Red

Question 1

TEMPRANILLO

Rioja, Spain

Answer 1

**Visual: **ruby, mod^-- mod concentration, slight stain, mod-mod⁺viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: tart/Sweet reds (red cherry, strawberry, red currant) sour asian plum, dried plum

Significant Oxidation & Brett on Gran Reservas

Floral: red & dried flowers

**Herbal: **tobacco & dill

**Other: **sweet & sour sauce, iodine, leather spice

**Earth: **moderate-high minerality, baked earth, clay, compost

Oak: low-moderate use of new american or mixture american/french barrels (long aging for riserva and gran riserva), vanilla, coconut, dill, cumin, curry, fenugreek, sandalwood

Structure: dry, moderate plus body, moderate plus tannin, mod-mod⁺ acidity, mod-mod⁺ alcohol

Question 2

SHIRAZ

South Australia

Answer 2

**Visual: **opaque-dark purple, high concentation, staining, high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity

**Fruit: ** ripe/lush black (blackberry, cassis), lush blue (blueberry, plum), dried fruit (fig, raisin, date), raspberry liquer, mulberry

**Florals: **purple & red flowers, lavendar

Herbal/Green: eucalyptus, mint/menthol, herbs de provence, rosemary

**Spice: **blac pepper, dried savory spices, licorice, xmas spices, fruitcake

**Other: **bitter chocolate, smoke, grilled meat

**Earth: **low-moderate minerality

**Oak: **low-high use of new french/american oak, vanilla, maple, cocnut, dill, chocolate, mocha, baking spices, cumin, curry, fenugreek

**Structure: **dry (often 2-4g/l rs), full body, mod-mod⁺ tannins, mod-mod⁺acidity, high alcohol

Question 3

CABERNET FRANC

Chinon, Touraine, Loire Valley, France

Answer 3

**Visual: **dark ruby, pink/purple rim, mod-mod⁺ concentration, staining

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: bright red (raspberry, cranberry, red cherry, cherry pit) tart black fruit (black cherry, black currant, blackberry)

Floral: violets, lilacs, white & red flowers

Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: black currant bud/leaf, green bell pepper, celery seed, grass, sage, tobacco

Possible Carbonic Maceration and/or Stem Inclusion

**Other: **leather, cedar, cigarbox

Earth: high minerality, pencil lead, graphite, gravel, dust

**Oak: **neutral

Structure: dry, moderate plus body, moderate plus tannings, moderate plus acidity, mod-mod⁺ alcohol

Question 4

MERLOT

Napa Valley, California

Answer 4

**Visual: **ruby w/blue tones, moderate plus concentration, staining, mod⁺- high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: stewed fruit, ripe/lush blue (plum, blueberry), ripe black (black currant), lush red (red cherry, raspberry) fig, prune

Floral: purple flowers, violets

Herbal: fern, bay leaf, sage

**Spice: **christmas spice, licorice/anise

**Earth: **low to moderate minerality

Oak: moderate to high use of new french or mixed oak, chocolate, coffee, mocha, sweet baking spices, vanilla

**Structure: **dry (ripe attack), mod⁺- full body, mod-mod⁺ tanning, moderate acidity, high alcohol

Question 5

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Chile

Answer 5

**Visual: **dark ruby/purple, moderate plus concentration, staining, mod⁺- high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **ripe/lush blacks (black currant, cassis, blackberry, black cherry), ripe/lush red (red plum, raspberry)

Floral: purple flowers, violets

Herbal/Green: bell pepper, capsicum, green/black olive, mint, tobacco

**Spice (sweet): **anise, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg

**Other: **cedar, pencil shavings, leather, cigar box

**Earth: **mod-mod⁺ minerality, damp earth, mushroom, compost, iron, graphite

**Oak: **moderate use of new french, baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar

**Structure: **Dry (ripe attack), moderate plus body, moderate plus tannin, mod-mod⁺acidity, moderate plus alcohol

Question 6

MALBEC

Mendoza, Argentina

Answer 6

Visual: dark ruby/purple, blue tones, mod⁺- high concentration, electric pink rim, mod⁺- high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **ripe/lush black (black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry), ripe/lush blue (concord grape jam, blueberry, plum) lush red (raspberry liquer), fig, raisin, prune

Floral: purple & red flowers, violets, damson flowers

Herbal/Green: slight green tones

**Earth: **mod^-- mod minerality, clay, mud

Oak: low-high use of new french and/or american, vanilla, baking spices, chocolate, cinnamon

**Structure: **dry (ripe attack), full body, mod-mod⁺ acidity, mod-mod⁺ tannin, high alcohol

Question 7

CORVINA

Amarone della Valpolicella, Verona, Italy

Answer 7

Visual: ruby/dark ruby, garnet rim variation, moderate plus concentration, staining, high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity

