P2 Practical Flashcards
Chateauneuf du Pape likely blend & MOP
~60% Grenache (strawberry, dried herbs), 20-30% Syrah (pepper, red plum), 20-30% Mourvèdre (meaty, smoky). Other grapes likely not obvious.
Wide range of NFO usage (from none to 100%).
25-26C fermentation temps (don’t go too warm b/c of risk of oxidation with Grenache)- don’t want to extract chunky/coarse tannins
Quality hierarchy in the Southern Rhone
Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Villages
Named villages: ie Lirac, Gigondas, Vacqueras
Chateauneuf du Pape (and entry vs. icon in this tier)
Region in South Africa known for Bordeaux style red wines
Franschhoek.
Rioja / Tempranillo ID
Moderate intensity fruit, red (strawberry, red cherry) to black (blackberry, black cherry, black plum).
Tertiary: leather, tobacco, potpourri.
M to H acid
M to H Tannin, chalky
Med to High body, sim to Cab Sauv (hollow mid-palate)
Affinity to American oak, sometimes French. Often blend of both
Styles: Range from very traditional, oxidative with long aging to International styled examples in French for shorter time to unoaked/young
Rioja/Ribera del Duero Aging Categories:
Joven: No requirement, some see 6 months or less of oak
Crianza: Min. 1 yr in barrel, 1 yr in btl.
Reserva: Min 1 yr in barrel, 2 yrs in btl
Gran Reserva: Min 2 yrs in barrel, 3 yrs in btl
Rioja vs. Ribera del Duero
Rioja: red fruited.
If cherry fruit, softer acid, consider Garnacha inclusion.
If grippy tannins/high acid, consider Mazuelo.
Ribera del Duero: black fruited, higher ABV (14-15%), riper fruit
If Cassis and slight capsicum, consider Cab Sauv.
Super high ABV (14.5-15.5, high tannins, very baked fruit profile: Consider Toro
Rioja Market Positioning
56% Domestic, 44% export
Top 5 markets: UK (by far), Germany, US, Switzerland
Beaujolais Cru Differentiation
Most structure (granitic soils): Moulin a Vent (boldest) and Morgon (many top producers, Cote du Py vineyard)
Very mineral, floral: Fleurie
Cherry fruit, also structure: Julienas
Brouilly / Cotes de Brouilly
Furthest N./lightest/highest acid: Saint Amour
Bordeaux Left Bank
St. Estephe: most structured, least approachable in youth, tannins have grip
Pauillac: sauve politician. Beautifully dressed power.
St. Julien: country gentleman in tweeds. Modest and subtle elegance
Margaux: Perfume, elegance, pretty, graceful, higher dollop of Merlot.
Pessac-Leognan: Pushing higher ABV (up to 15%), warmth, generosity, ripeness. Broader stretch of quality.
Tannin structure: Cabernet Sauvignon, regional differences
Napa/Argentina: Glossy, polished
Washington: V. high alcohol, high and polished
Australia: Elevated, but fruit wrapped. Margaret River - quite leafy, black fruit finish. Coonawarra - more integrated.
Tuscany: Slightly gritty, dry finish.
South Africa: Grippy, rustic, fruit finish
Bordeaux: Grippy, dry finish.
Tannin Structure: Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir
Grenache: loose knit, diffuse, high but not driving.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Linear, gives structure, “hollow” mid-palate
Syrah: Firm and powerful start to finish.
Sangiovese: Dusty tannins, can be medium to high
Nebbiolo: Astringent, chalky, very driving and distinct from the fruit.
Pinot Noir: Velvety, very integrated in the fruit.
Northern Rhône Regional differences
Cote Rotie: lowest alcohol, most elegant, range of oak from ambitious (Guigal) to no new. Likelihood of Viognier (3-5%): aromatic lift, deeper color.
Hermitage: v. powerful, high alcohol (14-15%) with elegant tannins. Black olive, meatiness, black pepper. Range of oak. No Viognier.
St. Joseph: Floral, perfumed red fruited. Large region and quite variable. 13-14%.
Crozes-Hermitage: Large regions and quite variable. 13-14%. Meaty, lots of black pepper.
Cornas: Warmest region - garrigue & tapenade. Can be quite rustic, stem inclusion, but range of styles.
Pinot Noir Regional, Australia
Tasmania: Coldest region, but lots of sunshine. Just ripe, ripping acidity, crystalline fruit.
Mornington: Crunchy, pure fruited, silky, transparent, mineral.
Yarra Valley: Warmer, but still v. cool. Tangy acidity - almost VA like. Red fruited and fresh.
Adelaide Hills: Herbal notes, but time .5% higher ABV.
Grenache, Regional Decision Tree
Garnet, easily oxidized, Pinot Noir + Tannin.
Chat du Pape: 100-60% Grenache: Floral, garrigue, spicy. Range of color, can be v. high ABV (15%), Syrah contribution (spice, plum); Mourvèdre contribution (tannin, meaty).
