GRAPES AND WINES GUIDE
Here’s the GENERAL scoop (notice the word GENERAL) on some of the most popular grapes (and hence wines) in the world
REDS
Cabernet Sauvignon
General Aromas and Flavors – Blackcurrant, Cedar, Cassis, can be Vegetal
Characteristics – Thick skins; Small blue berries; Deep ruby color; High tannin; Blends well with Merlot and Cabernet Franc; Late ripener; Ripens in warmer climates and cannot ripen in really cool climates
Best Regions – Medoc/Graves on Left Bank of Bordeaux France; Sonoma and Napa California; Most warmer regions around the world
Merlot
General Aromas and Flavors – Plum, Chocolate, can be Leafy
Characteristics – Bigger berries; Thinner skins; Less tannic than Cabernet Sauvignon; More opulent; Deeper; Fuller body; Can be voluptuous and velvety; Will ripen in cooler areas; Easier to drink early
Best Regions – Pomerol on Right Bank of Bordeaux France; Chile; USA; Northeast Italy; Many of the regions around the world
Pinot Noir
General Aromas and Flavors – Cherry, Raspberry, Red berries, Violets, Game, sometimes Earthy or Woodsy
Characteristics – Light to Medium Ruby Color; Higher alcohol; Medium to high acidity; Medium to low tannin; Rarely blended; Thin skin; Early ripening; Sensitive to terroir; Best in cooler climates; One of the three grapes used to make Champagne
Best Regions – Burgundy Cote d’Or France, New Zealand, Cool Corners of Australia, Cool parts of California such as Carneros and Russian River Valley in Sonoma, Oregon USA
Syrah/Shiraz
General Aromas and Flavors – Black Pepper, Dark Chocolate, Spice
Characteristics – Deep Ruby Color; High in alcohol; Medium to high tannin; Can be dense, Rich and potent; Nice kick at the finish; Blends well with Grenache; Called Shiraz in Australia;
Can ripen in most climates except really cool areas
Best Regions – Hermitage and Cote-Rotie in Rhone Valley France, Almost Everywhere in Australia; Actually, most regions around the world plant Syrah
Zinfandel
General Aromas and Flavors – Blackberry, Raspberry, Spicy, Tarry, Jammy
Characteristics – Rich and dark; High in alcohol; Medium to high in tannin
Best Regions – Oldest grapes in California and really good in Central Valley; Some other warm weather regions but mainly California
Malbec
General Aromas and Flavors – Spicy, gamey
Characteristics – High in alcohol; lively, velvety
Best Regions – Mendoza Argentina’s signature grape; Becoming popular in California; Increasing in popularity in warmer regions around the world
Sangiovese
General Aromas and Flavors – Fruity, Cherry, Tart Cherry, Floral, Nutty
Characteristics – Medium to high acidity; Tannic; Light to full body
Best Regions – Tuscany Italy – Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti
Tempranillo
General Aromas and Flavors – Tobacco, Spice, Leather; Fruity
Characteristics – Lively; Deep flavor; Deep color; Early budding; Thin skin
Best Regions – Spain’s signature grape; Portugal
Cabernet Franc
General Aromas and Flavors – Leafy, Grassy, Fruity, Berries
Characteristics – Less intense and softer than Cabernet Sauvignon; Ripens early; Less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot; More resistant to cold than Merlot; Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Best Regions – Loire Valley France; St-Emilion Bordeaux France; New Zealand; Long Island NY USA; Washington State USA; Northeast Italy; California
WHITES
Chardonnay
General Aromas and Flavors – Subdued aromas and flavors, Apple, Oak, Pineapple
Characteristics – Can ripen almost anywhere except in really hot or really cold areas; early budding; Responds well to barrel fermentation and oak ageing; Medium to high acidity; Full-bodied; One of the three grapes used to make Champagne
Best Regions – The world’s best known white grape; Burgundy France; California; Australia; Grown in almost every region in the world
Riesling
General Aromas and Flavors – Very aromatic, Floral, Mineral, Lime, Honey
Characteristics – Rarely oaked; Light body; Crisp; Refreshing; Vivid; High acidity; Low to medium alcohol
Best Regions – Germany’s premiere grape; Alsace France; Austria; Clare Valley Australia
Sauvignon Blanc
General Aromas and Flavors – Very aromatic, Grass, Green Fruit, Vegetal, Herbaceous; Melon; Figs; Passion Fruit
Characteristics – Light to medium body; Rarely oaked; High acidity; Vigorous; Blended with Semillon for sweet wines
Best Regions – Loire Valley France, Marlborough New Zealand, South Africa, Northeast Italy; Parts of California; Bordeaux France
Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio in Italy)
General Aromas and Flavors – Peach, Orange, Smoky, Pungent
Characteristics – Skin color unusually dark for a white grape; Deeper in color; Medium to full body; Usually not oaked; Low acidity
Best Regions – Northeast Italy; Germany; Alsace France; Oregon USA; New Zealand; California; Chile; Australia
Semillon
General Aromas and Flavors – Figs, Citrus, Lanolin
Characteristics – Thin skin; Highly susceptible to botrytis; Low acidity
Best Regions – Sauternes and Barsac France; Most planted white grape in Bordeaux France; Hunter Valley Australia; South Africa; Becoming more popular in California
Comments
One Comment on GRAPES AND WINES GUIDE
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Carol Bradbury on
Tue, 31st Aug 2010 7:06 PM
Mike – 2 wines I just tried and really liked –
Mark West – Pinot Noir – 2008 – CA around $14/bottle
Bogle – Pinot Noir – 2008 – Russian River Valley, CA around $12/bottle
Both were really good and great price too! Carol
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