Tasting Notes Flashcards
Champagne
Citrus, cream, toast
Color: Pale Gold
Tannin: Low, Acid: High, Alcohol: Low, Body: Low
Location: Champagne, France
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinor Noir, Pinot Meunier
Pairing: Salty or fried, fish & shellfish, oyster & caviar, tart, Latin, Asian, Middle Eastern, cheese, brunch
Avoid: Extremes - too rich, flavorful, sweet, spicy, or fishy, red meat
Other: Cava, Cremant, Franciacorta, Prosecco, Sparkling
Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne’ Blanc de Blancs Brut 2006 $605
Subappellations: Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims, Valle de la Marne, Aube, Côte de Sezanne
Cremant
Loire: Anjou, Saumur, Touraine, Vouvray
Alsace: Die
Southwest: Gaillac
Languedoc: Limoux
Burgundy: Maconnais, Cote Chalonaise, Rully
Cava
Yellow apple (cooked), toasted almond, yuzu
Color: Medium Straw
Tannin: Low, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M-, Body: Low
Location: Spain - Penedes, Cava
Grapes: Macabeo, Xarello, Parellada
Style: Sparkling
Pairing: Tapas, paella, Mexican, Cuban
Other: Champagne, Cremant, Franciacorta, Prosecco, Sparkling
Raventos Blanc ‘De La Finca’ 2018 $65
Rimarts ‘Cava Uve’ $90
Prosecco
Green apple, green pear, cream
Color: Pale Gold
Tannin: Low, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M, Body: Light
Location: Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia Italy
Other: Champagne, Cava, Cremant, Franciacorta, Sparkling
Bisol ‘Jeio’ NV $60
Gewürztraminer
Ripe pear, rose, grapefruit, ginger, tropical, Aged: candied fruit, dry flowers
Color: Medium Straw with Copper
Tannin: Low, Acid: Low, Alcohol: M+, Body: M, Sweet: Off-dry, Phenolic
Skin contact, age, sweet or dry
Location: Alsace, France, Moldova
Pairing: Fatty goose, duck, pork, veal, sausage, sauerkraut, eggs, smoke or char, sweet spices, chutney, pungent cheeses
Avoid: Spicy, acid, sweet, delicate
Other: Torrontés
Albert Boxler, Alsace 2019 $85
Weinbach, Alsace
Grüner Veltliner
Lean acidity, herbal & grassy, pepper, green bean, asparagus
Color: Pale Yellow
Tannin: Low, Acid: High, Alcohol: M-, Body: Light
Location: Wachau, Austria
Pairing: Lights meats, seafood
Prager Hinter der Berg Wachau Federspiel 2014 $85
Emmerich Knoll Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibenberg $
Riesling
Aromatic dry to sweet, lime, honey, jasmine, petrol
Color: Medium Straw
Tannin: Low, Acid: High, Alcohol: Low, Body: Light, Sweet: Varied
Location: Germany (Rheingau, Mosel), US, Australia Clare Valley (diesel), Alsace (more dry), Austria (riper German style)
Pairing: Spicy Indian, duck, pork, charcuterie, shrimp, crab, sushi, quiche
Avoid: chocolate, coffee, black pepper, red meat
Other: Vouvray
Dry or sweet, bubbles/sekt
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Dönnhoff Trocken Nahe 2021 $75
Trimbach Clos Ste Hune Alsace 2011 $225
Egon Müller Scharzhofberg
Sauvignon Blanc
Lime, grapefruit, white peach, veg-herbs, grass, [cat pee]
Color: Medium Yellow
Tannin: Low, Acid: High, Alcohol: M, Body: M-
Location: Bordeaux (Pessac-Leognan & Graves (oak), Sauternes), Sancerre (unoaked), Pouilly-Fume (oak), France, New Zealand (Hawkes Bay, Marlborough)
Pairing: Herb sauces, salads, veg dishes, salty or goat cheese, Asian food, acid
Avoid: Red meat, rich and savory, without food
Oak or not, blend or not, sweet or dry, botrytis
Henri Bourgeois Sancerre 2023 $90
Cloudy Bay Marlborough 2020 $70
Torrontés
Aromatic meyer lemon, rose, floral, soap
Color: Medium Straw
Tannin: Low, Acid: M, Alcohol: M, Body: M-, Sweet: Off-dry
Location: Salta Argentina
Pairing: Exotic spices, fruit
Other: Gewurztraminer
Bodega Colomé Salta 2022 $45
Albariño
High acid, peach, lemon zest, saline
Color: Deep Straw
Tannin: Low, Acid: High, Alcohol: M, Body: Light, Sweet: Off-dry
Location: Rias Baixas, NW Spain
Pairing: fish tacos, leafy herbs
Other: Pinot Grigio
Abadia de San Campio Rias Biaxas 2022 $50
Chardonnay
Tart apple, lemon-citrus, lees, butter, oak
Color: Pale Straw to Deep Gold
