Carmenère, Malbec, Pinotage Flashcards
Which country is most identified with Carmenère?
Chile
Which country is most identifed with Malbec?
Argentina
Which country is most identified with Pinotage?
South Africa
Fill in the blank:
One of the parent grapes of Pinotage is _____.
Pinot Noir
The other parent grape is Cinsault.
Pinotage is predominantly grown in which South African wine region?
Western Cape
Describe the character profile of Pinotage.
- Dry
- Medium to full body
- Medium tannin
- High acidity
- Bright red fruits (strawberry, red cherry, red licorice, crunchy raspberry)
- May or may not have oak influence
With which grapes is Pinotage usually blended with?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
Fill in the blank:
The term used in South Africa for blended wines of Pinotage, Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon is _____.
Cape Blend
From which Old World region do Malbec and Carmenère originate?
Southwest France
In SW France these grapes are typically blended with other local varietals.
Which region in Argentina has the highest density Malbec plantings?
Mendoza
Is Mendoza at sea level or higher in elevation?
Higher in elevation
This creates optimal growing conditions for the sun-loving Malbec grape: warm days, cool nights.
When Malbec is blended in Argentina, which grapes is it usually blended with?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
Describe the profile of Argentinean Malbec.
- Dry
- Full body
- High tannin
- Medium acidity
- Concentrated black fruits
- If oak matured, flavors of coffee, vanilla, mocha, clove
- If aged, flavors of dried black fruit and cured meat
- Intensely dark in color, almost purple
Where in Chile are the highest density plantings of Carmenère?
The warm and sunny areas of Central Valley.
Carmenère needs a lot of warmth and sunshine to fully ripen, which is why it performs better in Chile than it does in Bordeaux.
What are some of the unpleasant aromas/flavors of underripe Carmenère?
- Raw green bell pepper
- Tomato leaf
- Generally very herbaceous/not particularly fruity
