Bordeaux 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
Tag: Champagne
2014 Vancouver International Wine Festival – Wine Tour de France Seminar
This year’s wine fest kicked off with me doing the blind tasting challenge on the Wednesday – the rest of my day consisted of lunch with colleagues, errands involving heavy lifting, and then seeing the new Lego movie. I didn’t get as much sleep as I wanted, which is an obvious call for trouble: the next day started off with a France-themed tasting at 9:30AM; the big, busy, and irritating trade tasting at 2:30PM; and an exciting Bourgogne-themed tasting at 5PM. A day full of constant mouth stimuli.
Since this was one of the trade tastings (opposed to a consumer one), there were lots of familiar faces. But I shamelessly admit that any human interaction is personally difficult and gruelling before 11AM (or maybe I’m just a naturally horrible human being), and so I sat down on one of the seats, smiled at the 12 glasses in front of me, got my notebook ready, and did my best not to spill anything.… read more
“Starlight” – Muse (Vitamin String Quartet Cover): NV Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Champagne Grand Cru
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, mineral, citrus, lemon, ripe apple, yeast, autolysis, biscuit, brioche
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med body, med+ acid, med+ length, med alcohol, med+ flavour intensity, nuts, apple, citrus, lemon, mineral, bread, nuts, autolysis, bread, brioche, not super toasty
All in all: Very good quality: the sparkling wine isn’t super autolytic though the traditional method complexity is there. There is a fair amount of intensity along with a long length. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: High-priced Non-Vintage New World Traditional Method Sparkling.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 5]
Not fair. If you put this wine right after a toastnutbomb-y vintage Champagne, of course I’d get it wrong. … read more
“Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550” – Mozart: 2002 Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med+ gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, developing, ripe red apple, autolysis, citrus, lemon, nuts, butter, hint tropical fruit, bread, caramel, mushroom, honey
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med body, med+ acid, long length, med+ flavour intensity, med alcohol, nuts, bread, caramel, ripe red apple, butter, lemon, mineral, oxidized characteristics on finish
All in all: Very good (to outstanding) quality: the wine is complex, with no shortage of expressive aromas on both the nose and palate. The finish persists with hints of tertiary nuttiness and the wine is well-balanced, though the alcohol is slightly imbalanced. Can drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Vintage Champagne.
Is really: Premium Vintage (2002) Champagne.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 5]
Boom.… read more
“Minuet” – Luigi Boccherini: 2006 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Brut
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, developing, brioche, hint butter, baked apple, vanilla, citrus, yeast, biscuit
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ intensity, high acid, med- body, med alcohol, long length, ripe citrus, hint butter, brioche, baked apple, biscuit, slightly oxidized and nutty finish
All in all: Very good quality: high acid frames the surprisingly plusher mid-palate, while a concentrated palate persists on the oxidized finish. Though there is a fair bit of tertiary character, the wine could have a bit more complexity. Can drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Is really: Premium Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]
Ahh.… read more
Effie Trinket, from the Hunger Games: NV Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Brut Rosé
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med salmon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, smoke, hint yeast, mineral, flint, dried red fruits, raspberry, cherry, hints of toast and yeast
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ body, med alcohol, high acid, med+ flavour intensity, med+ finish, nuts, raspberry, dried red fruits, yeast, brioche, cherry
All in all: Very good quality: the wine’s flavours are complex, and the structural components are well-balanced. Though the flavours last on the palate, the flavours aren’t particularly expressive on the nose. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Rosé Champagne from France.
Is really: Premium Rosé Champagne from France.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]
After having watched the Hunger Games trailer for the first time ever (and I don’t recall much of the moment), I remember being intrigued by the contrast of Effie’s pink and flamboyant persona to everything else in the reaping scene.… read more
“Applause” – Lady Gaga: NV de Venoge “Vin du Paradis” Champagne
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, yellow apple, melon, toast, biscuit, moss, citrus, honey, mineral, hint nuts, funky, mushroom
Mouth: off-dry, creamy mousse, high acid, med body, med alcohol, med+ flavour intensity, yellow apple, citrus, toast, biscuit, melon, moss, med+ finish
All in all: Very good quality: though the complex flavours can appear shy at first, they persist on the palate with balance. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: High-priced Non-Vintage Sparkling Vouvray from Loire, France.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]
Me and a friend are going to see Lady Gaga in May when she comes to Vancouver. We may or may not have a wine party either before or after said concert, and we may or may not open this to pair with the current royal fanfare of her highness.… read more
Albus Dumbledore: NV Jacquesson Cuvée 736 Champagne Extra Brut
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, developing, ripe green apple, brioche, mineral, bread, cashew, white nuts, citrus, caramel, hint honey, hint mushroom, spice
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, high acid, med body, pronounced flavour intensity, med alcohol, long length, ripe green apple, citrus, white nuts, mineral, flint, honey, mushroom
All in all: Very good quality: the expressive, oxidative, and complex flavours last long on the palate. The acid sticks out in the slightest. Can drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]
This wine was super unique for its type. That means a lot for Champagne, which already sets the gold standard for orgasmic sparkling wine.… read more
That less popular but better coffee shop: NV Varnier Fannière Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St. Denis
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med- lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, caramel, ripe red apple, biscuit, brioche, mineral, butter, bread, ginger, buttered pastry
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med alcohol, med+ length, pronounced flavour intensity, caramel, brioche, red apple, biscuit, butter, mineral, creamy mousse
All in all: Very good quality: The intensity and concentration of complex flavours is outstanding, supported by a med+ acidic structure. But the alcohol is slightly imbalanced. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France OR a traditionally-made non-vintage sparkling from the New World; Blanc de Blancs or Chardonnay-dominated blend.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]
The search for grower Champagne is becoming as trendy as quinoa.… read more
The Starbucks of Champagne: NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med- lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, green apple, biscuit, nuts, almond, bread, mineral, flint, citrus, spice, cinnamon, nutmeg
Mouth: dry, med- body, high acid, med- alcohol, med+ length, med flavour intensity, green apple, citrus, hint nuts, hint autolytic, mineral, cream mousse
All in all: Very good quality: the structured high acid is well balanced, and the developing flavours are elegant and intense. The wine has hints of secondary characteristics but lacks some complexity. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France, possibly dominant in red grapes or done in a Blanc de Noirs style.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]
Huzzah, y’all!… read more