Gamay, Grenache, Tempranillo Flashcards
Describe Gamay wine
high acidity, low to medium tannins, red ruit (raspberry, red cherry, red plum)
What fermentation vessel is used for Gamay?
Usually inert
What is the Beaujolais climate? Wine makers commonly use techniques to maximise ___ and minimise ___
What is Beaujolais wine like?
Moderate
maximise colour, minimise tannin
light bodied, low to medium tannin, red fruit
wines from cru appellations are: ___ and ___.
What are very good examples like?
concentrated and structured
Medium to pronounced red fruit (red cherry, raspberry, plum) with a medium to long finish
Wines from Beaujolais are often served at what temp? Are they intended for aging?
slightly chilled, no.
What are the three levels of Beaujolais wine?
Describe each and their vineyard sites
Name a well known village in the highest designation
Beajolais AOC - made from anywhere in the region, mostly flat, fertile vineyards in the south. High yielding vines, simple and lightest bodied
Beaujolais VIllages AOC - less fertile, stonier soils control yield. Greater flavour intensity and finish
Beaujolais Cru - 10 villages, can potentially age in bottle. Fleurie AOC
How thick is the skin of the Grenache grape?
Describe Grenache wine
What is grenache blended with, where? What do these varieties give to Grenache based wine?
What needs to be controlled to produce quality Grenache?
Thin
low to medium tannin, low acidity, high , red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry), spice (white pepper and liquorice)
Syrah in France, Tempranillo in Spain. Colour, acidity, tannin
The yield
What method is used to make grenache rose wine? Describe these wines, do they age?
Short maceration method
dry to medium, red fruit, consume young
What maturation options exist for grenache?
What does bottle aging bring to Grenache?
Inert, oak or old oak to preserve delicate red fruit flavour
Complex flavours of earth, meat, dried fruit.
Name the important Regions for Grenache
Southern Rhone, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, South France, Minervois, Rioja, Navarra, Priorat, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale.
How does Southern Rhone differ from Rhone Valley?
What are Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages wines like?
The valley flattens, it is warmer due to more southerly latitude
Cotes du Rhone - simple, medium bodied, red fruit and spice.
Cotes du Rhone Villages - higher level of concentration and complexity
What are Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines like? What is a distinguishing feature of the area?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape - Full bodied, high alcohol. Bottle aging brings dried fruit, caramel
Large round stones on the soil surface which absorb heat to radiate at night and reflect sunlight up onto the vine leaves, both aiding ripening.
Do they make rose and red wine in the South of France?
What is Minervois AOCclimate like? What is Grenache used here for?
yes, rose and red wine
Warm, Grenache ripens fully, used to add red fruit and body to local blends
What do they use Garnacha for in Roija DOCa and Navarra DO? What does it contribute?
Dry rose, body, fresh red fruit
What is the climate of Priorat DOCa? What is distinguishing about the Grenache vines? How is the wine made and what are its characteristics?
Warm and dry
very old vines that produce tiny yields of concentrated grapes
Blended with other varieties, matured for an extended time. Concentrated, powerful, develops dried fruit and caramel in the bottle
What is distinguishing about the Grenache vines of the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale?
Describe the wine made from the fruit of these vines
What else is Grenache used for? What regional wine inspired this style?
Very old vines
Concentrated red fruit and spice, long aging potential
What are the three levels of the Rhone Valley labelling system? What do they refer to? What can you expect from the wine?
Cotes Du Rhone AOC - technically covers whole valley, generally only seen in the south. Simple, medium bodied and intended for immediate drinking
Cotes Du Rhone Villages AOC - More flavour intensity and complexity
Rhone Crus - e.g. Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC but also Hermitage AOC, Condrieu AOC etc.
What climate is Tempranillo found in?
What is the structural and primary characteristics of Tempranillo?
moderate climates
Dry, medium acidity, medium tannin, medium to full bodied wine.
Red fruit (strawberry and cherry) and black fruit (black berry, black plum)
What is Tempranillo regularly matured in?
What characters do maturation bring to Tempranillo?
Small new oak barrels
vanilla, cedar smoke from oak, bottle aging brings mushroom, leather, dried fruit
List the Important regions of Tempranillo
Catalunya DO, Rioja DOCa, Ribera del Duero DO
What is the order of Spanish wine denominations?
DOCa -> DO -> IGP -> VdM
What is a technique of increasing the age worthiness of Tempranillo? How does it work?
Blending with varieties with more acid and tannin to preserve the wine
Describe the wines of Catalunya DO
What is the climate of Ribera Ribera del Duero DO like?
Describe the wine
high volume region, vary from simple, fruity and light to powerful and oak aged
Mountainous, inland region with warm days and cool nights
very full bodied, fresh black fruit flavour
What is the climate of Rioja like?
Is Rioja commonly a blend? What grape dominates in the top wines?
What grape is commonly blended to make Rioja approachable at a younger age?
moderate
yes, Tempranillo
Garnacha
Describe the four stages of the labelling terms of Spanish wine.
What is required of a wine to reach the final stages?
Joven - Young. young, fruity, no oak maturation
Crianza - “Raised”. Has seen some oak
Reserva - oak and bottle maturation. Begins to get more complex
Gran Reserva - extended oak and / or bottle maturation. Very complex, older wine.
The wine has to have intense fruit flavour and high amounts of tannin and acidity.
Are Gran Reservas made in every vintage?
Only if the fruit is good enough
