Grapevarieties Flashcards
When does Merlot bud and ripen, and what does it mean?
Merlot buds early, making it vulnerable to spring frost. Merlot is mid ripening with the advantage of being picked before autumn rain.
What is Merlot susceptible to?
Coulure, drought and most botrytis bunch rot.
What is the typical berry size of Merlot?
Large.
In Bordeaux, Merlot has the benefit of what in cooler years?
Merlot can still ripen fully, in comparison to the later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon.
On what soil type is Merlot grown in Bordeaux?
Clay.
In the Bordeaux blend, what does Merlot contribute in intensity, tannins and alcohol level?
Medium to pronounced intensity, medium tannins, medium to high alcohol.
In a cool year, what aromas and flavours does Merlot contribute to the Bordeaux blend?
Medium to pronounced intensity of strawberry, red plum and herbaceous flavours.
In a warm vintage, what aromas and flavours does Merlot contribute to the Bordeaux blend?
Medium to pronounced intensity of cooked blackberry and black plum.
When is Cabernet Sauvignon budding and why is it important?
Late budding, gives some protection from spring frost.
Cabernet Sauvignon result in wines with high tannins. Why?
Small-berried, thick-skinned plus high tannin content.
Cabernet Sauvignon is prone to fungal diseases as well as trunk diseases. Which ones in particular?
Powdery mildew, Eutypa and Esca.
When does Cabernet Sauvignon ripen and what is at risk because of the timing?
Ripens late, vulnerable to autumn rains.
In what soil does Cabernet Sauvignon produce best fruit?
Warm, well-drained. Such as the gravel beds of Médoc.
What levels of alcohol, acidity and tannins does Cabernet Sauvignon contribute to the Bordeaux blend?
Medium alcohol, high acidity and high levels of tannin.
What intensity as well as aromas and flavours does Cabernet Sauvignon bring to the Bordeaux blend?
Pronounced intensity of violet, blackcurrant, black cherry and herbaceous/menthol.
When does Petit Verdot bud and ripen?
Bud early and ripens late.
Is Sémillon early, mid or late ripening?
Mid-ripening.
What rots are Sémillon susceptible to?
Botrytis bunch rot, and noble rot when under the right conditions.
What intensity, what flavours, body, alcohol and acidity does Sémillon have?
Low intensity of apple and lemon, medium body, medium alcohol, medium to medium(+) acidity.
If Sémillon is under ripe, what flavours can it bring?
Grassy flavours.
Sémillon is prized for its ageability, apple and lemon notes develop into what with time?
Toast and honeyed notes.
Does Sauvignon Blanc notes develop with time?
No, but they can hold for quite some time.
Muscadelle, a famous “third” component in blends from where? What does it bring to the blend?
White Bordeaux blends, mostly sweet but dry too. Brings flowery and grapey notes.
When does Chardonnay bud?
Early.
When is Chardonnay ripening?
Early.
When is Pinot Noir ripening?
Early
What diseases are Chardonnay prone to (4)?
Grey rot, powdery mildew, millerandage and grapevine yellows
Chardonnay can be grown in a wide range of soils and climates, resulting in a range of styles. But many of the top-quality examples are grown in what mix of soil?
Limestone/clay
When does Pinot Noir bud?
Early, susceptible to spring frost.
When does Pinot Noir ripen?
Early, suitable for cooler climates.
In contrast to Chardonnay, what must yields be held to produce quality grapes of Pinot Noir?
Low yields to produce quality fruit.
Pinot Noir is a delicate variety, prone to what diseases (6)?
Millerandage, downy mildew, powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, fan leaf and leaf roll viruses.
In warm climates Pinot Noir can ripen too fast, when so what happens to the aromas.
The intensity is reduced.
The Dijon clones of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is now widely used all over the world. Where were they developed?
University of Burgundy in Dijon.
Budding and ripening for Gamay?
Early budding (spring frost) and early ripening (usually clear of autumn rains).
Gamay is vulnerable to what in cold, damp and windy conditions?
Millerandage
Is Gamay thick or thin skinned?
Gamay has vulnerable thin skin
Does Gamay have high or low fertility?
High fertility.
Gamay is a productive grape variety, what do you need to do to grow concentrated grapes?
Control yields, de-budding is one way.
When does Riesling bud?
Late (some protection against spring frost)
Length of growing season for Riesling to ripen?
Long
Riesling can provide good quality up to relatively high yields. How high for example?
Up 70 hL/ha
Riesling is resistant to what disease, and fairly resistant to two others?
Resistant to downy mildew and fairly resistant to powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot.
When does Gewürztraminer bud?
Early budding (prone to spring frost)
Is Gewürztraminer early or late ripening?
Early ripening (avoiding autumn rains)
Gewürztraminer is vigorous, how can the grower deal with that?
By careful pruning and canopy management.
Gewürztraminer is vigorous but only moderate productive, why is that?
Due to coulure.
Budding and ripening for Pinot Gris?
Early budding and early ripening.
