BENCHMARKS

Question 1

DRY RIESLING - Ravines, Argetsinger Vineyard, 2017, Seneca Lake

Answer 1

• New York, one of the oldest Riesling vineyards in the Finger Lakes
• wet stone minerality, green apple, citrus, floral
• slightly more weighty than old world riesling

Question 2

DRY RIESLING - Besigheimer Wurmberg, Dautel, 2016, Württemberg

Answer 2

• 50 year old vines

- from Württemberg in southwestern Germany, Germany’s premier red wine region but also making some tasty Riesling

Question 3

DRY RIESLING - David Franz, 2019, Eden Valley

Answer 3

• from Barossa, South Australia
• riper, more weighty texture
• limes and lemons, with hints of ruby grapefruit and marmalade

Question 4

DRY RIESLING - Trocken, Gunderloch, 2018, Rheinhessen

Answer 4

• Sourced from three grand cru sites

- lemon, stone fruit, nice weight to it but balanced out by laser-like acidity

Question 5

DRY RIESLING - Zind-Humbrecht, Roche Calcaire, 2017, Alsace

Answer 5

-Flinty minerality, higher acid, lemon, pear, creamy texture with more sunshine in Alsace

Question 6

FRUITY RIESLING - Spätlese Feinherb Zeltinger Sonnenuhr “Ur Alte Reben,” Selbach-Oster, 2019, Mosel

Answer 6

-very slightly off-dry, an almost imperceptible amount of sugar, honeyed character though not that sweet, rich texture but with mouthwatering acidity

Question 7

RIESLING DUALITY: Kabinett, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Joh. Jos. Prüm, 2019, Mosel

Answer 7

• ripe fruit, slate, beautiful sweetness that is balanced by minerality and screaming acidity
• from the Mosel, some of the steepest slopes vineyards. in the world

Question 8

SPARKLING: Melsheimer Sekt Brut, Reiler Mullay-Hofberg, 2015, Mosel

Answer 8

-Ripe generous fruit, mineral, yummy, soft round texture

Question 9

GREEN & YELLOW GRAPES: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie, Grand Mouton, 2019, Loire Valley

Answer 9

-Salinity, crisp, high acid, green apple, slightly creamy texture

Question 10

GREEN & YELLOW GRAPES: Saint-Romain, Alain Gras, 2015, Côte de Beaune

Answer 10

-Nice weight without being too much, very subtle oak influence, generous fruit, plush creamy texture

Question 11

GREEN & YELLOW GRAPES: Rebula, Guerila, 2018, Vipavska Dolina (AMBER WINE ALERT)

Answer 11

• 100% rebula, aka Italy’s Ribolla Gialla
• Slovenian orange wine
• natural wine, a bit funkier, minimal sulfur used
• herbaceous, citrus, apricot
• aged in traditional clay pots called amphora

Question 12

CHABLIS: Chablis, Vielles Vignes, Savary, 2018

Answer 12

• Classic example of Chablis

- tons of minerality, salinity, electric acidity, and a round creamy texture

Question 13

SAUVIGNON BLANC: Sancerre, André Dezat, 2020, Loire Valley

Answer 13

• delicate floral expression of Sauvignon Blanc from one of the oldest winemaking families in the region (since the 14th century)
• green apple, citrus, slightly flinty

Question 14

ROSÉ: Chinon, Olga Raffault, 2020, Loire Valley

Answer 14

• slightly funkier
• made from the Cabernet Franc grape which gives its red wines an herbaceous green pepper note, comes through in rosé form as well

Question 15

ROSÉ: Feudo Montoni, 2020, Sicily

Answer 15

• Nerello Mascalese

- light in color and style

Question 16

ROSÉ: Judith Beck, 2020

Answer 16

• Zweigelt

- darker color, a bit more fruity and structured

Question 17

ROSÉ: Getariako Txakolina, Rubentis, Ameztoi, 2020, Basque

Answer 17

-very slightly effervescent

Question 18

PINOT NOIR: Monthélie, Domaine Louis Jadot, 2016, Côte de Beaune

Answer 18

-more modern winemaking, some oak influence and a bit broader shouldered

Question 19

PINOT NOIR: Bourgone, Noyer du Pendu, Jean Chauvenet, 2017, Côte de Nuits

Answer 19

-delicate, floral, light bodied

Question 20

PINOT NOIR: Maranges, 1er Cru La Fussière

Answer 20

-delicate

Question 21

PINOT NOIR: Trimbach, Reserve, 2018, Alsace

Answer 21

-bright crunchy red fruit, wild strawberries, slender and high acid, super refreshing, a little earthy

Question 22

PINOT NOIR: Grosjean, 2019, Valle d’Aosta

Answer 22

-delicate, floral, lacy

Question 23

PINOT NOIR: Cave Calòz, La Mourzière, 2018, Valais

Answer 23

-floral and very pretty but has some weight to it too, more full

Question 24

PURPLE & RED GRAPES: Château Grand Village, 2016, Bordeaux

Answer 24

-86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc

Question 25

PURPLE & RED GRAPES: Chinon, Philippe Alliet, 2019

Answer 25

-100% Cabernet Franc

Question 26

PURPLE & RED GRAPES: Fleurie, Cuvée Tardive, Clos de la Roilette, 2019, Beaujolais

Answer 26

-100% Gamay

Question 27

PURPLE & RED GRAPES: Syrah, Hervé Souhaut, 2019, Northern Rhône Valley

Answer 27

-Syrah, earthy, black pepper, meaty, cozy

Question 28

RED & PURPLE & STRANGE GRAPES: Donnas, Caves de Donnas, 2017, Valle d'Aosta

Answer 28

-90% nebbiolo, 10% freisa and neyret

Question 29

RED & PURPLE & STRANGE GRAPES: Valpolicella Classico, Rubinelli Vajol, 2017, Veneto

Answer 29

-45% corvina, 35% corvinone, 15% rondinella, 5% molinara

Question 30

RED & PURPLE & STRANGE GRAPES: Falerno del Massico, Masseria Felicia, 2010, Campania

Answer 30

-80% aglianico, 20% pedirosso

Question 31

RED & PURPLE & STRANGE GRAPES: Bobal, La Casilla, Ponce, 2018, Manchuela

Answer 31

-100% bobal, medium bodied, blackberry brambly, spice, cocoa, good acidity

Question 32

RED & PURPLE & STRANGE GRAPES: Trollinger Trocken, La Boutanche, Knauss, 2020, Württemberg (SERVED COLD)

Answer 32

-light, easy drinking, bright red fruit, a little spice

Question 33

RED & PURPLE & STRANGE GRAPES: Zinfandel, Juvenile, Turley Wine Cellars, 2019, California

Answer 33

-full bodied, rich, oak, black and blue fruit