A Blind Tasting, Completly Random

There is something about tasting wine with people who are just as passionate about you without being, pretentious, I mean good decissusion it is what makes us feel good about what we do. Its even better when you have a disagreement and that passion, really how can you not love a good fight [no malice] just pure fun disagreement.

This was Bring a Random Bottle Night I brought the 2006 Domaine De la Roche Costières-de-Nîmes from Southern Rhone the last time I brought this wine to a tasting it was not hated lets say and yet again it held its ground against some expensive wines, 17$ for mine [cheap in the BC market] against 30-50$. GO ME! hah now only If I can repeat

BLIND TASTING MONDAYS - Holiday Inn Downtown Vancouver (4/26/2010)

White

• N.V. Paul Zinck Crémant d'Alsace Brut - France, Alsace, Crémant d'Alsace
  C: Light Lemon
  A: Clean, Nuts, Very Yeasty and Rich/Bread
  T: Dry, Med+ Acid, Creamy Bubbles, Golden Apple/Skin, Touch Caramel/Butterscotch, Finish Creamy/Cheese
  
  Good Quality, Lots of yeast, warmish climate feel, Ripe (90 pts.)
• 2008 Gipsie Jack Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
  A: Clean, Started with Floral, Serbert/Orange, Melon, then opening with Greenness/Grass
  
  T: Dry, Med+Acid, med Body, Med Finish, Greeness/Herbs, Passionfruit
  
  Conclusion, Has a odd Off balance finish in the beginning, a young style warm climate feel, easy drinking, opening up with a more A-Typical SB of NZ Marl (89 pts.)
• 2008 Jaffelin Bourgogne-Aligoté - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté
  C: Clear, Pale lemon Green
  A: Confectioners Sugar, Floral/Soap, Rich?
  T: High Acid, Body Light, Finish Med, Green Apple/Skin, Lemon Zest, Finish Med
  
  Conlusion, Very High Acid, need some Cheese hard to drink solo (88 pts.)

Red

• 2005 Querciabella Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
  C: Med Ruby
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Meaty/Game/Pepper, Cherry, Warm
  T: High Acid, Finish Short, Med- Tannin, Sour Cherry/Skin, Rubber/astringent, Some Oak Use, Chocolate, Dirty
  
  Conclusion, at first was thinking a Syrah/Grenache on the nose, new world but once you started to drink this yeah Sang coming through opened up nicely (87 pts.)
• 2006 Domaine De la Roche Costières-de-Nîmes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes
  C: Med+ Ruby
  A: Clean, Rich, Cherry Skin, Stinky, Mineral/Earth
  T: Med- acid, Med- tannin, Med Finsih, Body Med +, Rich, Cherry, Ripe, Creamy Strawberry, Mineral [Ocean/Shells]
  
  Conclusion my entry into the blind tasting and it held up yet again! (89 pts.)
• 2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
  C: Clear, Med+ Ruby
  A: Warm Raison, Orange Peel, vanilla
  T: Med+ Acid, Med+ Tannin, Med+ Finish, Red fruit/sour Cherry, cream/Coffee, Chocoalte (88 pts.)
• 2008 Familia Zuccardi Malbec Santa Julia Reserva - Argentina, Mendoza
  A: Clean, Med+ Intensity, Cola, Cherry, Richness, Cherry, Coffee/Grounds, Lipstick
  T: Acid Med+, Body Big, Finish Long, Cherry Juice, I like, Spice
  
  Conclusion Good Juice! (90 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker
Overall/Reflection: Score: 88 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

Italian Wine Tasting 2009

Was held at the Terminal City Club, a Private Club you know for people with money to make connections mostly Professionals.  I know the Vancouver Club is more Lawyer based or I think they are.  Terminal City has a nice room very nice inside. Thumbs up

It was Italiano Day, Prosecco, Barolo, Sicilians, Amarones, Muscato D'Asti and everything else.
Lots of Good wines, lots of Ok wine not to many bad wines so thats good.  Tho it is depressing when you ask how much the wines Cost in Euro's and find out a 3.50EURO wine is selling for $17 in your Liquor Store, I know paying for shipping is a part of the cost but ugh taxes

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