Tannin: Low, Acid: M-, Alcohol: M, Body: M-
Location: France (Burgundy, Chablis, oaked Côte d’Or, Montrachet, Meursault, Corton Charlemagne, Champagne), US (Sonoma, Carneros, Russian River), Australia (Hunter Valley, Clare Valley)
Style: Dry or sparkling
Pairing: Lobster & butter, potato chips, sole amandine (toasted nuts), white mushrooms, cream sauces
Avoid: Spicy-hot, high acid (olive, tomato), overly sweet, goat cheese
Other: Pinot Grigio
Louis Michel & Fils ‘Les Clos’ Grand Cru Chablis 2021 $210
Domaine Leflaive, Bourgogne 2020 $210
Aubert Lauren Vineyard Sonoma Coast 2005 $275
Chenin Blanc
Yellow apple, stone fruit, honey
Color: Pale Gold
Tannin: Low, Acid: High, Alcohol: M-, Body: M-
Location: South Africa, Loire (Vouvray, Sauvennieres), France
Style: Dry or sparkling
Pairing: Thai, Vietnamese
Other: German Riesling
Domaine Huet ‘Le Mont’ Sec Vouvray 2021 $110
Couly-Dutheil Samur 2021 $30
Pinot Gris or Grigio
White peach, cantaloupe, raw almond
Color: Pale Copper
Tannin: Low, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M-, Body: M-
Location: Italy (Alto-Adige, Friuli), Oregon (Willamette), Alsace
Pairing: Fish & shellfish, Asian & soy, white meats, semihard cheese, picnic
Avoid: Bold flavors, red meat, sweet
Other: Chardonnay, Albarino, SB
Oak, skin contact, low temp, ML, dry or sweet
Santa Margherita Alto Adige 2022 $60
Elena Walsh Alto Adige 2022 $90
Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva, Vorberg $
Viognier
Ripe peach, honeysuckle, orange Tic-tac, oily
Color: Medium Gold
Tannin: Low, Acid: M-, Alcohol: M+, Body: M, Sweet: Off-dry
Location: Condrieu, Château-Grillet, N. Rhône Valley
Pairing: Holiday foods, fruit & sweet spices, nuts & almonds, curry, butter & cream, caramelized onion & veg, cheeses, deep fried
Avoid: Blackened, delicate, tart & acid, pungent fish, spicy hot
Ripe or overripe, skin contact, lees, ML, less oak, dry or off-dry, age
Yves Cuilleron ‘La Petite Côte’ Condrieu 2020 $120
Château Grillet N Rhone
E. Guigal N Rhone
Gamay
Juicy red fruit, violet, earthy, banana
Color: Pale Purple
Tannin: Low, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M-, Body: Light
Location: Beaujolais, France
Style: Dry or carbonic maceration (Beaujolais Nouveau)
Pairing: Sweet & sour
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly 2019 $80
(BN) Domaine de la Cadette ‘La Sœur Cadette’ 2023 $80
Pinot Noir
Raspberry, cranberry, orange peel, hibiscus, clove, mushroom
Color: Pale Ruby
Tannin: M-, Acid: M+, Alcohol: M, Body: M-
Location: Burgundy (Vosne-Romanée, Clos de la Roche, Echézeaux), Champagne, France, Sonoma (Carneros, S. Coast, Russian River), Oregon (Willamette Valley), New Zealand
Pairing: Peking duck, lamb, veal, chicken/coq au vin, pork, quail, mushrooms, flavor spices, charcuterie
Avoid: Too much cream, butter, fat; Strong seafood, fiery heat, cheese
Other: Nebbiolo
Still or sparkling, red or rose, barrel, whole cluster, cold soak, tannin +/-
Joseph Swan ‘Trenton Estate’ Russian River Valley 2013 $145
Williams Selyem ‘Ferrington’ Anderson Valley 2018 $295
Comte Armand ‘Clos des Epeneaux’ 1er Cru Pommard 2007 $460
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti ‘La Tâche’ 2014 $5550
Grenache
Ripe-baked red & black fruit, grilled plum, dried herbs, pepper
Color: Medium Ruby
Tannin: M-, Acid: M-, Alcohol: High, Body, M+
Location: Rhône Valley (GSM Blend, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) France, Spain, Australia
Pairing: Roasted meat, exotic spices
Other: Rioja
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2009 $300
Merlot
Black cherry, plum, smokey, forest floor, chocolate
Color: Medium Purple
Tannin: M+, Acid: M, Alcohol: M+, Body: M+
Location: Bordeaux (Pomerol, Saint-Émilion), France, Italy, US, Chile
Pairing: Pork shoulder, roasted mushrooms, braised short rib, olives & fresh herbs, tuna, salmon
Avoid: Overly subtle or spicy dishes, strong cheese
Barrel size & selection, blend or no, tannin +/-
Duckhorn Vineyards Napa 2000 $355
Chateau Cheval Blanc