**Fruit: **ripe/syrupy red (red cherry, red plum, raspberry), black cherry, blacberry, prune, raisin, dried cherry

Sigificant Volatile Acidity & Oxidation Likely

Possible Botrytis Aromas

**Floral: **highly floral, roses, dried flowers

Spice: licorice, cinnamon

**Other: **hoeny, chocolate, resin, tar, leather, bitter almond, smoke, tobacco, ash, game

Earth: moderate- high minerality

Oak: large neutral casks

Structure: dry-off dry (max 12g/l rs), full body, moderate plus tannin, moderate plus acidity, high alcohol

Question 8

GRENACHE

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone Valley, France

Answer 8

Visual: ruby, slight orange rim, moderate concentration, mod⁺- high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **cooked/dried red fruits (strawberry, cherry, raspberry), roasted red plum, blackberry, raisin, fig

Possible Volatile Acidity & Oxidation

**Floral: **red flowers, dried lavendar

**Herbal: **herbs de provence, garrigue/wild bush, rosemary, brewed black tea, savory herbs

**Spice: **curing spices, black pepper, juniper, clove, licorice, lavendar

**Other: **powdered sugar, dried orange/grapefruit peel, old leather (brett)

Earth: mod⁺- high minerality, stony, gravelly, baked earth

Oak: large neutral or concrete

Structure: dry, mod⁺- full body, mod-mod⁺tannin, mod-mod⁺ acidity, mod⁺- high alcohol

Question 9

GRENACHE

Australia

Answer 9

** Visual: **ruby color, slight orange rim, moderate concentration, mod⁺- high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruits: cooked/stewed strawberry, maraschino cherry, prune, fig, raisin, plum pie

Possible Volatile Acidity & Oxidation

**Floral: **red flowers

**Herbal: **mint, menthol, eucalyptus, black tea leaf, dried savory herbs

Spice: curing spices, black pepper, licorice

**Other: **powdered sugar, possible old leather (brett)

**Earth: **moderate minerality, crushed vitamin

**Oak: **neutral-moderate use of new french or american

Structure: dry (ripe/syrupy attack), mod⁺-full body, moderate tannin, moderate acidity, high alcohol

Question 10

GAMAY

Beaujoulais, Burgundy, France

Answer 10

**Visual: **bright ruby, purple tones, low-mod⁺concentration, some bubbles from carbonic

**Aromas/Flavors: **mod⁺- high intensity

Fruit: tart reds (strawberry, red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red currant), watermelon

**Carbonic Maceration: **pear drop, banana, bubble gum, cotton candy, lifted red fruit, floral aromatics

Floral: violets, lilacs, peonies

**Other: **slight black pepper, dry savory herbs

**Earth: **moderate-high minerality, wet granite, stony, crushed rock

Oak: none or neutral casks

Structure: dry, mod^-- mod body, low-mod^- tannin, mod⁺-high acidity, mod-mod⁺ alcohol

Question 11

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Napa Valley, California

Answer 11

**Visual: **dark purple, high concentration, high viscosity, staining

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Possible Volatile Acidity

**Fruit: **ripe/lush black fruit (black currant, cassis, blackberry, black cherry), lush red fruit (sweet cherry, raspberry) boysenberry, blueberry

Floral: purple flowers & violets

**Herbal/Green (cooler vintages): **sage, mint, bell pepper, eucalyptus, tobacco

**Spice (sweet): **anise, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg

Other: cedar, pencil shavings, sweet leather, cigar box

Earth: low-mod⁺minerality, volcanic, ashen, gravel, loamy

**Oak: **mod⁺-high use of new french oak, all spice, nutmeg, clove, smoke, toast, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cocoa, cedar

Structure: dry (w/ripe attack), full body, mod⁺-high tannins, moderate acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 12

PINOT NOIR

Russian River, Sonoma County, California

Answer 12

Visual: high clarity, bright ruby, moderate concentration, mod⁺-high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: ripe/lush red (strawberry jam, cherry, raspberry) ripe black charry, plum, prune

Floral: purple and red flowers, potpourri

Herbal: tea leaf, citrus zest/peel

Other: cola, cola nut

**Earth: ** moderate minerality

**Oak: **moder⁺-high use of new french (1/3 or more new), toast, vanilla bean, smoke, baking spices, clove, cinnamon, roasted nut, caramel

Structure: dry (ripe attack), moderate plus body, mod^--mod tannins, moderate acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 13

MOURVEDRE

Bandol, Provence, France

Answer 13

Visual: dark ruby, moderate plus concentration, mod⁺-high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **ripe black (blackberry, black raspberry, black cherry), blue (blueberry, plum, prune), red (red plum, red cherry)

