CMS-A Strong Key Indicators: Red Wines

Question 1

Cabernet Sauvignon – Bordeaux: Haut Médoc and Graves (LB)

Answer 1

Fruit/Fruit Character: *Black Fruit: Cassis/Currant, Blackberry, Plum, Cherry
(Fruit Condition ranges from tart to ripe)

Floral: Purple Flowers
Herbal: Fresh and Dried Herbs: Thyme, Rosemary; Tobacco
Vegetal: Pyrazine (Bell Pepper); Fennel
Spice: Anise, Light Pepper
Other: Leather, Coffee, Chocolate, Cedar, Brettanomyces (Band-Aid, Clove, Leather)
Vinification: Often Blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Mineral*: Graphite, Iron, Stony

Question 2

Cabernet Sauvignon – New World:
USA California: Napa Valley and Sonoma
South America: Chile—Valle Central
Australia: South Australia, Western Australia

Answer 2

Fruit/Fruit Character: Black Fruit: Cassis/Currant, Blackberry, Plum, Cherry (Fruit condition ranges from ripe to jammy)
Herbal: Green Herbs: Thyme, Rosemary, Tobacco, Mint/Eucalyptus
Vegetal: Pyrazine (Green Bell Pepper)
Other: Dark Chocolate, Coffee
Oak*: French Oak: Smoke, Toast, Vanilla, Baking Spices, Cedar

Question 3

Gamay: France: Burgundy—Beaujolais

Answer 3

Fruit/Character:
*Red Fruit: Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry, Currant (Fruit condition tart, jammy, *candy)

Floral: Red and Purple Flowers (Fresh as opposed to dried); Lavender
Vinification: Carbonic Maceration:
Pear Drop, Banana, Bubblegum, Cotton Candy
Mineral*: Stone, Mineral

Question 4

Grenache – France: Southern Rhône Valley: Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas

Answer 4

Fruit/Fruit Character:
Red Fruit: Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry (Fruit condition: Ripe to Overripe, Stewed)
Herbal: Thyme, Rosemary; Anise, Black Tea
Spice: Brown and Curing Spices
Other: Brettanomyces (Band-Aid, Clove, Leather); Smoked Meat, Musk
Earth*: Mushroom, Truffle, Potting Soil, Barnyard, Hay

Tannin*: Medium Plus

Question 5

Grenache – Australia: South Australia

Answer 5

Fruit/Fruit Character:
Red Fruit: Strawberry, Cherry, Cranberry (Fruit Condition: Ripe, Stewed, Candied)
Herbal: Sweet Herbs: Mint, Eucalyptus; Tea
Spice*: Sweet Brown Spice: Clove, Ginger; Pepper; Licorice

Question 6

Malbec – Argentina: Mendoza

Answer 6

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Blue Fruit: Blueberry, Boysenberry
Red Fruit: Raspberry (Fruit Condition: liqueur, jammy)

Herbal: Fresh Mint, Tobacco
Spice: Licorice, Black Pepper
Other*: Smoke, Bitter Chocolate, Coffee

Tannin*: Medium to Medium Plus

Question 7

Merlot – France: Bordeaux: Pomerol, Saint-Émilion (RB Bordeaux)

Answer 7

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Red Fruits: Cherry, Plum, Current (Fruit Condition tart to ripe, dried)

Herbal: Anise, Mint, Eucalyptus, Tobacco
Vegetal: Pyrazines (Bell Pepper) Olive, Fennel
Other: Dark Chocolate, Brettanomyces (Band-Aid, Clove, Leather)
Earth: Forest Floor, Compost, Barnyard
Tannin*: Medium to Medium Plus

Question 8

Merlot – USA: California: Napa Valley and Sonoma

Answer 8

*Red Fruit: Cherry, Plum, Currant (Fruit Condition Ripe to Jammy, Liqueur)

Other*: Dark Chocolate

Question 9

Nebbiolo – Italy: Piedmont: Barolo, Barbaresco

Answer 9

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Red Fruit: Cherry, Raspberry, Cranberry, Pomegranate (Fruit Condition tart, ripe and dried)

Floral: Red and Purple Flowers: Roses, Violets (fresh, dried)
Other: Potpourri, Tar, Leather, Sandalwood, Balsamic
Vinification: Volatile Acidity, Oxidation
Earth: Dry and Wet Soil, Truffle, Mushroom, Compost

Question 10

Pinot Noir – France Burgundy—Côte d’Or

Answer 10

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Red Fruit: Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Strawberry, Cranberry, Pomegranate (Fruit Condition tart, ripe, dried)

Herbal: Tarragon, Thyme, Black Tea
Vegetal: Rhubarb, Beet, Fennel, Tomato Leaf
Other: Smoke, Game, Leather
Vinification: Stems
Earth: Mushrooms, Truffles, Forest Floor, Compost
Tannin: Medium Minus to Medium Plus

Question 11

Pinot Noir – USA: Oregon: Willamette Valley
California: Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast
New Zealand: Central Otago, Martinborough

Answer 11

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Red Fruit: Red Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Pomegranate (Fruit Condition ripe to jammy, candied)

Floral: Red and Purple Flowers, Lavender
Other: Cola, Sassafras

Question 12

Sangiovese – Italy: Tuscany: Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino

Answer 12

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Red Fruits: Cherry, Cranberry, Pomegranate, Currant (Fruit Condition tart, ripe, dried)

Floral: Red and Purple Flowers: Roses, Violets (fresh, dried)
Vegetal: Fennel, Tomato, Red Pepper (roasted, dried)
Other*: Balsamic, Leather, Potpourri

Question 13

Syrah – France: Northern Rhône Valley: Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St.-Joseph

Answer 13

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Black Fruit: Blackberry, Cherry, Plum (Fruit Condition: tart, ripe)
*Red Fruit: Raspberry, Cherry (Fruit Condition: tart)

Herbal: Herbes de Provence, Thyme, Rosemary, Mint, Menthol, Hay
Vegetal: Olive
Spice: Curing Spices, Peppercorn, Juniper
Other: Meat/Game, Smoke, Bacon Fat, Tar, Ash, Brettanomyces (Band-Aid, Clove, Leather)

Question 14

Syrah – USA: California: Napa Valley, Sonoma, Central Coast
Australia: South Australia: Barossa, McLaren Vale

Answer 14

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Black Fruit: Blackberry, Plum, Cherry (Fruit Condition ripe, jammy)
*Blue Fruit: Blueberry, Boysenberry, Mulberry
*Red Fruit: Raspberry, Cherry (Fruit Condition tart to ripe)

Herbal: Herbes de Provence, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Mint/Menthol
Vegetal: Black Olive
Other*: Dark Chocolate, Bacon Fat, Grilled Meat, Smoke

Question 15

Tempranillo – Spain: Rioja, Ribera del Duero

Answer 15

Fruit/Fruit Character:
*Red Fruit: Cherry, Strawberry, Currant, Plum (Fruit Condition tart, ripe, baked)

Herbal: Tobacco, Dried Herbs
Spice: Anise, Five Spice, Peppercorn

Question 16

Zinfandel – USA: California: Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles

Answer 16

Tannin*: Medium to Medium Plus
(There is often a disconnect between the high alcohol and acid.)