Blind Taste Structure - Red Flashcards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Tannin Structure: Med to High of fine grained, tightly knit tannins. “Grainy”
Felt on Gums and not the tongue
Linear Tannin Structure (shaped like an arrow)
Retains acidity well.
Not as richly fruity at Merlot
Tuscany CabSav
Super Tuscans of Bolgheri & sometime Chianti
Similar to Bordeaux, but warmer
Much greater fruit concentration and ripeness.
Remain savoury with fresh acidity
Syrah
Spicey, Full of Black Pepper
Sometimes hard to ID
Tannins are not found on Gums!
Mostly on middle of palate on the Tongue
Tannins can be Chalky or Powdery
Grenache
Tannin structure lacks an obvious shape or location in the mounth
Felt all over the palate - do not give much shape to the wine
Tannins are sticky
Sweet tasting variety can laspse to syrupy or dried fruits
Cabernet Franc
Grainy, stalky tannin felt on the gums.
Tannins tend to be moderate.
Preserves acidity well
Savoury red fruits & strong herbaceous streak
Malbec
Tannins grainy on the gums.
Power and density of tannins that are Blocky and Square rather than linear and directional
More Rustic
Tannins felt on hinge of jaw
Deeper, more purple, color. Sweet/Savoury
The nose smelss sweet, but finishes very dry with prominent tobacco.
Carmenère
Dark colored, Powerful structure, Very Hebaceous (more so than Chilean CabSav)
Coarser Tannins, Rounder Body and Sweet Fruity
Gamay
Low - Medium Tannin
RIpe, Fruity Tannin (similar to Pinot but marginally sweeter)
Pale color and firm acidity.
Gamay is round and spherical in the mouth.
Mourvèdre / Monastrell
Useful in blending since it brings savoury, dry quality to rich and sweet Grenache adding structure, freshness and earthiness.
In Bandol, Full Body and Concentrated
Rustic Tannins on the gums
Tannins are coarser & less fine grained
Jumilla & Yecla, Spain - Tannins Huge and Rustic, intense fruit ripeness offset by dryness
Both Farnce & Spain - Ripe fruit, Dry Finiah
Carignan
Blending Variety
High Acidity, Concentrated, Dry Red Fruit
Powerful, Rustic or Bitter Tannins felt on the Gums
Finish is savory almost bitter
Useful for blends since it adds fruit, acidity and color
Cinsaut
Simple, Juicy Fruit
Some Perfume
Low Tannin
Blaufränkisch
Austria
Med Body, Med-High Acidity
Firm Fine Grained Tannins
Distinctive Tanginess
Spice & Black Pepper (often aged in Oak)
Zweigelt
Austrian
Paler in color, Higher Acitity and Less concentration than Blaufränkisch
Attractive Floral & Spice
Tempranillo
Distictive Tannins: texture & location
Chalky tannins felt in the Cheeks
Not in gums or tongue (like Syrah)
Two texture wine fruit is different than Tannin
Retains Acidity, Pixelated in Rioja
Rioja has more red than black fruitys, Medium Body. Rarely exceeds 14% ABV
Ribera del Duero - Powerful, Concentrated, Full Body, Dark Fruit with lots of Oak
Mencia
Similar to Tempranillo
Moderate, Firm, Chalky Tannins felt in Cheeks
However, Fruit is soft and velvety
Medium Body, Med-High Acidity
Spicy, Herbal, Peppery
Often confused with Right Bank Merlot
Xinomavro
SImilar to Nebbiolo
Aromatic, Pale, High Grippy, Grainy Tannins, High Acidity
The grape is riper than Nebbiolo, so is sweeter and more concentrated on the palate and rounder body
Touriga Nacional Blends
Almost always blends from Douro
Full Body. Powerful Tannins
3 key elements to ID
1. Wines are ripe but dry
2. Lack mid-palate concentration
3. Presever acidity inspite of climate
Zinfandel
Tannins offer “structureless” structure like Grenache
Can be Powerful and felt all over the Palate
BUT loose knit and diffuse
Full Bodied, Rich, Sweet Tasting, Red & Black Fruits
Can be Jammy & taste sweeter than Grenache
Offset by Tobacco. And has new oak
Pinotage
Bordeaux-style Tannins on Gums, specifically in upper part of the mouth
Full Body, Dark Fruity, Concentrated, High Alcohol, Savoury with an earthy smokiness and dry finish
Dolcetto
“Sweet Little One”
Unusual in Italy with Medium Acidity
Tannins moderate and firm
Deep, often Purple color, Sweet/Sour Black Fruity and Soct Texture
May finish with bitterness
Barberra
Fruity wine with Grippy Tannins
High Acidity. Mid Ruby to Purple in Color
Sometimes has bitter finish, but greater fruit concentration and more rounded body than Dolcetto
More Structure & Ambition
Nebbiolo
Highest Acidity and Tannins amongst red wines
Sandy & Grainy Tannins felt on gums
Can be astringent
Pale in Color, Red Fruit, Med-Full Body, High Alcohol
Can be confused with Sangiovese - who’s Tannins feel like little grains (short grained rice) while Nebbiolo is like long-grained rice eg more sleakness and elegance
Corvina
Valpolicella
Med Body, Red Fruit, Med ABV
Ripasso - More Body & Alcohol but leaves Volatile Acids eg nail polish and mustiness
Amarone
Corvina
Greater dried grapes
Massive Tannin wines, Bitter Finish and Very high Alcohol (15-17% ABV)
Most powerful non-fortifies wines
Sangiovese
Pale-Medium Color, Med-Full Body, Aromatic
Moderate to High Levels of Tannins on Gums
Tannins not as high quality as Nebbiolo
Feel like sandpaper
More mid-palate fruit than Nebbiolo
Montepluciano
Montelpuciano d’Abruzzo (oftern confused with Chianti)
Deep Color, Med Body, High Acidity, Greater Fruit RIpeness & mid palate concentration than Chianti
Moderate Tannins are found more on the Tongue
Anglianico
Tannins felt on Gums & almost always High and Sandy Textured
Lower Alcohol than Nebbiolo
Complex funy aromas High toned, delicate nose with savory herbal and incense notes.
Deeper colored than Sangiovese or Nebbiolo
Underated that can be complex and age
Nero d’Avola
Sicilian
Med-Deep Color, Med-High Sandy Tannins & Med Acidity
Ripe, Red Fruit, sometimes syrupy
Relatively aromatic
Meat & Tar with med ABV
Can be confused with Anglianico, but has less finesse and elegance
Adds body to blends
Primitivo
Soft, Sweet tasting, Ripe, Full Body
Firm, Chalky Tannins felt on gums
More rigid than Zinfandel
Dark fruity concentrated mid-palate and can be raisiny
Mid Rub in Color, Distinctive Tar/Liquorice/Herbal
Negroamaro
High Levels of Rustic, Coarse Tannins felt on the Gums
If bitterness, Grippy Finish
Mid Palate fruit is limited
Soft, Sweet tasting with herbal twang.
Can be sweeter tasting than Primitivo
