Tag: Australia

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

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

Quaffing

A ray of sunshine on a cold autumn morning: 2011 d’Arenberg “The Stump Jump” White

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, youthful, med intensity, ripe citrus, minerality, peach pith, honey, melon, hint stony bitterness
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med+ intensity, med alcohol, med length, citrus, lemon, peach pith, just-ripe peach, savoury, touch of creaminess, honey, ripe citrus, minerality, floral
All in all: Good quality: a balance of structure frames direct fruit flavours and a present minerality, but there could be more complexity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2011 d'Arenberg "The Stump Jump" White]It is three weeks until my WSET Unit 1 coursework assignment is due and two weeks until my WSET Unit 4 spirits exam. And here I am reviewing wine, because number 1: I am crazy, and number 2: I miss wine. I miss wine.… read more

Quaffing

A 1950s pin-up girl, or Mr. Fireman September: 2012 Tahbilk Viognier

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs, (med viscosity)
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, mineral, ripe citrus, nectarine, stone fruit, just ripe peach, apricot, yogurt, floral, spice, cardamom, tea, hint honey
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med intensity, med+ acidity, med alcohol, med+ length, savoury, ripe citrus, lemon, peach, apricot, mineral, (med complexity)
All in all: Very good quality: the leaner New World style of Viognier shows finesse, elegance, and persistence along with a slight lack in complexity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2012 Tahbilk ViognierBest served slightly chilled if not at room temperature. An example of a wine that shies away while having spent time in the fridge, but reveals itself when in its vulnerable nakedness with no lack of temperature to hide behind.… read more

WSET Diploma

2010 Peter Lehmann “Clancy’s” Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, green apple, honey, pear, spice, mineral, hint of green herbal character, hints of orange
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med alcohol, med flavour intensity, med finish, lemon, lime, citrus, green apple, pear, mineral
All in all: Good quality: there is a freshness with the well-balanced med+ acid along with a good concentration of fruit, but there is a simplicity that also shows through with warming alcohol. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced (Chardonnay/Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc + Semillon Blend) from Bordeaux; 2 years old.
Is really: Mid-priced Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend from Australia; 3 years old.

2010 Peter Lehmann "Clancy's" Semillon Sauvignon Blanc[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 10]

“Orange” is a common descriptor in Britain for Semillon.… read more

WSET Diploma

2004 Tyrrell’s Wines Vat 1 Semillon

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, citrus, lemon, lime, mineral, hint of honey, butter, toasty, smoky minerality, green apple, hint of butter
Mouth: dry, light body, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med+ flavour intensity, med+ finish, citrus, chalky, lemon, lime
All in all: Very good quality: despite lightness, there exists a well-balanced acidity, flavourful electric fruit, developing characteristics, and a longish finish. Drink now, but has potential for ageing.
Identity Guess: High-priced (Chardonnay/Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend) from Hunter Valley, Australia; 4 years old.
Is really: Premium Semillon from Hunter Valley, Australia; 9 years old.

2004 Tyrrell's Wines Vat 1 Semillon[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 10]

Semillon is so hilariously boring in its still, young, and pure versions.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, garnet rim
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, cassis, oak, eucalyptus, dark cherry, black pepper, herbal, fennel, spice, blackberry
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ ripe tannin, med+ acid, med+ flavour intensity, med+ alcohol, med+ length, cassis, dark fruits, blackberry, spice, green, herbal, smoke, clove, floral
All in all: Very good quality: a ripe structure supports concentrated flavours. Although the alcohol is warming, the acidity adds a paradoxical fresh lightness. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

2009 Sandalford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Ah, Cabernet Sauvignon. The de facto red grape, and, in the game of ice cream flavours, is essentially the bucket of quintessential vanilla. In the theme of its masculinity, it has thick skins and relatively small berries, leading to a high pip to pulp ratio and a high amount of phenolics which contributes to darker-coloured wines and high tannin, respectively.… read more

WSET Diploma

2011 Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, yoghurt, lees, citrus, butter, oak, vanilla, stone fruit
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med alcohol, med+ acid, med+ flavour intensity, creamy, lees, citrus, textured, savoury, cheese, med+ finish
All in all: Good quality: wonderful balance is displayed within the components on the palate and the concentration is present, but there is an (inoffensive) slight lack in complexity.
Identity guess: High-priced Pinot Gris from BC; 3 years old.
Is really: High-priced Chardonnay from Australia; 2 years old.

2011 Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 6]

Despite my fascination over a fresher and comparatively lighter style of Chardonnay (yet of lower quality) that we compared this to, here’s one where care has coaxed it into a balanced expression of the variety.… read more

WSET Diploma

2011 Peter Lehmann “Weighbridge” Unwooded Chardonnay

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, citrus, mineral, slight creamy/yoghurt/lees
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med alcohol, med- flavour intensity, short finish, citrus, slight creaminess, mineral, pear
All in all: Acceptable quality: the wine is mostly inoffensive and done in a fresh and clean style, but the wine has a relatively short length, disjointed acidity, and a palate that comes off as slightly dilute. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Inexpensive Pinot Gris from Italy; 2 years old.
Is really: Inexpensive Chardonnay from Australia; 2 years old.

2011 Peter Lehmann "Weighbridge" Unwooded Chardonnay

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 6]

If there’s one thing worse than my guess-everything-is-from-Chile thing, it’s my confusion with Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, soy, leather, dark cherry, stewed red fruits, black fruits, oak, mint, green pepper (capiscum), eucalyptus, meat, vanilla, hints of cola
Mouth: dry, med acid, med fine tannin, med+ alcohol, med+ body, med flavour intensity, med+ finish, savoury, leather, green bell pepper, dark cherry, cedar
All in all: Good quality: the flavour characteristics in the wine definitely showed grape character and a sense of place (despite the fact that I got it wrong) along with a relatively long finish. On the nose, I feel that there should be a little bit more fruit to tame the secondary characteristics, along with balance – the slightly lower acid on the palate makes the ripeness a little bit more evident although by no means does this ruin or distract the balance too negatively.… read more