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)