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Wine taste descriptions

Terms in this set (98)

Dry Reds taste...
marriage of sweet, tart and bitter, usually ending in a dry, tongue-cleansing tannin bath
Driest Red
Cabernet Sauvignon
Flavor of Sherry, Madeira & port
usually impart a sweet over bitter flavor, though both often are present
Sweet red wines
Prominently White Zin, also sherry madeira and port
Most prominent dry white
chardonnay
Chardonnay flavors
has a traditionally dry flavor, it often is made with sweet overtones of apple, citrus or melon.
which is more dry, chardonnay or pinot blanc?
pinot blanc
which is more dry, sauvignon blanc or pinot blanc?
sauvignon blanc
sweet white wines
ice wine, Italian or California bubblies and white rieslings
shiraz and chianti are red or white wines?
red
wines from dry to sweet
cabernet sauvignon-pinot noir-shiraz/syrah
difference b/t shiraz and syrah
called shiraz in australia
taste of syrah
rich, smooth tannins, pepper and dark fruits
cabernet sauvignon
intense, full of flavor from fruits, spices and firm tannins. can be especially toasty/dry cuz it spends years in new oak barrels
"Grape of Burgandy France"
Pinot Noir
pinot noir is popular in (2)
burgandy, france & Napa, California
pinot noir taste/ smell/ look
smell: cherry
taste:picks up most of its taste from DARK fruit; tastes a bit EARTHY and will also gain the SPICE notes from aging in oak barrels
look: deep red
"most popular white wine"
chardonnay
what wine is used to make champagne and chamblis
chardonnay
chardonnay set in ---- caskets for years
oak
champagne taste:
buttery and full of vanilla and tropical fruit
unoaked chardonnay vs oaked
unoaked=sweeter white wine , more like the Chablis.
most popular wine in Bordeaux
Merlot
merlot looks darker or lighter than most reds
lighter
merlot is often mixed with --- to balance out the fruit with more spice
cabernet
merlot tastes...
more like cherry and chocolate, with a bit more sweetness than most red wines.
light white wine that isn't dry or very sweet
sauvignon blanc
sauvignon blanc is sometimes mixed with-- for a bit of dryness
chardonnay
sauvignon blanc is most popular in...
new zealand
sauvignon blanc is generally full of -- on the nose and the palate
fruit
sweetest wine type
dessert wines
dessert wines
ports, late harvest Rieslings and Ice Wine
difference between late harvest rieslings and ice wines
Ice Wine must be picked on the day of the first frost so while "late harvest" and "ice wine" can come from the same grapes, they are defined by the time of harvest
riesling and pinot grigio can vary in...
sweetness
wines that can be "brut" =
sparkling wine & champagne
brut indicates a -- wine
dry
wine called the "heartbreak grape"
pinot noir
oregon's cold= good climate for...
pinot noir
Notable Pinot regions in California include...
Los Carneros, the Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Maria north of Santa Barbara
Most popular Oregon wines=
Pinot Noir (most popular), Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot gris follow
Oregons climate resembles that of --- as it is cloudy, cool and gently; allowing for wines of good acidity and balance, moderate alcohol, and an ideal degree of flavor
Burgundy
highly salty foods work better with wines that have .....
a sweet/fruity flavor
when evaluating weight and body in wine, weigh is accessed by the amount of ____
alcohol
what are the 3 textural elements that are evaluated on the tounge
weight, intensity, persistency
describe the relationship between acidity and sweetness in wine
the sweeter the wine, the more acidity is required to keep the sweetness in balance
what are the typical characteristics for Old World wine that make it more food friendly
usually lower alcohol, higher acid and lighter oak & fruit
the overall sweetness of the wine should ____ the overall sweetness of the food
exceed
when tasting wines, which order is correct:
young before old or old before young?
young before old
name the 3 things done when conducting an Empirical Evaluation of wine and food.
visual characteristics, taste qualities, aromatic impressions
Name the 3 foundations elements wine
dry to sweet, effervescence, acidity
After grapes are crushed what is the the term for the remaining grape juice used in making the wine?
