Red Wines Flashcards
Visual: Dark ruby/purple color, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Black fruit (black currant/cassis, blackberry, black cherry), slight red fruit and plum
Floral: Purple flowers, violets
Herbal/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: Moderate-plus to high minerality, graphite, gravel, iron, damp soil, mushroom
Oak: Moderate-plus to high use of new French oak (baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar)
Structure: Dry, moderate-plus body, elevated tannin, moderate to elevated acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Cabernet Sauvignon [Left Bank]
Visual: Dark purple color, high concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Ripe/lush black fruit (black currant/cassis, blackberry, black cherry), lush red fruit (sweet cherry, raspberry), boysenberry/blueberry
Possible volatile acidity
Floral: Purple flowers, violets
Herbal/green (in cooler vintages): Sage, mint, green bell pepper, tobacco, eucalyptus
Spice (sweet): Anise, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg
Other: Cedar, pencil shavings, sweet leather, cigar box
Earth: Low to moderate-plus minerality, volcanic/ashen, gravel
Oak: Moderate-plus to high use of new French oak (allspice, nutmeg, clove, smoke, toast, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cocoa, cedar)
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), full body, elevated to high tannin, moderate acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Cabernet Sauvignon [Napa]
Visual: Dark ruby/purple color, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Ripe/lush black fruits (black currant/cassis, blackberry, black cherry), ripe/lush red fruits (red plum, raspberry)
Floral: Purple flowers, violets
Herbal/green: 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: Moderate to moderate-plus minerality, damp earth, mushroom/compost, iron
Oak: Moderate use of new French oak (baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar)
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), moderate-plus body, elevated tannin, moderate to elevated acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Cabernet Sauvignon [Chile]
Visual: Dark ruby to purple color, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors:
Fruit: Ripe/lush black fruit (cassis/black currant, blackberry, black cherry), ripe/lush red fruit (red cherry, red plum), prune
Floral: Purple flowers, violets
Herbal/green: Intense green character, eucalyptus, mint, green bell pepper, sage
Spice (sweet): Licorice/anise, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg
Other: Cedar, pencil shavings, leather, cigar box
Earth: Moderate to moderate-plus minerality, earth/clay
Oak: Moderate to moderate-plus use of new French or American oak (baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar)
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), moderate-plus body, elevated tannin, moderate to elevated acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Cabernet Sauvignon [Australia]
Visual: Bright ruby with purple tones, low to moderate-plus
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus to high intensity
Fruit: Tart red fruit (strawberry, red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red currant), watermelon
Carbonic maceration notes: Pear drop, banana, bubblegum, cotton candy, lifted red fruit/floral aromatics
Floral: Violets, lilacs, peonies
Other: Slight black pepper, dry savory herbs
Earth: Moderate to high minerality, stony, crushed rock
Oak: None or neutral casks
Structure: Dry, moderate-minus to moderate body, diminished to moderate tannin, elevated acidity, moderate alcohol
Gamay [Beaujolais Cru]
Visual: Ruby color, slight orange rim (even in youth), moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Cooked to dried red fruits (strawberry, cherry, raspberry), roasted red plum, blackberry, raisin/fig
Possible volatile acidity, oxidation
Floral: Red flowers, dried lavender
Herbal: Herbes de Provence, garrigue/wild brush, rosemary, brewed black tea, savory herbs
Spice: Curing spices, black pepper, juniper, clove, licorice, lavender
Other: Powdered sugar, dried orange/grapefruit peel, old leather/Brettanomyces
Earth: Moderate-plus to high minerality, stony/gravelly, baked earth
Oak: Large neutral casks (foudres) or concrete vats, although some modern special cuvée styles may incorporate smaller barrels and new oak
Structure: Dry, moderate-plus to full body, moderate to elevated tannin, diminished to moderate acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Grenache [Chateauneuf-du-Pape]
Visual: Ruby color, slight orange rim (even in youth), moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: 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/Brettanomyces
Earth: Moderate minerality
Oak: Neutral to moderate use of new French or American oak
Structure: Dry (with a ripe attack), moderate-plus to full body, moderate tannin, moderate acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Grenache [Austrailia]
Visual: Dark ruby/purple color with blue tones, moderate-plus to high concentration, electric pink rim
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus to high intensity
