White Wines Flashcards
Visual: Pale straw with hints of green, moderate-minus concentration, slight residual gas (in youth)
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Ripe citrus (orange, Meyer lemon, ruby red grapefruit), stone fruit (white peach, peach pit, apricot, nectarine), green apple, melon
Floral: White and yellow flowers, citrus and apple blossoms
Other: Bubblegum, agave, slight beer yeast, leesy, saline, possible ML fermentation
Earth: Moderate-plus mineral aromas
Oak: None
Structure: Dry, moderate body, elevated acidity, moderate alcohol, phenolic bitterness
Albarino [Rias Baixas]
Visual: Pale straw/straw with hints of green, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate intensity
Fruit: Tart to just-ripe tree fruit (green apple, yellow apple, green pear), citrus (lemon)
Sulfuric note (especially in youth): Flint, burnt match, slight cabbage
Oxidative notes (if neutral barrels are employed): Hazelnut, almond, cheese rind
Lees notes: Crème fraîche/sour cream
Floral: Faint white flowers, apple blossoms, hawthorne, acacia
Earth: High minerality, stony, chalk, saline/seaspray, oyster shell, button mushroom
Oak: None or neutral barrel
Structure: Bone dry to dry, moderate to moderate-plus body, elevated to high acidity, moderate alcohol
Chardonnay [Chablis]
Visual: Straw to yellow/pale gold, moderate to moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate to moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Tree fruits (green/yellow apple, pear, quince), citrus (lemon), melon, stone fruit (white peach, yellow cherry)
Sulfuric note (especially in youth): Flint, burnt match, slight cabbage
Oxidative notes: Almond, hazelnut, cheese rind
Malolactic notes: Slight butter
Lees notes: Crème fraîche/sour cream
Floral: White flowers, acacia, hawthorne, honeysuckle, apple blossoms
Other: Slight spice, slight savory herbs
Earth: Moderate to high minerality, limestone, button mushroom
Oak: low to high use of new French oak, toffee, salted caramel, butterscotch, sweet baking spices, cinnamon, toast, smoke
Bottle age aromas: Truffle, honey, nut
Structure: Dry, moderate to full body, elevated acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Chardonnay [Beaune]
Visual: Yellow/pale gold, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate to moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Ripe tree fruits (yellow apple, baked pear), ripe citrus (Meyer lemon), ripe apricot, tropical fruits (ripe pineapple, mango), melon
Floral: White flowers, apple blossoms, honeysuckle
Oxidative notes: Hazelnut, almond
Malolactic notes: Butter, popcorn
Lees notes: Yogurt, crème fraîche/sour cream
Other: Sweet/canned corn
Earth: Low minerality, slight limestone
Oak: Moderate to high use of new French oak, toffee, salted caramel, butterscotch, sweet baking spices, vanilla, pie crust, toast
Structure: Dry (may have slight residual sugar), moderate-plus to full body, moderate acidity, elevated alcohol
Chardonnay [California]
Visual: Pale yellow/gold, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors:
Fruit: Tree fruit (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 (particularly with bottle age), saffron, ginger, marmalade
Other: Wet wool, lanolin
Earth: Moderate-plus to high minerality, wet stones, white mushroom
Oak: None or neutral cask
Structure: Dry, moderate-plus to full body, high levels of extract, high acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Chenin Blanc [Savennieres]
Visual: Pale straw/straw with hints of green, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate to moderate-plus intensity of aromas
Fruit: Tree fruit (green/golden/oxidized apple, quince, yellow pear), citrus (tangerine, orange, lemon), demi-sec examples may also reveal melon and tropical fruit notes
Sulfuric note (in youth)
Oxidative notes: Slight bruised apple, bitter nut, almond, cheese rind/soft cheese
Floral: Orange blossoms, jasmine, honeysuckle, fragrant white flowers
Herbal: Chamomile/herbal tea, medicinal notes, dandelion greens, wasabi, savory herbs, tree bark
Botrytis (possible): Honey (particularly with bottle age), ginger, marmalade
Other: Wet wool, lanolin
Earth: Moderate-plus to high minerality, wet stones, white mushroom
Oak: None or neutral cask
Structure: Dry to of-dry (dry examples typically have slight RS), moderate body, high acidity, diminished to moderate alcohol
Chenin Blanc [Vouvray]
Visual: Yellow/gold, moderate-plus to high concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High (heady) intensity
Fruit: Tropical fruit (lychee, pineapple, tropical fruit punch), ripe stone fruit (peach jam, dried apricot), citrus (orange marmalade, grapefruit pith)
Floral: Roses, floral perfume
Spice: Cinnamon, clove, gingerbread, musk, potpourri, exotic spices
Other: Honey, bergamot oil, face lotion/perfumed hand soap
Earth: Moderate to moderate-plus minerality
Oak: None or neutral cask
Structure: Dry to off-dry, moderate-plus to full body, diminished to moderate acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol, phenolic bitterness
Gewürztraminer
