Sparkling Wines WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 5

Mmmm I do enjoy my Bubbly, its what makes me fancy!  That being said I find too much yeasty/autolytic flavours just too bleh, The Pol Roger is that style I do not like too over powering not Delicate and balanced.  I enjoy Blanc de Blanc champagnes really.  Good Crements of Alsace, Burgundy and Loire Valley, and of course BC Sparkling from Blue Mountain


WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 7 SPARKLING WINE - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (8/17/2010)
All Were Blind

• 2005 Monmousseau Touraine Brut - France, Loire Valley, Touraine
  Clear, Pale+ Lemon Green Bubbles Check
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Just starting to show Development signs but still very youthful with lots of bright fruit
  Apple, Pear, Mineral, Dash Citrus [Candied Citrus]
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, No Tannin,Med Alc, Med- body, Creamy Bubbles, Med Intensity, Med Finish
  Apple, Pear, Rubbery, little Cheese[Umami]
  
  Conc: Good, Ready to Drink (85 pts.)
• N.V. Domaine Chandon Brut Classic - USA, California
  Clear, Med- Lemon some brass/onion skins showing, Small Bubbles
  A: Clean, Low Intensity, Developing
  Mineral[Oyster Shells], Pear, Radish
  *Not very aromatic
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, No tannin, Med Body, Delicate Bubbles, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Apple, Citrus, Mineral, Apple Skin, some mushroom
  
  Conc:Very good, good balance of fruit/acid/body (87 pts.)
• N.V. Valdo Prosecco di Valdobbiadene - Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene
  Clear, Pale Lemon Green, big Bubbles
  A: Clean, Med Intensity, Youthful
  Seven-Up, Vitamin Citrus
  
  T: Dry, med+ acid, med- alc, no tannin, creamy bubbles, med intensity, short finish
  Creamy, Cinnamon Spice, "Apple Water",
  
  Conc: Acceptable, Simple Easy to drink (82 pts.)
• N.V. Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva - Spain, Catalunya, Cava
  Clear, Pale Lemon green, Big Bubbles
  A: Clean, Med Intensity
  Chemical, Citrus, Herbaceous, Lanolin
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, No Tannin, Med- Body, Creamy Bubbles, Med Intensity, med finish
  Pear, Green Notes, Earthy
  
  Conc: Off Balance a touch to simple (83 pts.)
• 1999 Pol Roger Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
  Clear, Med- Gold, Not a whole lot of bubbles
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developed
  Autolytic+, Dried Porcini Powder, Earth
  
  T: Dry, High Acid, No Tannin, Med Body, Delicate bubbles, med intensity, med+ finish
  Baked Apples, Autolytic, Mineral Chalky, Green Apples, Sour Cream Onions
  
  Conc: Good to Very Good, Ready to Drink, did like the delicate bubbles but found it way to yeasty and out of balance in that sense (88 pts.)
• N.V. Banrock Station Shiraz Sparkling - Australia, South Eastern
  Clear, Med+ Ruby, Small bubbles
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity
  A "Bubble Gum" but Good Quality style, A Sweetness? Caramel
  
  T: Off Dry/Dry, Med+ Acid, Med- Tannin, Med+ Body, med+ alc, creamy bubbles, med intensity, med+ finish
  Raspberry, Cherry, Wood, Mineral, Spice/Pepper, Meaty/Game
  
  Conc: Very Good, Didnt know what to expect going in from the colour but I did enjoy this (87 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Canada WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 5

Well I am not too Far behind as I thought for posting.So that good.  The bad news tho is we did Canada blind and the wines were not that exciting.  But! But! In the Okanagan I know what producers I like and are good and thats what I drink and what I'll bring to an event here are a list of wineries I like out of Canada

Ontario
Le Clos Jordanne [For Pinot and Chardonnay]

Thirty Bench Winery [Riesling]

Okanangan
Blue Mountain Winery [Pinot Noir, Sparkling]
JoieFarm Wines [Rose, Recent Vintage of Riesling]
Laughing Stock Vineyards [Syrah, Portfolio Blend]
Poplar Grove [Cab Franc, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, The Legacy]
Painted Rock Winery [Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay]

Also Okanagan does make good Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer on the West Bank.



WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 6 CANADA - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (8/10/2010)
All Wines were poured blind

• 2008 St. Hubertus Estate Winery Pinot Blanc - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  Pale almost Water White, "Lemon Green"
  A: Clean, Med Intensity
  Floral, Green Apple, Big Dose of Citrus and Peach
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Alc, Med body, med intensity, med+ finish
  Ripe Apple, Citrus, Pears, Peach, Little Melon, big ole fruit bowl
  
  Conc: A solid Pinot Blanc, Drink now, simple approachable non offensive (86 pts.)
• N.V. Jackson-Triggs Sauvignon Blanc Proprietors' Selection - Mixed, Canada/Imported
  FYI this is not Made from Okanagan/Canadian Grapes
  
  Clear, Med- Lemon Green
  Showing Significant Legs
  
  A: Clean, Low Intensity
  Kiwi[Green Tropical] maybe little herbaceous?
  
  T: Dry, med- acid, med- body, med+ alc, med- intensity, med- finish and finish is hot
  Tropical, creamed mango
  
  Conc: Lacking a lot of stuff really I mean its no really Varietal Correct lol
  
  Side Note: Teacher Pours this wine every 3 months, never the same this surprised him as this was the best he's had so far (75 pts.)
• 2006 Mike Weir Estate Winery Vidal Icewine - Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA
  Clear, Med+ Gold, Lots of Legs
  
  A: Clear, Med+ Intensity, Developing
  Earth[Mushroom], drying out Papaya, I like the nose
  
  T: Luscious, Med+Acid, Full Body, Med Alc, med+ Intensity
  Raisin, Mineral, Finish, little Caramel, dried fruit, toasted nuts
  
  Conc: Not worth the price IMO 44.99 for a 375ml much better Icewines out there for the price (87 pts.)

• 2007 CedarCreek Estate Winery Pinot Noir - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  Clear, Med Ruby, showing legs
  
  A: Clean, Med Intensity, youthful
  Fat, Red fruit, some spice/pepper, mineral
  
  T: Dry, med+ acid, med tannin, med+alc, med+ intensity, med+ finish
  Minty, Red fruit, plums[not ripe]
  
  Conc: Good, needs to breath a bit felt little disjointed in the beginning (85 pts.)
• 2008 Sandhill Syrah Sandhill Estate Vineyard - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  Clear, Deep Core Purple, moving to a med+ruby rim
  A: Clear, Med+ Intensity, youthful
  Grape Candy fruit, Some Meat, Mineral, Pepper, and 'chemical'
  
  T: dry, med- acid , med tannin, med+ alc, med body, med intensity, med+ finish
  Oak, dark fruit/purple fruit, bitter chocolate, a "burnt meat"
  
  Conc: Not my type of Wine, Felt Flat, Acid was way to low no balance (81 pts.)
• 2007 Summerhill Pyramid Winery Baco Noir - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  Clear, Deep Ruby
  A: Clean, Med Intensity
  Cedar, Woody, Red fruit, cranberry Juice, Peanut Butter[Yup]
  
  T: Dry, med acid, low+ tannin, med body, med intensity, med+finish
  Red Fruit, Some Wood
  
  Conc: Average, drinkable for me others didn't find it as much (84 pts.)
• 2006 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
  Deep Ruby [ I want to say Garnet but its ruby, but has the look of a good Bordeaux wine]
  
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developing
  dried red fruit, strawberry/cranberry little floral, cedar, 'cola', sweet tomato leaf, really enjoyed this nose 92pts!
  
  T: Dry, High Tannin, Med+ Acid, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Med finish
  Little Green, Red fruit, mild creamy
  
  Conc: good, dont think age will change the palate too much I think there is Potential, just need more age on the vines we shall see. Also seems a little closed on the palate would of liked to decant this wine too (86 pts.)

Dont know if these are the wines I would normally pick to show to people from outside the province.
Posted from CellarTracker
THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

USA & South America WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 5

Since in WSET class we usually pour Blind and I like to mark down on the side note to guess variety, good for practice ya know, so there is always one wine that throws ya for a loop, last week during the NZ/AUS/RSA it was the darn Yellow Tail Merlot, which I thought was a Syrah first of all.  This week it was a Russian River Zinfandel, and those subtle hints of Mint, which you know you could associate with Cab Sauv, and the ripe fruit with Cali.  So 5 for 6 ain't all bad.