Two diseases that Pinot Gris is susceptible to?
Downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot
Pinot Gris can accumulate high sugar levels, what can that lead to?
Medium to high alcohol levels.
Melon is a quite hardy variety, suitable for a cool region. But when does it bud, ripen and what yield volumes does it produce?
Buds early (bad for spring frost), ripens early (good for autumn rains) and can produce high yields.
Melon has good resistance against one of the mildews, which one?
Powdery mildew
Melon has tight bunches and is susceptible to two diseases, which ones?
Downy mildew and botrytis bunch rot.
When does Chenin Blanc bud?
Early, vulnerable to spring frost.
Is Chenin Blanc a vigorous variety or not? Can it carry high yields or not?
Yes, Chenin Blanc is vigorous and can carry high yields if allowed.
What diseases are Chenin Blanc prone to?
Powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and trunk diseases.
When does Chenin Blanc ripen?
Late, prone to autumn rains.
Why does Chenin Blanc have to be picked in several passes for high quality?
It ripens unevenly. This limits the use of machine harvest.
When does Cabernet Franc bud and ripen?
Buds early is mid-ripening (usually ready to harvest before autumn rains)
If Cabernet Franc isn’t enough ripe, what character can it take on?
It can taste excessively leafy.
What yield reducing disease is Cabernet Franc prone to?
Coulure
Why is Chenin Blanc suitable for botrytis affected sweet wines?
The natural high acidity of Chenin Blanc allows lusciously sweet wines to be balanced.
Budding and ripening for Sauvignon Blanc?
Late budding (good with regards to spring frost), relatively early ripening (good with regards to autumn storms).
Sauvignon Blanc is a vigorous grape variety. On what kind of soils does it do best?
Poor soils.
What diseases are Sauvignon Blanc prone to?
Powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot, plus trunk diseases like Esca and Eutypa Dieback.
Typical Tasting note for a cool region Sauvignon Blanc?
Pronounced intensity of grass, bell pepper and asparagus with gooseberry, grapefruit and wet stone. Medium body and alcohol, high acidity.
Typical tasting note for Sauvignon Blanc from a warmer area?
Pronounced intensity of grass, bell pepper and asparagus with ripe passion fruit. Medium body and alcohol, high acidity.
Row orientation is important for Sauvignon Blanc. Why?
Fruit grown in shadier conditions will result in more green grassy, bell pepper notes. Fruit with more sunlight will develop more tropical fruit.
What two diseases (not counting Syrah decline) is Syrah susceptible to?
Mites and botrytis bunch rot.
Syrah decline (or disorder), what happens to the vine if affected?
Leaves turn red and the graft point breaks up, the vine dies.
Grenache noir thrives in what climate? Low or high yielding?
Grenache noir needs warm climate to ripen. High yielding.
When does Grenache noir ripen? Why is this important?
Late, it can be affected by autumn rains.
In what soil does Grenache noir do best? Is Grenache noir high or low in vigour? Due to it’s upright growth it’s often trained in what way?
Does best on dry, low fertility soils to control its vigour (very vigorous). Bush trained short to also control vigour.
Grenache noir has good resistance to drought but is prone to what diseases (4)?
Coloure, powdery mildew, phomopsis, botrytis bunch rot.
Grenache noir is prone to a bacterial disease that kills leaves, shoots and eventually the plant. What is it called and how do growers fight it?
Bacterial necrosis or bacterial blight. Fought by only planting disease free stock and avoiding contaminated pruning tools.
What property does Grenache noir have that makes it very suitable for vin doux naturel but can be a problem in dry wines?
It accumulates high sugar levels very quickly.
When does Mourvèdre bud and ripen?
Mourvèdre is late budding and late ripening.
Mourvèdre thrives in warm and hot climates. When in the season is it extra important that the temperature is high. If not so, what can it lead to?
Mourvèdre needs high temperatures at the end of the growing season, if it doesn’t get it it will lead to under ripe grapes.
Unlike Grenache noir Mourvèdre is not drought resistant. It requires small, but regular, amounts of water. What kind of soil can bring that?
Deep, calcareous soils that store water.
Does Mourvèdre give high or low yields?
Low yielding only.
What is Mourvèdre prone to (3)?
Mites, leafhoppers and sour rot.
Is Mourvèdre prone to oxidation or reduction in the winery? What must be done to control it?
Mourvèdre is prone to reduction. The must needs adequate amounts of oxygen.
In what kind of vessel is Mourvèdre typically aged in?
Old oak (adding a bit of cost)
Cinsault - when does it bud and is it high or low yielding?
Late budding and high-yielding.
Cinsault is high-yielding and has good drought and heat resistance. What has to be done to produce the highest quality?
Yields must be restricted.
If cinsault is grown on soils with excessive lime it can suffer from what? What four other things is cinsault prone to?
If grown on excessive lime cinsault can suffer from chlorosis. It is prone to esca, eutypa, mites and grape moths.
Budding and ripening for Carignan (Carignane)?
Late budding and late ripening
