Certified Sommelier Final Exam With Already Passed Answers.
Gamay (Beaujolais) - Answer BUBBLEGUM, BANANA, STRONG CRUSHED GRANITE, strawberry, black cherry, violets, pear drop
Riesling - Answer HIGH ACID, SLATE, PETROL, RS, apricot, peach, lime, lime zest (NW), lime blossom, linear texture
Albarino (Rias Baixas) - Answer JUICYFRUIT GUM, ORANGE OIL, CREAMY TEXTURE, SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY OXIDATIVE (BLANCHED ALMONDS), fresh ripe peach, bright finish
Gruner Veltliner - Answer LENTILS, RADISH, CELERY , WHITE PEPPER, watercress, lime blossom, lime, under-ripe stone fruit, subtle, bitterness on finish
Merlot - Answer PLUM, BLACKBERRY , CHOCOLATE, fern leaf, round shape/texture
Chardonnay - Answer HAZELNUT, SOFT CHEESE RIND, BUTTER/DIACETYL (NW), golden apple, lemon, pineapple (NW), rich texture
Malbec (Argentina) - Answer BLUEBERRY , GREEN COFFEE BEAN, MAGENTA/ELECTRIC PINK RIM, ripe plum, blackberry, violets, bright acid
Cabernet Franc (Loire) - Answer TART RED RASPBERRY , JALAPENO, STEMMY/TWIGGY , MARIJUANA, black currant, red currant, green bell pepper, cut grass, violets, tart finish, pronounced earth, brettanomyces is often encountered
Cabernet Sauvignon - Answer BLACK PLUM, GREEN BELL PEPPER, TOBACCO, SAGE, black currant, edgy texture
Sauvignon Blanc - Answer GRASS, JALAPENO, GOOSEBERRY , grapefruit, tarragon & chervil (OW), passionfruit (NW) Pinot Noir - Answer CRANBERRY , VIOLETS, BLACK TEA, TOMATO LEAF, black cherry, red cherry, cola nut, strawberry
Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva) - Answer STEWED FRUITS, DESSICATED FRUITS, SWEET & SOUR (CHINESE RESTAURANT AROMA), tart red raspberry, tobacco, dill, bay leaf, ripe strawberries, coconut, MP acid, M-MP alcohol
Gewurztraminer (Alsace) - Answer LYCHEE, CANDIED GINGER, BITTER FINISH, rose, potpourri, grapefruit pith
Syrah/Shiraz - Answer SMOKED MEATS/BACON FAT, LEATHER, VIOLETS, raspberry, blackberry, freshly cracked pepper, sometimes blueberry
Grenache - Answer DEHYDRATED STRAWBERRIES, BLACK PEPPER, RAISINS, GRENADINE, OXIDATIVE, SWEETNESS TO THE FRUIT ON THE FINISH, strawberry jam, raspberry, black cherry, powdered sugar
Chenin Blanc (Loire) - Answer BRUISED RED APPLE (OXIDATIVE), CHAMOMILE, WASABI, WET WOOL, PRONOUNCED CHALK/LIMESTONE, honey, tangerine, high acid
Sangiovese (Tuscany) - Answer SOUR RED CHERRY , CHERRY PITH, LEAFY UNDERBRUSH, HIGH ACID, licorice root, fennel, black tea
Pinot Gris (Alsace) - Answer SWEET PEAR, POTTING SOIL, SMALL AMOUNTS OF RS, WHITE FLOWERS, white mushrooms, green apple, honey, slightly bitter finish
Viognier - Answer FRUIT LOOPS, ORANGE PEEL, VANILLA, M-MM ACIDITY , peach apricot, mandarin orange, orange blossom, honeysuckle, mango, weighty texture, bitter finish
Muscat - Answer ORANGE CANDY , ROSE PETAL
Pinot Grigio (Italy) - Answer PEANUT SHELL, FLAT BEER, lemon rind, melon, bitter finish Nebbiolo - Answer DRIED SOUR RED CHERRY , TRUFFLE, FENNEL, HIGH TANNIN, CINNAMON, MARASCHINO CHERRY , tar, dried rose petal, red licorice, anise, mushroom, clay, high acid, MP-H alcohol
Zinfandel - Answer PLUM SKIN, BLUEBERRY JAM, PEPPERCORN, PEACH YOGURT, cranberry, blackberry pie, high alcohol
Listrac & Moulis - Answer - Lesser appellations
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines - No classified growths
Margaux - Answer - Largest AOC in Haut Medoc
- Wines know for ELEGANCE and FINESSE
- 1 First Growth (Chateau Margaux)
- Other notables: Chateau Palmer, Giscours, Brane- Cantenac
Pauillac - Answer - Considered the epitome of "claret"
- Wines balance POWER and FINESSE
- 3 First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild
Saint-Julien - Answer - Smallest commune, but 11 classified growths
- Styles combine ELEGANCE and STURDINESS
- 5 Second Growths: Ducru-Beaucaillou, Leoville-Las-Cases, Leoville-Poyferre, Leoville- Barton, Gruard-
Larose
Graves & Pessac-Leognan - Answer - Appellation for red AND dry whites
- No ranking; all designated Cru Classe
- Pessac-Leognan AC in northern part
Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux) - Answer - Saint-Emillion (PGCC's are Ausone and Cheval Blanc) - Pomerol (Petrus, Le Pin, La Fleur Petrus, La Conseillante, Vieux-Chateau-Certan, Trotanoy)
Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux) - Answer 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% minor varietals
Sauternes - Answer - Sits in Graves
- World famous botrytis dessert wines
- Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
- Dry wines labeled as Graves Blanc or Bordeaux Blanc
Saint-Estephe - Answer - Northernmost commune of the Haut-Medoc
- Wines are RUSTIC, STURDY , FULL-BODIED
- 5 classified growths, including 2nd growths (Cos d'Estournel and Montrose)
Left Bank Communes (Bordeaux) - Answer - Haut Medoc
- Saint-Estephe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Listrac & Moulis
- Margaux
- Graves
- Pessac-Leognan
- Sauternes
Left Bank Grapes (Bordeaux) - Answer Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot, minor varietals (30%)
Medoc First Growths - Answer - Lafite-Rothschild
- Latour
- Mouton-Rothschild
- Margaux