RED GRAPE VARIETIES
Cabernet Sauvignon
Blackcurrant, blackberry, violets, spices, cedar, eucaplyptus, green pepper – unripeness (green pepper, IBMP), mint, chocolate
With Age: Leather, nutty, toast, toffee
Characteristics: high tannins due to thick skins, good ageing potential, ‘skeleton’
Cabernet Franc
Raspberry, violets, pencil shavings, leafy, earthy, spicy, tobacco
With age: musk, nutmeg, sandalwood, savoury
Characteristics: pale in colour, low in tannin, fruity fowardness, aromatic spicy qualities to the bouquet, high in acidity, light in body, fine texture
Merlot
Cherry, plums, violet, liquorice, blackberry, grilled meat, mint, prune – over-ripe
With age: Truffle, leather, floral, undergrowth, bacon
Characteristics: ‘fleshy’, aromatic fruit and juiciness, higher in alcohol and lower in acidity and tannins than Cabernet Sauvignon (can drink sooner)
WHITE GRAPE VARIETIES
Sauvignon:
Lemon, lime, Gooseberry, green pepper , asparagus, tomato leaves, box, broom, blackcurrant bud -cat’s pee (thiol), grapefruit, peach, green apple, herbaceous, freshly cut grass, fresh peas, pineapple
Smokey (gun flint), mineral, box (buis), broom (genet)
Characteristics: high in acidity, aromatic
Semillon: apricot, orange, citrus fruits, smokey, white peach , nectarine, lychee
Characteristics: fullness in mouth, waxy texture, low acidity, high alcohol
Sweet Wine (Semillon and Sauvignon)
High residual sugar
Acacia flower , orange blossom, honey, marmalade, quince, white tobacco
