©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Certified Sommelier Exam Study Guide
Solutions
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
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, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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
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, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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
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, ©EMILLECT 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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
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