Tag: Sparkling

WSET Diploma

That less popular but better coffee shop: NV Varnier Fannière Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St. Denis

Posted on by Josh

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.

NV Varnier Fannière Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St. Denis[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

The search for grower Champagne is becoming as trendy as quinoa.… read more

WSET Diploma

The Starbucks of Champagne: NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial

Posted on by Josh

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.

NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

Huzzah, y’all!… read more

WSET Diploma

A quick and messy party: NV Veuve du Vernay Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon-green, bubbles noted
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, candied pear, banana, bubble gum, confection, apple, slight unripe/vegetal character
Mouth: dry, aggressive mousse, med acid, med- body, med+ flavour intensity, med- alcohol, confectionary, candied pear, banana, mineral, short length
All in all: Acceptable quality: though the wine has intense aromas and flavours, the sparkling wine lacks persistence, complexity, and acid to balance the sweeter fruit. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Inexpensive tank method Non-Vintage sparkling wine from France.
Is really: Inexpensive tank method Non-Vintage sparkling wine from France.

NV Veuve du Vernay Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 1]

The rows of sub-15 French sparkling at the BCL always intrigue me but I’m always too afraid to commit to what might be a bottle of sad, but it goes down faster anyways.… read more

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 Diploma

Kaolin – “Partons Vite”: NV Bailly Lapierre Crémant de Bourgogne Réserve Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon-green, bubbles noted
Nose: clean, youthful, med intensity, green apple, mineral, white flowers, pear, citrus, flint, hint autolysis, white bread
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med- body, med+ flavour intensity, flint, apple, pear, mineral, hint autolysis, floral, med length, creamy mousse
All in all: Good quality: the moderately complex sparkling wine is balanced, but could benefit from more concentration and persistence. Drink now; not suitable for ageing. 
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Crémant de Bourgogne from France.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Crémant de Bourgogne from France.

NV Bailly Lapierre Crémant de Bourgogne Réserve Brut

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 1]

Crémant is practically the poor man’s Champagne – the French sparkling is made in the traditional method, with permitted grapes depending on the region.… read more

Quaffing

Peeta Mellark, the Boy with the Bread: NV Zuccardi Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Especial

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, brioche, bready, hint nuttiness, orchard fruit, red apple, citrus, hint minerality, hint butter/malolactic?, hint spice
Mouth: dry, med- body, high acid, med alcohol, med+ flavour intensity, citrus, lemon, red apple, green apple, mineral, bread, brioche, hint nuttiness, citrus zest, med+ length
All in all: Good (to very good) quality: the wine has impressive structure and length. There is a clunkiness in balance with acidity and alcohol that leads to a slight lack in finesse, but there is an interesting and present character. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

NV Zuccardi Blanc de Blancs Cuvée EspecialI bought this particular bottle because I was both intrigued by its uniqueness and tired of bottles of sparkling that disappointed me.… read more

Quaffing

Karen Smith from “Mean Girls”: NV Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale orange, bubbles
Nose: clean, light intensity, youthful, mineral, citrus, light red fruit, hint yeastiness
Mouth: dry, med body, med acid, med- alcohol, med- flavour intensity, med length, mineral, citrus, light red fruit, savoury + stony finish
All in all: (Acceptable to) good quality: the wine is balanced in structure and mouthfeel, but there is a lack in fruit, concentration, and flavour intensity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

NV Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé

(Disclaimer: after some thought, perhaps I am too hard on sparkling rosés…?)

I had to choose between this and cheap Cava tonight, and this won. I’ve been dying to retry wines that I’ve had further back in my wine education (especially if it was more than a year ago) just to see whether or not my palate is consistent, and whether or not I pick up on the same notes.… read more

Quaffing

Oh Land – “White Nights” (Big Ugly Yellow Couch): 2009 Blue Mountain Brut Rosé]

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale orange, bubbles
Nose: clean, developing, med- intensity, biscuity, bread, yeast, delicate red fruit, hint of apple, strawberry
Mouth: dry, med bodied, med+ acid, med alcohol, med finish, med+ flavour intensity, mineral, savoury red fruit, some toast, biscuit, tart strawberry, cranberry, citrus, fine and mouth-filling mousse
All in all: Good (to very good) quality: the wine rules with finesse, elegance, and balance, though some intensity and complexity are further in the background. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

2009 Blue Mountain Brut RoséI did it. I promised myself I wouldn’t spend more money on alcohol, let alone on a bottle that’s more than 30 dollars on the shelf for a lonely Friday night, but I really couldn’t help buying the new and hip bottle that recently made store status.… read more

Quaffing

The chill person at that one house party: NV Joan Raventos Rosell Cava Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, green fruit, apple, citrus, slight yeastiness, hint of butter
Mouth: dry, med body, med- to med acid, med- flavour intensity, med- length, med- alcohol, citrus, lemon pith, aggressive and persistent bubbles, slightly bitter finish
All in all: Good quality: the non-fruity character of this Cava gives way to slightly more complex hints of bread and butter with a balanced character. But there is a lack of structure and some complexity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

NV Joan Raventos Rosell Cava BrutYay! So a miniature celebration was in order after having completed the WSET Diploma Unit 4 (Spirits) and half of Unit 1 (Business) exams and essays. Slaved over cue cards and confusing non-wine tastings plus sleepless nights over essays (from which I’m still unfortunately recovering), and this wine serves both an homage to the past and future – I thought it would be cool to retry a wine I had a little more than a year ago in my WSET Level 3 class, and maybe refresh my actual wine tasting ability I’ll need for January.… read more

Quaffing

NV Antech “Doulce et Fruitée” Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, bubbles, [low viscosity]
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, ripe red apple, apple cider, ripe citrus, almond, caramel, hint of graceful oxidation, toast, dough, mineral, honey
Mouth: medium-sweet, med body, med acidity, low alcohol, soft and persistent bubbles, med+ flavour intensity, ripe red apple, almond, butterscotch, apple skin, apple strudel, hint of citrus, med finish, [med+ complexity]
All in all: Good quality: a unique and expressive character shows just enough balance with its sweetness, acidity, and effervescence. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

NV Antech "Doulce et Fruitée" Blanquette Méthode AncestraleI am currently in the middle of my WSET Unit 4 (Spirits of the World) Diploma studies and am quickly going through packs of flash cards like a chain smoker goes through packs of cigarettes.… read more