Visual: Yellow/pale gold (possibly with slight copper and pink tones), moderate to moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate to moderate-plus intensity
Fruit: Stone fruit (apricot, yellow peach), candied citrus (Meyer lemon, orange), ripe tree fruit (baked apple, quince), tropical notes (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 to high minerality, mushroom/forest floor
Oak: Large neutral oak casks
Structure: Dry to medium dry, moderate-plus body, moderate acidity, elevated alcohol, phenolic bitterness
Pinot Gris [Alsace]
Visual: Pale straw with hints of green (possibly with slight copper and pink tones), moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate intensity
Fruit: Citrus (lemon), tree fruit (red and yellow apple), creamy stone fruit (white peach, nectarine), melon
Floral: White and yellow flowers
Herbal: Watercress/arugula
Other/lees: Peanut shell, lager yeast/stale beer
Earth: Moderate to moderate-plus minerality, stone/chalk, ash
Oak: None
Structure: Dry, moderate body, elevated acidity, moderate alcohol, phenolic bitterness
Pinot Grigio [Italy]
Visual: Yellow/gold with hints of green, moderate-plus concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High intensity
Fruit: Ripe and cooked tree fruits (yellow apple, baked pear, quince), citrus (lemon, citronella, grapefruit), stone fruit (yellow peach, stewed apricot), tropical fruit (pineapple), banana/banana peel
Sulfuric note (in youth)
Floral: White flowers, honeysuckle, jasmine
Botrytis: Ginger, honey, saffron
Spice: Cardamom, anise, fennel
Other: Smoke, candle wax, slight petrol
Earth: High minerality, white mushroom
Oak: None or large neutral cask
Bottle age aromas: Honey, petrol, paraffin, marzipan, browned toast
Structure: Dry to off-dry, moderate to moderate-plus body, high acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Riesling [Alsace]
Visual: Brilliant, watery white with hints of green, low concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High intensity
Fruit: Tart tree fruits (green apple, Bosc pear, quince), citrus/citrus peel (lemon, lime, grapefruit), stone fruit (white peach, white plum, nectarine), blackcurrant
Sulfuric note (in youth)
Floral: White flowers, jasmine, fruit tree blossoms
Other: Slight smoke, candle wax, panna cotta/meringue, slight petrol
Earth: High minerality, wet stones
Oak: None or large neutral cask
Bottle age aromas: Honey, petrol, paraffin
Structure: Off-dry to medium dry, light body, high acidity, low alcohol
Riesling [Mosel - Kabinett]
Visual: Star-bright, straw with hints of pale gold and green, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High intensity
Fruit: Ripe tree fruits (yellow apple, pear, quince), fresh citrus/citrus peel (grapefruit, orange, Meyer lemon), stone fruits (nectarine, white peach, apricot, cherry), melon
Sulfuric note (in youth)
Floral: White flowers, wildflowers, honeysuckle, jasmine, fruit tree blossoms
Botrytis: Potential ginger, honey, saffron
Slight herbal/spice: Lemongrass
Other: Slight smoke, candle wax, panna cotta/meringue, slight petrol
Earth: High minerality, wet rocks
Oak: None or large neutral cask
Bottle age aromas: Honey, petrol, paraffin, herbs (marjoram, spearmint)
Structure: Dry, moderate-plus body, high acidity, moderate to elevated alcohol
Riesling [Rheingau - Trocken]
Visual: Pale straw with hints of gold and green, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High intensity
Fruit: Ripe citrus (lime, lime candy, lemon), stone fruit (white peach, white nectarine), tart tree fruit (green apple), slight tropical fruit (passion fruit, guava)
Sulfuric note (in youth)
Floral: White flowers, purple flowers, linden/lime blossoms, roses
Other: Slight spice, kerosene/petrol, Margarita salt, “fresh tennis ball”
Earth: Moderate to moderate-plus minerality, steely
Oak: None
Structure: Dry, moderate to moderate-plus body, high acidity, moderate alcohol
Riesling [Australia - Clare Valley]
Visual: Pale straw with hints of green, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: Moderate to moderate-plus intensity of aromas
Fruit: Tart citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime), tart tree fruit (green apple, green pear), gooseberry, underripe stone fruit (white peach), slight tropical fruit (kiwi, passion fruit)
Floral: Faint white flowers, citrus blossoms
Herbal/green/pyrazine: Cut grass, green bell pepper, blackcurrant bud, box tree, basil, tarragon
Earth: High minerality, wet stones, chalk, crushed rocks
Oak: None or neutral oak casks
Structure: Dry, moderate body, high acidity, moderate to moderate-plus alcohol
Sauvignon Blanc [Sancerre]
Visual: Pale straw with hints of green, moderate concentration
Aromas/Flavors: High intensity of aromas
Fruit: Citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime), melon, gooseberry, tropical fruit (passion fruit, guava, pineapple)
Floral: Faint white flowers, citrus blossoms
Herbal/green/pyrazine: Cut grass, asparagus, canned pea, green bell pepper, jalapeño, blackcurrant bud, rhubarb
Earth: Moderate minerality, wet rocks, chalk
Oak: None
Structure: Dry, moderate body, high acidity, moderate to moderate-plus alcohol
Sauvignon Blanc [Marlborough]
