Studying for the upcoming diploma exam in around 4 weeks is just as terrifying as it is satisfying, with each strikethrough on my study planning sheet providing temporary pleasure before moving on to another daunting section, though I was particularly proud of myself for the past few sections on Australia and USA. The sun’s also begun to commit to bright and humid days, which means more exposed skin and mostly, weekend days that equate to regret when I’m literally rolling around in my bed with my laptop trying to relax and study at the same time. And it works – almost too well, to the point where I’m questioning why my growing talent for memorizing soil types isn’t better put to use by, say, memorizing blood passageways in the human body, or types of diseases that affect the brain. But then I take a nap, drink some coffee, maybe read Anna Wintour’s Wikipedia page, and get back to my senses.
Champalou Vouvray Brut (Vouvray, Touraine, Loire Valley, France): Poured by Catherine and Didier Champalou themselves! Subtle, stony, hints of apple and yeast, but a bit closed. Perhaps needs to warm up slightly. (My heart.)
Champalou 2013 Vouvray Sec (Vouvray, Touraine, Loire Valley, France): Chalk and clay soils. Tangy Granny Smith apple with hints at quince. Off-dry but enough acid to tease the palate.
Champalou 2013 “Les Fondraux” Vouvray (Vouvray, Touraine, Loire Valley, France): Much more charged minerality and yeast compared to the first. Off-dry. 20 g/L RS.
Tawse 2012 Riesling (Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada): Limeade with a salted rim; dusty razor. Paired this with the always-vague suggestion of off-dry Riesling with “asian food”, though it seemed to work, thanks to vaguely Asian fried rice. Recommended, if you can find it.
Oak Bay 2013 Schönburger (Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada): ripe pears, flowers, orange blossom, orange zest, spice. Some texture, low acid, unwound without much tension.
Fougeray de Beauclair 2013 Marsannay Rosé (Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, France): 100% Pinot Noir. Not much on the nose but some stones and flowers, but lots of persistent tart lemons and sour cherries on the palate. Expected a bit more, but fun to try.
Tintonegro 2012 “Limestone Block” Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina): 93% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc. Bramble, dark fruits, violets, and earth, with lots of finesse on the palate despite around 14% ABV. Much more savoury than I expected, and against the grain of the average Malbec in this market, I think.
