Black grape Varieties Flashcards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Thick skin
Deep colour
high acidity, high tannins and alcohol, full body.
Black fruit, green notes, oaky
French style: black cherry, black currant, mint, green bell pepper
Warm: black cherry, plum, cocoa powder
From the Oak: cedar, vanilla, smoke
Fruit development: dried figs
Bottle age: tobacco
Late budding, thick skinned, late ripening
Origin:
Bordeaux
Growing conditions:
Warm climates
Parents are Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon blanc
Merlot
Deep colour.
Medium to high acidity and tannins. High alcohol
Black fruit, herbal, oaky
Moderate: Blueberries, plum, bay leaf
Hot: black cherry, blackberry, plum, fruitcake, chocolate
From the Oak: coffee, vanilla, cedar
Bottle age: clove, tobacco
Buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon
Origin:
Bordeaux
Growing condition:
Warm climates
From the French “Merle”, means blackbird. Reference to the dark colour when ripen.
Pinot Noir
Späbungunder (Germany and Austria)
Light colour.
High acidity, medium to high tannins, medium alcohol, light to medium body.
Red fruit, floral, earthy, spice
French style: strawberries, red cherry, rose, potato, wet earth
California: fruit driven, soft hints of earth, animal
From the oak: vanilla, clove, smoke
Bottle age: leather, mushrooms
Early budding, early ripening, thin skin, has many clones,
suited to cool or moderate climates
Origin:
Burgundy
Top producing area:
Burgundy, Oregon
Growing conditions: Cool climate
Has made 100s of different clones, some include:
Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Pinot Meunier
Syrah / Shiraz
Deep colour.
Medium to high acidity and tannins, high alcohol, full body.
Black fruit, spicy
Blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, liquorice, cinnamon
From the oak: vanilla, liquorice,
Bottle age: clove, cardamom, leather
Thick skins, suited to moderate or warm climates,
sometimes co-fermented with Viognier
Origin:
Rhone valley
Top producing area:
Rhone valley, Australia
Growing condition:
Warm and Hot climates
Grenache
Light colour
Low to Medium acidity and tannins, High alcohol
Red fruit, spice
Strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, white pepper, cinnamon
Late ripening, suited to warm or hot climates, tolerant to
drought, thin skinned
Origin:
Spain
Top producing area:
Southern Rhone (with Syrah and Mouvèdre blend)
Growing condition:
Warm climates
Nebbiolo
Light colour.
High acidity, tannins, alcohol, full body.
Redfruit, floral, spice
Sour cherry, raspberries, hibiscus, rose, star anice, blood orange
From the oak: vanilla
Bottle age: leather
Ripens slowly
Origin:
Piedmont
Top producing area:
Barolo, Barbaresco
Aging:
Oak
There are 40 clones of Nebbiolo. The most known are:
Lampia, Michet, Rosè
Sangiovese - Blood of Juniper
Brunello (Montalcino)
Prignolo (Montepulciano)
Pale colour.
High acidity and tannins, high alcohol. Light to medium body.
Red fruit, blackfruit, herbal, earthy spicy.
Red cherry, red plum, tomato leaf, origano
From the Oak: vanilla, caffè, tobacco, chestnut
Bottle age: balsamic
Late ripening
Origin:
Tuscany
Tempranillo
Tinto de Toro (Rueda)
Tinto Fino (Ribera del Duero)
Tinta Roriz (Duoro valley)
Deep colour
Medium to high acidity and tannins. High alcohol, full body.
Red and fruit, earthy
Red and black cherry, red and black plum, dried figs, dill
From the oak: vanilla, coconut, tobacco
Bottle age: earth, leather, meat
Best in sites moderated by sea/altitude, has many
synonyms
Origin:
Spain
Top producing area:
Rioja, Ribera del Duero
Aging:
Oak
Gamay
Light colour. Thin skin. Early budding, early ripening.
Red fruit, floral.
High acidity, low to medium tannins, light to medium body.
Strawberries, raspberries, cherries
black pepper and cinnamon
Origin:
Beaujolais / Burgundy
Malbec
Cot & Auxerrois (French)
Deep colour
High acidity and tannins, high alcohol, medium body.
Dark fruit and spices
Blackberry, blackcherry, black pepper
From the oak: chocolate, liquorice
Origin:
France
Top producing area:
Argentina (Mendoza)
Zinfandel
Deep colour
Medium to high acidity and tannins. High alcohol and body.
Black fruit, spicy
Blackberry, raising, fig, liquorice, smoke
From the oak: Vanilla, coconut, nutmeg, coffee, cinnamon, clove, tobacco
Also known as Primitivo, ripens unevenly, also makes
medium sweet rosé wines (White Zinfandel)
There are two types:
Red - dry, intense
White - semi sweet wines
Origin:
Croatia
Top producing area:
Napa valley, Paso Robles, Sonoma valley (dry creek and Russian river valley)
Cabernet franc
Fruity, floral
High acidity, medium tannins, light to full body.
Cherry, raspberry, Lavender, violet, rose, potato, oak
