Tag: Chile

Quaffing

2011 Yali Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful to developing, green pepper, green bean, savoury spice, citrus
Mouth: dry, med- bodied, med acid, med length, med- alcohol, med intensity, mineral, spice, green pepper
All in all: Good quality; drink now.

2011 Yali Sauvignon BlancThere’s something about Chilean Sauvignon Blancs that I’m quite partial to. Rarely really appreciated, they’re pretty much in the camp of hipster wines, like Cab Franc or Chenin Blanc. Unlike those varietals, though, it’s not that this particular style isn’t very known – it’s just the fact that these flavours can be off-putting despite the unmistakable or familiar aroma and character.

Typical nose. Compared to other Sauv Blancs from other regions, we get a nose dominated with methoxypyrazines, which I love.… read more

WSET Advanced

2011 Quintay “Clava” Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, watery rim
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, grapefruit, green bell pepper
Mouth: dry, med bodied, med+ acidity, med length, med+ to high intensity, citrus, grapefruit
All in all: Good quality; drink now.

Chilean Sauv Blancs, to me, are distinct such that they have a little more of that methoxypyrazine-ness (green bell pepper, green bean) along with a heavier and sometimes an almost stewed characteristic. I know some people who hate methoxypyrazines so much that they almost think it’s a flaw and needlessly evangelize so to new wine drinkers (cue FNH 330 prof, here), but it’s an interesting aroma to appreciate.

2011 Quintay “Clava” Sauvignon Blanc

As said, there was a little bit more of that vegetal character and a little bit less of that floral aspect, but it was still noticeably our good old friend Sauv Blanc – the queen of the grassy; the mother of the Cab Sauv.… read more

WSET Advanced

2009 Koyle Carmenère Reserva

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby
Nose: clean, med+ to high intensity, youthful, blackcurrant, green bell pepper, soy
Mouth: dry, med body, med- to med acid, med to med+ (but soft) tannin, med length, med+ intensity, med+ alcohol, a bit of tartness
All in all: Good quality, drink now.

Carmenère is an interesting one. Although it usually does have that methoxypyrazine character found in many Chilean wines plus that Chilean “funk”, the hallmark of Carmenère (to me) are usually the said characteristics plus darker fruits and a soy sauce character that I can find in lots of aerobic winemaking-type wines like some Spanish Tempranillos, except a bit fleshier. It’s tough explaining the “soy sauce” bit to customers sometimes without making it sound repulsive.… read more

Life

2013 Term 2 Week 4 – FNH 330 is a total joke

Posted on by Josh

Last week ended off nicely. 5 of us went to the Sandbar on Granville Island for Dine Out Vancouver and then we went clubbing afterwards which was high-energy yet somehow boring and bordering on chore-like as the night went on. I’m definitely not a club-goer: glancing at awkward guys who dance like they’re hailing cabs and saving my female friends from over-friendly chaps aren’t really my favourite things, but if I have to go a club, I’d at least like to dance 1) drunk; 2) oblivious to anyone around me but my friends; and 3) to guilt-free Top 40 music (hey: time and place, right?) which I didn’t even get: the music was shitty(/shittier) and I knew little to none of the music.… read more

Tasting

wine 101 @ UBC

Posted on by Josh

So yeah! I led the first tasting of this school year at the UBC Wine Tasting Club. It was awesome and complete with me spilling wine while demonstrating swirling, me speaking horrendously quietly and fast while avoiding the tens and tens of eyes on me, and me silently freaking out and wondering if people were getting bored as I barked on and on about the noble grape varieties. Which is great, because that’s me being normal.

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating.

What was also fantastic was that Holly brought her Le Nez du Vin set which was amazingly fun. People were trying to quiz each other with smells or just smelled the little vials in general. My favourite picture was the one with the goat-looking beast with weird fangs (“Musk”).… read more