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WSET Level 2 > Varietal Specifics > Flashcards

Varietal Specifics Flashcards

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1
Q

Pinot Noir

A 
Thin skin
Acidity: High
Tannin: Low to medium
Red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry)
Typically single varietal, not much oak
Can make sparking
Climate: cool/moderate
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2
Q

Zinfandel / Primitivo

A 
Ripens unevenly
High sugar levels
Acidity: Medium to high
Tannin: Medium to high
Rose and red wines
Red often oaked
Aged: earth, meat
Climate: warm
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3
Q

Riesling

A 
Acidity: High
Susceptible to botrytis / noble rot
Aromatic
Aged: honey, petrol
Fruit according to ripeness
  *(just ripe) apple > lemon > peach > pineapple > apricot (extra ripe)
     OR
  *(just ripe) apple > nectarine > mango (extra ripe)
Climate: cool/moderate
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4
Q

Chenin Blanc

A 
Acidity: High
Susceptible to botrytis / noble rot
Many harvest options
Sweetness: Dry to sweet
Oaked or not
Aged: dried fruit, honey, nuts
Flavor based on ripeness... (just ripe) apple > lemon > peach > pineapple > mango (extra ripe)
Climate: Cool/moderate/warm (versatile)
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5
Q

Sémillon / Semillon

A 
Acidity: medium to high
Susceptible to botrytis / noble rot
Many harvest options
Sweetness: Dry to sweet
Body: Light to full
Oaked or not
Sometimes blended w/sauv blanc
Can age VG
Development: (youthful) apple, grass, lemon > marmalade, hazelnuts, raisins (fully developed)
Climate: moderate/warm
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6
Q

Furmint

A 
Acidity: high
Susceptible to botrytis / noble rot
Sweetness: dry to sweet
Oaked or not
Aged: dried fruit, caramel, nuts
Climate: moderate
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7
Q

Chardonnay

A 
Acidity: medium to high
Dry
Body: light to full
Range of winemaking techniques
Used for sparkling
Aged: hazelnut, mushroom
Climate + ripeness: (cool/least ripe) apple > lemon > nectarine > banana > pineapple (warm/most ripe)
Climate: cool, moderate, warm (versatile)
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8
Q

Sauv Blanc

A 
Acidity: high
Sweetness: typically dry
Aromatic
Herbaceous
Floral
Fruit: green, citrus, tropical
Typically unoaked
Typically single varietal (sometimes blended with semillon)
Typically for early drinking
Ripeness: (least) wet stones, grass, bell pepper, asparagus, flowers > apple, lemon, green currants > nectarines (most)
Climate: cool to moderate
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9
Q

Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris

A

Typically unoaked
Aged: honey, ginger
Climate: cool to moderate

Grigio:
Sweetness: Dry
Acidity: high
Body: light
Simple
Apple, lemon
Gris:
Dry, off-dry, medium
Acidity: medium
Body: full
Complex
Banana, peach, mango
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10
Q

Gewurztraminer

A 
Acidity: low to medium
Aromatic
Floral: rose
Stone fruit: peach, apricot
Tropical: lychee
Sweetness: dry to sweet
Body: full
Typically unoaked
Aged: honey, dried fruit
Climate: cool to moderate
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11
Q

Viognier

A 
Acidity: low to medium
Alcohol: high
Aromatic
Floral (blossom) ... stone fruit (peach, apricot)
Sweetness: typically dry
Body: medium to full
Oaked or not
Single varietal or blended
Climate: moderate
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12
Q

Albariño

A 
Acidity: high
Citrus (lemon, grapefruit) ... stone (peach, apricot)
Sweetness: typically dry
Body: medium
Oaked or not
Single varietal
Typically for early drinking
Climate: moderate
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13
Q

Merlot

A 
Acidity: medium
Tannin: medium
Fruit according to ripeness: (least) bell pepper > strawberry > red cherry > blueberry > blackberry (most)
Simple or complex
Body: light to full
Oaked or not
Aged: dried fruit, tobacco
Climate: moderate/warm
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14
Q

Cab Sauv

A 
Thick skin
Acidity: high
Tannin: high
Simple or complex
Body: medium to full
Oak common
Black fruit
Herbaceous
Ripeness: (least) bell pepper > black currants > black cherries (most)
Aged: dried fruit, earth, forest floor
Climate: moderate/warm
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15
Q

Syrah / Shiraz

A 
Thick skin
Tannin: medium to high
Acidity: medium to high
Single varietal or blended
Body: medium to full
Oak common
Black fruit
Spice
Ripeness: (least) blackberry, black cherry, licorice
Aged: dried fruit, leather, meat, earth
Climate: moderate/warm
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16
Q

Gamay

A 
Acidity: high
Tannin: low to medium
Red fruit (raspberry, red cherry, red plum) ... can have banana/candy
Body: typically light
Typically unoaked
Typically for early drinking
Climate: moderate
17
Q

Grenache / Garnacha

A 
Thin skin
Tannin: low to medium
Acidity: low
High sugar levels
Red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry) ... spice (white pepper, licorice)
Often blended
Oaked or not
Red or rose
Aged: earth, meat, dried fruit, caramel
Climate: warm
18
Q

Tempranillo

A 
Acidity: medium
Tannin: medium
Red fruit (strawberry, red cherry) ... black fruit (blackberry, black plum)
Simple or complex
Body: light to full
Oaked or not
Blended or single varietal
Aged: dried fruit, leather, mushroom
Climate: moderate to warm
19
Q

Carmenère

A 
Acidity: medium to high
Tannin: high
Herbaceous (green bell pepper) ... herbal (eucalyptus) ... black fruit (blackberry)
Blended or single varietal
Body: full
Often oaked
Aged: leather earth
Climate: warm
20
Q

Malbec

A 
Tannin: high
Black fruit (blackberry, black plum)
Blended or single varietal
Body: full
Often oaked
Aged: dried fruit, meat
Climate: warm
21
Q

Pinotage

A 
Acidty: high
Tannin: medium
Red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, red cherry) ... takes on oak flavor (coffee, chocolate, smoke)
VG can be aged
Blended or single varietal
Body: medium to full
Climate: warm
22
Q

Garganega

A 
Acidity: high
Fruit... Green (apple, pear) ... citrus (lemon) ... stone (peach)
Sweetness: dry or sweet
Body: medium
Unoaked
Typically for early drinking
Aged: honey, almond
23
Q

Verdicchio

A 
Acidity: high
Green (apple, pear) ... citrus (lemon) ... herbal (fennel)
Sweetness: dry
Body: medium
Unoaked
Typically for early drinking
Aged: honey, nuts
24
Q

Fiano

A 
Acidity: medium
Stone (peach) ... tropical (melon, mango)
Sweetness: dry
Body: medium to full
Oaked or not
Can be aged on lees
Typically for early drinking
Aged: honey, nuts
25
Q

Nebbiolo

A 
Acidity: high
Tannin: high
Red fruit (red cherry, red plum) ... floral (rose, violet) ... herbal (dried herbs)
Typically single varietal
Body: typically full
Oak common
Aged: mushroom, tobacco, leather

WSET Level 2 (3 decks)

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