Must say the Torrontes from Michel Torino was pretty darn tasting good body and "muscat" characters and for what 13.99? its fantastic QPR.

The Caramenere Blend, which is more Cab Sauv then Caramenere, but I can pick up that Caramenere like bam unless its just Chilean Terrior for Bordeaux reds, but its good Brambly and Leafy can't go wrong

Now Pinot Noir from Oregon, visited some Oregon wine peeps [@benkearney @hogan777 @pfortier2  ] and they were talking about 2007 being a good vintage that would be hard to make a bad wine.  This wine is pretty darn tasty. I dont think you could go wrong, I do have a 07 Riesling from Willamette I'm going to open monday so we shall see~


WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 5 USA & SOUTH AMERICA - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (8/3/2010)

• 2009 Viña Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc Reserva - Chile, Aconcagua, Casablanca Valley
  Clear, Pale Lemon Green Going to a Water Rim
  A: Clean, Pronounced Nose, Youthful
  Herbaceous/Green Pepper/Aspargus/Peas, Citrus
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med- Body, no tannin, Med Alc, Pronounced Intensity, Med+ Finish
  
  Conc: Inexpensive, Good Quality, Drink Now! NZ Styled lots of green (86 pts.)
• 2009 Michel Torino Torrontés Cuma - Argentina, Salta, Cafayate
  Clear, Med Yellow, Showing Significant Legs
  A: Clean, Pronounced Intensity, Youthful
  Floral, A Honey/Syrup floralness, Popuri, Very Muscat Like, Tropical hints of Banana, Mango
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Body, No Tannin, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Muscat like FloralGrapey, Peach, Tropical Fruit
  
  Conc: Very Good, Inexpensive, Showing well balance between acid/fruit/body excellent (88 pts.)

• 2007 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec - Argentina, Mendoza
  Clear, Opaque Core moving to a med ruby Rim, showing legs legs legs~
  A: Clean, Med Intensity, I say Showing Signs of Developing Teacher says Youthful nose
  Lil Meat, Lil Clean, Lil Savoury, Toast[Like it], Red Fruit, mineral, Stewed fruit
  T: Dry, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med+ Body to Full, Med+ Alc, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish
  Dark fruit Juicy, Cherry Skin, Raisony
  
  Conc: Mid Price, Good, Very fruit forward but A better showing of Malbec for me [not usually a fan] (87 pts.)
• 2008 Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley
  Clear, Deep Ruby, Showing Sig Legs
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity,
  Herbaceous[Tomato Stalk] Earth Soil, some fruit
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med Body, Med Intensity, Long Finish, Med+ Alc
  Ripe Juicy Cherry/Black, Herbaceous/more tom stalk, spice[Black Pepper]
  
  Conc: Very good, balance of body and acid, could use I think some more bottle age (89 pts.)
• 2007 Andrew Rich Pinot Noir Cuvée B - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Clear, Med- Ruby just starting to show signs of Garnet
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, developing
  Cherry, Sassparella, Some stems, dried strawberries, cigar smoke, 'haunting'
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Low Tannin, Med+ Body, Med+ Alc, Med Intensity, Med to med+ finish
  Chalky Mineral, Beautiful Cherry/Dried Strawberry, Sassparella Spice, Something else...Elegant
  
  Conc: Outstanding, Premium, Ready to drink but can develop a little more
  So Delicious I had to pretend to spit in WSET Class (92 pts.)
• 2006 Ravenswood Zinfandel Belloni - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  Clear, Deep Ruby going to a med ruby wide rim
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developing
  Savoury, Cassis, REd Fruit ,Black Raspberry
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med+ Body, high alc, med+ Intensity, Long Finish
  Ripe Herbs/ Minty, Cassis, Woodsy, Black Raspberry
  
  Conc: Very Good, I tihnk it could use some time to develop but very 'delicious' opens nicely with a little air (89 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker


THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 4

Now this was a interesting class, not because of the wine [ don't get me wrong there was some tasty ones] but because of what Australia has brought to the world of wine, I know what UC Davies has done. Good or Bad take it for what it is [Judgment of Paris 1976 book is a good read to see subtleties]. Being a head of their game in the Science Department, coming together as a region to export, I mean they have what 20million people and they make a whole lot of wine that needs to go somewhere. And for that I do applaud, now they may not be myself, but I have been known to enjoy some Australian wines, fantastic chardonnays, the Riesling Below is pretty darn tasting even if it is a bit young.

