Tag: White

WSET Diploma

2011 Citra Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon-green, legs
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, citrus, mineral, lemon, earthy, vegetal
Mouth: dry, med- body, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med- length, med- flavour intensity, mineral, creamy texture, soft, citrus, pear
All in all: Acceptable quality: relatively inoffensive and refreshing, but there seems to be a lack in intensity, concentration, balance, and persistance. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Inexpensive (Trebbiano/Pinot Blanc/Viognier) from Alsace; 2 years old.
Is really: Inexpensive Trebbiano from Italy; 2 years old.

2011 Citra Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 8]

This was a real tossup between wines one and three in the lineup, because they both seemed rather neutral to me at first, but this wine was clearly of lesser quality.… read more

WSET Diploma

2010 St Urbans-Hof Okfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

(Apparently slightly corked. A little hard for me to pick up)

Eyes: clear, med lemon, legs
Nose: clean (but I guess not then), med intensity, youthful, citrus, mineral, lemon, lime, petrol
Mouth: medium-dry, med body, high acidity, low alcohol, med- length, high flavour intensity, citrus, mineral, lemon, lime
All in all: I had this as good quality, especially because of the great balance between sweetness and acidity, but apparently this was corked.

2010 St Urbans-Hof Okfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 7]

The first sniff by the instructor was followed by a warning – I thought it was just a false alarm, and I still couldn’t fully pick it up after the good-as-gone red light, but apparently this poor little German Riesling was slightly corked.… 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

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

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

WSET Diploma

2011 Barton & Guestier The Pairing Collection “Lobster and Shrimp” Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon (almost water white), legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, citrus, lime, slight green vegetal note, green apple
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med- body, light flavour intensity, med length, citrus, lemon, mineral
All in all: Good quality: light without being dilute with good med+ acid structure despite elegance. The flavour characteristics are simple, though, and the alcohol isn’t perfectly woven into the wine. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Mid-priced Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, France; 2 years old.
Is really: Mid-priced Muscadet (Sèvre-et-Maine) from the Loire Valley, France; 2 years old.

2011 Barton & Guestier The Pairing Collection "Lobster and Shrimp" Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 3]

It’s been a long while since I’ve had Muscadet.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Château La Grande Clotte Bordeaux Blanc

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, candied, banana, guava, toast, butter, baked apple, herbal
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med+ alcohol, med body, med flavour intensity, butter, oak, toast, overripe apple, melon, med+ finish
All in all: Good quality: although simple (at the time being, anyway) and not particularly intense, this wine speaks to a place, the components are balanced and structure, and the finish is relatively long. Can drink now, but has potential for ageing.
Identity guess: Inexpensive Chardonnay from Chile; 2 years old.
Is really: Premium White Bordeaux from France; 2 years old.

2009 Château La Grande Clotte Bordeaux Blanc

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 3]

I’m embarrassed. I need to drink more white Bordeaux – the only one I’ve ever had was 100% Sauvignon Blanc, so that’s the only picture I’ve ever painted for myself.… read more

WSET Diploma

2012 Yellow Tail Chardonnay

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med- intensity, developing, oak (weird oak – chips?), smoke, melon, vanilla, bubble gum, confectionary
Mouth: dry (but noticeable residual sugar), low acid, med alcohol, med+ body, med flavour intensity, wood, melon, short length, citrus, vanilla
All in all: Acceptable quality: the strength lies in the existence of the non-intrusive flavour components and the med+ body, giving an impression of concentration, but a lack of acid leads to a tumbling structure, the finish is short, and there is a lack of real typicity. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Inexpensive Chardonnay from Australia; 2 years old.
Is really: Inexpensive Chardonnay from Australia; 1 year old.

2012 Yellowtail Chardonnay

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 3]

Of course the only wine I would nail in identity is Yellow Tail.… read more