| Grape Variety |
Common Aromas |
Common Flavors |
Pinot Noir Light ruby with brown or pink rim |
Red fruits: cherry, strawberry Also: vanilla, caramel, smoke, earth, leather, game, spice, tobacco |
Red fruits: cherry, strawberry Also: vanilla, caramel, smoke, earth, game, spice, pomegranate |
Merlot Medium ruby with pink tones |
Red fruits: plum, cherry, strawberry Also: chocolate, vanilla, cream, coffee, herbs, tea leaves |
Red fruits: plum, cherry, strawberry Also: chocolate, vanilla, cream, coffee, herbs |
Cabernet Sauvignon Deep ruby
|
Red/dark fruits: raspberry, cranberry, cherry, blackcurrants Also: spearmint, pencil shavings, cedar, oak, coffee, tobacco, dust |
Red/dark fruits: raspberry, cranberry, cherry, blackcurrants Also: spearmint, coffee, licorice, bell pepper, tobacco |
Syrah/Shiraz Deep cherry with pink rim
|
Red fruits: stewed plum Also: pepper, licorice, spice, earth, jam, deli meats, tar, smoke |
Red fruits: stewed plum Also: pepper, licorice, spice, jam, deli meats |
Nebbiolo (Barolo & Barbaresco) Medium brick with brown rim |
Red fruits: strawberry, jam Also: tobacco, smoke, tea leaves, coffee, tar, eucalyptus, anise, floral |
Red fruits: strawberry, jam Also: tobacco, smoke, coffee, anise, mint |
Zinfandel Ruby to brick (color varies)
|
Red/dark fruits: jammy blackberry and raspberry, cherry, plum Also: tar, pepper, spice, herbs, licorice, cinnamon |
Red/dark fruits: jammy blackberry and raspberry, cherry, plum Also: pepper, spice, herbs, licorice, cinnamon |
So where's the Petite Sirah descriptors? The poor forgotten red headed stepchild of the wine world looses out again.
Jeff,
For the sake of readability I kept this post to more of a snapshot of some popular reds. In terms of overall consumption, Petite Sirah is not a major player. That said, I love it and featured it in a stand-alone article around the same time that - I think you'll be pleased see - gives the grape a LOT more air time than this piece would have afforded: http://discover.winecountry.com/wine/2009/07/p-s-i-love-you.html
Cheers, Courtney