The Accidental Wino » Wine Quizzes

Meet the Coolest Wine Map Ever

The Accidental Wino — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:52:51 +0000

Designed by architectural historian Dr. David Gissen, this wine map of France is reconfigured to resemble a modern subway map. Pure genius, if you ask me. Gissen really captures the public-transportation aesthetic perfectly, presenting French wine in a uniquely urban context. Bravo. Wine geeks can purchase a high-quality printing of this map online at De Long Wine, creators and purveyors of the equally cool Wine Grape Varietal Table.

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Book Review: “A Revolution in Taste: The Rise of French Cuisine” by Susan Pinkard

The Accidental Wino — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:56:25 +0000

If footnotes indicate anything, I’d argue that Susan Pinkard’s “A Revolution in Taste” is perhaps the best-researched text available on French culinary history. Pinkard has clearly done her homework, and her book is both comprehensive and concise, and for me, it represents one of the great recent surveys of food and culture. Published in 2009, “A Revolution in Taste” may prove a bit scholarly for the casual gourmet, but for the student of Western cuisine, the book offers an approachable and well-documented account of the culinary trends that evolved from the Greco-Roman Era to the French Revolution. Along the way, Pinkard explains how medicine, exploration, philosophy, and an ever-changing social climate helped to forever transform the way people eat. My one criticism with the book, though it may be slightly unfair, is that I wish Pinkard had pressed further into the 19th and 20th centuries. I do understand that, in terms of ingredients and techniques, French cuisine has not changed nearly as dramatically over the last 200 years as it had previously, but at the same time, it also seems somehow remiss to stop short of Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935), who continued to improve and perfect the modern professional kitchen. Then again, with a book this well researched, I suppose it’s always natural to wish for more.

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Next Week: Tasting 2008 Bordeaux in San Francisco

The Accidental Wino — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:17:43 +0000

We’re already two weeks into 2011, and I haven’t even discussed wine yet this year. That will all change very soon: I’ll be attending the Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux 2008 Vintage Tasting in San Francisco next week. Of course, I’ll put together a list of my top 20 wines, and then I’ll report back here. If you’re attending any of the events scheduled below, please check back to compare notes!

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Lessons in Good Living: Part One

The Accidental Wino — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:41:39 +0000

L-I-V-I-N: 2001 LeRoy Vosne-Romanée, 1983 Chateau Latour, 1990 Domaine Weinbach Cuvée Ste. Catherine.

Wine tasting can sometimes be counter-productive to blogging, at least in the short term. Pictured above, three reasons why I’ve been mostly absent from the internet this week. This handsome trio in the photo capped an epic Tuesday evening, which began with a blind tasting of 2007 California Pinot Noir (Kosta Browne, Papapietro Perry, Chasseur, and three others; my full report to follow next week). Before this throw-down of mailing-list Pinot, I had already spent the entire day touring Napa wine country with my friend Jean-Marie, who is currently visiting California from Europe. It had been a pleasure to host someone who shares my same passion for wine, but with an Old World perspective. Jean-Marie’s last official gig was a three-year stint as lead sommelier at Restaurant Gordon Ramsey in Chelsea (that’s a three-Michelin joint, for those keeping score). On Tuesday, we visited Ehlers, Failla, and Stony Hill, along with a couple others (my choices, also for those keeping score). As for the three heavyweights in the photo above, they were supplied by the one Geoff Harner of Mosher Imports. Each wine was terrific, as was expected. Along the way, bottles of Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs were expertly sabered by Dianne. Ah, Napa.

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Wine Tasting Notes: 2005 Keller “Hubacker” Riesling and 2003 Frederic Magnien Chambolle-Musigny “Amoureuses”

The Accidental Wino — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:27:52 +0000

