Category: Quaffing

Quaffing

A fantastic half-bottle of partly cloudy bliss.JPG skies: 2010 Albert Mann Pinot Gris

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs, (med+ viscosity)
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, mineral, spice, ginger, stone fruit, dried stone fruit, citrus, nectarine, citrus rind, musk, green fruit, honey, floral, hint tropical, hint botrytis???
Mouth: off-dry, med+ to full body, pronounced intensity, med acid, med+ alcohol, long finish, stone fruit, spice, pear, citrus, citrus rind, honey, slightly oily texture with balanced acid, slight phenolic bitterness to finish, hint tropical
All in all: Very good quality: the wine has a characterfully ripe palate and balanced components (despite high alcohol) with a long finish. Can drink now, but has potential for short term ageing.

2010 Albert Mann Pinot GrisI love Alsace, or at least the idea of it. And not just for wine – the idea of a cool climate with constant sun sounds about like my dream weather.… 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

Quaffing

2011 Delaille “Unique” Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, (star bright), (med viscosity)
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, mineral-driven, citrus, lemon, grass, mineral, gooseberry, grapefruit, smoky minerality, green peas, hint of pear
Mouth: dry, med body, high acidity, med alcohol, med length, med+ flavour intensity, citrus, lemon, lime rind, lemon seed (ugh, probably subconsciously stole those last two from SOMM as I suspected), grassy, grapefruit, (med complexity)
All in all: Good quality: this classic Loire-driven Sauvignon Blanc is restrained on the nose but is more expressive on the palate. A bit linear, but elegant and well-balanced – especially in its acid – but I would have loved a longer length. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2011 Delaille "Unique" Sauvignon BlancVancouver’s plateau of summer heat is slowly crescendoing and I am not wasting one minute in between work.… read more

Quaffing

2012 Sula Dindori Reserve Viognier

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, (med+ viscosity)
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, tropical fruits, floral, honeysuckle, stone fruit, Froot Loops, lemon curd, white pepper, spice, apricot, hint yoghurt, peach
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, med length, med flavour intensity, med+ alcohol, floral, stone fruit, tropical fruit, ripe candied citrus peel, apricot pith, canned peaches, hint of bitterness, touch of mineral, (med complexity)
All in all: Good quality: very expressive on the nose and varietally correct – arguably better than some Viogniers for the same price. Although the finish has typical Viognier phenolic bitterness, there is just enough acid to clean the palate. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2012 Sula Dindori Reserve ViognierThere are always those awkward products at the BC Liquor Stores that are so uniquely fucked up in some way – perhaps a weirdly shaped bottle, an unpronounceable name, things so obliquely passé (Blue Nun?… read more

Quaffing

2012 Clos du Soleil “Grower’s Series – Chegwin & Baessler” Pinot Blanc

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, apple, pear, floral, lemon, stone fruit, slight vegetal note, mineral
Mouth: dry (but I’d say between dry and off-dry), med body, med+ acid, med alcohol, med finish, med+ flavour intensity, pear, apple, almost-ripe peach, peach pith, creamy texture, slight savouriness
All in all: Good quality: this wine has both great balance and intensity with a big fruitiness that isn’t jammy and aimless. The main negatives include a length that could be longer and a nose that doesn’t go farther than fruits. Drink now; not suitable for long term ageing.

2012 Clos du Soleil "Grower's Series - Chegwin & Baessler" Pinot BlancAh, Pinot Blanc. The variety that seems to be compared to the godlier Chardonnay, and the same variety that seems to be in the shadow of its other Pinot brothers and sisters.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Aresti Chardonnay

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, melon, mineral, citrus, hints of stone fruit, hint of butter
Mouth: dry, med body, med acidity, med alcohol, med- flavour intensity, med- finish, citrus, mineral, melon
All in all: Good quality: the medium elements give some sort of substance and balance to the wine, and the concentration contributes an elegant nature, but the wine does have a relatively short finish and simplicity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2011 Aresti ChardonnayI’m not going to lie: I expected a little bit more from this wine, since Chile seems to surprise me with their take on some grape varieties. I’ve had the Aresti Syrah Reserva which was of good quality, so I don’t doubt the skill of the winemaker.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Andrea Oberto Barbera d’Alba

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, earth, spice, dark cherry, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried fruit
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med- tannin, med+ alcohol, med+ finish, earth, spice, dark cherry, sour cherry, tartness, strawberry, med flavour intensity
All in all: Good quality: the length of the wine is relatively long, but the intensity and power of the flavour characteristics are what propel the wine. Unfortunately, both the acid and alcohol are a little bit off balance, and the nose is dominated by a smoky spice which mitigates other complexity. Can drink now, but has potential for short term ageing.

2011 Andrea Oberto Barbera d'AlbaYay! I chose this wine to celebrate my year’s 1st birthday (although let’s be real here this was just an excuse to open something), and so here I am.… read more

Quaffing

2009 Château du Bois de la Salle “Les Armoiries” Juliénas

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, earth, cinnamon, red fruits, cherry, raspberry, white pepper, floral, hints of smoke
Mouth: dry, med bodied, high acid, med fine tannin, med flavour intensity, med+ finish, med alcohol, raspberries, spice
All in all: Good quality: amazingly woven acid and a persisting earthy red fruit flavour show good quality, but a relatively simple combination of aromas and a slight alcohol imbalance are the negative points. Drink now, but has potential for short term ageing.

2009 Château du Bois de la Salle "Les Armoiries" JuliénasSometimes chunky Beaujolais is what I want after a bittersweet day. An area known for its bright and cheery red fruit is met with a fair amount of earthy sass in the Gamay grape of some of the ten Beaujolais crus (like Juliénas). … read more

Quaffing

2011 Intrigue Riesling

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: med+ intensity, developing, citrus, pineapple, petrol, yeast (crackers)
Mouth: off-dry, med- body, med acid, med- alcohol, med intensity, med- length, citrus
All in all: Good quality, drink now.

2011 Intrigue RieslingThis has quite an intriguing nose (ZING!). I finally see some stronger aromatic character compared to the various Rieslings I’ve tried lately, and a bit of fruity petrol character is what I notice right off the bat. There is a significant amount of an off-beat cracker-like aroma, which I can only assume stems from yeast character. Unlike some wines I think this weird aroma adds complexity.

The palate is juicy, light and has a bit of tartness. I prefer more zip to my off-dry Riesling, but the slightly more tropical expression coupled with the low acid gives this wine a bit more of a relaxed edge, almost like a Riesling-Torrontes lovechild.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Rosé

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, med- salmon
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, earth, mineral, cranberry, citrus, spice
Mouth: dry with sweet impression, med- body, med+ acid, med length, med alcohol, med+ intensity
All in all: Good quality; drink now.

2011 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir RoséSunny weather calls for sunny wine. I haven’t bought rosé in a long time, nor has the weather and time called for it (even though I twitch every time a customer shoots down the idea of drinking rosé any other time but the summer).

Today I had the opening shift so I get off earlier, and it’s a beautiful day with no clouds. Therefore, I am on my patio happily enjoying this wine. It’s starting to get cold outside, but geez let me enjoy this moment with the 17 minutes that I have with this sleeveless shirt and these work-inappropriate shorts.… read more