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)