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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)