C9 - Red and Rose Winemaking

Question 1

Cabernet Sauvignon grape characteristics

Answer 1

• thick-skinned
• late-ripening
• moderate to warm climate
• deep colour, flavour and high tannin

Question 2

Cabernet Sauvignon / Haut-Medoc / profile - young and aged

Answer 2

In youth: Grippy tannins. Cedar and Blackcurrant leaf.

With age: Softer tannins. More expression.

Question 3

What Merlot gives to Cabernet Sauvignon in blending

Answer 3

juicy plum flavours and a smoother texture

Question 4

Cabernet Sauvignon / Europe / other regions

Answer 4

South of France, Italy and Spain

Question 5

Cabernet Sauvignon / blend / non-Merlot examples:

Answer 5

• Sangiovese

- Tempranillo

Question 6

classic regions for the non-european production of Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 6

• Napa Valley @California
• Coonawarra and Margaret River @Australia
• Hawke’s Bay @New Zealand
• Stellenbosch @South Africa
• Colchagua Valley @Chile

Question 7

How much new oak can be used when vinifying Cabernet? Why?

Answer 7

• A high proportion of new oak can be used

- Due to the grape’s intense flavours, medium to full body and high tannins

Question 8

What kind of oak is widely used for Cabernet wines?

Answer 8

French 225L barriques

Question 9

Why Cabernet Sauvignon is less suitable for a single-varietal wine?

Answer 9

High tannins and lack of body

Question 10

Merlot grape characteristics

Answer 10

It buds and ripens earlier than Cabernet

Question 11

What is the “international style” of Merlot?

Answer 11

• Grapes harvested as late as possible
• Intense purple colour
• Concentrated blackberry and plum fruit
• Soft, velvety tannins
• Matured in new oak for adding toasty flavours

Question 12

What is the “traditional Bordeaux style” of Merlot

Answer 12

• Harvested earlier
• Medium body and alcohol
• Higher acidity
• Fresh red fruit character
• Some vegetal, leafy aromas

Question 13

Pinot Noir grape characteristics

Answer 13

• Thin-skinned
• Early budding
• Early ripening

Question 14

List two styles into which Pinot Noir can be made

Answer 14

• Light and fruity with red cherry notes

- Complex and earthy with flavours of spice and forest floor

Question 15

Which climates is Pinot Noir best grown in? Why?

Answer 15

• Cool to moderate climates

- It is an early ripening variety

Question 16

Describe entry-level red Burgundy red wines

Answer 16

Very light with marked acidity and a hint of oak for structure

Question 17

What is the risk of Pinot Noir being grown in cooler environments/years?

Answer 17

They may not ripen fully, leading to vegetal notes like cabbage and wet leaves

Question 18

Where else in Europe is well known for high-quality Pinot Noir?

Answer 18

Baden in Germany

Question 19

List some regions in the new world which produce high-quality Pinot Noir

Answer 19

• California: Los Carneros and Sonoma
• New Zealand: Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago
• Australia: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania
• South Africa: Walker Bay
• Chile: Casablanca Valley

Question 20

What happens to the flavours of Pinot Noir if its climate is too hot?

Answer 20

Flavours become jammy and unattractive

Question 21

What fermentation temperature is common for Pinot Noir?

Answer 21

Upwards of 30C

Question 22

Describe oak usage when making Pinot Noir wines

Answer 22

• It is common, with premium examples spending 12 - 24 months in oak
• Delicate flavours can be overpowered by oak, so 2nd and 3rd fill barrels are often used and only a small proportion of new oak

Question 23

Syrah/Shiraz grape characteristics

Answer 23

• small and thick
• dark coloured skins
• will not ripen in cool climates.

Question 24

Syrah/Shiraz / wine / styles

Answer 24

• from medium-bodied with pepper and fresh black fruit aromas, to…
• smooth and full-bodied with intense, very ripe black fruite flavours and hints of liquorice
• fruity flavours, deep colour, high tannins
• best examples suitable for long-term ageing.

