Moderate Climate Reds

Question 1

List 6 moderate climate red wines.

Answer 1

Corvina / Sangiovese
Pinot Noir / Gamay
Nebbiolo
Merlot

Question 2

Describe the Corvina varietal.

Answer 2

Moderate climate
Vento

Nose:
Aromatic
Sour cherry, almond, cinnamon, chocolate, green peppercorn

Structuure
M+ acid
L tannin
L body
Oak - rare

Notes
Blended with rondinella and molinara
Valpolicella, Amarone, Ripasso and Recioto

Question 3

Describe Gamay

Answer 3

Moderate climate
Beaujolais

Visual
Light ruby: thin skin

Nose
Violets, red fruit, violets

Structure
Acid - high
Tannin - low
Alcohol - medium
Oak: moderate, rarely new

Notes
Carbonic maceration
Drink young
Food friendly

Question 4

Describe Nebbiolo

Answer 4

Moderate climate
Piemonte

Visual
Orange or brown rim
Light in colour
Prone to oxidation

Structure
Acid - high
Tannin 0 high

Nose
Rose, red fruit, leather, tobacco, earth, truffles, olives, anise

Notes:
Worthy of long ageing

Question 5

Describe Sangiovese

Answer 5

Moderate climate
Tuscany - Chianti and Brunello

Visual
Light colour, thin skin

Nose
Violet, red fruit, tomato leaf, leather, earth, tea leaves, anise

Structure
Acid: high
Tannin: M+ to high
Oak: can see oak treatment in best examples

Notes
More earth than fruit driven
Can be blended but mostly standalone

Question 6

Describe Merlot

Answer 6

Moderate climate
Bordeaux, Napa, Tuscany IGT

Visual
Plum colour from thick skin

Nose
Red fruit, black fruit, vanilla

Structure
Sugar: RS in warm climates
Acid: high
Tannin: medium (round in the mouth)

Notes:
Can see oak treatment
Standalone or blended with CS
Best examples can age for decades

Question 7

Describe Pinot Noir

Answer 7

Moderate climate
Burgundy, Champagne, Central Otago, Anderson Valley, Oregon, Yarra Valley, Beamsville Bench

Visual
Pale, garnet - thin skin

Nose
Violet, red fruit, mushroom and earth with age

Structure
Acid - high
Tannin - medium

Notes
New oak, especially for ageworthy wines
Best examples can age and improve for decades
Stand alone grape - rarely blended
Can be earthy, especially in Old World