Cannonau (Sardinia): 100% Grenache, light color, 13.5-14.5% ABV. Raspberry purity + anise, pepper. Bold tannins. Pinot Noir + rustic tannin.
McLaren Vale/ Barossa: GSM blends, some 100%. Ripe red cherry, strawberry, jammy.
Central Coast, USA: Full-bodied, broad, pure fruited.
Garnacha: Borsao (high abv, baked fruit). Priorat (blended with Carignane, high abv, licorice, mineral, surprising high acid vs Rhone).
La Mancha: often unoaked, inexpensive, baked fruit - broad.
Pinotage
Lighter color, distinctive plastic/rubber aromas (smoky). Bright acid and rustic grippy tannins. Red fruited.
Bordeaux Left Bank- warm vintages (high ABV, high ripeness, Ageworthiness TBD)
2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009. Some lack of typicality
Bordeaux - classic vintages (13-14% ABV, fully ripe, but not opulent, age worthy)
2017 (RB is ripe), 2014, 2012, 2011 (maybe) 2008,
Bordeaux - cool vintage (impacts abv/acid, balance negatively)
2013, 2011
Piedmont - Nebbiolo Regional ID
Garnet cast, light color -
Brunello: most robust tannin. herbal, wild cherry, rose, tar
Barbaresco: Brunello, but can be more floral, slightly more gentle tannin
Langhe: Ruby, still light. Freshness of cherry fruit, grippy tannin, high focused acid
Gattinara: B/w Langhe and Barbaresco - matures more quickly.
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Valpolicella DOCG, Ripasso, Grape Varieties & MOP
Corvina: Light colored, elegant and perfumed, fresh black pepper, cinnamon - v. high quality
Rodinella: Floral, low tannin
Corvinone: Darker, tobacco, high tannin
Molinara: high acid, less used
Pick grapes
Dried grapes - 40% less water (~90-120 days) - concentrates acid & sugar
Long, slow fermentation until v. high ABV, and almost dry
Min 2 years in wood (Slovenian, French, cherry, chestnut)
Min. 14% ABV, 5-7 g/L usual, can be up to 12-15 g/L
Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Sub regions
Classico: Elegant, aromatic
Valpantena: Fruity, lightest
“Extended” zone: muscular, fullest bodied
Austria Red Wines
Blaufrankish: Medium body, Elevated tannins, red cherry/blackberry, allspice, pepper, dark chocolate. M/H acidity. Syrah like…
Zweigelt: bright, tart, tangy… Pinot Noir like. Bright acid, low tannins, light/medium body, red cherry/red raspberry, anise. Light, fresh picnic red
Principle AOCs of Cotes de Nuits
Gevrey-Chambertin AOC – Red wine only. Largest village in the Côte de Nuits. Grand crus: Charmes Chambertin AOC & Chambertin Clos de Bèze AOC.
Morey-Saint-Denis AOC – Almost all red.
Grand crus: Clos de Tart
AOC & Clos de la Roche AOC.
Chambolle-Musigny AOC – Red wines only for village wine.
Grand crus: Bonnes
Mares & Musigny AOC.
Vougeot AOC – Tiny village appellation for red and white wines.
Grand cru: Clos de Vougeot AOC, much larger than the village appellation.
Vosne-Romanée AOC – Red wine only.
Grand crus: La Tâche AOC & Romanée-Conti AOC.
Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC – Almost exclusively red. 1er crus: Les Saint-Georges and Les Vaucrains.
Cote de Beaune
N to S:
Aloxe-Corton AOC, Pernand-Vergelesses AOC and Ladoix-Serrigny AOC : cluster round the hill of Corton. While the villages and their premier crus mostly
produce red wines, the hill’s most famous vineyard, Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru AOC,
is exclusively white.
Corton Grand Cru AOC has many lieux-dits: mostly red, some white
Beaune AOC: Predominantly red, some white wines are made too. 1er Cru: Le Clos des Mouches and Les Grèves.
Pommard AOC – Red wines only. 1er Cru: Les Rugiens and
Clos des Épeneaux
Volnay AOC – Red wines only. 1er Cru: Clos des Chênes and Les
Caillerets.
Meursault AOC – Mostly white. 1er Cru: Perrières and Genevrières.
Puligny-Montrachet AOC (all white) and Chassagne-Montrachet AOC (more white, some red).
Grand Cru: Le Montrachet AOC &
Bâtard-Montrachet AOC
Saint-Aubin AOC – Mostly white wines. 1er Cru: Sur le Sentier du Clou
& En Remilly.
Côte Chalonnaise
Bouzeron AOC – 100% Aligoté
Rully AOC – more white than red with premier crus for both. 25%+ 1er Cru.
Crémant de Bourgogne important.
Mercurey AOC – more red wine than white. 25% 1er Cru
Givry AOC – Mostly red 40%+ 1er Cru
Montagny AOC – White only. 2/3 1er Cru