Floral: purple flowers

**Herbal: **garrigue/wild herbs, herbs de provence, black tea, tobacco

Spice: bitter chocolate, black pepper, curing spices

**Other: **Hung/cured meats, animal/feral, game, saddle leather

Earth: mod⁺-high minerality, forest floor, dusty

**Oak: **large neutral cask, coffee, cinnamon

**Structure: **dry, full body, high tannin, moderate plus acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 14

ZINFANDEL

Dry Creek, Sonoma County, California

Answer 14

**Visual: **ruby/dark ruby, mod-mod⁺ concentration, staining, mod-mod⁺ viscosity

Aromas/Flavors: mod⁺- high intensity

**Fruit: **jammy/brambly berry fruit (raspberry, black cherry, cherry compote, blacberry, cassis, blueberry), cranberry, jam, raisin, fig, peach yogurt, apricot

Herbal: Briar

**Spice: **black pepper

**Earth: **potting soil, turned earth

Oak: neutral-moderate use of new american oak, french oak, or mixed barrels, vanilla, sawdust, coconut, chocolate, mocha, coffee, caramel, dillweed, cinnamon

**Structure: **dry (often perceptible rs), full body, mod-mod⁺ tannins, mod-mod⁺ acidity, high alcohol

Question 15

NEBBIOLO

Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

Answer 15

Visual: ruby/garnet, garnet/orange high rim variation, moderate concentration, high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity

**Fruit: **tart red (sour cherry, red plum) blackberry, mulberry, dried plum, prune, dried cherry

Significant Volatile Acidity & Oxidation

Floral: heady floral, roses, violets

**Herbal: **tea leaf, tobacco, bitter root, tree bark

Spice: licorice, anise, resin, slight clove, cinnamon

Other: tar, leather

**Earth: **high minerality, truffle, mushroom, dust, organic earth

Oak: neutral large casks (slavonian oak or chestnut botti)

Structure: dry, moderate-full body, high tannin, mod⁺-high acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 16

AGLIANICO

Taurasi, Campania, Italy

Answer 16

Visual: dark ruby, moderate concentration, mod⁺- high viscosity

Aromas/Flavors: moderate plus intensity

Fruit: ripe/roasted black (black cherry, blackberry, black plum) fig, dried cherry

Possible Volatile Acidity

Floral: purple flowers, violets

**Herbal: **

Spice:

Other:

Earth:

**Oak: **large neutral casks

**Structure: **dry, full body, high tannin, moderate plus acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 17

CARMENERE

Chile

Answer 17

Visual: dark ruby, purple tones, moderate plus concentration, moderate tannin, mod-mod⁺ acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: ripe/lush black (cassis, blackberry, black plum, black cherry) stewed tomato

Floral: violets, purple flowers

**Green/Herbal/Pyrazine: **strong green notes, contrasted with ripe fruit, bell pepper, celery, camphor

Spice: black pepper

**Oak: ** low-moderate use of new french, chocolate, campife smoke

**Structure: **dry (ripe attack), moderate plus body, moderate tannin, mod-mod⁺ acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 18

SANGIOVESE

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Answer 18

**Visual: **light ruby, slight garnet tones, mod^--mod concentration, mod-mod⁺ viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: ** moderate intensity

**Fruit: **tart red (sour cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red currant), red apple, black cherry, mulberry, tomato

Floral: dried flowers, potpourri

Herbal/Green: fennel, roasted savory herbs, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, camphor, bitter root

Spice: clove, smoke (brett?), coffee, oak spices

Other: sanguine/blood, balsamic, animal, leather, tar

**Earth: **moderate-high minerality, clay, crushed rock, baked earth

**Oak: **none or large neutral with possible use of french oak barriques: if oak it is classico or riserva docg

**Structure: **bone dry-dry, mod-mod⁺ body, mod⁺-high tannin, mod⁺-high acidity, moderate-high alcohol

Question 19

SYRAH

Northern Rhone, France

Answer 19

Visual: ruby/purple, mod⁺-high concentration, staining, mod-mod⁺ viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **tart/ripe black (blackberry, black cherry, black plum), blue (blueberry, boysenberry) red raspberry

Possible Carbonic Maceration & Stem Inclusion

Floral: purple & red flowers, lavendar, violets

Herbal/Green: green/black olive, green peppercorn, herbs de provence, rosemary

Spice: white/black pepper, curing spices, juniper

**Other: **tar, hung/cured meat, smoke, bacon fat, band-aid (brett)

**Earth: **mod⁺-high minerality, granite, crushed rock

**Oak: **neutral barrel/cask, low-moderate use of new french

**Structure: **bone dry-dry, moderate plus body, moderate plus tannin, mod⁺-high acidity, mod-mod⁺ alcohol

Question 20

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Classified Growth Medoc/Graves, Bordeaux, France