Must; the must is then fermented by adding yeast.
how is must fermented?
by adding yeast
Champagne grapes
Pinot Noir
Chard
Pinot Meunier
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial
Blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meuniere. The driest of Moet & Chandon champagnes. With a very low sugar level, it has a dry and classic taste. Subtle aromas of citrus, nut, and bread. Soft on the palate with a fruity finish and hints of peach.
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: blend of--.--& --
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meuniere
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: sugar level= low or high?
low
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: driest or sweetest of Moet & Chandon Champagnes?
driest
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: dry and -- taste
classic
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: subtle aromas of --,--,& --
citrus, nut, and bread
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: --on the palate
Soft
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: Finish= -- with hints of--
fruity; peach
The four regions in Champagne
Valley of the Marne
Mountain of Reims
Cote Des Blancs
Cote Des Bar
Grape Varietals of Champagne
Pinot Noir (38% of production)
Pinot Meunier (35% of production)
Chardonnay (27% of production)
Blanc De Blancs= made from --% of -- grape
Champagne made from 100% Chardonnay
Blanc De Blancs= darker or lighter style of champagne
lighter style of Champagne
Blanc De Noirs made from --% of what grape
100% or pinot noir
Blanc De Noirs create a -- style of champagne
fuller
Pinot Noir Characteristics
Cherry, strawberry fruit; adds power and structure
pinot noir contributes low, avg or high alcohol and low, avg or high acidity in champagne?
avg alcohol; low acidity
pinot meunier contributes low, avg or high alcohol and low, avg or high acidity in champagne?
Contributes low alcohol and avg acidity in Champagne
Pinot Meunier characteristics
red fruit, earthiness, depth, roundness
Chardonnay alcohol and acidity contribution to champagne=?
Contributes most alcohol and most acidity to Champagne
Chardonnay characteristics
Characteristics: floral, citrus, apple, ethereal to fat depending on climate
Moët & Chandon
Brut "Impérial" (nv)
Clear, very pale straw, small, active bubbles; very light, almost no aroma, barely suggests flowers, vanilla grapefruit, yeast; light, mild mouth feel; flavors show fruit, slight sweetness, toast, bread dough and yeast (matchstick? medicinal?); excellent balance, slightly tart; pleasant, flavorful, if somewhat short, aftertaste. 12% alcohol. A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay (portions not disclosed). Will never steal the show, but very easy to drink; for those who prefer a light, delicate touch to their bubbles. ($46) WEBSITE
Four stages of taste
Attack (introduction), evolution, finish, aftertaste
Varietal Characteristics:
Chardonnay
Apple, toasty, vanilla, lemon, sweet clove, buttery or creamy, figs, melons, coconuts, tea, pear, flinty; aged chardonnays: peach, pineapple, sage honey
Varietal Characteristics:
Riesling
Fruity, apricot, peach, green apple, floral, lemon, tropical lushness
Varietal Characteristics:
Viognier
Lime, kiwi, guava, apricot, acacia, anise
Varietal Characteristics:
Cabarnet Sauvignon
Herbaceous, tea, green olives, currants, cassis, bell pepper, spicy
Varietal Characteristics:
Merlot
Herbaceous, tea, floral, violet, roses, bell pepper, black pepper, cassis, cherry, peppermint, chocolate
Varietal Characteristics:
Pinot Noir
Cherries, wild violets, strawberries, roast coffee, earthy, pepper, leathery, mushrooms, chocolate, berries, pomegranate, caramelized sugar
Varietal Characteristics:
Syrah
Blackberries, peppery, cassis, smoky, spice, dry pepper, coffee, tar, hickory, wood, chestnuts, truffles
Varietal Characteristics:
Zinfandel
Blackberry, raspberry, jam, briary, herbaceous, eucalyptus, mint, leather, cedar, dark chocolate, cherries, black pepper, raisins
What happens to wine as it ages? Which wines benefit from aging?