Now for South Africa [RSA], I really don't know what to say, I mean there is defintly a distinct style to RSA, its like Burnt Tire, Leather, weirdness that some claim to be Brett, or dirty wine making or whatever it is but I mean in a blind tasting and I get the RSA style I can almost nail it pretty easily. Tho I mean there are exceptions take the Pinotage I tried it was good, and I have had some Leathery++++ Pinotages, that was even more leathery with Steak lol.

Last but not Least New Zealand, I really enjoy NZ across the board from Hwakes Bay Chardonnays to Central Ortago Pinot Noir, to just tasty pinot Gris, oh yeah I did leave out of Sauv Blanc well I don't like Green Pepper Juice soo we will skip that

Anyways here are some notes of wines


WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 4 AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (7/27/2010)
All Wines were Blind, Guess 5 out of the 6 Right, Yellowtail Fooled Me!!

• 2008 The Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
  Clear, Med- Lemon
  A: Clean, Med Intensity, Youthful
  Apple[Juice], Almonds tossed in Confectioners Sugar, Mineral, Citrus
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Body, Med Intensity, med+ Length, Med+Alc
  Apple Juice, Mineral
  
  Conclusion: QPR can't complain, Alc makes it a touch out of balance (84 pts.)
• 2006 Grosset Riesling Polish Hill - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
  Clear, Med- Lemon Green, showing Significante Legs
  A: Clean, Med+ Inensity, Developing
  Mineral/Savoury, Petrol/Rubber, Lanolin, LIME, Floral - Very Pretty
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, med- body, med+ intensity, long finish, med+ alc
  Lime, Plasticine/Mineral [A Talc/Beeswax Feeling]
  
  Conclusion: My type of Dry Riesling, Really needs time to Develop should put away for a couple of years (89 pts.)

• 2005 Scali Pinotage Voor Paardeberg - South Africa, Coastal Region, Paarl
  Clear, Med+ Ruby
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developing
  Stewed Fruit/Dark, Savory, Mineral, Animal, Dill
  T: Dry, med Acid, Med+ Body, Med tannin, med+ intensity, med+ finish, high alc
  Raspberry, Cocoa, Animal/Leather -Seamless Integration
  
  Conclusion: Exceptional Pinotage, amazing balance, Would drink now dont see it aging to much more (90 pts.)
• 2009 Yellow Tail Merlot - Australia, South Eastern
  Clear, Deep Purple, Showing Significant Legs [Alc and RS]
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity
  Spice, Pepper, Ink Blue Fruit,Vanilla Marshmallow, Lipstick, Milk Chocolate, Rubber Balloon
  T: "Dry" not really, Med- Tannin, Full Body, High Alc, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Sweet Concentrated Dark Fruit/Blackberry/Cherry, Minimal Spice/Woody
  
  Conc: This was served blind, guess Shiraz a "Mollydooker" Style, If you like that style this is a screaming buy. Very Fruit Forward has that "Delicious Factor" (84 pts.)
• 2008 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Crimson - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
  Clear[Not Crystal tho], Med Ruby
  A: Clean, med+ acid, developing
  Cherry/Rhubarb Stewed, Spice, Newspaper Ink, Orange Peel Spice [Grand Mariner] -Def has NZ Fruit profile IMO
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Low+ Tannin, Med Body, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish, Med+ Alc
  Cherry, Earth, "Green" Veg like Cabbage
  
  Conc: Good, taste like a NZ Pinot, can't go wrong tho might be a little on the high price (87 pts.)
• 2007 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
  Clear, Opague Ruby, Almonst no change at rim
  A: Clean, Pronounced Nose, Developing
  Roasted Red Peppers/Hummus, Green Peppercorn, Dark Cassis, Lil Brambly Fruit, Mineral, Complex, Herbs, Bark
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, High Alc, Med+ Body, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Dark Ripe Fruit Good Quality Grapiness, Red Fruit, Roasted Red Peppers,
  
  Conc: Very Good Ready to Drink can develop further, Great Freshness to this wine (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)