Varieties blind tasting

Question 1

Chenin blanc

Answer 1

High acidity
Fruit: Tree fruit (green/golden/oxidized apple, quince, yellow pear), citrus (tangerine, bergamot, lemon), dried apricot
Oxidative notes: Bruised apple, almond/marzipan, pistachio, cheese rind/soft cheese
Floral: Honeysuckle, jasmine, white flowers
Herbal: Chamomile/herbal tea, medicinal notes, dandelion greens
Other: Wet wool

Question 2

Sauvignon blanc France

Answer 2

• high acidity
• tart fruit: orchard/stone/citrus
• Herbal/green/pyrazine: Cut grass, green bell pepper
• high minerality

Question 3

Sauvignon blanc (New zealand)

Answer 3

• High acidity
• Pyrazine / green / bell pepper (cat pee)
  Fruit: Citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime), melon, gooseberry, tropical fruit (passion fruit, guava, pineapple)

Question 4

Chablis

Answer 4

• Lees notes: Crème fraîche/sour cream
• High minerality, stony, chalk, saline/seaspray, oyster shell
• Floral: Faint white flowers, apple blossoms
• Sulfuric note (especially in youth): Flint, burnt match, slight cabbage

Question 5

Chardonnay (France)

Answer 5

med/med+ acidity
lees notes
high minerality
white flowers
orchard/citrus/stone fruits
malolactic notes

Question 6

Chardonnay (new world)

Answer 6

• Oak: toffee, salted caramel, butterscotch, sweet baking spices, vanilla, pie crust, toast
• low minerality
• lees notes: yogurt/creme fresh
• malolactic: butter/popcorn
• Oxidative notes: Hazelnut, almond
• ripe fruit profile
• floral

Question 7

Mosel kabinett riesling

Answer 7

Colour: watery white + hints of green
off dry
low alcohol
high acidity
tart fruit (green apple, quince, citrus peel, lemon lime, grapefruit, white peach, white plum, nectarine)
floral: jasmine, white flowers, tree blossom
Earth: High minerality, wet stones
bottle age: petrol, honey,paraffin

Question 8

Alsace Riesling

Answer 8

Colour: yellow/gold + green
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
Floral: White flowers, honeysuckle, jasmine
Spice: Cardamom, anise, fennel
Other: Smoke, candle wax, slight petrol
Earth: High minerality, white mushroom
Bottle age aromas: Honey, petrol, paraffin, marzipan, browned toast

Question 9

Australian Riesling

Answer 9

Colour: Pale straw + green
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

Question 10

Viognier

Answer 10

High alcohol / med- acidity
Fruit: Ripe/lush stone fruit (apricot, peach, peach pit), ripe citrus (mandarin orange, ruby red grapefruit), tropical fruit (mango, persimmon), fruit cocktail
Floral: Honeysuckle, jasmine, orange blossoms, rose
Spice: Cinnamon, musk, potpourri, candied citrus peel, anise, gingerbread

Question 11

Gewurztraminer

Answer 11

Colour: yellow/gold
off-dry
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

Question 12

Gruner-Vertliner

Answer 12

Fruit: Citrus (grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange), ripe stone fruit (peach, apricot, yellow cherry, white plum), red/yellow apple, slight dried and/or tropical fruit character
Floral: White flowers
Spice: White pepper, wasabi, radish, lentils
Green/herbal: slight chive, tarragon, sage
Slight oxidation: Blanched almond, nut
Botrytis: Slight ginger, honey, saffron
Minerality

Question 13

Torrontes

Answer 13

Fruit: Synthetic grape, tropical fruit (pineapple, guava, papaya), ripe citrus (orange, Meyer lemon), ripe stone fruit (peach), melon
Floral: Highly floral/perfumed, orange blossoms, roses, jasmine, geranium
Other: Hand lotion/soapy, potpourri, slight musk spice

Question 14

Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 14

Fruit: Black fruit (black currant/cassis, blackberry, black cherry), slight red fruit and plum
Floral: Purple flowers, violets
Herbal/green: Sage, green bell pepper, mint, tobacco, dried savory herbs
Spice (savory): Green peppercorn, anise, clove, exotic spices
Other: Leather, pencil shavings, cedar, iodine, medicinal, game, cigar box
Earth: Moderate-plus to high minerality, graphite, gravel, iron, damp soil, mushroom
Oak: Moderate-plus to high use of new French oak (baking spices, clove, smoke, coffee, vanilla, roasted nut, cedar)

Question 15

Malbec

Answer 15

lush black and red fruit
med+/high alcohol
med acidity
PURPLE COLOUR
high tannin