White Flashcards
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Sancerre, France
Visual: pale straw, hints of green, moderate concentration, mod-mod+ viscosity
Nose: mod-mod+ intensity
Fruit: tart citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime), tart tree (green apple, green pear), gooseberry, underripe stone (white peach), slight tropical (kiwi, passion fruit)
**Floral: **faint white flowers, citrus blossoms
Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: cut grass, green bell pepper, black curarnt bud, box tree, nettles, taragon
**Earth: **high minerality, wet stones, chalk, crushed rocks
**Oak: ** none or neutral oak casks
**Structure: ** dry, moderate body, high acidity, mod-mod+ alcohol
GEWURZTRAMINER
Alsace, France
**Visual: **yellow/gold, mod+-high concentration, mod+-high vicosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high heady intensity
**Fruit: **tropical (lynchee, pineapple, tropical fruit punch), ripe stone (peach jam, dried apricot), citrus (orange marmalade, grapefruit pith)
**Florals: ** roses, floral perfume
**Spices: **cinnamon, clove, gingerbread, musk, potpourri, exotic spices
Other: honey, bergamot oil, face lotion/perfumed hand soap
**Earth: ** mod-mod+ minerality
**Oak: **none or neutral
**Structure: **dry-off dry, mod+-full body, moderate acidity, mod+-high alcohol, phenolic bitterness
MUSCAT
Alsace, France
**Visual: **straw/yellow, mod-mod+concentration, mod+viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high heady intensity
**Fruit: ** ripe citrus (orange, tangerine) ripe tree (yellow pear), ripe stone (yellow peach, apricot), tropical (pineapple, mango), melon, grape
**Floral: **white, yellow, & red flowers, honeysuckle, rose, orange blossoms, lilacs, elderflower
**Herbal/Green: **slight vegatative note
**Spice: **musk, potpourri, cinnamon, licorice
**Earth: **mod-mod+ minerality, stony, button mushcroom, damp cellar
**Oak: **none or large neutral cask
**Structure: **dry, moderate body, mod-mod+ acidity, moderate plus alcohol, phenolic bitterness
CHARDONNAY
Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France
**Visual: **straw/yellow-pale gold, mod-mod+ concentration, mod-mod+viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **mod-mod+ intensity
**Fruit: **tree fruits (green/yellow apples, pear, quince), citrus (lemon), melon, stone (white peach, yellow cherry)
**Sulphuric Note (especially in youth): **flint, burnt match, slight cabbage
**Oxidative Notes: **Almond, Hazelnut, Cheese Rind
**Malolactic Notes: **slight butter, creme fraiche/sour cream
**Floral: **white flowers, acacia, hawthorne, honeysuckle, apple blossoms
**Other: **slight spice, slight savory herbs
**Earth: **mod-high minerality, limestone, button mushroom
**Oak: **low-high use of new french, toffe, salted caramel, butterscothc, sweet baking spices, cinnamon, toast smoke
**Bottle Age Aromas: **truffle, honey, nut
**Structure: **dry, moderate-full body, mod+-high acidity, mod-mod+ alcohol
ALBARINO
Rias Baixas, Spain
**Visual: **pale straw, hints of green, mod- concentraion, slight residual gas (in youth)
**Aromas/Flavors: ** Moderate plus intensity
**Fruit: **ripe citrus (orange, meyer lemon, ruby red grapefruit), stone (white peach, peach pit, apricot, nectarine), green apple, melon
**Florals: ** white & yellow flowers, citrus & apple blossoms
**Other: **bubblegum, agave, slight beer yeast, leesy, saline
**Earth: ** moderate plus minerality
**Oak: ** none
**Structure: **dry, moderate body, moderate plus acidity, moderate alcohol
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Napa, California
**Visual: **straw, green flecks, moderate concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity
**Fruit: **ripe citrus (ruby red grapefruit, lemon, mandarin orange, lime) tropical (passion fruit, guava, kiwi), ripe tree & stone (red apple, white peach, nectarine) melon
**Florals: **white flowers, citrus blossoms
**Herbal/Green/Pyrazines: **cut grass, celery, taragon, lemon grass
**Earth: ** low-mod minerality
**Oak: **none or low-mod use of new french taking on similar charatceristics of graves bordeaux blanc
**Structure: **dry, moderate plus body, mod+-high acidity, mod+-high alcohol
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Graves, Bordeaux, France
