Day: November 11, 2014

Quaffing

Château le Puy 2009 “Expression Originale du Terroir”

Posted on by Josh

Château le Puy 2009 "Expression Originale du Terroir"I’ve finally finished doing the Bordeaux portion for the WSET diploma, but that’s just mostly note-taking and reading. I still need time to dedicate the thick pages to memory, but I thought I’d hold a mini-celebration and open a bottle of Bordeaux, anyways. It’s just an excuse to drink, really. Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll find a dirty quarter on the ground, and it’ll be an excuse to open a beer.

I bought this guy months and months ago while needlessly going on a wine shopping spree at some other store. It was the last bottle they had of it (I’m always a sucker for things like that), and it was somehow mentioned in Drops of God, which is a wine-themed manga I have yet to read.… read more

Quaffing

Caruso & Minini 2013 “Terre di Giumara” Inzolia

Posted on by Josh

Caruso & Minini 2013 "Terre di Giumara" InzoliaGotta be up at 6AM tomorrow for a distillery tour. I’m already tired and exhausted and maybe on the verge of being sick, but it’s hard to tell if it’s the fatigue or if it’s the bugs in my system. Let’s keep our fingers crossed because it’s supposed to be sunny this entire week and I’m excited about that. Brisk air and sunshine! My favourite kind of weather. Now lets try and kill these bugs with alcohol.

You’d think I wouldn’t bother buying any wine because I’m already tired and don’t need more things to put in my system, but I’ve never had the grape Inzolia before, in its commoner Marsala form or otherwise. Plus, a warmer climate implies lower acidity with riper fruit, and that’s exactly want I want right now.… read more

Quaffing

Back to its sparkling Portuguese glory: Caves São Joao 2013 Bruto Reserva

Posted on by Josh

Caves São Joao 2013 Bruto ReservaThis wine serves as a mini-celebration after a long-ass week and even more Bordeaux studying. My current tasting notes are consistent with those from the big portfolio tasting exactly a week beforehand. I was a big fan of the 2011 vintage, but I didn’t exactly favour the 2012 version of the same wine from what I remember was a bit of disjointed acid. I was pleasantly surprised when the new vintage wriggled its way into my life, swimming past my doubt and into the pleasure portions of my brain, so I definitely had to buy a bottle. But mostly because I had nothing to drink yesterday and I have to make up for that, like now.

The wine returns to its glory this vintage, with soft pear, lime, and white flowers gliding from the glass, providing a little more intensity on the palate.… read more

Quaffing

Alain Vesselle NV Tradition Brut

Posted on by Josh

Alain Vesselle NV Tradition BrutBordeaux is proving to be a huge section of the WSET Diploma, and so I bought myself a bottle of Champagne as a encouraging self-bribe to get through the damn section. A region so based in its trade, producers, and viticulture leads to meaty entries in the Oxford Companion to do with who married who to get their name on this Château and so forth, along with the different polysaccharides that Botrytis cinerea produces during its metabolism. It’s literally like reading those hideously long entries in the Bible on family trees (or was that Lord of the Rings?), combined with a university chemistry textbook. I’m only approaching the right bank’s regional entries now as I prematurely decide to open this bottle of Champagne, because I can’t wait and I’m thirsty as fuck.… read more