Certified Sommelier Exam Questions and Complete
Answers.
Gamay (Beaujolais) - Correct answer BUBBLEGUM, BANANA, STRONG CRUSHED
GRANITE, strawberry, black cherry, violets, pear drop
Riesling - Correct answer HIGH ACID, SLATE, PETROL, RS, apricot, peach, lime, lime
zest (NW), lime blossom, linear texture
Albarino (Rias Baixas) - Correct answer JUICYFRUIT GUM, ORANGE OIL, CREAMY
TEXTURE, SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY OXIDATIVE (BLANCHED ALMONDS), fresh ripe
peach, bright finish
Gruner Veltliner - Correct answer LENTILS, RADISH, CELERY, WHITE PEPPER,
watercress, lime blossom, lime, under-ripe stone fruit, subtle, bitterness on finish
Merlot - Correct answer PLUM, BLACKBERRY, CHOCOLATE, fern leaf, round
shape/texture
Chardonnay - Correct answer HAZELNUT, SOFT CHEESE RIND, BUTTER/DIACETYL
(NW), golden apple, lemon, pineapple (NW), rich texture
Malbec (Argentina) - Correct answer BLUEBERRY, GREEN COFFEE BEAN,
MAGENTA/ELECTRIC PINK RIM, ripe plum, blackberry, violets, bright acid
Cabernet Franc (Loire) - Correct 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 - Correct answer BLACK PLUM, GREEN BELL PEPPER,
TOBACCO, SAGE, black currant, edgy texture
Sauvignon Blanc - Correct answer GRASS, JALAPENO, GOOSEBERRY, grapefruit,
tarragon & chervil (OW), passionfruit (NW)
Pinot Noir - Correct answer CRANBERRY, VIOLETS, BLACK TEA, TOMATO LEAF,
black cherry, red cherry, cola nut, strawberry
Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva) - Correct 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) - Correct answer LYCHEE, CANDIED GINGER, BITTER
FINISH, rose, potpourri, grapefruit pith
,Syrah/Shiraz - Correct answer SMOKED MEATS/BACON FAT, LEATHER, VIOLETS,
raspberry, blackberry, freshly cracked pepper, sometimes blueberry
Grenache - Correct 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) - Correct answer BRUISED RED APPLE (OXIDATIVE),
CHAMOMILE, WASABI, WET WOOL, PRONOUNCED CHALK/LIMESTONE, honey,
tangerine, high acid
Sangiovese (Tuscany) - Correct answer SOUR RED CHERRY, CHERRY PITH, LEAFY
UNDERBRUSH, HIGH ACID, licorice root, fennel, black tea
Pinot Gris (Alsace) - Correct answer SWEET PEAR, POTTING SOIL, SMALL
AMOUNTS OF RS, WHITE FLOWERS, white mushrooms, green apple, honey, slightly
bitter finish
Viognier - Correct answer FRUIT LOOPS, ORANGE PEEL, VANILLA, M-MM ACIDITY,
peach apricot, mandarin orange, orange blossom, honeysuckle, mango, weighty
texture, bitter finish
Muscat - Correct answer ORANGE CANDY, ROSE PETAL
Pinot Grigio (Italy) - Correct answer PEANUT SHELL, FLAT BEER, lemon rind, melon,
bitter finish
Nebbiolo - Correct 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 - Correct answer PLUM SKIN, BLUEBERRY JAM, PEPPERCORN, PEACH
YOGURT, cranberry, blackberry pie, high alcohol
Listrac & Moulis - Correct answer - Lesser appellations
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines
- No classified growths
Margaux - Correct 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 - Correct answer - Considered the epitome of "claret"
- Wines balance POWER and FINESSE
- 3 First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild
, Saint-Julien - Correct 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 - Correct answer - Appellation for red AND dry whites
- No ranking; all designated Cru Classe
- Pessac-Leognan AC in northern part
Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer - Saint-Emillion (PGCC's are
Ausone and Cheval Blanc)
- Pomerol (Petrus, Le Pin, La Fleur Petrus, La Conseillante, Vieux-Chateau-Certan,
Trotanoy)
Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5%
minor varietals
Sauternes - Correct answer - Sits in Graves
- World famous botrytis dessert wines
- Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
- Dry wines labeled as Graves Blanc or Bordeaux Blanc
Saint-Estephe - Correct answer - Northernmost commune of the Haut-Medoc
- Wines are RUSTIC, STURDY, FULL-BODIED
- 5 classified growths, including 2nd growths (Cos d'Estournel and Montrose)
Left Bank Communes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer - Haut Medoc
- Saint-Estephe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Listrac & Moulis
- Margaux
- Graves
- Pessac-Leognan
- Sauternes
Left Bank Grapes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%);
Merlot, minor varietals (30%)
Medoc First Growths - Correct answer - Lafite-Rothschild
- Latour
- Mouton-Rothschild
- Margaux
- Haut-Brion
Answers.