**Visual: **yellow/pale gold, hints of green, mod+ concentration, mod-mod+ viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate intensity
**Fruit: ** citrus (grapefruit, lemon), tropical (pineapple, passion fruit), tree (green fig, green/yellow apple), melon, stone (nectarine, peach, apricot)
**Floral: **honeysuckle, faint white flowers
**Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: **cut grass, celery seed/celery
**Earth: ** gravel, wet rocks
**Other: **beeswax, lanolin, cream soda, sunflower seed
**Oak: **mod-high (50%) new french, vanilla, toast
**Structure: **dry, mod-mod+ body, mod+-high acidity, mod-mod+ alcohol
GRUNER VELTLINER
Wachau Smaragd, Kremstal/Kamptal, Austria
**Visual: **straw, hints of green, mod-mod+ concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity
**Fruit: **citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange), ripe stone (peach, apricot, yellow cherry, white plum) red/yellow apples, slight dried and/or tropical fruit character
**Floral: **white flowers
**Spice: **white pepper, wasabi, radish, lentils
**Herbal/Green: **slight chive, tarragon, sage
**Slight Oxidation: **blanched almond, nut
**Botryits: **slight ginger, honey, saffron
**Earth: **mod-high minerality, stony, granitic
**Other: **leesy, smoke
**Oak: **none or neutral large cask
**Structure: **dry, moderate plus body, moderate plus acidity, mod+-high alcohol
RIESLING
Mosel Kabinett, Germany
**Visual: **Brilliant/watery white, hints of green, low concentration, low viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity
**Fruits: **tart tree (green apple, bosc pear, quince), citrus/citrus peel (lemon, lime, grapefruit), stone (white peach, white plum, nectarine), bluck currant
Sulphuric note: in youth
**Floral: **white florals, jasmine, fruit tree blossoms
**Other: **slight smoke, candlewax, panna cotta/meringue, slight petrol
**Earth: **high minerality, slate, crushed rock
**Oak: **none or large neutral cask
**Bottle Age Aromas: **honey, petrol, parrafin
**Structure: ** off dry, light body, high acidity, low alcohol
RIESLING
Clare/Eden Valley, South Australia
**Visual: **Pale straw, hints of green, moderate concentration, mod-mod+ viscosity
**Aromas/Flavor: **high intensity
**Fruit: **ripe citrus (lime, lime candy, lemon), stone (white peach, white nectarine), tart tree (green apple), slight tropical (passion fruit, guava)
**Sulphuric Note: **in youth
**Florals: **white flowers, purple flowers, roses, linden/lime blossoms
**Other: **slight spice, kerosene/petrol, margarita salt, fresh tennis ball
**Earth: **mod-mod+ minerality, slate, steely
**Oak: **none
**Structure: **bone dry-dry, mod-mod+ body, high acidity, mod-mod+alcohol
SEMILLON
Hunter Valley, New South Whales, Australia
**Visual: **straw/green, moderate minus concentration, moderate viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity
**Fruit: **citrus (lemon, lemon marmalade), tart tree (green apple, green fig)
**Florals: **honeysuckle, lemon blossoms
**Herbal: **slight grassy, savory herb, hay
**Bottle Age Aromas: **honey, browned toast, creme brulee, umami
**Other: **waxy, candlewax, panna cotta
**Earth: **strong stony minerality
**Oak: ** none
**Structure: **dry, moderate minus body, high acidity, mod--mod alcohol
CHENIN BLANC
Savennieres, Anjou-Saumur, Loire Valley, France
**Visual: **pale yellow/gold, moderate plus concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity
**Fruit: **tree (green/golden/oxidized apple, quince, yellow pear), citrus (tangerine, bergamot, lemon), dried apricot
**Oxidative Notes: **bruised/rotten apple, cider, bitter nut, almond/marzipan, pistachio, cheese rind/soft cheese
Floral: honeysuckle, jasmine, white flowers
Herbal:** **chamomile/herbal tea, medicinal notes, dandelion greens, wasabi, savory herbs, tree bark
**Botrytis (possible): **honey (age), saffron, ginger, marmalade
**Other: **wet wool, lanolin
**Earth: **mod+-high minerality, damp straw, schist, wet stones, white mushroom
**Oak: **none or neutral
Structure: dry, mod+-full body, high levels of extract, high acidity, mod+-high alcohol
CHENIN BLANC
Vourvray Sec/Demi-Sec, Touraine, Loire Valley, France
**Visual: **pale straw/straw, hints of green, moderate concentration, moderate viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **mod-mod+ intensity
**Fruit: **tree (oxidative/green/golden apple, quince, yellow pear), citrus (tangerine, orange, lemon), demi-sec (melon, tropical)
**Sulphuric Note: **in youth
**Oxidative Note: **slight bruised apple, bitter nut, almond, cheese rind/soft cheese
Florals: orange blossoms, jasmine, honeysuckle, fragrant white flowers
Herbal: chamomile/herbal tea, medicinal notes, dandelion greens, wasabi, savory herbs, tree bark
