Grape Profiles - Blindtasting Flashcards
California Chardonnay
Site: Clear, starbright Pale to deep Gold, yellow Brass highlights/hue No sediment Medium+ viscosity
Nose:
- Fruit (Ripe): Lemon, pineapple, yellow pear, starfruit, yellow apple
- Floral: Citrus blossoms, white flowers
- Oak: Vanilla, caramel, baking spices, cinnamon, nutmeg
- Other: Lees, sour cream, milk characteristic, croissant, hazelnut, almond, almond butter, butter
Palate: Mirrors nose (Fruit forward with oak and Malo) Dry Med to plus body Med acid Round texture, creamy Med plus to high alcohol
Chardonnay Chablis
Site: Moderate concentration Straw with green or gold highlights Can contain sediment but rare Light viscosity
Nose:
- Fruit (tart to just ripe): Lemon/lime zest and pith, yellow pear, green apple, jackfruit
- Floral (Slightly more prominent in than Cali): Apple blossoms, white flowers, jasmine
- Earth: Flint, burnt match, oyster shell, salinity or saline solution
- Other: Hazelnut, almond, cheese rind
Palate: More tart on palate Minerality and earth more prominent Dry Med+ acidity (elevated compared to Cali) Light to medium bodied (higher body higher producer) Med alcohol
Chardonnay Cote du Beaune
Site:
Moderate to moderate plus concentration
Clear, pale straw to yellow gold
Med viscosity
Nose (Much more complex than other Chablis or Cali):
- Fruit (Just ripe): White peach, pineapple, yellow pear, lemon curd, lemon
- Floral: White flowers, honeysuckle, citrus blossoms
- Flint, burnt matches, wet stone, button mushroom
- Oak: Toffee, butterscotch, baking spices, vanilla, toast, buttered toast
- Butter, hazelnut almond, almond croissant, honey, almond butter
Palate: Very complex Fruit becomes more fresh More earth than nose Elevated acidity Moderate alcohol Round
Albarino
Site:
Moderate concentration
Pale to medium straw hints of green***
Can see possible effervescence
Nose:
Very aromatic
- Fruit: Ripe citrus, oranges, tangerines, nectarines, peaches, grapefruit, apricot
Green apple, honeydew
- Floral: White flowers, citrus blossoms
- Other: Slight yeastiness, salinity, saline solution, minerality
Palate: Confirms nose Salty orange, tangerines, nectarines, waxy texture Elevated acidity, High Moderate alcohol Medium body Phenolic bitterness
Chenin Blanc
Savennieres
Site:
Moderate to moderate plus concentration
Yellow/gold
Nose:
- Fruit: Tree fruit green, golden apples, oxidized apples, oxidized quince, tangerine, overripe lemon, dried apricot, very sweet yellow pear
- Floral: Honeysuckle, jasmine, white flowers
- Herbal: Chamomile/ herbal tea, oolong tea, dandelion, tree bark, savory herbs like thyme, oregano
- Earth: Wet stones, white mushrooms, schist
Palate: Med+ to full body High alcohol Med+ to high acid Dry Nose Confirms
Chenin Blanc
Vouvray
Visual:
Lighter, straw, green hues
Nose:
More fruit, more tropical, ripe, overripe fruit
Honey, ginger, tangerine marmerlade
Apple butter, almonds, cheese rind, hazlenut
Palate:
Dry to off dry (Botrytis)
Mid to full body
Slightly less alcohol
Gewurtztraminer - Alsace
Site:
Bright, yellow, straw with golden highlights
Medium viscosity
Palate:
- Fruit (Ripe to jammy): tropical fruit, pineapple, lychee, grapefruit, peach jam, apricot, orange marmalade, grapefruit pith
- Floral: Perfumy, roses, white flowers, think grandmas dresser, face lotion
- Spice: Gingerbread, cinnamon, exotic spices
Palate: Confirms nose, could come off as slightly sweeter than actually is Smoke, cinnamon, and lychee prominent Dry to off dry (RS) Low to medium acidity Phenolic bitterness Medium to full body Moderate to elevated alcohol Oily texture, round
Pinot Gris - Alsacian
Site:
Bright, clear moderate plus concentration, yellow, pale gold with copper highlights and undertones
Nose:
Bigger nose than Italy
-Fruit: Fleshy ripe stone fruit, peach, apricot, yellow peach, candied citrus, lemon, orange, apple
-Tropical: Can include pineapple and banana peel
-Spice: Cinnamon, exotic spices
-Beeswax, ginger, honey
-Nutty, bitter almond
Structure: Dry Moderate acidity Phenolic bitterness Moderate plus body Elevated alcohol med+ to high
Pinot Grigio - Italy
Site:
Moderate Concetration
Pale Straw with hints of Green
(Possibly with slight copper, pink tones)
Aromas: Moderate Intensity - Fruit: Underripe to ripe Citrus, Lemon, Yellow Apple, Stone Fruit , White Peach, Nectarine Melon - Floral: White and Yellow Flowers - Herbal: Watercress(Arugula) -Other: Salinity, chalky, stone, saline, minerality is moderate plus Oak -none
Palate: Dry High acid Phenolic bitterness not as prominent as alsacian Med alcohol