April 18, 2013 – @sommeligay

WSET Diploma – Section 1 – Week 2

April 18, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

First: yesterday, the books I ordered came in the mail! Happy birthday, me!

Really exciting, though. The super thick Wine Grapes is an exhaustive list of the main commercial grapes in the wine world, compiled by Jancis Robinson MW, Julia Harding MW, and José Vouillamoz. So, pretty much a Pokedex for grapes. There are only a handful of individuals in the world who have been born in a precise generation to be able to understand analogies that bridge wine grapes and Pokemon. Magikarp and Nebbiolo? Eevee and Loire Chenin Blanc?! The possibilities.

The latter book, Grapes & Wines by Oz Clarke and Margaret Rand, is a little bit friendlier in a sense that it reminds me of those small quasi-encyclopedias with pictures that I always used to read as a child.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Cave de Tain “Les Hauts du Fiefs” Crozes-Hermitages

April 18, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep purple, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, dark fruit, earth, black pepper, spice, bit of herbal
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med+ tannin, med+ body, med- flavour intensity, med alcohol, spice, dark fruit, med+ finish
All in all: Very good quality: there’s a high concentration of fruit along with a relatively long finish and a firm structure, but is quite tight with the fruit wrapped around by tannins. Can drink now, but has potential for ageing.
Identity guess: High-priced Syrah from Crozes-Hermitage; 2 years old.
Is really: High-priced Syrah from Crozes-Hermitage; 3 years old.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 2]

That South Africa stink was replaced by more black pepper and more lush fruit in this wine.… read more

WSET Diploma

2008 Thelema Shiraz

April 18, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, cherry, dark fruit, barnyard, spice, ash, meat, black pepper, baked fruit, medicinal
Mouth: dry, med acid, coarse med tannins, med+ alcohol, med+ body, med+ intensity, earth, red fruit, black fruit, med+ finish
All in all: Very good quality: a concentrated med+ intensity on both the nose and palate contributes to an intense wine. Along with a relatively long finish, all of the components are in balance, except for the alcohol which seems a little bit hot. Drink now: not suitable for ageing. There is no potential for the wine to further harmonize its components.
Identity guess: High-priced Pinotage from South Africa; 3 years old.
Is really: High-priced Shiraz from South Africa; 5 years old.… read more

WSET Diploma

2011 Export Union GmbH Piesporter Treppchen Riesling

April 18, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon-green, legs
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, apple, light floral, peach, slight ginger spice
Mouth: off-dry (I still say medium-dry), med acid, low alcohol, med- body, med- flavour intensity, peach, lemon, med- finish, floral
All in all: Acceptable quality: the wine has enough acid to balance out the sweetness, but doesn’t have enough fruit to balance out either. The fruit that is there is merely simple. The length is rather short, and the wine seems relatively thin with a slightly bitter finish.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Californian Moscato; 2 years old.
Is really: Inexpensive German Riesling; 2 years old.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 2]

There was a bit of this spicy ginger-y burnt hair thing that I got off the nose which I remember smelling in some Moscato (who knows, maybe that’s the burnt match aroma of too much sulfites), so that’s where it took me.… read more

WSET Diploma

2010 Chapoutier Schieferkopf Lieu-Dit Fels Riesling

April 18, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, almond, butter, floral, green apple, citrus, stone fruit
Mouth: dry, high acid, med alcohol, med+ body, med+ flavour intensity, lemon, butter, oily, creamy, long finish, minerality, stone fruit
All in all: Very good quality: distinct and concentrated character on both the nose and palate. The acidity prevents the weighty character from being cloying, and there is a long length. The wine lacks a bit of complexity that prevents it from being outstanding. Can drink now, but has potential for ageing due to a firm structure and great intensity.
Identity guess: High-priced Australian Chardonnay; 2 years old.
Is really: Premium Alsatian Riesling; 3 years old.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 2]

Oh God.… read more