France – Page 16 – @sommeligay

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

NV Lugny Rosé Crémant de Bourgogne

July 23, 2012November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale orange, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced, youthful, yeastiness, light strawberry/watermelon notes
Mouth: dry, med body (delicate bubbles), med acid, med+ length, med- alcohol, med intensity
All in all: Very good quality; drink now.

Tasted against the NV Duval-Leroy Brut Rosé Champagne.

This taste comparison was obviously set up to show the differences between a rosé Crémant and a rosé Champagne. Disappointingly enough, it was hard to pick up those definitive toasty notes in one of these wines and not the other. Amusingly enough, what this comparison showed was the potential for great Crémants to exist, something which is apparently not a common thing. Plenty of delicate bubbles, and there was some stinky yeastiness on the nose, along with some light red fruit notes.… read more

WSET Advanced

2010 Joseph Drouhin “Laforet” Chardonnay

June 4, 2012November 16, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, sweet, peaches, tropical fruit
Mouth: dry, med- body, med to med+ acidity, med length
All in all: Good quality; drink now; not intended for ageing.

Tasted against the 2006 Louis Jadot Chardonnay Meursault Genevrières.

Initially the really ripe fruits had me guessing a New World Chardonnay from a hot area (unfortunately I didn’t pick up on the acidity), but lo and behold, this was an entry-level Burgundian Chardonnay that borders on that New World ripeness.

Although this is a good entry-level Chardonnay on the lower end of the mid-price range, I feel like I wouldn’t go back to it because there are either wines with a bit more complexity for the same price point or cheaper wines with just-as-ripe fruit.… read more

WSET Advanced

1999 Lanson Gold Label Champagne

June 4, 2012November 15, 2015 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

Quaffing

2005 Domaine Mersiol Grand Cru Frankstein Pinot Gris

May 17, 2012November 15, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, deep lemon
Nose: clean, med intensity, honey, floral, wood spice, sweet and oxidative notes (caramel), secondary aromas dominate, ripe apples
Mouth: off-dry to med sweetness, med+ body, med- to med acidity, med length, oily mouthfeel, bitter finish
All in all: Very good quality; drink now, but has potential for ageing.

So I had this wine picked out for me. Really interesting stuff. Beautiful deep lemon colour, coupled by an interesting nose quite reminiscent of a Vouvray I tried a couple weeks back. Instead, though, the honey and woodier spices were more pronounced, with the fruit taking a bit more of the back seat role in the vehicle that was this wine. Oh man. My analogies. Oxidative notes were present and integrated well with the spice notes.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Chateau Cailleteau Bergeron Sauvignon Blanc

May 17, 2012November 15, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, passionfruit, floral, citrus (rind), grapefruit
Mouth: dry, light body, med- to med acidity, med- length
All in all: Good quality; drink now.

Compared alongside the 2011 Wild Goose Autumn Gold.

This is SUCH a spring wine. On the nose you get hit with a glass of passionfruit in a garden. The floral notes are well-echoed into the palate with this touch of bitter citrus rind. What was interesting was the acidity, which was lower than what I would have expected from a Sauvignon Blanc. Although an Old World wine, I’ve heard interesting comments about the fact that this wine sort of bridges between the Old and New World styles, being more fruity and outgoing in character.… read more

Quaffing

2010 M. Chapoutier Tavel Beaurevoir

May 9, 2012November 15, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale salmon
Nose: clean, med- intensity, light red berry aromas, white pepper, earthy/woodiness
Mouth: dry, med bodied, light tannins, med acidity, short length
All in all: Acceptable to good quality, drink now

Some people at work really liked this. I was excited to try it (and even put it back on the shelf a couple of times, trying to balance the skepticism and the desire), but it didn’t do much for me.

Although decently balanced in terms of structure – and I’ll give it that much – there was something on the flavours of this wine that happened to strike both my “odd” and “boring” cards. The lightness of the red fruit disappointed me (although perhaps more typical for old world rosés?),… read more

Quaffing

2005 Champalou Vouvray Le Clos du Portail

April 30, 2012November 15, 2015 by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, deep lemon
Nose: clean, med intensity, honey, overripe apples, pear, slightly oxidized, touch of herbal (fennel)
Mouth: dry, med to med+ bodied, med- acid, med length, slightly sweet impression
All in all: Interesting, teasing, worth a try, very good quality; can drink now, but has potential for ageing.

I’m starting this new game at work where I ask whoever I’m closing with to pick a random bottle from the store given a reasonable price range, have them charge it to my card (I trust them THAT much, I know) so that we can both taste it while I can try it blind and perhaps attempt to guess the varietal given I’m not too embarrassed to do so.… read more

Quaffing

2008 Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne

April 30, 2012November 15, 2015 by Josh

Tasting notes:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, froth upon pouring but few bubbles in glass
Nose: clean, med- intensity, citrus, green apple, flint, slight autolytic (or none) – hard to pinpoint
Mouth: dry, persistent bubbles, med- body, high acidity, med+ length
All in all: Good quality; drink now.

So, I recently started a new job (and who knows when this post will be posted?), and I decided to celebrate that and the end of a mediocre exam period with some Crémant! I don’t recall ever trying one (let alone a vintage Champagne-style bubbly) so I thought I’d give it a go.

Basic stuff at first. Medium lemon, obvious froth upon pouring. I was disappointed in the fact that I detected little to no autolytic notes, though.… read more