Gamay (Beaujolais) - Correct answer BUBBLEGUM, BANANA, STRONG CRUSHED
GRANITE, strawberry, black cherry, violets, pear drop
Riesling - Correct answer HIGH ACID, SLATE, PETROL, RS, apricot, peach, lime, lime
zest (NW), lime blossom, linear texture
Albarino (Rias Baixas) - Correct answer JUICYFRUIT GUM, ORANGE OIL, CREAMY
TEXTURE, SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY OXIDATIVE (BLANCHED ALMONDS), fresh ripe
peach, bright finish
Gruner Veltliner - Correct answer LENTILS, RADISH, CELERY, WHITE PEPPER,
watercress, lime blossom, lime, under-ripe stone fruit, subtle, bitterness on finish
Merlot - Correct answer PLUM, BLACKBERRY, CHOCOLATE, fern leaf, round
shape/texture
Chardonnay - Correct answer HAZELNUT, SOFT CHEESE RIND, BUTTER/DIACETYL
(NW), golden apple, lemon, pineapple (NW), rich texture
Malbec (Argentina) - Correct answer BLUEBERRY, GREEN COFFEE BEAN,
MAGENTA/ELECTRIC PINK RIM, ripe plum, blackberry, violets, bright acid
Cabernet Franc (Loire) - Correct 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 - Correct answer BLACK PLUM, GREEN BELL PEPPER,
TOBACCO, SAGE, black currant, edgy texture
Sauvignon Blanc - Correct answer GRASS, JALAPENO, GOOSEBERRY, grapefruit,
tarragon & chervil (OW), passionfruit (NW)
Pinot Noir - Correct answer CRANBERRY, VIOLETS, BLACK TEA, TOMATO LEAF,
black cherry, red cherry, cola nut, strawberry
Tempranillo (Rioja Riserva/Gran Riserva) - Correct 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) - Correct answer LYCHEE, CANDIED GINGER, BITTER
FINISH, rose, potpourri, grapefruit pith
,Syrah/Shiraz - Correct answer SMOKED MEATS/BACON FAT, LEATHER, VIOLETS,
raspberry, blackberry, freshly cracked pepper, sometimes blueberry
Grenache - Correct 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) - Correct answer BRUISED RED APPLE (OXIDATIVE),
CHAMOMILE, WASABI, WET WOOL, PRONOUNCED CHALK/LIMESTONE, honey,
tangerine, high acid
Sangiovese (Tuscany) - Correct answer SOUR RED CHERRY, CHERRY PITH, LEAFY
UNDERBRUSH, HIGH ACID, licorice root, fennel, black tea
Pinot Gris (Alsace) - Correct answer SWEET PEAR, POTTING SOIL, SMALL
AMOUNTS OF RS, WHITE FLOWERS, white mushrooms, green apple, honey, slightly
bitter finish
Viognier - Correct answer FRUIT LOOPS, ORANGE PEEL, VANILLA, M-MM ACIDITY,
peach apricot, mandarin orange, orange blossom, honeysuckle, mango, weighty
texture, bitter finish
Muscat - Correct answer ORANGE CANDY, ROSE PETAL
Pinot Grigio (Italy) - Correct answer PEANUT SHELL, FLAT BEER, lemon rind, melon,
bitter finish
Nebbiolo - Correct 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 - Correct answer PLUM SKIN, BLUEBERRY JAM, PEPPERCORN, PEACH
YOGURT, cranberry, blackberry pie, high alcohol
Listrac & Moulis - Correct answer - Lesser appellations
- Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines
- No classified growths
Margaux - Correct 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 - Correct answer - Considered the epitome of "claret"
- Wines balance POWER and FINESSE
- 3 First Growths: Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild
, Saint-Julien - Correct 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 - Correct answer - Appellation for red AND dry whites
- No ranking; all designated Cru Classe
- Pessac-Leognan AC in northern part
Right Bank Communes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer - Saint-Emillion (PGCC's are
Ausone and Cheval Blanc)
- Pomerol (Petrus, Le Pin, La Fleur Petrus, La Conseillante, Vieux-Chateau-Certan,
Trotanoy)
Right Bank Grapes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5%
minor varietals
Sauternes - Correct answer - Sits in Graves
- World famous botrytis dessert wines
- Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
- Dry wines labeled as Graves Blanc or Bordeaux Blanc
Saint-Estephe - Correct answer - Northernmost commune of the Haut-Medoc
- Wines are RUSTIC, STURDY, FULL-BODIED
- 5 classified growths, including 2nd growths (Cos d'Estournel and Montrose)
Left Bank Communes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer - Haut Medoc
- Saint-Estephe
- Pauillac
- Saint-Julien
- Listrac & Moulis
- Margaux
- Graves
- Pessac-Leognan
- Sauternes
Left Bank Grapes (Bordeaux) - Correct answer Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%);
Merlot, minor varietals (30%)
Medoc First Growths - Correct answer - Lafite-Rothschild
- Latour
- Mouton-Rothschild
- Margaux
- Haut-Brion
