The Usual Suspects

There are arguably many differing opinions on which varietals are considered Noble Grapes. But what is a Noble Grape? In layman's terms, Noble Grapes are high quality and widely grown internationally, used to make the most popular and recognizable single varietal wines. There is no classification requirements or official status of being a Noble Grape, so don't take the name too seriously.

There are 6 varietals that would make anyone's list of Noble Grapes:
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
These 3 white and 3 red varietals cover the spectrum of wine flavor and aroma profiles.

If you are a movie buff and wine drinker, enjoy the movie references.

Chardonnay (shaar-duh-nei)

(Dean Keaton - can be both subtle and bold depending on location)

Chardonnay is a unique white grape varietal originating in Burgundy France. It thrives in both cool and warm wine climates. Crisper, medium acidic medium-bodied Chardonnays are expected from cool climates, like northern Burgundy France (e.g. Chablis), Pacific Northwest US (Oregon, Washington and Northern California), Australia and Chile. Cool-climate Chardonnays deliver fruit flavors and aromas of lemon, green apples, stone fruits, such as under-ripe peaches as well as notes of minerality. More often than not, these cool-climate Chardonnays are not aged in oak as to not have the oak over-power the delicate fruit flavors.

Warm climates like California, South Australia and South Africa produce fruiter bolder full-bodied Chardonnays. The warmer regions will yield more tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, passionfruit, papaya and ripe peaches. Riper fruits come from warmer climates, meaning more sugar in the grape, translating into higher ABV compared to the cooler-climate chardonnays.

Sauvignon Blanc (so-vee-nyohn blahnk)

(Verbal Kint - the wine that brings everyone to the table but you didn't know it)

A white varietal originating in Bordeaux France that grows in cooler climates making a wine with higher acidity. Telltale aromas and flavors of citrus fruit, most commonly lemon, lime and grapefruit. Depending on where the wine is coming from, Sauvignon Blancs can take on flavors of guava, passionfruit, honeydew and gooseberry. Sauvignon Blanc is a light-bodied wine and is not typically oaked nor does it go through MLF (If you don't know what MLF is, checkout this blog post Butter Side Down).

Instead of red wine, try Sauvignon Blanc with your next charcuterie board, you'll be surprised. I call this the gateway white wine for red wine drinkers.

Riesling (ree-sluhng)

(Kobayashi - Have limited contact not knowing if it is sweet or not)

Originating in Germany, Riesling remains very popular. As you are probably aware, many wine producers lean toward making sweet Rieslings. Don't let that dissuade you, bone dry Rieslings are available most anywhere, just check the label for dry or the German word trocken.

Young Rieslings are known for their rich stonefruit flavors of peaches, apricots, nectarines and even pears and red apples. As Riesling ages it gets darker in color and develops aromas of gasoline (petrol) and beeswax, but not in a bad way.

The grapes themselves are mostly white with red freckles. If left on the vine longer they develop darker skin. So don't be surprised if you see a pink-colored Riesling.

Merlot (mr-low)

(Michael McManus - Bad reputation (from another movie) but is actually quite good on its own. I mean the wine, not Stephen Baldwin, but it might apply to him too. In my opinion Merlot has been unfairly judged since the movie Sideways.

Merlot is a Bordeaux red varietal, with medium acidity, medium tannins and is medium to full-bodied. Very fruit-forward with intense aromas and flavors ranging from red fruits (i.e. strawberry, raspberry) from cooler climates to black fruits (i.e. plum, black cherry, blackberry) from warmer climates. Although a fruity wine, it is not a sweet wine and is very often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. As a single varietal wine, Merlot has a soft silky texture and makes for a very well rounded versatile wine that pairs well with many foods.

This is a great stepping stone for people who are transitioning from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon.

Shhh...don't tell anyone that Merlot is one of the two main grape varietals of red Bordeaux blends. One of the most famous wines in the world is a Merlot,Petrus Pomerol.

Cabernet Sauvignon (ka-br-nei so-vee-nyohn)

(Fred Fenster - can be high in acidity, tannins and alcohol to make you slur your speech)

Cabernet Sauvignon originating in Bordeaux France is often referred to as "Cab" or "Cab Sauv" and known for its medium to high acidity and high tannins with deep black-fruit aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry. Depending on where it is grown and how it is produced, it can also have flavors of vanilla, tobacco, chocolate, coffee and baking spices, as well as vegetal notes, such as dill, green pepper and mint.

Due to the high levels of tannins and acidity, Cabernet Sauvignon can be aged for a long time. If you are drinking a young Cabernet Sauvignon, it will benefit from decanting to soften the wine and bring out the flavors and aromas.

Pinot Noir (pee-noh nuh-waar)

(Todd Hockney - small but can pack a punch)

Pinot Noir originated in Burgundy France and remains the primary red grape of the region. Unlike the easy to grown white grape (Chardonnay) of Burgundy , Pinot Noir is a finicky varietal making it difficult to grow quality Pinot Noir grapes, mostly due to its thin skin and sensitivity to climate.

The cooler climate and the thin skins yield a wine with low tannins, a pale ruby color bordering on brown, lower ABV, less intense flavor with higher acidity. You can expect red fruits, like cherry, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry flavors. Pinot Noirs from Burgundy have distinct earthy notes of mushroom and forest floor. Oregon Pinot Noirs mimic the Old World style of Pinot Noir and share in that earthiness, whereas other New World Pinot Noirs tend to have more fruit flavors and less earth.