Spain, WSET Lvl 3 Part 2 Week 2

Off to Spain, and Yes I want to go there for Vacation, one because of the awesome canaadian dollar, and spain has been hurt a bit in the whole euro mess, with bad employment numbers so that should make it cheaper, but the most important reason is the wine! maybe the sun? Music? Gaudy artwork? ahh soo many reasons.

Well here are some from around the country, the Priorat was a disappointment I have had better even from the same vintage. The Jumilla is well I dont want to say this but Oaky Deliciousness, it is plain and simple not a food wine really a party wine yeah I mean it is 15% Alc.  but the R. Lopez de Heredia is amazing, Just so Elegant and Development just beautiful, to think that "modern" winemaking IE Oaky Fruit bombs took over the region such a shame.

WSET LEVEL 3 PART 2 WEEK 2 SPAIN - Downtown Vancouver [AI School] (7/13/2010)
Spain this week, no Bubbles, that will have its own week, same with Sherry

• 2008 Martín Códax Albariño Rías Baixas Burgáns - Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
  Clear, Pale+ Lemon moving to a watery Rim, with moderate legs
  
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Youthful
  Green Fruit[Apple], Opening to Peach, Floral, Citrus, Savoury/Mineral
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Body, med Alc, Med+ Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Lemon, Apple, 'Creamy Peaches', Floral, Kiwi
  
  Conclusion: Very good wine, mid priced, ready to drink can keep for a couple years (89 pts.)
• 2008 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Blanco - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
  Clear, Med Lemon, Going out to a pale watery rim, showing significant legs
  A: Clean, Med to Med+ Intensity, develping
  Mineral[very clean], savoury, light apple, little animal/lanolin, "floral" more dried tho
  
  T: Dry, Med Acid, Med+ Body, Med+ Alc, Med Intensity, Long Finish
  Apple/Pear, Citrus/lime, Mineral
  
  Conc: I enjoyed this a lot, teacher not as much drinking well now (88 pts.)

• 2007 Miguel Torres Priorat Salmos - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
  Clear, Med+ Ruby, Showing Signicant Legs [15% Alc]
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, develping
  Savoury/Mineral. Cherry[Dark], Spice [Sarsaparilla], Tar
  
  T: Dry, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med to Full Body, Med Intensity, Med Finish, HIgh Alc
  Creamy Oak, Cherry[Dark], Spice
  
  Conc: Awkward finish, might do better with age potential is there but for tonight there were better that's for sure (86 pts.)
• 2007 Bodegas Juan Gil Monastrell Jumilla (Silver Label) - Spain, Murcia, Jumilla
  Clear, Deep Ruby, Going to a Med Ruby Rim, showing med+ legs
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Starting to develop
  Mineral, Oak/Sweet Vanilla, Blackberry, Cherry, Cinnamon Spice, Coffee/Mocha
  
  T: Dry, Med- Acid, Med Tannin, Full Body, High Alc, Med Intensity, Med+ Finish
  Cherry, Blackberry, Cola, COLA!, Spice[Sweetness], Woody/Tobacco, Plum
  
  Conc: This is the "the bottle of the night party wine" so big and massive and ripe and so darn delicious that it will win you over. (88 pts.)
• 2006 Bodegas Alejandro Fernández Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera Crianza - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  Clear, Deep Purple going to a med Ruby Rim, showing legs
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity starting to develop
  Cedar, Twigs, BLackberry, Mineral, Grain/cereal, opening up in the glass with Cucumbers/watermelon
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med+ Body, Med+ Alc, Med Intensity, Med Finish
  Red fruit, Tart, Sour Cherry/Dusty Tannin, Cukes/Watermelon
  
  Conc: good wine, simple on the palate, nose shows promise (88 pts.)
• 2001 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
  Clear, Med Garnet moving to a wide rim
  
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Developed
  Spice Box, Warm/Candy, Dried Sour Cherry, Savoury, Tar, Whole Wheat grain/toast, Licorice
  
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Med Tannin, Med Body, med Alc, Med+ Intensity, Long Finish
  Sour Cherry, Savoury/mineral, Licorice, Dried Flowers
  
  Conc: Absolutely Gorgeous, this is where its at
  
  Side Note: Teacher picked up a lot of oak notes not me tho (93 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)

A Tinto Velasco Wine [Blened With Syrah]

...the other [group] is the Tinto Velasco variety, in which the predominant anthocyanin is 3-G-delphinidin, the initial anthocyanin in this route. Also, 3-Gcyanidin predominates over 3-G-peonidin in the Tinto Velasco variety due to weak FMT enzyme activity

The last group, which is quite different from the other samples, consists solely of the Tinto Velasco variety. This is characterized by a much higher proportion of 3’5’-hydroxylated than 3’-hydroxylated anthocyanins, which sets it apart from the Rojal, Gordera Roja and Teta de Vaca Tinta varieties. But it also differs from the other varieties in that, instead of 3’5’-hydroxylated anthocyanins predominating, 3-G-delphinidin and its derivatives predominate over all other 3’5’-hydroxylated anthocyanins because FMT enzyme activity is weaker.
Read Full Study [6pages]

Now that I have your attention, firstly let me say I don't fully understand all that technical stuff but its to make a point about this wine.  Especially the first image, the graph, I mean when I saw that [after Google'ing the Tinto Velasco Grape] it made sense as to why the wine tasted the way it did I mean look it is way outside of the range of the "Normal" Grapes, especially comparing to Tempranillo.

The Wine I had was a blend of Tino Velasco and Syrah, the aroma and flavours I was picking up from this wine was so interesting that well it made me think.  A wine so different then what we normally drink, yeah a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are different, but this is just way out there in Left Field, or as the chart shows top middle, in no mans land.

As you can see below from the note below I was definitely picking up Syrah notes, a more Rhone like style, and then the other flavour that just bam hit ya, you don't usually associate watermelon with a red wine maybe a rose.

Blogging Format Tasting Notes

• 2007 Bodegas El Linze Vino de la Tierra de Castilla El Linze - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla (3/6/2010)
  Colour: Dark Purple
  
  Day 1
  Aroma: Big intensity, the most interesting nose I have had in a while, a unique fruit, Almost Cherry/Watermelon Rind. Like A Lip Gloss you would fine at A Sephora store in Vancouver, little meatyness too
  
  Taste: Earth, Candied Fruit, Watermelon Rind, Cherry, Little Oak Use
  Med Acid, Med minus body, lots of tannins grippy
  
  Day2
  Aroma: Charcoal, Perfume [Almost Quince Like]
  Taste: Meaty, Charcoal, Red Fruit Cherry/Cranberry something Flowery (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)

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