Question 25

Where in Europe is famous in growing Syrah?

Answer 25

Northern Rhone in France

Question 26

Describe the style of Syrah made in the Northen Rhone:

Answer 26

- quite light bodied - simple black fruit and herbaceous flavours - slightly grippy tannins

Question 27

Describe the style of Syrah made in the Sourthern Rhone

Answer 27

- fuller bodied - berry flavours and hints of pepper - notes of meat and leather after a little ageing

Question 28

Other regions in France that are famous in growing Syrah:

Answer 28

- Languedoc | - Roussillon

Question 29

What other varieties will be used to blend with Syrah in Languedoc and Roussillon?

Answer 29

Black grape varieties: - Grenache - Mourvedre - Carignan - Cinsault

Question 30

Black grape varieties: - Grenache - Mourvedre - Carignan - Cinsault

Answer 30

Australia's Hunter and Barossa Valley.

Question 31

Describe the style of Shiraz made in Hunter and Barossa Valley:

Answer 31

- soft earthy - spicy - with concentrated black fruit aromas

Question 32

Where are the cooler regions in Australia famous in making Shiraz?

Answer 32

- Great Southern - Geelong - Heathcore

Question 33

Describe the style of Shiraz make in the cooler regions of Australia:

Answer 33

leaner, more peppery styles.

Question 34

Where are the countries famous in making Shiraz in the New World other than Australia?

Answer 34

- Chile - South Africa - Hawke's Bay @New Zealand - Washington State @the USA.

Question 35

Grenache/Garnacha grape characteristics

Answer 35

- late ripening - needs to be planted in warm or hot climate - high tolerance for drought condition - sweet and thin-skined

Question 36

Grenache/Garnacha wine characteristics

Answer 36

- high in alcohol - low acidity - full-bodied - soft tannis - red fruit flavours

Question 37

Garnacha in Spain is an important blending partner of which variety in making the Priorat wines in Rioja?

Answer 37

- Carignan

Question 38

Priorat / Garnacha Carignon blend / style:

Answer 38

- deep colour - high tannin - fresh black fruit - toasty oak

Question 39

In Rioja Baja, Garnacha is blended with which local variety?

Answer 39

Tempranillo

Question 40

Where else in Spain grow Garnacha other than Priorat and Rioja?

Answer 40

- Calatayud - Carinena - Navarra

Question 41

In Chateaunerf-du-Pape, Grenache is usually blended with which two varieties typical of the south of France?

Answer 41

- Syrah | - Mourvedre

Question 42

Describe the style of the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape blending Greanche with Syrah and Mourvedre:

Answer 42

- full bodied - richly textured - concentrated spicy and fruit

Question 43

Outside of Southern Rhone, where in France also plant Grenache?

Answer 43

- Languedoc | - Rousillon

Question 44

In Languedoc and Rousillon, Grenache is usually blended with which four varieties?

Answer 44

- Syrah - Mourvedre - Carignan - Cinsault

Question 45

Outside of Europe, which regions and country produce the highest quality of Grenache?

Answer 45

Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale @Australia.

Question 46

Describe the style of the Grenache wines made in Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale IN THE OLD DAYS:

Answer 46

- intensely concentrated - full-bodied - high level of alcohol

Question 47

the style of the Grenache wines made in Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale NOWADAYS:

Answer 47

- more restraint - robust, ripe - intense flavours of red berries and peppery spice * due to old bush vines yield low volumes of highly concentrated grapes.

Question 48

Usually, Grenache wine will drained off _____ at the end of _____.

Answer 48

- the skins | - fermentation

Question 49

Grenache is usually matured in new or old oak?

Answer 49

old. Because the toasty notes from new oak can overwhelm Greanche's fruit flavours.

Question 50

Grenache is usually matured in barriques of foudres?

Answer 50

foudres.