Grape - Flavor Characteristics Flashcards
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Ripening?
- Haut-Medoc
- Pessac-Leognan
Late ripening
Haut Medoc: blackcurrant, cedar, grippy tannin
Pessac-Leognan: lighter in body, more fragrant
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Napa Valley styles
Napa Valley: ripe versions cassis, fresher versions of blackcurrant
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Australia’s Best Region
- Chile’s Best Region
- NZ Best Region
- South Africa’s Best Region
Coonawarra: cassis, eucalyptus/menthol
Colchagua: ripe black fruit, herbaceous, minty
Hawke’s Bay Gimblet Gravels: cassis, Bordeaux blend
Stellenbosch: Bordeaux blends
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Generic New World Character
New World: ripe blackcurrent, black cherry, smooth tannin
Cabernet Franc
- Saumur-Champginy
- saint emilion
Saumur-Champigny: violet
Saint Emililon: contributes fruit and floral to blends
Merlot
- Early Harvest
- Later Harvest
Buds earlier than Cab.
Early Harvest: Red fruit, vegetal, high acid
Later Harvest: aka “International Style”. blackberry, black plum, oak
Sauvignon Blanc
- Sancerre/Pouilly-Fume
- Marlborough
- South Africa & Chile
- Margaret River
- Fume-Blanc
Early ripening
Sancerre/Pouilly-Fume: apple, asparagus, wet stone
Marlborough: gooseberry, elderflower, grapefruit, passionfruit
South Africa & Chile: similarly fresh and fruity
Margaret River: blended with Semillon
Fume Blanc: California fermented in oak for creamy spicy flavor and rounder flavor. Pessac-Leognan often fermented with Semillon for body. Malo avoid. Lees aging for months.
Semillon
- Sweet Wine
- Dry Blends
Thin skin, botrytis bottom
Sweet Wine: apricot, citrus peel, toast, vanilla
Dry Blends: adds body
Muscadelle
Grapey, floral flavor. Adds exotic perfume to sweet wine blends
Petit Verdot
Only ripens in the hottest of years
Tannin and spice
Malbec
P & T
P: dark berry, spice
T: cedar, earth
Tannat
Black fruit and high tannin
Ugni Blanc
Green apple
Pinot Noir
- Light Styles flavors
- Complex Style flavors
- Tertiary Flavors
Light Style: red cherry, red fruit, floral
Complex: Earth, forest floor, spice
Tertiary: Forest floor, mushroom
Petit Manseng
Passilerage wines with apricot, grapefruit, and sometimes oak spice
Riesling
Coolest Climates
Green fruit and floral
Riesling
Warmer Climates
Citrus and stone fruit
Riesling
Bottle Age flavors
Honey and Toast
Sometimes Petrol
Noble Rot Flavors
Honey, apricot, citrus zest, dried fruit
Chardonnay
- Budding?
- Cool Climate
- Moderate Climate
- Warm/Hot Climate
Early budding
Cool Climate: green apple, lemon
Moderate Climate: white peach, melon
Warm Climate: peach, banana, pineapple, acidity risks
Chardonnay
- Chablis
- Cote d’Or and Maconnais
Chablis: high acid, green apple, citrus, wet stone/slate
Cote d’Or and Macconoias: stone fruit, oaky creaminess in the north, riper in the south. Tertiary of nuts and/or mushroom
Chardonnay
California
- High Volume
- General Quality
- New Quality
high volume: fruity, low acid, oak chips
general quality: full body, high alc, low acid, oak, hazelnut, butter, peach, banana
new quality: less oak, more refined
Pinot Noir
- Budding?
- Ripening?
Budding and ripening early
Pinot Noir
- Burgundy
red fruit, sometimes floral, that evolves into earth, game, and mushroom. 16-18 month oak aging is common
Pinot Noir
- Oregon
ripe red fruit, cinnamon, high acidity
Pinot Noir
- Chile regions
- South Africa region
- German Regions
Chile: casablanca
South Africa: walker bay
Ge4many: baden
Pinot Noir
- Australian style and regions
- NZ Regions
Australia: medium across the board
- Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania
New Zealand: vibrant red fruit, high alcohol
- Martinborough is medium to full with dark plum and spice
- Marlborough is medium with cherry and cranberry
- Central Otago: full bodied, juicy, concentrated red fruit
Gamay
fragrant raspberry, cherry
can be served chilled
Riesling
Budding?
Late, avoids frost
Pinot Gris/Grigio
- Gris
- Premium Grigio
- High Volume Grigio
Gris: Oily texture, tropical fruit, ginger, honey
Premium: Citrus and green in cooler areas. Stone fruit and tropical in warmer regions.
Volume: neutral, simple, fruity
Gewurstraminer
Spicy nose, lychee, rose, oily
Muscat
- Dry
- Unaged Fortified
- Aged Fortified
Dry: orange blossom, rose, grapey
Unaged: varietal flavors preserved
Aged: varietal flavors hang on, but oxidative aromas introduced
Pinot Blanc
Simple, non-aromatic
Melon Blanc
Ripens Early. Frost resistant
Subtle green fruit, drink young
Chenin Blanc
- Dry
- Sweet
- Aged
Ripens Unevenly
Dry: range from apple through tropical with ripeness. Can show steely smoky character
Sweet: apricot, citrus peel, noble rot
Aged: honey, toast, hay
Grolleau
Rose blending in Loire