in Southern Italy?

A

Primitivo

68
Q

The best vineyards of the Northern Rhône are…

A

Steep

69
Q

Which grape variety is the most important in Rioja?

A

Tempranillo

70
Q

Cru Classé is a labelling term most associated with which wine region?

A

Bordeaux

71
Q

Which grape variety is used for red wines from the Côte d’Or (Burgundy)?

A

Pinot Noir

72
Q

Which one of the following is an Italian black grape variety?

A

Aglianico

This black grape variety from southern Italy;

73
Q

Which of the following tasting notes best describes a wine from Barolo?

A

Red fruit and floral aromas, high levels of tannin and acidity

74
Q

Which of the following regions are famous for premium wines made from Syrah/Shiraz?

A

Hermitage and Barossa Valley

75
Q

Carmenère is most commonly used for…

A

Spicy, black fruit red wines from Chile

76
Q

What term is used on an Italian wine label to indicate that the grapes were grown in the historic centre of the district?

A

Classico

77
Q

Which grape variety is used to make AC Côte Rôtie?

A

Syrah

78
Q

Which of the following tasting notes most accurately describes a young wine from Pauillac AC?

A

Deep purple, black fruit and oak aromas, high tannins

79
Q

Which of the following grape varieties would struggle to ripen properly, if grown in a cool-climate wine region?

A

Grenache needs a hot climate to ripen

WSET 2 Wine & Sprits (8 decks)

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