Fruit: Ripe/lush black fruit (black raspberry, black cherry, blackberry), ripe/lush blue fruit (concord grape jam, blueberry, plum), lush red fruit (raspberry liqueur), fig, raisin, prune
Floral: Purple and red flowers, violets, damson flowers (floral aromatics are especially expressive in higher-altitude wines)
Herbal/green: May have slight green notes
Earth: Moderate-minus to moderate minerality, clay/mud
Oak: Low to high use of new French and/or American oak, vanilla, baking spices, chocolate, cinnamon
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), full body, elevated tannin, diminished to moderate acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Malbec [Mendoza]
Visual: Ruby color with blue tones, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Stewed fruit character, ripe/lush blue fruit (plum, blueberry), ripe black fruit (black currant), lush red fruit (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 oak or mixed origin oak, chocolate, coffee, mocha, sweet baking spices, vanilla
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), moderate-plus to full body, moderate tannin, diminished to moderate acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Merlot [Napa]
Visual: Ruby color with garnet tones, moderate to moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Blue fruit (plum, blueberry), red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry), black fruit (blackberry, black cherry), fig/fruitcake
Floral: Purple flowers, violets
Herbal: Mint, bay leaf, fern, tobacco
Spice: Licorice/anise, Christmas spice
Earth: Moderate-plus to high minerality, clay, mushroom/truffle
Oak: Moderate-plus to high use of new French oak, chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla
Structure: Dry, moderate to moderate-plus body, moderate to elevated tannin, moderate acidity, elevated alcohol
Merlot [Right Bank]
Visual: Ruby/garnet color, significant garnet/orange rim variation, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High intensity
Fruit: Tart red fruit (sour cherry, red plum), blackberry, mulberry, dried plum/prune and dried cherry
Significant volatile acidity, oxidation
Floral: Heady floral character, roses, violets
Herbal: Tea leaf, tobacco, bitter root, tree bark
Spice: Licorice, anise, resin, slight clove/cinnamon spice
Other: Tar, leather
Earth: High minerality, truffle, mushroom, dust, organic earth
Oak: Neutral large casks (Slavonian oak and chestnut botti are considered traditional)
Structure: Dry, medium to full body, high tannin, elevated to high acidity, elevated to high alcohol
Nebbiolo [Barolo]
Visual: Light ruby/ruby color, moderate-minus to moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus Intensity
Fruit: Tart to just ripe red fruit (red cherry, raspberry, cranberry, wild strawberry), possible black cherry, beet/beetroot, tomato
Possible stem inclusion
Floral: Purple and red flowers, violets, lilacs, potpourri
Herbal/vegetable: Tea leaf, dried herbs, fennel, rhubarb, sweet squash
Spice: Red licorice, anise, clove
Other: Game, leather
Earth: Moderate to high minerality, fluoride, wet stone, mushroom/forest floor, damp leaves
Oak: Neutral to high use of new French oak, toast, vanilla bean, smoke, baking spices, cinnamon, roasted nut, caramel
Structure: Dry, moderate to moderate-plus body, diminished to elevated tannin, elevated acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Pinot Noir [Cote d’Or]
Visual: Ruby color, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Ripe/lush red fruit (strawberry, cherry, raspberry), ripe black cherry, blueberry
Floral: Purple and red flowers, potpourri
Herbal: Tea leaf, citrus zest/peel, tomato leaf
Spice: Red licorice, oak spices
Other: Cola, kola nut
Earth: Moderate-plus minerality, wet leaves, compost, mushroom, forest floor
Oak: Moderate to high use of new French oak, vanilla, baking spices, coffee, chocolate, caramel
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), moderate-plus body, diminished to moderate tannin, moderate to elevated acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Pinot Noir [Willamette Valley]
Visual: High clarity, bright ruby color, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Ripe/lush red fruit (strawberry jam, cherry, raspberry), ripe black cherry, plum/prune
Floral: Purple and red flowers, potpourri
Herbal: Tea leaf, citrus zest/peel
Spice: Red licorice, clove, cinnamon
Other: Cola, kola nut
Earth: Moderate minerality
Oak: Moderate-plus to high use of new French oak (one-third or more new barrels), toast, vanilla bean, smoke, baking spices, clove, cinnamon, roasted nut, caramel
Structure: Dry (with ripe attack), moderate-plus body, moderate tannin, moderate to elevated acidity, elevated alcohol
Pinot Noir [Russian River Valley]
Visual: Dark ruby, garnet rim variation, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors:
Fruit: Tart red fruit (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 (Brettanomyces indicators), 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 mixed use of French oak barriques
Structure: Bone dry to dry, full body, elevated to high tannin, elevated to high acidity, elevated alcohol
Sangiovese [Brunello]
