June 8, 2013 – @sommeligay

WSET Diploma – Section 1 – Week 9

June 8, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

June 5, 2013

It was maybe around Thursday evening. My body gradually felt all grey and pained – an omen of an impending sickness. Immediate panic, because clogged sinuses and fried smell receptors is the equivalent of my athlete friends spraining their ankles, and who wants to read out tasting notes when you can’t even smell?! BODY, HEAL! Thursday would be the best time to get sick anyways, because it’s the farthest from the next Wednesday.

Despite my attempts to be healthy, along with battles of constant air conditioning at work and an all-too-optimistic container of Jugo Juice, I was able to breathe by today’s class but my smell receptors remained fried. We had Saint-Estèphe.

Saint-Estèphe.

I could catch hints of things time to time in the glass.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Chateau du Trignon Sablet Côtes du Rhone Villages

June 8, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, red fruit, cherry, spice, earth, game, cola, white pepper, oak, savoury
Mouth: dry, med body, med- acidity, earth, med- fine tannin, med flavour intensity, med+ alcohol, game, red fruits, cherry, slightly herbal, med length
All in all: Good quality: a moderate complexity is held up by a softer structure. Lacks a bit of concentration, but is still enjoyable. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

This poor little wine was shoved within the last 5 or so minutes we had of the class, and it was also bought with the intention to display some for of a Grenache and Syrah dominated blend (i.e.… read more

WSET Diploma

2010 Borsao “Tres Picos” Garnacha

June 8, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, ripe, sweet spice, hint of leather
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, med fine tannin, strawberry, raspberry, high alcohol, white pepper, sweet spice, herbs, med+ intensity, med+ finish
All in all: Good quality: a moderately complex and ripe expression of Garnacha is well-concentrated and has a high alcohol content that is relatively balanced. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Garnacha is one of those grapes that I think I like but never really choose to drink. Being a thin-skinned grape variety with lots of flesh, it produces lighter-coloured wines with lower tannins but can still produce a wine with a considerable amount of body and alcohol – although in drought and in hotter conditions, thicker skins and a deeper colour aren’t unknown (like this wine), but all in all, this wine tends to oxidize quickly; read – drink most of these wines young.… read more

WSET Diploma

2007 Delas “Les Clos” Crozes-Hermitage

June 8, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ ruby, garnet rim
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, leather, game, soy, oxidizzled
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med- fine tannin, med+ flavour intensity, med+ length
All in all: Graced with the likes of oxidizzlement. I mean oxidation.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Premature oxidation, unfortunately. Had a nutty stewed smell, though, sort of like a chestnut ale. Would one day love to retry this.

Producer: Delas
Designation: N/A
Region: France
Sub-Region: Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône Valley
Variety: Syrah
ABV: 13%
Vintage: 2007
Tasted: June 5, 2013
Price: $60

WSET Diploma

2008 Alpha Estate “Turtles Vineyard” Syrah

June 8, 2013November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep purple, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, black pepper, cured meat, black cherry, game, sweaty, bitter tea leaf, floral, oak, sweet spice, black fruits, smoke
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ acid, med+ fine tannin, black fruits, savoury, med+ flavour intensity, med+ length, sweet spice, gamey, black cherries, tar, dark fruit
All in all: Very good quality: although relatively high, the structural components are well woven into the wine, which shows a complex profile of dark fruit and savoury characteristics. The alcohol is a bit warming, but the wine is persistent. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

First of all: “Turtles Vineyard”.

Turtles Vineyard.… read more