Understanding the characteristics of different types of wines is essential to fully appreciating a wine. I am not an expert on wines, I just write about what I like and what I do not like. This is a chart I use to help me as I think about what a type of wine should be or to help me describe what I am tasting. It is by no means a complete list, but just a general aid for tasting.
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Barbera |
| Cabernet Sauvignon Black cherry, current (cassis). Cedar and vanilla, if oak-aged. Rich, medium to full bodied and strong dry tannins. |
| Cabernet Franc Medium bodied, dry berry, cherry and olivey herbal flavors. Aromatic and fruity, but dry. |
| Gamay Beaujolais Light bodied with fresh fruity cranberry flavors; tangy. |
| Merlot Medium-bodied, dry and smooth with fruity black current, berry and fresh flavors. Hints of mocha, cedar and vanilla, if oak-aged. Lush, plummy, velvety wine. |
| Mourvèdre Quite dry with berry-plum fruit with hints of nutmeg and wild herbs. Spicy, peppery, herbal and tannic. Medium to full-bodied. |
| Pinot Noir Light to medium bodied; flavors of cherry, with truffle and clove-spice, smoke notes. |
| Sangiovese Produces well-structured, often high-acid wines. |
| Shiraz/Syrah Full-bodied smokey and peppery, with sweet blackberries, prunes and smoke. Strong tannins. |
| Zinfandel Hearty, robust and tannic with jammy berry-like flavors and a touch of pepper and spice. |
| Chardonnay Buttery, creamy, appley, lemon and pineapple; medium-dry to full-bodied. Vanilla, butterscotch and smoke notes if oak-aged. |
| Chenin Blanc Fruity aroma of peach, pear and melon with a slight sweetness. Soft and light-bodied. |
| Gewürztraminer Crisp and spicy flavors of cloves and nutmeg with fragrant floral. Varies in sweetness from dry, medium to late harvest. Deeply colored, extravagantly aromatic, and fuller in body than most white wines. |
| Johannisberg Riesling Fruity flavors of peaches and apricots. A flowery bouquet and a long finish, light-bodied and often tangy and sweet. |
| Pinot Grigio Medium full bodied, crisp and dry with forward fruit. |
| Riesling Produces some of the world’s great sweet wines, particularly ice wines as well as wonderfully crisp. light, dry wines. |
| Sauvignon Blanc Lemony, grassy, herbal aroma. Crisp, tangy, citrus and melon flavor. Usually quite dry. |
| Sémillon Full-bodied, low acidity and mild aroma. Often blended with Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc. |
| White Zinfandel Made from the Zinfandel grapes. Usually sweet, fruity, crisp and fresh. |
Good post. What are you thoughts on Vouvray? I’ve only had it once so I don’t know what to think about it. I don’t drink as much white as I used to so I’m more partial to Malbec, Syrah, Shiraz, Pinot Noir and any other heavy, spicy red. Though some Pinots have disappointed lately. Chardonnay gives me a headache even though years ago I used to be able to drink it with no problem. Now, half a glass and my eyes hurt! I love Conundrum, but hate the price tag. I have discovered that my favorite white wines are German and I don’t like California whites much at all now. But this has come after a long time of trying different things. Not at all an expert, but I know what I like and I know I don’t like to spend a lot of money on a bottle! ha!
I will take a look at my local wine shop and try some Vouvray and let you know. sound like a research project.