SAT Flashcards
How do you describe a hazy wine?
a wine that has unusually high amount of suspended particles.
What does a ‘pale” white wine look like?
It has a broad watery rim when holding the glass at 45 degrees.
Describe a “deep” white wine?
The pigment reaches almost to the rim when being held at 45 degrees
What is the most common color for white wines?
lemon
What color is the wine if it has a noticeable greenness to the color?
lemon-green
What color is a white wine if it has a hint of orange or brown?
gold
What color is a white wine if it has a very noticeable level of browning to it?
amber or brown
What is the most common color for red wines?
RUBY
What color is a red wine with a noticeable blue or purple color?
Purple
Describe a garnet color red wine?
red wine with noticeable orange or brown, but still more red than brown
Describe a tawny color wine
a red wine with more brown color than red
Describe a brown color wine
a red wine with no red color at all
How do you describe a rose wine with a very pure pink color?
Pink
Describe a salmon or orange color wine
a rose wine with a hint of orange
Name 7 types of faults
- TCA
- Reduction
- Sulfur dioxide
- Oxidation
- Out of condition
- Volatile acidity (VA)
- Brettanomyces “brett”
What is TCA
Gives wine a scent of cardboard. Fruit flavors will be muted and wine will appear less fresh. Main cause is cork taint. Often referred to as “corked”
What is Reduction
a fault in wine that gives a “stinky” character - like rotten eggs, boiled cabbage, boiled onions, or blocked drains. In some cases it will dissipate when bottle is opened.
What is Sulfur Dioxide?
a fault in wine where the levels of sulfur dioxide are so high that it gives the wine an acid smell like recently distinguished matches. lower levels can mask the fruitiness. Insufficient SD can lead to oxidation.
What is oxidation?
a fault in wine that is opposite of reduction. caused by a failure of closure allowing unwanted oxygen to interact with the wine. Gives the wine a deeper color , more brown than it should be. may give aromas of toffee, honey, caramel, or coffee. Will lack fruitiness and freshness. Some wines made purposefully like this and it is not considered a fault
what is ‘out of condition’?
wine fault where wines have lost their freshness and vibrancy, they may taste dull and stale. this may be due to them being too old or store improperly (too hot, too bright, too variable). Could be elements of oxidation as well.
What is VA?
Volatile acidity - all wine have some. at low levels helps the wine seem more fragrant and complex. At high levels it gives wine aromas of wine polish remover or vinegar.
What is Brettanomyyces?
also known as “Brett”, a yeast that gives a wine a plastic or animal aroma. often are apparent even before sniffing. Can be reminiscent of sticking plastics, vinyl, smoked meal, leather, or sweaty horses.
Describe a pronounced intensity aroma?
if you place your nose in the glass and the aromas are apparent immediately without even sniffing
Describe a light intensity aroma?
if after sniffing you still find the aromas to be faint and hard to detect.
Describe a medium intensity aroma?
if it does not fall into the pronounced or light aroma categories.
What are primary aromas?
Aromas that exist after fermentation. some come from the grape and others happen during the fermentation process itself.
What are secondary aromas?
Aromas created post fermentation. Most common are the ones created from oak (vanilla or toast). They can also include buttery, or creamy from malacotic fermentation (MLF). It can also be yeasty or biscuit aromas that develop from lees contact or autolysis.
What are tertiary aromas?
Aromas that have origin in the aging process. could be oxidative which could be due to long periods on oak. This could cause aromas of coffee, toffee, or caramel . Long aging in the bottle could produce aromas of honey, petrol, or mushroom. In both cases, it changes the primary aromas where they are less fresh and more dried or cooked in character.
how do you describe a “youthful” wine?
a wine that is dominated by primary or secondary aromas
How do you describe a “developing” wine?
a wine that has aromas of primary and secondary but some tertiary aromas can be detected
How do you describe a “fully developed” wine?
a wine where the predominant aromas are tertiary.