Italy - Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino COPY

Question 1

What are declassified Brunello di Montalcino DOCG And Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG called and why might they be declassified?

Answer 1

Rosso di Montalcino and Rosso di Montepulciano De classified in poor years or if young vines

Question 2

Which 2 areas in Toscana feature a high proportion of “galestro” soil?

Answer 2

Chianti Classico / Montalcino

Question 3

The Brunello clone is also known as __

Answer 3

Sangiovese Grosso

Question 4

Toscana’s climate is similar to which other premier wine-growing region?

Answer 4

Napa Valley

Question 5

What are the 3 unofficial “frazioni” of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG?

Answer 5

Castelnuovo dell’ Abate

Sant’Angelo in Colle

Torrenieri

Question 6

What are the ageing conditions for: Chianti Classico Chianti Classico Riserva Chianti Gran Selezione

Answer 6

Chianti Classico 12 months Chianti Classico Riserva 24 months, min 3 in bottle Chianti Gran Selezione 30 months, min 3 in bottle. For all, oak optional but usual

Question 7

Trebbiano Toscano is synonymous with grape?

Answer 7

Ugni Blanc

Question 8

Castello Banfi is located in which region?

Specifically which appellation?

Traditional or Modern?

Answer 8

Toscana, Italy.

Montalcino

Modern (high use of barriques)

Question 9

Put the following appellations in order from North to South:

A. Carmignano DOCG

B. Morellino di Scansano DOCG

C. Bolgheri DOC

D. Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG

E. Chianti Montespertoli DOCG

F. Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Answer 9

1.A / 2.E / 3.D / 4.C / 5.F / 6.B

Question 10

What is the required aging for Brunello di Montalcino Riserva wines?

Answer 10

2 years in wood, 6 months in bottle, released after January 1 of the 6th year after harvest

Question 11

What are the 5 main villages in Chianti Classico?

Answer 11

Gaiole

Radda

Castellina

Castelnuovo Berardenga

Greve

Question 12

Where is the producer Canalicchio di Sopra located?

Answer 12

North Montalcino / Toscana

Question 13

How is the 1997 vintage in Toscana rated, what is the general quality of the wines and what were the vintage’s characteristics?

Answer 13

• An excellent vintage.
• Wines are well-balanced and fruity
• Spring frosts cut quantities of fruit by 10%, but perfect ripening conditions and minimal rainfall combined to produce fruit with great concentration, sugar and phenolic ripeness.

Question 14

When and why did Masseto and Ornellaia become 2 separate entities?

Answer 14

• 2012
• This was a strategic decision meant to eliminate competition between the 2 wines, and to recognize the importance Masseto as a stand-alone wine.

Question 15

Who is the producer of “Redigaffi”?

What grapes are used?

How is it aged?

Answer 15

• Tua Rita
• 100% Merlot.
• 100% new French oak for 18 to 20 months.

Question 16

What region / sub-region does Col d’Orcia produce wine in?

It is one of the ___ producers in Montalcino:

They produce wines from both ___ and ____:

Their farming is:

Answer 16

• Montalcino / Sant’Angelo in Colle.
• Largest producers.
• Wines from both estate-owned and surrounding vineyards.
• Organic

Question 17

What are the ageing conditions for Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino (normale and riserva)?

Answer 17

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Min. 2 years in oak

Riserva: 3 Years

Brunello di Montalcino: 5 years, 2 in oak

Riserva: 6 years, 2 in oak

Question 18

What is the minimum aging required for Chianti Classico Riserva wines?

Answer 18

24 Months

Question 19

What is the name of the specific clone of Sangiovese used in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano?

Answer 19

Prugnolo Gentile

Question 20

Which body of water has the most impact on Tuscany’s climate?

Answer 20

Mediterranean Sea

Question 21

Which vineyard provides the fruit for Col d’Orcia’s Riserva wine?

What does the name translate to?

What is the soil composition of this vineyard?

How is the wine aged?

Answer 21

• Poggio al Vento
• “Windy Hill”
• Sandy Limestone
• 4 years in Slavonian Botti and French barriques, 3 years refinement in bottle.

Question 22

Which sub zone does Chianti Classico come from?

What contributes to the wine’s quality?

Hong long must the wines be aged for (normale / riserva)?

Answer 22

Chianti Classico is its own specific zone so does not come from the other sub zones.

The vineyards are at higher altitude, so slower ripening giving wines with greater acidity.

Min 12 mo ageing

Chianti Classico Riserva: min 24 mo of which at least 3 in bottle.

Question 23

What are the 2 most common soil types found in Chianti Classico?

What are their characteristics?

Answer 23

“Galestro”: soft, friable marl.

“Alberese”: sandstone.

Question 24

Where is Chianti located and specifically in a triangle of which 3 cities?

Answer 24

In the foothills of the Apennines between the cities of Pisa and Florence in the north and Sienna in the south.

Question 25

Where is the producer Poggio Antico located?

What elevation are their vineyards?

Are they considered modern or traditional?

Answer 25

Montalcino, east of Tavernelle, north of Sant’ Angelo in Colle.

• 480m
• Traditional: over 3 years in large, traditional Slavonian oak barrels, followed by 8 months of bottle refinement.

Question 26

Tuscany is roughly divided into 3 parts, what are they?

Answer 26

Mountainous Chianti in the north

Hills and valleys in the south

Flat coastal plain

Question 27

What is Chianti Gran Selezione? Labelling conditions?

Answer 27

The highest designation of Chianti Classico. Grapes must from a single estate and aged 30 months. Oak optional but usually used

Question 28

1. What is the only DOCG in Toscana for white wine?
2. What is the only DOCG for dessert wine?

Answer 28

1. Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG
2. Elba Aleatico Passito DOCG

Question 29

What is the climate like in Southern Tuscany and what are the two prime wines produced?

Answer 29

Lower altitude so warmer but with cool maritime breezes

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG - 100% Sangiovese

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG - Mostly Sangiovese and others

Question 30

Who is credited with isolating the Brunello clone and creating what is known as the “Brunello” style?

Answer 30

Clemente Santi

Question 31

In which part of Chianti Classico is Montevertine located?

Answer 31

Radda

Question 32

Chianti Classico DOCG is from which region?

Based mainly on which grape?

Answer 32

Toscana

min. 80% Sangiovese

Question 33

What is the primary grape of Tuscany? What are its characteristics?

Answer 33

Sangiovese

Late ripening, needs warmth,

High acidity and tannin, red cherries and plums.

Usually oak aged to soften tannins and add spicy flavours

Question 34

What are 4 grapes allowed in Chianti Classico besides Sangiovese?

Answer 34

Colorino, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.

Question 35

What is the symbol/emblem found on the neck of Chianti Classico bottles?

Answer 35

A Black Rooster

Question 36

Besides Chianti Classico, there are 7 sub zones in Chianti, where do the best wines come from?

What are the other 5?

Answer 36

Highest quality sub-zones are Chianti Ruffina DOCG and Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG

Colli Aretini

Colli Fiorentini

Colline Pisane

Montalbano

Montespertoli

Question 37

What is the name of the traditional straw-covered bottle used for Chianti?

Answer 37

Fiasco

Question 38

Describe wines from Montalcino of the following vintages:

2017

2016

2015

Answer 38

2017: Very hot, very dry year. Wines are flamboyant, racy, exuberant.

2016: Long, balanced growing season. Wines are aromatically expressive and nuanced, but might lack depth.

2015: Most balanced of the three; combination of richness and depth from the warm weather that year, along with good structure.