So, I did a little web consulting the other day for my old buddy Geoff Harner at Mosher & Company Wine Importers. How it works: I help Geoff rebuild his company website, and he fuels my creativity with some European wine (nice work, if you can get it). We met up on Tuesday morning and tasted through a couple of really nice bottles, beginning with the 2005 Keller “Hubacker” Riesling, which is produced by one of the up-and-coming superstars of German wine, Klaus-Peter Keller. The 2005 “Hubacker” is a dry Riesling, and one of four or five “Grosses Gewächs” (or Grand Cru) bottlings in the Weingut Keller portfolio. It’s interesting to point out that Keller’s wines originate from Germany’s Rheinhessen region, an area most recently synonymous for its simple German table wines, usually produced from the meager Müller-Thurgau grape. But despite the overall mediocrity of the Rhinehessen, Keller himself has been crafting world-class wines since he took over his family’s business in 2001 (Weingut Keller dates back to 1789, for the record). Wine critic Jancis Robinson describes the line-up of Keller Grosses Gewächs as “German Montrachets,” which should be an ample seal of approval for anyone who understands the depth of that compliment.

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Following the best dry Riesling that I’ve tasted this year, we progressed to Burgundian Pinot Noir, with the 2003 Frederic Magnien Chambolle-Musigny “Amoureuses” Premier Cru. Most critics would consider the 13.5-acre Les Amoureuses vineyard to be the finest among the Chambolle-Musigny’s 24 premier cru designates (Le Musigny and Bonnes-Marres rank as the region’s two grand cru vineyards, just to refresh). There are, of course, a handful of negociants who bottle wine under the “Les Amoureuses” designate, and Frederic Magnien is but one (Louis Jadot and Joseph Drouhin represent two other recognizable names). In terms of its geography, Les Amoureuses borders Le Musigny to the south, which certainly places the vineyard firmly in the shadow of its more-famous neighbor, but which may also allow Les Amoureuses wines to sometimes approach “grand cru” type levels, both in quality and in price. Knowing that the 2003 vintage was good-but-not-great (epic heat), the 2003 Magnien Amoureuses was a pleasure to drink nonetheless. As I struggled with HTML and coding issues, the wine revealed different attributes of umami on the nose, from mushrooms to soy to beef jerky, while the palate offered elements of ripe cherries and sweet tobacco. I would love to taste the 2005 vintage.

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More CSW Study Aids: Digital Flashcards for Italian Wines

The Accidental Wino — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:30:27 +0000

Ever since I posted my own insight regarding the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam, I’ve been receiving hundreds of searches per week on the subject, and many folks have downloaded the study guide that I created to help myself pass the test last year. As I’ve mentioned here before, the subject of Italian wine remains one of the most challenging topics to learn. Not only does this subject require one to (a) learn all of the states in Italy, but it also involves (b) learning the sheer number of varietals in production. Then, what complicates things further is that (c) some grapes have different names in different Italian regions, and (d) many different grapes have similar-sounding names across these regions. For those people first beginning to sort out these unfamiliar terms, repetition is the only real way to establish a foothold on the subject (first master the vocabulary, then learn all the production details). Since rote memorization is the only realistic approach in this case, flashcards can certainly facilitate the learning process. In fact, there’s really no better study aid for this sort of task.

• • •

Although flashcards remain a bit of an old-fashioned approach, I put a modern spin on them by going paperless. It occurred to me the other day, why carry around a rubber-banded stack of index cards when you can just as easily store and review this data on your cell phone? One really nice feature to these cell phone flashcards is that you can hold your screen upright to see the front and the back of each card at the same time. On the other hand, viewing your phone horizontally presents the front and the back sides of each flashcard individually. I have this web page bookmarked in my cell phone browser, so that a couple quick taps will open the flashcards below.

• • • Click here to open the Italian wine flashcards • • •

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The World’s Most Difficult Wine Quiz: Bordeaux

The Accidental Wino — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:08:09 +0000

As part of my on-going preparation for the Certified Wine Educator (CWE) exam in 2010, I’ve continued to compose a few short quizzes that really test the depth of knowledge for the world’s most important wine-growing regions. Again, this quiz may not actually be the most difficult in the world, but it’s not amateur hour, either. Much like the 20-question quiz I created for Burgundy Grand Cru, these 25 questions concerning Bordeaux require much more than a superficial knowledge of the region. For the most part, this quiz looks beyond the five First Growths, and delves into the lesser-known appellations.

Once again, answers for each question are typed in white, so you can reveal the information by swiping each area with your cursor. For the easiest readability, it may help to change your highlight color to black in your computer’s control panel. If you wish to share this test with someone else, you can use any of the “sociable” icons at the bottom of the post. Just keep in mind that this test is strictly for wine geeks.