**Botrytis (possible): **honey (bottle age), ginger, marmalade
**Other: **wet wool, lanolin
Earth: mod+-high minerality, dam straw, limestone/tuffeau, wet stones, white mushroom
**Oak: **none or neutral
**Stucture: **dry-off dry, moderate body, high acidity, mod--mod alcohol
TORONTES
Salta, Argentina
**Visual: **yellow, hints of green, moderate plus concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity
Fruit: synthetic grape, tropical (pineapple, guava, papaya), ripe citrus (orange, meyer lemon), ripe stone (peach), melon
Floral: highly floral, perfumed orange blossoms, roses, geraniums, jasmine
**Other: **hand lotion/soapy, potpourri, slight musk spice
**Earth: **low-moderate minerality
**Oak: **none
**Structure: **dry, moderate plus body, moderate plus acidity, mod+-high alcohol, phenolic bitterness
VIOGNIER
California
Visual: yellow/pale gold, mod+-high concentration, high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity
**Fruit: **ripe stone (apricot, peach), ripe citrus (mandarin orange, ruby red grapefruit, tangerine), ripe tropical (pineapple, mango) fruit cocktail
**Floral: **honeysuckle, rose
**Spice: **potpourri, sweet spices, vanilla, cardamom, gingerbread
**Malolactic (not always present): **creme fraiche, yogurt, butter
**Earth: **low-moderate minerality
**Other: **Oily, sweetened cereal grains (fruit loops)
**Oak: **none, neutral, low-moderate (30%) use of new french
**Structure: **dry-off dry, full body, low-moderate acidity, high alcohol, phenolic bitterness
PINOT GRIS
Alsace, France
**Visual: **yellow/pale gold, slight copper/pink tones, mod-mod+ concentration, moderate plus viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **mod-mod+ intensity
**Fruits: **stone (apricot, yellow peach), candied citrus (meyer lemon, orange) ripe tree (baked apple, quince), tropical (pineapple), banana, banana peel
**Floral: ** faint white flowers, apple blossoms, honeysuckle
Spice: exotic spices, musk, cinnamon
**Botrytis: **honey, ginger
**Other: **beeswax, damp cellar, nutty, bitter almond
Earth: moderate-high minerality, mushroom, forest floor
**Oak: **large neutral oak casks
**Strucutre: **dry-medium sweet, moderate plus body, mod-mod+acidity, moderate plus alcohol, phenolic bitterness
RIESLING
Rheingau Spatlese, Germany
**Visual: **star bright, straw, hints of green and pale gold, moderate concentration, moderate viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: ** high intensity
**Fruits: **ripe tree (yellow apple, pear, quince), fresh citrus, citrus peel (grapefruit, orange, meyer lemon) stone (nectarine, white peach, apricot, cherry) melon
**Sulphuric Note: **in youth
**Floral: **white flowers, wild flowers, oneysuckle, jasmine, fruit tree blossoms
**Botrytis: **ginger, honey, saffron
**Slight/Herbal/Spice: **lemon grass
**Other: **slight smoke, candlewax, panna cott/meringue, slight petrol
**Earth: **high minerality, granite, slate, crushed rock
**Oak: **none or large neutral cask
**Bottle Age Aromas: **honey, petrol, parrafin, herbs (marjorim, spearmint)
**Structure: **off dry-medium sweet, moderate minus body, high acidity, moderate minus alcohol
GRUNER VELTLINER
Wachau Federspiel, Kremstal/Kamptal
**Visual: **pale straw, hints of green, moderate minus concentration, slight gas (in youth), moderate viscosity
**Floral: **white flowers
**Spice: **white pepper, wasabi, peppery greens (arugula, watercress), radish, lentils
**Herbal/Green: **sugar snap peas, crisp green veg, celery, taragon, chive/chive blossom
**Botrytis: **none
**Earth: **high minerality, stony, granitic
**Other: **leesy, smoke
**Oak: **none
**Structure: **dry, moderate body, moderate plus acidity, moderate alcohol
VIOGNIER
Condrieu, France
**Visual: **yellow/pale gold, moderate plus concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity
**Fruit: **ripe/lush stone (apricot, peach, peach pit), ripe citrus (mandarin orange, ruby red grapefruit) tropical (mango, persimmon) fruit cocktail
**Floral: **honeysuckle, jasmine, orange blossoms, rose
**Spice: **cinnamon, musk, potpourri, candied citrus peel, anise, gingerbread
**Malolactic (not always present): **creme fraiche, yogurt, butter
**Earth: **mod-mod+ minerality, stony, granitic
**Oak: **none/neutral or low-mod (30%) use of new french
**Structure: **dry (may of slight rs), mod+-full body, mod--mod acidity, mod+-high alcohol, phenolic bitterness
MELON DE BOURGOGNE
Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine, Pays Nantais, Loire Valley, France
**Visual: **Watery/pale straw, hints of green, low-mod-concentration, gas (in youth), moderate viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **mod--moderate intensity
Fruit: tart citrus (lemon, lime) tart tree (green apple, green pear), underripe stone (white peach, nectarine)
