L2 - Class 2: Production of Red Wines, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel/Primitivo

Question 1

What are the characteristics of the Pinot Noir grape?

Answer 1

-A thin-skinned black grape varietal.
-Does best in a cool to moderate climate.
-High acidity
-Low to medium tannins
-Red fruit flavors (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry) ranging from fresh to cooked depending on ripeness
-When grown in a climate that is too warm it can lose its fresh flavors and taste “cooked”.
-Grape is prone to rot and disease.
-In poor vintages it is difficult to produce even small amounts of quality Pinot Noir.

Question 2

What is the typical wine making process for Pinot Noirs?
Single varietal or blended?
Oaked or unoaked?

Answer 2

-Typically a single varietal wine (with the exception of being blended in sparkling wines)
-Often matured in oak (typically older barrels which impart less flavor as opposed to new barrels which can overwhelm flavors)
-The best Pinot Noirs have subtle secondary oak flavors (smoke, cloves) balanced by fruit flavors
-Intended to be consumed young
-However, good or outstanding can be aged to develop tertiary flavors (forest floor, mushroom) after several years in the bottle

Question 3

When are Pinot Noir grapes most commonly blended?

Answer 3

In Sparkling wines (ie. champagne).

Question 4

What is the most famous region for Pinot Noir?

Answer 4

-Burgundy
-Some of the best Pinot Noirs are from vineyards close to the equator with a warmer climate characteristic of typical Burgundy
-These areas have moderating influences which make it possible to have a cool to moderate climate suitable for Pinot Noir

Question 5

Describe the climate in Burgundy. In which climate does Pinot Noir grow best?

Answer 5

The climate of Burgundy ranges from cool in the north and moderate further south.

Pinot Noir grows best in the moderate climate areas of Burgundy where it able to fully ripen.

Question 6

Where geographically does Pinot Noir grow best in Burgundy?

Answer 6

Southern vineyards (remember they have moderate climate).
Specifically, south and south-east facing slopes as those benefit from extra sunlight and are capable of producing concentrated and complex wines capable of aging.

Question 7

What is the name of the region of the most celebrated vineyards in Burgundy?

Answer 7

Côte d’ Or (Golden Coast) -
Divided into 2 halves:
Côte de Nuits (in the north)
Côte d’ Beaune (in the south)

Question 8

What are the labels and hierarchy of labels in Burgundy for Pinot Noir? (lowest to highest)

Answer 8

– Bourgogne AOC
– Village Wines (ex. Gevrey-Chambertin AOC (red) or Mersault AOC (white)…)
– Premier Cru
– Grand Cru

Question 9

Describe Pinot Noirs with Bourgogne AOC labeling.

Answer 9

– Typically light to medium bodied wines
– Low tannins
– High acidity
– Fresh red-fruit flavors
– Best consumed young & fresh
– They lack the flavour intensity to age
– Given “red Burgundy’s” popularity even basic Bourgogne AOC can be high priced

Question 10

Describe the best village appellations for Pinot Noir vineyards in Burgundy.

Answer 10

– Typically better situated on slopes w/ favorable aspect & well-drained soil
– More flavor intensity, complexity & length of finish than Bourgogne AOC
–Most famous appellations: (1) Gevrey-Chambertin AOC & (2) Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC in Côte de Nuits and (3) Beaune AOC and (4) Pommard AOC in Côte de Beaune

Question 11

Describe Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines for Pinot Noir in Burgundy.

Answer 11

– Produces most complex & intense wines
– Aspect = commonly on south or south-east facing slopes, which gives extra sunlight/warmth
– Flavors = concentrated red fruit (strawberry/cherry), subtle oak aromas (clove/smoke) & pronounced tertiary flavors (forest floor, mushroom) from aging.
– Grand Crus are consider the best individual vineyards w/ most concentration /complexity/ability to age (very $$$$$)
–Vineyard names may appear on Premier Cru & do appear on Grand Cru

Question 12

Where does Pinot Noir grow best in California?

Answer 12

-Most of California is too warm for Pinot Noir
-Grows best in Sonoma along the Coast
-Climate is varied (depends on proximity to coast, fog, coastal breezes cooling vineyard)
-Notable vineyards: Carneros (cooled by morning fogs San Pablo Bay), Santa Barbara county (cooled by sea breeze)
-moderating cooling factors prevent Pinot Noir from tasting excessively cooked in these regions

Question 13

What is the typical flavor profile of California Pinot Noirs?

