Portugal & Eastern Europe, WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 3

Poor Austria, getting lumped in with Eastern Europe I bet they wouldn't like that too much lol. That being said the wines this week, well Tokaji Amazing, Acid! Yes More Please. But Oh Grüner Veltliner, when compared to Riesling; Was at a Loimer Tasting with Rieslings and Gruner, the Riesling wins better balance, more acid. Gruner is interesting but I think the lack of acid for me personally just doesnt win me over all the way, the wines are good that for sure.

Here are this Weeks Notes

WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 3 PORTUGAL + EASTERN EUROPE - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (7/20/2010)

• N.V. Borges Vinho Verde Gatão - Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde
  Clear, Pale- Lemon Green, some Petillance
  
  A: Clean, Med- Intensity, Youthful
  Mineral, Green Apple, Citrus
  
  T: Dry, High+ Acid, low alc, med- body, med- finish, med intensity
  Frizzante, green apple, grapey
  
  Conc: Simple, Inexpensive, does its job (83 pts.)
• 2007 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines - Portugal, Douro
  Clear, Med+ Purple, showing prominent legs
  
  A: Clean, Pronounced Nose, Developing
  Oak[Vanilla/Coffee Grounds], Dark fruit, Meaty/Spice, Chcolate, Lots of Mineral
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Full Body, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish, Med+ Alc
  Oak, Coffee, Dark Fruit [Cherry] Dark Chocolate
  
  Conc: Very Good, Needs time to develop, even just tasting it about 1.5hr later in Class it started to open and soften (89 pts.)
• 2008 Erich Salomon/Undhof Grüner Veltliner - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kremstal
  Clear, Pale Lemon green, going to water rim, mod legs
  
  A: Clean, Med Intensity
  Mineral, Spicey Raddish, Citrus, Pear, Lime Zest, Savoury
  
  T: Dry, Med Acid, med+ alc, med+ body, med intensity, med finish
  'oily', lime, lots of pear juice like fruit cocktail
  
  Conc: the nose was better then the taste. Good Drink Now (86 pts.)
• 2003 Chateau Dereszla Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  Clean, Med Lemon
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity
  Marmalade, Botrytis notes of Spice, Lanolin, Dried Papaya, Dried Mango
  
  T: Sweet, High Acid, med- alc, full body, med+ intensity, long finish
  Marmalade, Luscious, Tropical, Citrusy Lemon Candy, Orange Crush
  
  Conc: Exceptional, crazy high acid (91 pts.)
• 2007 Boutari Naoussa - Greece, Macedonia, Naoussa
  Clear, Med+ Garnet
  
  A: Med Intensity
  Savoury, Clean mineral, Cedar/Graphite, Sweet Spice
  
  T: Dry, med+ acid, high tannin, med body, med+ intensity, med finish
  Dark Chocolate (80% Cocoa), Cherry/Cranberry/Strawberry Mix
  
  Conc: Not to shabby (84 pts.)
• N.V. Tsantali Retsína - Greece, Attica
  First time having Retsina was scared of all the horror stories
  
  Med Lemon Pee Yellow
  A: Pronounced nose
  Lemon, Pine Neddles, Pine-sol
  T: Dry, Low- Acid, Med- body, Med- Alc, Short Finish[A Good Thing], Med- Intensity
  Lemon, Rosemarry
  
  Conc: Overall not as bad as I was expecting on the palate the pine is not crazy overpowering but it is there (82 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)

WSET Week 7, Italy, Spain, Portugal

The only problem with doing 6 wines a week, somewhere someone gets left out or well not shown as well.  Italy well represented with  4 Wines, and Spain and Portugal get to show us what they have with one single wine.  The Italian wines were all good, the spain not so much, and Portugal was good but wish there was atleast one more white from Spain or Portugal

WSET WEEK 7 ITALY, SPAIN, PORTUGAL - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (3/1/2010)

Week 7 of WSET Italy, Spain and Portugal no Whites from Portugal or Spain so that kinda of sucks ah well

Italy

A good cross section of Italy not to shabby, and I got to drink Nebbiolo so really can't go wrong

• 2008 Cantine Torresella - Italy, Veneto
  C: Clear, Pale Lemon
  
  A: Clean, Light to Medium Intensity
  Fruit - Ripeness, Apple, Citrus, Delicate
  
  T: Dry, Med + Acid, Med minus body, med finish
  Rich Mouthfeel, Apple/Pear, Good Texture
  
  Conclusion: Good, Simple, Nice Texture, Roundness what you would expect from a Pinot Grigio (86 pts.)
• 2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Ovello - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  C: Clear, Med Garnet
  
  A: Clean, Med Plus
  Milk Chocolate, Bread/Porcini, Sour Cherry/Raspberry, A Twizzler Licourice Action going on, opening up to a BEAUTIFUL Fig/Anise Bread from Terra Breads OMG SO GOOD
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, High Tannin, Body Med+
  Sweet Tannins, Ripe Cherry concetrated mmmm
  
  Conclusion Long Finish, I like a lot (90 pts.)
• 2007 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Brolio - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
  C: Clear, Dark Ruby little Purple
  
  A: Clean, Pronounced
  Tar, Light Fruit, Cola, Mineral [Grill Brick]
  
  T: Dry, High Acid, High Tannin, Med Body
  Sweet Vanilla Cherry, Cola, Grape Candy, Polished
  
  Conclusion well Polished wine a lot of upright fruit not my style but can see a lot of people liking this, apparently there is 15% Syrah in here (88 pts.)
• 2006 Tormaresca Primitivo Torcicoda Salento IGT - Italy, Puglia, Salento IGT
  C: Clear, Dark Ruby
  
  A: Clean, Pronounced
  Freshness, Ocean/Mineral, Plum, A Interesting nose to say the least
  
  T: Dry, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med + Length, Full body
  Good Dark Fruit, Rich, Licorice
  
  Conclusion can see this having a good appeal to the masses very delicious (88 pts.)

Spain

Typical Spanish A Rioja

• 2005 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
  C:Clear, Med Fuschia[Ruby]
  
  A: Clean, Med Intensity
  Wood, Light Fruit, Acetone Qualities
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Soft Tannins, Med Body
  Red Fruit, Ripe, Not alot going on one dimensional
  
  Conclusion I say boring it did open up a bit but still not enough for me to enjoy (84 pts.)

Portugal

Portugal under rated? the wine was inexpensive and held its ground

• 2007 Sociedade dos Vinhos Borges Dão Meia Encosta - Portugal, Beiras, Dão
  C: Clear, Ruby Medium
  
  A: Clean, Med Intensity
  Animal, Mineral, A Tar quality, Dark Fruit Black
  
  T: Dry, Med Acid, Soft Tannins, med Body, med minus finish
  Lush, Dark Fruit, Soft tannin, Black Tea
  
  Conclusion awesome QPR would recommend and would buy myself, tho it did not hold the next day (86 pts.)

I love Nebbiolo nuff said?

Posted from CellarTracker