• • •

Q1. What is the most common pruning and trellising system in Bordeaux?

A: Guyot, with single guyot being more prevalent on the Right Bank, and the double guyot being more prevalent on the Left Bank.

Q2. What two rivers contribute to the unique climate of Sauternes?

A: The Garonne and the Ciron. In the early-autumn, when the cool waters of the Ciron merge with the warmer waters of the Garrone, this creates the mists that help foster botrytis in the vineyards.

Q3. What region is the home to the appellations of Fronsac, Néac, and Côtes-de-Castillion?

A: Libourne, which is far more known for its appellations of Pomerol and St-Émilion.

Q4.What is the largest estate in St-Émilion?

A: At 40 hectares, Château Figeac is St-Émilion’s largest property, and it is one of the few estates in the region to plant a dominant percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Q5. What is the name for Cabernet Franc in Pomerol, and where does this varietal rank among total acreage planted?

A: Bouchet is planted second only to Merlot in Pomerol, while Cabernet Sauvignon is the third-most widely planted varietal.

Q6. What is the official AOC classification for Chateau Pétrus?

A: Although Pétrus is highly regarded, the region of Pomerol does not have a classification system, and therefore Pétrus remains unclassified. That was a trick.

Q7. What are the respective second labels of St-Émilion’s Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) wines?

A: Le Petit Cheval for Château Cheval Blanc, and Chapelle d’Ausone for Château Ausone.

Q8. Name the 13 châteaux that comprise St-Émilion’s Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) wines, and identify the two that were promoted in 2006.

A: Château Angélus, Château Beauséjour, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Belair Monange, Château Canon, Château Figeac, Clos Fourtet, Château La Gaffelière, Château Magdelaine, Château Pavie, Château Pavie-Macquin, Château Trottevieille and Château Troplong-Mondot. The most recently promoted châteaux are Château Pavie-Macquin and Château Troplong-Mondot.

Q9. Name the nine appellations of Entre-Deux-Mers.

A: Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves-de-Vayres, Premières-côtes-de-Bordeaux, Cadillac, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Haut-Benauge, Côtes-de-Bordeaux-Saint-Macaire, and Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux.

Q10. Aside from any regions devoted exclusively to red wine, name all of the other classified appellations in Bordeaux.

A: Graves is the only appellation permitted to produce dry white wine in Bordeaux; however, Graves can also produce sweet wines under the Graves Supérieur AOC, which covers the same region as the Graves AOC; other sweet wine appellations include Sauternes, Barsac, St-Croix-du-Mont, Monbazillac, Cérons, Loupiac, Cadillac and Premières Côtes de Bordeaux.

Q11. Name the five communes of Sauternes, and identify the labeling possibilities for each commune.

A: The five communes of Sauternes are Barsac, Sauternes, Bommes, Fargues and Preignac. Each of these communes is permitted to bottle wine under the name Sauternes, while Barsac can also bottle under its own name.

Q12. In Bordeaux, why is Chaptalization more common on the Left Bank than it is on the Right Bank?

A: Cabernet is the prevalent varietal on the Left Bank, and since this varietal tends to ripen later than the Merlot on the Right Bank, the Left Bank naturally sees more instances of Chaptalization in cooler years.

Q13. What is the maximum allowed production for Sauternes?

A: 25 hectoliters per hectare.

Q14. Which Left Bank commune has the highest percentage of classified châteaux?

A: As the smallest of the four main communes in the Médoc, St.-Julien does not feature any First Growth cháteaux, but 80% of its vineyards is devoted to Second and Third Growths.

Q15. What are the key difference between the St-Émilion AOC and the St-Émilion Grand Cru AOC?

A: St-Émilion Grand Cru mandates a maximum production of 40 hectoliters per hectare, and the wines must also pass a taste test 12 months after aging. Since both AOCs cover the same territory, wine producers can choose to make wine at either level.

Q16. In the region of Libourne, what four villages share a name with St-Émilion?

A: The “St-Émilion satellites” are Montagne-Saint-Émilion, Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion, Lussac-Saint-Émilion, and Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion.