**Floral: **faint white flowers
**Herbal/Root: **dandelion greens, nettles, savory herbs, peppery greens, turnip/root veg
**Sur Lie: **leesy, yeast, sourdough, sour beer, slight cream
**Earth: **high minerality, saline brine, sea salt, wet stones
**Oak: **none
**Structure: **bone dry-dry, mod--moderate body, high acidity, moderate alcohol
MARSANNE
Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Northern Rhone
**Visual: **yellow, hints of gold & green, mod+-high concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate plus intensity
Fruit: ripe stone (apricot, apricot kernel, white peach, white plum), ripe tree (quince, pear, baked apple), melon, orange marmalade, citron/lemon oil
**Oxidation Notes: **almond/marzipan, hazelnut
**Malolactic Notes: **butter, cream
Floral: white flowers, honeysuckle, acacia
Herbal/Green: green olive, thyme, pine
**Spice: **cinnamon, musk
**Other: **beeswax, honey, parsnip, root beer
**Earth: **mod-high minerality, granitic, stony
**Oak: **neutral-low use new french oak, vanilla pod,toast, smoke, baking spices
**Structure: **dry, mod+-full body, mod-mod+ acidity, mod+-high alcohol, phenolic bitterness
RIESLING
Alsace, France
**Visual: **yellow/gold, hints of green, moderate plus concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity
**Fruit: **ripe/cooked tree (yellow apple, baked pear, quince), citrus (lemon, cintronella, grapefruit), stone (yellow peach, stewed apricot), tropical (pineapple), banana, banana peel
**Sulphuric Note: **in youth
**Floral: **white flowers, honeysuckle, jasmine
**Botrytis: **ginger, honey, saffron
**Spice: **cardamom, anise, fennel
**Other: **Smoke, candlewax, slight petrol
**Earth: **high minerality, white mushroom
**Oak: **none or large neutral casks
Bottle Age Aromas: honey, petrol, parrafin, marzipan, browned toast
**Structure: **dry, mod-mod+ body, high acidity, mod+-high alcohol
CHARDONNAY
Chablis, Burgundy, France
**Visual: **pale straw-straw, hints of green, moderate concentration, mod-mod+ viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate intensity
Fruit: tart/just ripe tree (green apple, yellow apple, green pear), citrus (lemon)
**Sulphuric Note: **in youth
Oxidative Notes (if neutral barrels): hazelnut, almond, cheese rind
**Floral: **faint white, apple blossoms, hawthorne, acacia
**Earth: **high minerality, stony, chalk, saline/seaspray, oyster shell, button mushroom
Oak: none or neutral barrle
**Structure: **bone dry-dry, mod-mod+ body, mod+-high acidity, mod-mod+ alcohol
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Marlborough, New Zealand
**Visual: **pale straw, hints of green, moderate concentration, mod-mod+ viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **high intensity
**Fruit: **citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime) melon, gooseberry, tropical (passion fruit, guava, pineapple)
Floral: faint white flowers, citrus blossoms
**Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: **cut grass, asparagus, canned peas, green bell pepper, jalapeno, black currant bud, rhubarb
**Earth: **low-moderate minerality, wet sand, chalk
**Oak: ** none
**Structure: **dry, moderate body, high acidity, mod-mod+ alcohol
CHARDONNAY
California (oak driven)
**Visual: **yellow/pale gold, moderate plus concentration, mod+-high viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **mod-mod+intensity
**Fruit: **ripe tree (yellow apple, baked pear), ripe citrus (meyer lemon), ripe apricot, tropical (ripe pineapple, mango), melon
**Floral: **white flowers, apple blossoms, honeysuckle
**Oxidative Notes: **hazelnut, almond
**Malolactic Notes: **butter, yogurt, creme fraiche/sour cream,
**Other: **sweet/canned corn
**Earth: **low minerality, slight limestone
**Oak: **moderate-high use of new french, toffee, salted caramel, butterscotch, sweet baking spices, vanilla, pie crust, toast
**Structure: **dry (may have slight rs), mod+-full body, moderate acidity, mod+-high alcohol
PINOT GRIGIO
Italy
**Visual: **pale straw, hints of green, slight copper/pink tones, moderate concentration, moderate viscosity
**Aromas/Flavors: **moderate intensity
**Fruit: **white and yellow flowers
**Herbal: **watercress/arugula
**Other: **peanut shell, lager yeast/stale beer
Earth: mod-mod+ minerality, stone, chalk, ashen notes, saline
Oak: none
**Structure: **dry, moderate body, moderate plus acidity, moderate alcohol, slight phenolic bitterness
