Month: January 2014

WSET Diploma

“Thrift Shop” – Macklemore: NV Parés Baltà Cava Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, yeastiness, rubber, earth, slight herbaceous, mineral, citrus, green apple, citrus, skunky
Mouth: dry, aggressive bubbles, med body, med+ acid, med intensity, med- alcohol, dry and savoury finish, citrus, earth, apple skin, citrus, green apple, herbs, med+ length
All in all: Good quality: this traditional style of Cava has a long and earthy length framed by structure, though the overall character is relatively uncomplicated. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Cava from Spain.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Cava from Spain.

NV Parés Baltà Cava Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

This was a Cava that I definitely expected to be Cava, in a contrast to the cleaner and more steely style that we tried right before this one.… read more

WSET Diploma

Muscled jerk at the beach: NV Codorniu “Anna de Cordoniu” Cava Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, med- lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, green apple, citrus, mineral, pear, hints of stone fruit, hint yeastiness
Mouth: dry, aggressive mousse, med acid, med- body, med- alcohol, med- intensity, green apple, citrus, hint bitterness, med length, pear, lemon, green apple, melon
All in all: Good quality: though well-balanced and clean, the wine seems a bit simple and short. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Inexpensive Non-Vintage Sekt from Germany.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Cava from Spain.

NV Codorniu "Anna de Cordoniu" Cava[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

Though I find myself agreeing with most of the write-ups and wine spiels in Tom Stevenson’s sparkling wine bible, this is one of those moments where I straight-up just don’t.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Love Shack” – The B-52s: NV Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon-green, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, rubber, petrol, mineral, citrus, stone fruit, peach, apricot, apple, apple skin
Mouth: off-dry, creamy mousse, med+ intensity, med body, med alcohol, med+ acid, citrus, rubber, mineral, apple skin, stone fruit, med length. stony finish
All in all: Good quality: the sweeter and simple ripe stone fruits are balanced well with the bright acid, bubble, and Riesling mineral tones. Average length. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage New World sparkling wine.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Deutscher Sekt from Germany.

NV Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

Disclaimer: I liked this. Bite me.

This was the third wine in our six-wine flight and it was obvious that the first two were a traditionally-made blanc de noirs and a traditionally-made blanc de blancs.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Minuet” – Luigi Boccherini: 2006 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Brut

Posted on by Josh

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.

2006 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

Ahh.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Embers” – Just Jack: NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale onion skin, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, hint yeast, citrus, hint brioche, floral, red apple, hint red fruit, red berry, spice
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ acid, med body, med alcohol, mineral, med flavour intensity, hint yeast, mineral, citrus, hint red fruit, med length
All in all: Very good quality: a balanced structure supports a fair amount of secondary characteristics. Flavours are intense and present but don’t have more than an average length.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine from California.

NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

Austere Champagne really does call for the pairing of either the equally austere string-driven royal classical numbers, OR, what I personally deem the quasi royal-ish equivalents of frowned-upon current times.… read more

WSET Diploma

NV Domaine Breton “La Dilettante” Vouvray Brut (corked bottle)

Posted on by Josh

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

[Retried a proper bottle during the next class (Week 5)]

Unfortunately the bottle was corked! A big shame since it’s always nice to retry wines that were previously had in the past, especially with more tools under the tasting belt. Among other things, I’m pretty bad at detecting TCA unless it’s it’s a purple elephant in the glass – I was pretty sure with this one but at the same time I was doubting it. Huzzah – corked. I knew something was up.

NV Domaine Breton "La Dilettante" Vouvray Brut

Producer: Domaine Breton
Designation: “La Dilettante”, Brut
Region: France
Sub-Region: Vouvray, Touraine, Loire
Variety: Chenin Blanc
ABV: 12%
Vintage: NV
Tasted: January 24, 2014
Price: $39

… read more
Life

Wine tasting: talent or training? (via the Ubyssey)

Posted on by Josh

My first Ubyssey wine article of 2014! My cousin of the same age had a featured tweet in the same issue: the chops for writing clearly runs in our blood, but mine obviously has a higher percentage of wine and perhaps words. (His tweet is the one about UBC’s gloriously shitty wi-fi, which sometimes happens to melt sanity in the most ironic corners of the campus, like the computer science building.)

It was a fun article to write, and it’s the first one I’ve written for the Ubyssey which hasn’t been truly wine recommendation-centric. It was a cool change, but we’ll see what happens for the next issues.

Read me!

http://ubyssey.ca/culture/wine-tasting-talent-or-training-043/

ubysseyjan2014… read more

Life · WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma – Section 2 – Week 3

Posted on by Josh

Jan 22-23, 2014

It’s hilarious how WSET classes are easily becoming the Glee equivalents of the Art Institute of Vancouver, where wine classes can seem even half-justifiably hilarious to the outsiders. Then there’s the occasional giggle or awe from passers-by and friendly wine banter from other faculty members (“care to share some wine with us? *smirk*”) and the stares from visual arts students or the oft white-clad cooking apprentices, but I guess it’s a nice refresher from the Sauder suits and the brobots of UBC who are scantily-clad in the middle of winter.

But this is an arts school. So we’re all losers and it’s actually a huge Glee club!

Just kidding. Insert musical number here.

First off: WSET Diploma Unit 4 (Spirits) results.… read more

WSET Diploma

Effie Trinket, from the Hunger Games: NV Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Brut Rosé

Posted on by Josh

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.

NV Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Brut Rosé[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

WSET Diploma

“Applause” – Lady Gaga: NV de Venoge “Vin du Paradis” Champagne

Posted on by Josh

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.

NV de Venoge "Vin du Paradis" Champagne[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