Q17. Which appellation is the site of communes such as Cadaujac, Tallac, Martillac, and Villenave d’Ornon?

A: Pessac-Léognan, which was officially designated in 1987, and is home to all 16 wines in the 1959 Graves classification.

Q18. According to the Classification of 1855, what are the top growths of St.-Estéphe?

A: St.-Estéphe does not contain any First Growth châteaux, making its two second growth châteaux, Château Cos d’Estournel and Château Montrose the top-rated in the commune.

Q19. Which Left Bank commune is home to the most Second and Third Growth wines?

A: Margaux, which is also home to the First Growth, Chateau Margaux.

Q20. What AOC regions are entirely bound by the Graves AOC and the Garonne River?

A: Sauternes, Barsac, and Céron.

Q21. Name the First, Second and Third Growths of the Pauillac.

A: First Growths: Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Mouton Rothschild; Second Growths: Château Pichon Longueville Baron and Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande; there are zero Third Growths in the Pauillac.

Q22. Among the 11 estates designated as Sauternes Premiers Crus, which ones are in Barsac?

A: Château Climens and Château Coutet.

Q23. In the production of a dry white wine from Graves, what is the minimum amount of Sauvignon Blanc permitted in the blend?

A: 25%.

Q24. What do the following five estates have in common: Couhins, Latour-Martillac, Malartic-Lagravière, Fieuzal and Pape-Clément?

A: They were added to the Graves classification of 1959, therefore expanding the original list of the Graves classification of 1953.

Q25. What are the general soil characteristics of the Left Bank versus the Right Bank?

A: The Left Bank — which was originally marshland until it was drained by the Dutch in the 17th century — features mostly gravel. The Right Bank is a mixture of limestone and clay, the former component being dominant.

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The World’s Most Difficult Wine Quiz: Burgundy Grand Cru

The Accidental Wino — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:07:43 +0000

Okay, so maybe this isn’t actually the most difficult wine quiz in the entire world, but it is extremely challenging. I created these 20 questions in order to help study for the Certified Wine Educator (CWE) exam in 2010. Therefore, at the risk of sounding elitist, this test is geared towards those who are already familiar with the 33 Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy. If you don’t have that particular list committed to memory, then the following questions will be total Francophile gibberish. On the other hand, I would expect any Master of Wine or Master Sommelier to breeze through this test. For those looking for advice regarding the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam, please keep in mind that these questions transcend the scope of that test by a large margin. Answers for each question are typed in white, so you can reveal the information by swiping each area with your cursor.

• • •

Q1. Which of Burgundy’s Grand Cru vineyards is the largest vineyard in the Côtes de Nuits?

A: Clos de Vougeot. Once a single 125-acre parcel owned by Cisterian monks, the vineyard has now been divided among nearly 80 different owners. It is the only Grand Cru vineyard in the Vougeot commune, and although it is classified by the boundaries of its ancient vineyard walls, there remain significant geological variations within.

Q2. Which of Burgundy’s Grand Cru vineyards can produce both red and white wines under AOC regulations?

A: Musigny produces 90% red wine, and is the only Grand Cru vineyard in the Côte de Nuits that can produce AOC white wine. Likewise, all other AOC-approved white wine producers are located in the Côtes du Beanue, and none are permitted to produce red wine, except for Corton, which produces 95% red.

Q3. Under AOC regulations, how much white wine is allowed within a Burgundian red wine blend, and which white grapes are permitted?

A: Perhaps surprisingly, Burgundian reds may contain up to 15% in total of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris, although blending is extremely rare among Grand Cru vineyards.

Q4. What is the name of the mountainous region that separates Chablis from the Côte d’Or?

A: The Morvan, which puts 62 miles between the two regions (although officially part of Burgundy, Chablis is actually located closer to Champagne, and was once considered part of that region).

Q5. What is the maximum production for a Grand Cru Chablis vineyard?

A: 54 hectoliters per hectare.

Q6. Name the seven Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis, and point out the largest one.

A: Bougros, Les Preuses, Vaudésir, Grenouilles, Valmur, Les Clos and Blanchot. All seven are distinguished by their Kimmeridgian soils, and collectively account for about 3% of Chablis production. Les Clos, with 61 acres, is the largest of the group.