• Changes color: White wine darkens to dark yellow/amber and brown; red wine darkens to brown
• Red wines benefit the most from long aging
Signature Grapes:
California
Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon
Major Grape Varieties:
California
• White grapes: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, trendy varietal—Viognier
• Red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir
Semillon (SEM-ih-yon)W
Semillon is one of the more unique types of white wine. It rarely stand alone and is frequently blended with Sauvignon Blanc. Semillon can also be very rich, making a favorable dessert wine.
Viognier (vee-oh-NYAY])W
Viognier is grown primarily in the Rhone region of France and in California. It has low to moderate acidity with hints of peach and apricot, and without the flowery aromas of some other white wines.
Brunello (broo-NEHL-oh)R
Brunello is an offshoot of the Sangiovese grape. It is notable because it is the only grape permitted for Brunello di Montalcino, a rare, expensive, fruity and bold Tuscan red wine.
Cabernet Sauvignon (cab-er-NAY SO-vin-yon)R
Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in many of the wine regions mentioned above. In the Bordeaux region of France, it is considered the noblest grape of all. It is, in fact, the grape that makes fine Bordeaux wines. Cabernet Sauvignon can age well for decades. It is dark purple or ruby in color, medium to full bodied, and has a beautiful array of intense aromas and flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon would be considered a dry red wine and blends well with Sangiovese, Merlot and Shiraz.
Grenache (greh-NAHSH)R
Grenache is grown in Spain and California, but most notably in the southern Rhone valley of France. It is a very drinkable wine and as such, is used in several red and rose jug wines in California. Grenache is medium to full bodied with good structure and raspberry flavor.
Malbec (MAHL-beck)R
Malbec is now the grape of Argentina where it thrives in their hot, dry summers. Once important in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, it is one of the types of red wine grapes loosing popularity there. Its acidity can vary and it is frequently blended with other Bordeaux varieties.
Merlot (mur-LO)
Merlot has become very popular in the last 10 years. It is one of the more drinkable types of red wine with its low acidity and mellow softness. Merlot is grown widely in many of the regions mentioned above and can be blended, particularly with Cabernet, or stand alone. Merlot has rich flavors of blackberry, plum and cherry.
Nebbiolo (NEH-bee-oh-low)R
Nebbiolo is another of the types of red wine grape from Piedmont, Italy and is responsible for many of Italy's finest red wines. Nebbiolo tends to be light and quite dry with high acidity, so it does well with considerable aging.
*Piedmont, Italy
*fine, red wine
*light, dry, high acidity
Pinot Noir (PEE-no NWA)R
Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to grow, but yields an exceptional wine with great complexity when conditions are correct. It is grown in the Burgundy region of France, in Oregon and in the cooler regions of California. Many California grown Pinot Noir grapes are used for rose style champagnes. It has light to moderate body with deliciously varied aromas and flavors.
Sangiovese (san-geeo-VEHS-eh)R
The signature red wine grape of the Tuscany and Chianti regions, Sangiovese has been produced with little success outside of Italy. A good Sangiovese can be beautiful and complex, with varied aromas and flavors. It is frequently blended with Cabernet.
Syrah or Shiraz (sih-RAH or shih-RAHZ)
Known as Shiraz in Australia and South Africa and as Syrah in California and France, this wine has low to moderate acidity making it very drinkable. Shiraz/Syrah exhibits wonderful flavors of spice and fruit. Many think the French version is more acidic, therefore better to accompany food than the Australian version. Shiraz/Syrah is blended with Grenache and Cabernet.

It is thought that Petit Syrah, which thrives in sunny California, is not related to Syrah.
Zinfandel (ZIHM-fan-dell)R
Zinfandel wine is most always grown in California, where unlike other red wine grapes, it thrives in the heat and sunshine. It has low to moderate acidity and medium to full body with jammy, spicy flavors. Zinfandel is often blended with other grapes but not named on the bottle.
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