Author: Josh

DipWSET, Certified Sommelier, garbage person.
WSET Diploma

The pawn that reaches the end of the chess board: Blandy’s “Duke of Clarence” Rich Madeira

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear med brown, legs
Nose: clean, fully developed, med+ intensity, soy, caramel, nuts, dried citrus, brown sugar, almond, toffee, cola, molasses, leather, spices, cloves
Mouth: sweet, med+ acid, high alcohol/fortification, med+ body, med+ flavour intensity, butter, nuts, caramel, soy, dried citrus, brown sugar, toffee, almond, med+ length
All in all: Very good quality: the wine is complex, concentrated, and persistent, though could have benefitted from a better alcohol balance. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced medium-dry Sherry from Spain.
Is really: High-priced sweet Madeira from Portugal.

Blandy's "Duke of Clarence" Rich Madeira[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 1]

I honestly do not remember the last time I’ve formally tried a Madeira. It must have been maybe back in the WSET Advanced days, which was literally over a year ago.… 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

Hey Ocean! – “Bicycle”: 2011 Pierre Sparr “Charisma” Pinot Gris

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale gold, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, mineral, stone fruit, peach, apricot, creaminess, red apple, flint, mango, musky/smoky, (malolactic?)
Mouth: dry (to off-dry), med+ body, med acid, med finish, med+ flavour intensity, med+ alcohol, stone fruit, smoke, oiliness, peach, apricot, creamy, ripe apple, flint, peach pith
All in all: Good quality: the wine has decent balance with the typical slight oiliness of Alsatian Pinot Gris and the whisper of residual sugar – but the wine lacks a bit of complexity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2011 Pierre Sparr "Charisma" Pinot GrisSo much for cutting down on alcohol for the new year. I’ve allocated a sort of strict alcohol budget for myself, but I’m already trying to find loopholes. I spent more than I should have on spirits last fall because of the diploma exam in November, and I still have so many leftovers.… read more

Quaffing

The Two-Day Crush: 2012 Sacchetto Pinot Nero

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- ruby, legs, (med viscosity)
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, red fruit, fruity, strawberries, raspberries, earth, mineral, spice, hint cola, jam, floral
Mouth: dry (almost off-dry), med- body, low acidity, med- coarse tannin, med+ flavour intensity, med alcohol, med- length, red fruit, strawberries, hint cherry, mineral, cola, brush of dark fruit, hint herbal, velvety
All in all: (Acceptable to) Good quality: the wine’s strength lies in its hedonistic and varietally correct intensity, though there is a lack in length, complexity, and structure. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2012 Sacchetto Pinot NeroFor a bottle surrounded by mostly rustic Italian wines of sour cherry earthiness – here, we have a wine that maybe seems more than a little out of place. … 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

Katniss Everdeen, the Girl On Fire: 2009 Scali Pinotage

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, med+ ruby, legs, (high viscosity)
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, developing, candied red raspberry and strawberry, plum, cedar, smoke, vanilla, hint VA, blackberry, hint herbal, medicinal, mocha, ash, earth, white pepper, vegetal, dill, leather
Mouth: dry, med+ bodied, high acidity, high ripe tannins with a hint of coarseness, high alcohol, med flavour intensity, med+ length, red fruit + black fruit, ripe red cherry, raspberry, blackberry, hint VA, mineral, wood, ash
All in all: Very good quality: the wine is structurally intense and concentrated. While the balance is slightly off with a slightly tight tannin structure, the flavours are complex. Relatively long length. Can drink now, but has potential for ageing.

2009 Scali PinotagePinotage is a grape that I’ve always been fascinated by.… 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