See the results of the blind tasting and wine quiz from the J.P. Morgan and WaterAid event.
Blind tasting wines:
2010 Château Léoube, Le Secret de Léoube Rose
Cotes du Provence, France
£20
(Grenache, Cinsault, Cab Sauv)
2009 Domaine Des Gerbeaux Pouilly Fuissé
Vieilles Vigne, Maconnais
£20.75
(Chardonnay)
2009 Clos du Mon Olivet Chateau-Neuf-du-Pape
Rhone, France
£21
(30% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc, 25% Rousanne, 15% Grenache Blanc)
2009 Fleurie La Madone, Jean-Marc Despres
“Cuvée Spécial Vieilles Vignes” Beaujolais, France
£11.25
(Gamay)
2007 Château Malartic-Lagravière, Grand Cru Classe de Graves
Pessac-Leognan, France
£30
(Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc)
2008 Michel & Stephane Ogier Côte-Rôtie
Rhône, France
£35
(Syrah)
Wine quiz answers:
Question #1
B. Provence
Half of the Rosé wine made in France comes from Provence. 80% of the wine made in Provence is Rosé. Rosés from Provence are dry and fruity which make a perfect summer aperitif, or accompaniment for a typical Mediterranean meal.
Question #2
C. Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the only grape variety used to produce Pouilly-Fuissé wines. Pouilly and Fuissé are two out of four distinct villages found in the Mâconnais wine region of Burgundy where Puilly-Fuissé wine is made. This dry, delicate and often oaky white wine has the potential to age in your cellar for more than 20 years.
Question #3
D. Riesling
White Châteauneuf-du-Pape accounts for only 5% of wine production in this region, and is produced using only the six permitted white varieties:
• Bourboulenc
• Clairette Blanche/Clairette Rose
• Grenache Blanc/Grenache Gris
• Picardan
• Piquepoul Blanc/Piquepoul Gris
• Roussanne
The Grenache Blanc and Roussanne provide fruitiness and fatness to the blend, while Bourboulenc, Clairette and Piquepoul add acidity, floral and mineral notes.
95% of the wines produced in Châteauneuf-du-Pape are red. Rosé wines are not allowed within the appellation.
Grenache is the most prominent grape variety used, followed by Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Most Châteauneuf-du-pape red wines are a blend of these nine grapes:
• Cinsaut
• Counoise
• Grenache Noir
• Mourvèdre
• Muscardin
• Piquepoul Noir
• Syrah
• Terret Noir
• Vaccarèse
Question #4
A. Beaujolais
Beaujolais is generally made with the Gamay grape. White wine from this region make up 1% of the wine produced and is usually made with Chardonnay.
The Fleurie appellation produces some of the most expensive wines from Beaujolais. Fleurie stands for Flowery, which aptly describes these young fruity wines from the region often referred to as the ‘Queen of Beaujolais.’
Question #5
B. Pessac-Léognan
Pessac-Léognan split from the very large Graves appellation in 1987 to form its own AOC. By grouping together only the highest quality Châteaux in one small AOC, Pessac-Leognan is better able to compete with other concentrated regions of quality in Bordeaux such as the Médoc.
Question #6
A. Syrah
Côte-Rôtie, literally means ‘Roasted Slope,’ in reference to the many south facing slopes soaking up the sun.
Syrah is the only red grape varietal allowed in this region, however, these wines may contain up to 20% of the white grape Viognier to create a more aromatic wine.
Written by Decanter
