Month: January 2014

WSET Diploma

Albus Dumbledore: NV Jacquesson Cuvée 736 Champagne Extra Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, developing, ripe green apple, brioche, mineral, bread, cashew, white nuts, citrus, caramel, hint honey, hint mushroom, spice
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, high acid, med body, pronounced flavour intensity, med alcohol, long length, ripe green apple, citrus, white nuts, mineral, flint, honey, mushroom
All in all: Very good quality: the expressive, oxidative, and complex flavours last long on the palate. The acid sticks out in the slightest. Can drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.

NV Jacquesson Cuvée 736 Champagne Extra Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

This wine was super unique for its type. That means a lot for Champagne, which already sets the gold standard for orgasmic sparkling wine.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” – Katy Perry: NV Martini Asti

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, floral, grapey, stone fruit, canned peaches, honeydew, melon
Mouth: sweet, med- acid, med body, delicate mousse, med+ flavour intensity, med length, med- alcohol, candied peach, floral, grapey, stone fruit, hint mango
All in all: Acceptable quality: though there is an intense Moscato flavour on both the nose and palate, the wine lacks acidic balance, complexity, and persistence. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Moscato from Piedmont, Italy.
Is really: Inexpensive Non-Vintage Moscato from Piedmont, Italy.

NV Martini Asti[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

Moscato absolutely slays me. I know I’m supposed to be a seasoned WSET Diploma student who learns to cringe at its presence and be as critical to its sweetish facades like a disciplinarian parent to a disobedient child, but it’s so hard.… read more

WSET Diploma

Thursday in a bottle: NV Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, mineral, hint spice, hint yeast, bread dough, ripe green apple, peach, melon, buttery
Mouth: dry, aggressive mousse, med- body, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med flavour intensity, med length, mineral, citrus, lemon, floral, ripe green apple, stone fruit, melon
All in all: Good quality: there is a moderate amount of complexity wrapped up by a balanced structure, but the wine shies away in intensity and length. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Cava from Spain.
Is really: Inexpensive Non-Vintage sparkling wine (transfer method) from Australia.

NV Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

I didn’t find this wine quite exciting at first.… read more

WSET Diploma

That one song you secretly like but aren’t supposed to: NV Valdo “Marca Oro” Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon-green, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, mineral, green apple, pear, citrus, hint herbaceous, flint, floral
Mouth: off-dry, aggressive mousse, med acid, med- body, med- alcohol, med flavour intensity, green apple, mineral, citrus, pear, hint herbaceous, med+ finish
All in all: Good quality: the wine has structural balance and a relatively long finish, though the flavours are a bit simple and delicate. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Inexpensive Non-Vintage Sekt from Germany.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Prosecco from Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG, Veneto, Italy.

NV Valdo "Marca Oro" Valdobbiadene Prosecco Extra Dry[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

Okay so for some reason I flat out thought this was lower quality than it was. I would like to go ahead and apologize to this wine, who did nothing but try to please me with its bubbly goodness.… read more

Life · WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma – Section 2 – Week 2

Posted on by Josh

Jan 15-16, 2014

This past week might as well have been the boring one, because the next couple of weeks involve more birthday shindigs, UBC tastings, staff parties, and a wine lunch. This all leads up to the Vancouver International Wine Festival at the end of February, whose tickets I’ve hopped on like a giddy teenaged girl waiting for the early release of One Direction tickets. I’ve already squealed about certain wines and their respective rockstar presenters. Eeeeee!

I’m legitimately looking back in my calendar to see if I did anything superexciting in the past week. I can’t really think of much, but let’s go through this day-by-day to see if anything fun comes up. Flashback style. I’m not always a bucket full of fun, y’know.… read more

WSET Diploma

The Ugly Duckling: Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino Sherry

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, white almonds, brine, citrus, hint pear, mineral
Mouth: dry, med body, med- acid, light fortification, med+ flavour intensity, salty, brine, white almonds, citrus, pear, hint butter, med length
All in all: Good quality: The wine’s simple fino flavours are intense and concentrated, wrapped up by a fresh and balanced structure, but isn’t too persistent. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Fino Sherry from Spain.
Is really: Mid-priced Fino Sherry from Spain.

Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino Sherry[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

The Palomino grape is a bit of a boring jerk in its grape form, but it’s able to blossom into several types of sherries. … read more

WSET Diploma

Haim – “Falling”: NV Lini 910 “Labrusca” Lambrusco

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep purple, hint of bubbles
Nose: clean, youthful, pronounced intensity, hint of dark chocolate, dark berry jam, blueberries, blackberries, earth, bramble, cassis, grapey, apple, hint herbal
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, delicate mousse, med alcohol, low soft tannin, med length, med+ flavour intensity, bramble, dark berry jam, apple, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrant
All in all: Good quality: the brightly acidic wine provides a balance to the intense dark berry flavours which are simple and only have a medium length on the palate. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Sparkling Shiraz from Australia.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Lambrusco from Italy.

NV Lini 910 "Lambrusca" Lambrusco[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

I’m not super familiar with the sparkling red that is Lambrusco.… read more

WSET Diploma

Five-cent candy: NV Yellow Tail Bubbles

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, candied pear, pear drop, ripe citrus, orange, candied fruit, ripe, gummy bears, floral
Mouth: dry, med- body, med- acid, med- alcohol, short length, pronounced flavour intensity, candied green fruit, candied pear, hint mineral, gummy bears, ripe citrus, delicate mousse
All in all: Acceptable quality: though the wine has expressive flavours, their sweet simplicity doesn’t have the acid to support it, nor the persistence. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Inexpensive Non-Vintage Prosecco from Italy.
Is really: Inexpensive Non-Vintage sparkling wine from Australia.

NV Yellow Tail Bubbles[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

The third wine in our flight was an obvious shift in quality and style.… read more

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