Scion

The above-ground portion of the vine. The scion is grafted onto the rootstock. The scion is the grape variety (cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay, for example) grown by the plant.

Burgundy, France, is famous for its chardonnay and pinot noir, as well as what food?

A. Walnuts

B. Mustard

C. Venison

D. Beets

France’s best loved condiment, mustard is a Burgundian specialty. Most of it is moutarde de Dijon—a creamy, smooth, especially pungent style. Many Burgundian villages have their own moutarderie, or mustard shop, where artisanal mustards are made, often with slightly fermented white grape juice in place of vinegar.

“A grade on an exam or relating to a student’s performance in a subject isn’t everything; it is just part of the story. A test grade tells you nothing of the student’s personality, style, or if you will even like them. Why? Because a score cannot begin to relate all those other qualities of a person or wine that are immeasurable. A score tells the reader nothing about the style and the character or personality of a wine. It doesn’t convey if the wine is light-bodied, perfumed and elegant or full-bodied, rich and generous. It doesn’t tell the reader if the wine is savory, fruity, spicy, herbaceous or toasty in character. It doesn’t convey if the wine is too young to drink, within its drinking window or over the hill.… This is why a well-written, accurate tasting note is as equally important as the score. Tasting notes should contain all the style, character and maturity information necessary to tell a potential buyer something about the experience she/he can expect from the wine and therefore—regardless of quality—whether they will like it. How can you know if you will like a wine if you do not know what it’s like?”

—Lisa Perrotti-Brown, editor-in-chief of The Wine Advocate, January 7, 2019

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