June 3, 2013 – @sommeligay

WSET Diploma – Section 1 – Week 8

June 3, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

May 29, 2013

I’m not going to say it was so much of a “busy week”, because I feel like that has the connotation that I am channeling the spirit of a hectic businesswoman from a stock photo.

But really. Week 8. Out of 12.We’re almost done this section and I feel like we’ve hardly started. Which, in retrospect, is a big lie, because some of those viticulture classes felt as long as a vintage. I gotta study hard, because those grapes aren’t going to ripen themselves.

Saturday was my fake birthday shindig – a smaller number of people were invited because I thought it would rain and I would have to shove everyone inside, but the gods were good and there were some clouds worthy of desktop wallpapers in the sky.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

June 3, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, deep ruby (or purple), legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, dried (yet vibrant) dried fruit, mineral, earth, white pepper, cherry, raspberry, bramble, plum, oak, herbal, spice, smoky, charred wood
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, med fine tannin, med+ alcohol, med length, red fruits, strawberry, sour cherry, med flavour intensity, raisin, vanilla, stewed, plums, cherries
All in all: Good quality: moderate complexity, but needs a little more tannins to support the structure and the alcohol is slightly imbalanced. Concentrated fruit. Drink now; not intended for ageing.
Identity: High-priced (Tempranillo/Barbera [d’Alba]/Sangiovese/Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Zinfandel) from Italy.
Is really: Mid-priced Zinfandel from California; 4 years old.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 8]

Compared to the Ribera del Duero, this was much more vibrant.… read more

WSET Diploma

2006 Viña Mayor Ribera Del Duero Reserva

June 3, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful (to developing), vanilla, leather, oak, red fruit, black fruit, white pepper, tobacco, cigar box, black cherry, prune, raspberry, sweet baking spice, smoky, cola, hay, herbal
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med+ fine tannin, med+ alcohol, med+ length, med flavour intensity, savoury, black cherry, blackberry, black pepper, cassis, cinnamon, cranberry
All in all: Very good quality: A concentrated amount of fruit, high structure, and complexity outweigh the slightly imbalanced alcohol and lack of finesse and elegance. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity: Mid-priced (Tempranillo/Barbera/Sangiovese/Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Zinfandel) from Spain.
Is really: High-priced Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Spain; 7 years old.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 8]

Fuller-bodied, more classic expressions of Tempranillo can often be so deceiving, but for me – but the brooding leathery and oaky secondary characteristics combined with the melancholy-toned darker fruits cross with an underlying tone of oxidation are often landmarks – “poetic” and noteworthy enough for me to type, but my nose still needs a handle on identifying the wide range that this grape can produce.… read more