Answer 20

Visual: dark ruby/purple, moderate plus concentration, moderate plus viscosity, staining

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: black fruit (black currant, cassis, blackberry, ripe black cherry) slight red fruit & plum

Floral: purple flowers, violets

Herbarl/Green: sage, green bell pepper, mint, tobacco, dried savory herbs

**Spice (savory): **green peppercorn, anise, clove, exotic spices

**Other: **leather, pencil shavings, cedar, iodine, medicinal, game, cigar box

Earth: mod⁺-high minerality, graphite, gravel, iron, damp soil, mushroom

**Oak: ** mod⁺-high use of new french, baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar

Structure: dry, mod-mod⁺ body, mod⁺-high tannin, moderate plus acidity, mod-mod⁺ alcohol

Question 21

PINOT NOIR

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Answer 21

**Visual: **ruby color, moderate concentration, mod⁺-high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **ripe/lush red (strawberry, cherry, raspberry), ripe black cherry, blueberry

Floral: purple & red flowers, potpourri

**Herbal: **tea leaf, citrus zest/peel, tomato leaf

**Spice: **red licorice, oak spices

**Other: **cola, cola nut

**Earth: **moderate plus minerality, wet leaves, compost, mushroom, forest floor

**Oak: **moderate-high use of new french, vanilla, baking spices, coffee, chocolate, caramel

Structure: dry (ripe attack), moderate plus body, mod^--mod tannin, moderate plus acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 22

SANGIOVESE

Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Answer 22

Visual: dark ruby, garnet rim variation, moderate plus concentration, mod⁺-high viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: tart red (sour cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red currant), red apple, black cherry, mulberry, tomato

**Floral: **dried flowers, potpourri

**Herbal/Green: **fennel, roasted savory herbs, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, camphor, bitter root

Spice: clove, smoke (brett?), coffee, oak spices

Other: sanguine/blood, balsamic, animal, leather, tar

**Earth: **moderate to high minerality, clay, crushed rock, baked earth

**Oak: **large neutral cask with possible mix use of french barrique

Structure: bone dry-dry, full body, high tannin, high acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol

Question 23

MERLOT

Right Bank Bordeaux, France

Answer 23

**Visual: **ruby w/garnet tones, mod-mod⁺ concentration, staining, mod-mod⁺viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

Fruit: blues (blue plum, blueberry), reds (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry), black (blackberry, black cherry) fig, fruitcake

Floral: purple flowers, violets

**Herbal: **mint, bay leaf, fern tobacco

Spice: licorice/anise, christmas spice

**Earth: ** mod⁺-high use of new french oak, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla

Structure: dry, mod-mod⁺ body, mod-mod⁺ tannin, mod-mod⁺ acidity, moderate plus alcohol

Question 24

PINOT NOIR

Cote d’Or, Burgundy, France

Answer 24

Visual: light ruby/ruby, mod^--mod concentration, mod-mod⁺ viscosity

**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity

**Fruit: **tart/just ripe red (red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, wild straberry), possible black cherry, beet root/beet, tomato

Possible Stem Inclusion

Floral: purple & red, fiolets, lilacs, potpourri

Herbal/Vegetal: tea leaf, dried herbs, fennel, rhubarb, sweet squash​

Spice: red licorice, anise, clove

Other: game, leather

**Earth: **moderate-high minerality, flouride, limestone, mushroom, forest floor, damp leaves

**Oak: **neutral- high use of new french oak, toast, vanilla bean, smoke, baking spices, cinnamon, nut, caramel

Structure: dry, mod-mod⁺ body, mod^--mod tannin, moderate plus acidity, moderate plus alcohol

Question 25

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Coonawarra, Limestone Coast, South Australia

Answer 25

Visual: dark ruby/purple, moderate plus concentration, staining, mod⁺-high viscosity

Aromas/Flavors: moderate plus concentration

**Fruit: **ripe/lush black fruit (cassis, black currant, blackberry, black cherry), ripe/lush red (red cherry, red plum), prune

Floral: purple flowers, violets

**Herbal/Green: **intense green character, eucalyptus, mint, bell pepper, sage

**Spice (sweet): **licorice/anise, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg

**Other: **cedar, pencil shavings, leather, cigar box

Earth: mod-mod⁺minerality, terra rosa, red soils, loamy, clay

**Oak: **mod-mod⁺use of new french & american, baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar

**Structure: **dry (ripe attack), moderate plus body, mod-mod⁺tannin, mod-mod⁺acidity, mod⁺-high alcohol