Le Cordon Bleu - Wine Examination; Wine Essentials #6

Twenty-five true/false and matching questions. One blind tasting. It didn’t take more than 20 minutes.

There were questions on the vineyard’s sequential, annual events. How to make red wine. Which grapes are which colors. Where alcohol comes from. Food and wine pairings. Degrees of French wine. And. A question about bottle storage.

The instructor kept saying not to worry about the wine exam. To tell the truth, it wasn’t difficult at all. But. I studied. If I, didn’t worry about the exam, I would have had problems.

I’ve heard the same comment about the cuisine written test. You will be fine, don’t worry about the examination.

First off, my nature prevents me from worrying about an exam. I get stressed over getting my cholesterol tested. Secondly, after taking the wine exam I am doubly worried. Finally, even though cuisine’s written is only 10% of the final grade, it can still make a difference. Either way.

After our assessment we continued on with our final class. Developing wine over time. The notion of vintage. And ageing wines.

It is important to understand tannins. The astringency. This is what allows the wine to develop – age – over time. Tannins will soften as the wine gets older. Once the tannins are gone, no more aging can occur. Eventually the wine will turn bad.

In general wine is made to be consumed immediately. Within 10 years. Very few bottles are designed to sit for centuries.

Ideal wine storage is in complete darkness. Well aired. Without vibrations. Humidity between 70-80%. Temperatures of 8-15 degrees Celsius (46.4-59 degrees Fahrenheit). But above all, theft-proof.

Darkness protects the juice from harmful UV rays. Vibrating can cause the wine to break-down. In dryness the wine can leak through dehydrated corks. Warmer temperature accelerates aging. And more and more buglers have their eye on private wine collections.

For my wine collectors out there, get this! Bordeaux 2009 vintage is set to be the best in years. Claims have been made first of the 21st century. All thanks to mother-nature. Bordeaux hasn’t seen such a fantastic vintage since 1949. Buy as many 2009’s as you can. Store them. And watch your investment appreciate. Don’t forget to put my name on one of your bottles.

Session #6 – Tastes

• Lalande-de-Pomerol (merlot, cabernet-franc, cabernet-sauvignon) by Château Ame de Musset, 2006
• Saint Estèphe (merlot, cabernet-franc, cabernet-sauvignon) by Saint Roth, 2005
• Côtes de Castillon (merlot, cabernet-franc, cabernet-sauvignon) by Château Cap de Faugères, 2004
• Margaux (merlot, cabernet-franc, cabernet-sauvignon) by Les Hauts du Tertre, 2001