Tag: Champagne

WSET Diploma

Bastille – “Pompeii”: NV Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, bubbles noted
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, baked apple, yeast, pear, autolytic, biscuit, brioche, nuts, mineral, honey, mushroom
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ acid, med+ body, med+ flavour intensity, med alcohol, baked apple, mineral, biscuit, ripe citrus, pear, med+ length
All in all: Very good quality: the sparkling wine has an intense and complex nose with lots of autolytic character. The wine is also quite balanced, though slightly less so with the alcohol. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.

NV Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 1]

Yes – what you see in that picture isn’t actually condensation, it’s actually a small puddle of human tears.… read more

WSET Advanced

2004 Pierre Gimonnet Brut Reserve Blanc de Blancs

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, aggressive froth upon pour, bubbles
Nose: clear, pronounced intensity, yeast, mineral, citrus, butter, bread
Mouth: dry, med to med+ body, med+ acid, med+ to long length, med+ to high intensity, med- alcohol, delicate bubbles
All in all: Very good quality; drink now, but has potential for ageing.

2004 Pierre Gimonnet Brut Reserve Blanc de BlancsAlthough blasphemous, I really have to admit: sometimes I’m not the biggest fan of Champagne, and I rejoyced when I found out that I wasn’t alone.

For me, it’s just the fact that the intrinsic acid of Champagne can often be too zippy for me. Complexities derived from the traditional method of sparkling wine add legitimate and intricate bready, yeasty, and biscuity tones, but the price usually (and personally, most importantly) doesn’t justify it for me.… read more

WSET Advanced

NV Duval-Leroy Brut Rosé Champagne

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale orange, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced, developing, more ripe fruit, bready, red fruit (strawberry), smokey/mineral
Mouth: dry, med to med+ body, med+ acid, long length, med+ intensity, med- alcohol
All in all: Very good quality; drink now, but has potential for ageing.

Tasted against the NV Lugny Rosé Crémant de Bourgogne.

I’m not going to deny a glass of (rosé) Champagne. Because number 1: that would be stupid; number 2: rarely do you get that chance unless you’re rich as balls; and number 3: it’s really an experience in itself, no matter how ephemeral. And the pinkness makes it more interesting.

And yes – I do admit that the differences between this and the Crémant were almost indistinguishable unless you *really* stuck your nose in there and got a real sense of the characters of the wines – but perhaps the non-vintageness of the wine was at fault.… read more

WSET Advanced

1999 Lanson Gold Label Champagne

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon (to gold), watery rim, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing to fully developed, sourdough, toasty, biscuity, green fruit, citrus
Mouth: dry, high acidity, med to med+ alcohol, med- body, long length, med+ intensity, delicate bubbles
All in all: Very good quality; drink now, but has potential for ageing.

Compared alongside some NV Henkell Trocken.

Ah, of course – the quintessential Champagne for the beginning of WSET class tasting. Of course, though, I stumble into class just in time for class to begin.

I don’t remember why, but in comparison to the previous Champagnes I’ve had, this one seemed just a touch lacklustre. I felt that, although the overall nose was intense, that the yeasty notes were not as pronounced in comparison to the nose as a whole.… read more