Which grape variety is the dominant red in classic Bordeaux blends?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon — Usually blended with Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties, it's the backbone of most Left Bank Bordeaux wines like those from Médoc.
What's the process called in which yeast converts grape sugar into alcohol and CO₂?
Fermentation
Fermentation is the transformative process at the heart of winemaking. Yeast consumes the natural sugars in grape juice, producing alcohol, CO₂, and heat — turning grape juice into wine.
Red wine gets its distinctive color and tannins from fermenting grape juice in contact with the skins. White wine, by contrast, is typically made without skin contact, even when red grapes are used.
In a tasting note, what does "developing" usually suggest?
The wine shows some signs of age but still has primary fruit
A developing wine shows a mix of youthful fruit and more mature notes, such as dried fruit, earth, nuts, honey, leather, mushroom, or toast, depending on the wine style.
What is the main reason sparkling wines made by the traditional method can show biscuit, bread, or toast notes?
Extended lees aging
Traditional-method sparkling wines undergo a second fermentation in bottle and may spend time aging on lees, which can add bready, biscuit, pastry, or toast-like aromas.