Answer 13

–Red fruit (strawberry, red cherry)
–Notable oak flavors (vanilla)
–Can develop tertiary flavors in bottle (forest floor, mushroom)

Question 14

Describe the climate and flavors of a typical “good” Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Answer 14

-Can produce very good, outstanding wines
-Climate much cooler than CA, mostly moderate, ideal for growing Pinot Noir
-Flavors= fresh red fruit, subtle oak (smoke, cloves), and tertiary flavors w/ age (earth, mushroom)

Question 15

What is a key region for Pinot Noir in Chile?
Describe the climate and flavors.

Answer 15

-Casablanca Valley
-Coastal sub-region, in north Santiago, well suited for very good Pinot Noir
-Cooled by sea breezes and fog from Pacific Ocean
-Flavors = tend to be very fruity often with cooked strawberry flavor
-Excellent value for money

Question 16

What is a key region for Pinot Noir in South Africa?

Answer 16

• Walker Bay (cool coastal regions with strong southerly sea breezes)
• Vibrant red fruit flavors
• some very good/outstanding Pinot Noirs come from here

Question 17

What are key regions for Pinot Noir in Australia?

Answer 17

-overall climate is warm, though moderate to cool regions exist
- Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula in Victoria are the few regions cool enough for Pinot Noir (cooling breezes from Southern Ocean)
-Wines vary from light & fragrant to riper cooked red-fruit flavors (red plum & strawberry) with medium tannins

Question 18

What are key regions for Pinot Noir in New Zealand?

Answer 18

• Pinot Noir is the premier black grape variety of NZ
  -Martinborough & Marlborough have cool to moderate climate
  -Central Otago produces NZ’s ripest & most powerfully flavored Pinot Noirs (protected from sea breezes & rains by ring of mountains. Vines experience sunny days & cool nights
  -Flavors= pronounced red fruit (strawberry, red cherry), medium to full body, medium tannins
  -often matured in oak and may need to age a few years in bottle to reach full potential

Question 19

What is Pinot Noir known for today?

Answer 19

-Ability to express terroir & small changed in vineyards
-A very refreshing wine which can be consumed w/ or w/out food
-Can be consumed young/rarely needs bottle aging before drinking (even though that can enhance it)
-the high demand of Pinot Noir has caused it to be planted in climates too warm for quality, causing high alc content without pronounced fruit flavors to balance it

Question 20

What are the characteristics of Zinfandel/Primitivo?

Answer 20

-Black grape that needs warm climate to ripen successfully
-As it ripens flavors range…
-From red fruits (strawberries, raspberries) to
-Black fruits (plums, black cherries)
-Sometimes grapes w/in a bunch start to raisin before others ripen, resulting in dried fruit flavors (prune, raisin)
-Most common in California & Puglia, Italy

Question 21

How is the Zinfandel grape used in California?

Answer 21

-Zinfandel is used to either make rose wines (White Zinfandel) or red wines.

Question 22

Describe the characteristics of White Zinfandel and wine-making process.

Answer 22

• A Medium-sweet rose (pink color)
• Typically a short-maceration rose wine making process
• Low alcohol wine (8-10% on avg)
• Medium sweetness achieved by removing the years before fermentation has finished
• Simple aromas of red fruits (strawberries & raspberries)

Question 23

Describe the characteristics and winemaking process of California Red Zinfandel.

Answer 23

• Involved complete fermentation process with juice to skin contact throughout
  -Often matured in oak to soften tannins, & add flavor complexity
  -Aromas = pronounced black fruit (Blackberry, black plum), dried fruit (raisin, prune) & oak (vanilla, coffee)
  -Flavors = dry w/ medium to high acidity & tannin, high alcohol, full body
  -CA has very old Zinfandel vines which produce low quantities of concentrated fruit. Wines from these vines can develop tertiary flavors of earth and meat.

Question 24

Describe Primitivo (Red Zinfandel) from Puglia, Italy.

Answer 24

• Puglia is a warm region, important for Zinfandel varietal
  -Flavors = soft, fruity, dry red wine
  -Very good or outstanding examples can be made from controlled yields of grapes & offer great value for money.