Q7. Aside from Musigny, what Grand Cru vineyard shares space in the Chambolle-Musigny commune?

A: Bonnes Mares, which also crosses into the Morey-Saint-Denis commune. The wines from the Chambolle-Musigny portion of the vineyard tend to be more elegant than the wines from the Morey-Saint-Denis portion.

Q8. What is the smallest de facto production of all Burgundy AOCs?

A: Charlemagne, which produced only about 900 bottles of wine in 2008. Producers entitled to use the “Charlemagne” AOC can also use the “Corton-Charlemagne” AOC, and almost all producers choose the latter.

Q9: Which is Burgundy’s largest Grand Cru vineyard?

A: Corton, which sits atop a large hill that is shared by the communes of Ladoix-Serrigny, Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton. The vineyard features 95 hectares, or 234 acres, under vine. Because of its size, Corton is unique in Burgundy in terms of labeling, and a bottle of Corton will typically indicate the specific climat within the Corton AOC.

Q10: Name the nine Grand Cru vineyards of the Gevrey-Chambertin commune, and identify which one is also known as Mazoyères-Chambertin.

A: Chambertin-Clos de Bèz, Charmes-Chambertin (also known as Mazoyères-Chambertin), Chapelle-Chambertin, Griotte-Chambertin, Latricières-Chambertin, Le Chambertin, Mazis-Chambertin, and Ruchottes-Chambertin.

Q11: Aside from Chambertin itself, which of the other eight Grand Cru vineyards in the Gevrey-Chambertin commune are permitted to use the Chambertin AOC?

A: Only Chambertin-Clos de Bèze may be sold under the Chambertin AOC, although this is rarely practiced since Chambetin-Clos de Béze has a superior reputation.

Q12: Of the the nine Grand Cru vineyards in the Gevrey-Chambertin commune, which one is located the closest to the town of Gevrey-Chambertin itself?

A: Mazis-Chambertin, sometimes seen as Mazy-Chambertin. Sorry, I know this question was particularly nasty.

Q13: Which two Grand Cru vineyards in the Gevrey-Chambertin commune have the greatest restrictions on production?

A: Chambertin and Chambertin-Clos de Bèze are restricted to 35 hectoliters per hectare, while the other seven Grand Cru vineyards can produce 37 hectoliters per hectare. It is worth noting, however, that 35 hectoliters per hectare tends to be the more common AOC limit for red wine in Burgundy.

Q14: Name the five Grand Cru vineyards located in the Morey-Saint-Denis commune, and identify any monopoles. Which of the five was awarded Grand Cru status most recently?

A: Clos de Tart (the only monopole), Bonnes Mares, Clos de la Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, and Clos des Lambrays (awarded Grand Cru status in 1981).

Q15: Name the six Grand Cru vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, and identify any monopoles. Which of the six has been most recently promoted to Grand Cru status?

A: Romanée-Conti (monopole), La Romanée (monopole), La Tâche (monopole), Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, and La Grande Rue (monopole, and Grand Cru since 1992, although status is retroactive to prior vintages).

Q16: What is the smallest AOC in France?

A: La Romanée, at 0.85 hectares or 2.1 acres. In 2008, an estimated 3,700 bottles were produced from this appellation, making these wines extremely scarce.

Q17: Within the communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, which Grand Cru vineyards are located within both villages?

A: Montrachet and Bâtard-Montrachet. The other two Grand Cru vineyards located in Puligny-Montrachet are Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet, while the third Grand Cru vineyard of Chassagne-Montrachet is Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet.

Q18: What is the typical maximum production for the wines of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet?

A: 40 hectoliters per hectare, which offers slightly more production than the 35 hectoliters per hectare allowed for most of Burgundy’s red wine producers.

Q19: Among the nomenclature for French wine labels, what is the difference between “Montrachet” and “Le Montrachet”?

A: The former wines are produced in the Pugliny-Montrachet commune, while the latter wines are produced in the Chassagne-Montrachet commune.

Q20: Aside from Clos de Vougeut, which is Burgundy’s most “owned” vineyard?

A: Échezeaux was divided among 80 owners by the early 2000s, while Grands Échexeaux was divided among 25 different owners.

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