Author: Josh

DipWSET, Certified Sommelier, garbage person.
Tasting

2011 Finca La Amalia “Dos Fincas” Malbec

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, med+ ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, bright bramble fruit, blueberry, blackberry, smoke, spice
Mouth: dry, med body, med acid, med coarse tannin, med alcohol, med length, savoury finish, lush
All in all: Good quality: balanced on the palate (except for alcohol), and has elegance. Although not a fruit bomb (which is common for many inexpensive Malbec), it’s missing complexity that would take it to a higher quality level. Drink now; not intended for ageing.

2011 Finca La Amalia "Dos Fincas" MalbecWhat an interesting little Malbec. For a grape that’s rising in popularity, more and more inexpensive fruity bottles are popping up all over the market. It’s not rare that I see the everyday folk looking for one, and sometimes customers look for another regular bottle instead of a Fischer Price-esque My-First-Malbec sort of dealio.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Intrigue Riesling

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: med+ intensity, developing, citrus, pineapple, petrol, yeast (crackers)
Mouth: off-dry, med- body, med acid, med- alcohol, med intensity, med- length, citrus
All in all: Good quality, drink now.

2011 Intrigue RieslingThis has quite an intriguing nose (ZING!). I finally see some stronger aromatic character compared to the various Rieslings I’ve tried lately, and a bit of fruity petrol character is what I notice right off the bat. There is a significant amount of an off-beat cracker-like aroma, which I can only assume stems from yeast character. Unlike some wines I think this weird aroma adds complexity.

The palate is juicy, light and has a bit of tartness. I prefer more zip to my off-dry Riesling, but the slightly more tropical expression coupled with the low acid gives this wine a bit more of a relaxed edge, almost like a Riesling-Torrontes lovechild.… read more

Life · WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma – Section 1 – Week 4

Posted on by Josh

First: happy birthday, blog! An excuse to open wine is all that’s good for. Moving on.

I think I’m beginning to get into a real groove of studying for this course. Weirdly, I’m using some studying techniques from high school which take a long time to actually do, but I think that the information sticks to my brain like Australian Shiraz sticks to the glass.

I’m just a touch behind on my study schedule, since I aimed to have studied and read all of the first element of the WSET study guide (viticulture) by today. But all is well, since I studied everything I needed to study for today’s lecture, which was essentially a consolidating class – i.e. one of those classes where I would silently complete the sentences of the instructor and subsequently feel both awesome and awkward, but mostly awkward for being that guy.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, soy, leather, dark cherry, stewed red fruits, black fruits, oak, mint, green pepper (capiscum), eucalyptus, meat, vanilla, hints of cola
Mouth: dry, med acid, med fine tannin, med+ alcohol, med+ body, med flavour intensity, med+ finish, savoury, leather, green bell pepper, dark cherry, cedar
All in all: Good quality: the flavour characteristics in the wine definitely showed grape character and a sense of place (despite the fact that I got it wrong) along with a relatively long finish. On the nose, I feel that there should be a little bit more fruit to tame the secondary characteristics, along with balance – the slightly lower acid on the palate makes the ripeness a little bit more evident although by no means does this ruin or distract the balance too negatively.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Baron Philippe de Rothschild “Baron Nathaniel” Pauillac

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, blackberry, plum, spice, oak, cola, earth, mint, eucalyptus
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med+ coarse tannin, med+ alcohol, med body, med flavour intensity, long finish, savoury, black cherry, black fruits
All in all: Good quality (apparently on the higher end of such): a long finish is complemented by a balanced structure. Age can both add character to the average complexity and soften the slightly rough tannin. Can drink now, but has potential for ageing.
Identity guess: High-priced Merlot from Chile; 2 years old. (although I was TRICKED, I TELL YOU)
Is really: High-priced left bank Bordeaux from France; 4 years old.

2009 Baron Philippe de Rothschild "Baron Nathaniel" Pauillac[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 4]

Hi.… read more

Quaffing

2011 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Rosé

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, med- salmon
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, earth, mineral, cranberry, citrus, spice
Mouth: dry with sweet impression, med- body, med+ acid, med length, med alcohol, med+ intensity
All in all: Good quality; drink now.

2011 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir RoséSunny weather calls for sunny wine. I haven’t bought rosé in a long time, nor has the weather and time called for it (even though I twitch every time a customer shoots down the idea of drinking rosé any other time but the summer).

Today I had the opening shift so I get off earlier, and it’s a beautiful day with no clouds. Therefore, I am on my patio happily enjoying this wine. It’s starting to get cold outside, but geez let me enjoy this moment with the 17 minutes that I have with this sleeveless shirt and these work-inappropriate shorts.… read more

WSET Advanced

2008 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale to med- lemon, aggressive froth upon pour
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, mineral, citrus, reserved fruit
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ acid, med+ to long length
All in all: Very good quality; drink now, but has potential for ageing.

2008 Schramsberg Blanc de BlancsSheesh. I’m wishing I had more time to get to know the sparkling wines better because we were rushed through them due to time constraints. Oh well.

I later tried a Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs (2007 vintage, I believe) some time later that autumn (for an amazing send-off dinner for a friend), and I remembered why I loved Californian sparkling wines. Unfortunately the information from trying the 2008 Blanc de Blancs didn’t sink in well enough, and I didn’t realize that I’ve tasted a wine from this iconic producer in the past.… read more

Life · WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma – Section 1 – Week 3

Posted on by Josh

wsetapril24Although my “background” is in “science”, I can’t help but be fascinated by the business side of wine. The hundreds and thousands and millions and billions of different wines can be nearly identical in chemical makeup (but differing in concentrations and subtle flavour compounds), meaning that such a global product is heavily dependent on marketing.

The label is the one thing you can fully control – the prices are taxed, and the buyers and agents (and the government, for that matter) pretty much make or break your availability in markets. It’s tough being a bottle of booze.

So, this week’s class was about marketing and consumer trends. Each of the wines that we tasted were chosen to display a scale of quality, the strategies their brands attempted to achieve, and the markets that these products were aimed towards.… read more

WSET Diploma

2011 Barton & Guestier The Pairing Collection “Lobster and Shrimp” Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon (almost water white), legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, citrus, lime, slight green vegetal note, green apple
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med- body, light flavour intensity, med length, citrus, lemon, mineral
All in all: Good quality: light without being dilute with good med+ acid structure despite elegance. The flavour characteristics are simple, though, and the alcohol isn’t perfectly woven into the wine. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Mid-priced Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, France; 2 years old.
Is really: Mid-priced Muscadet (Sèvre-et-Maine) from the Loire Valley, France; 2 years old.

2011 Barton & Guestier The Pairing Collection "Lobster and Shrimp" Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 3]

It’s been a long while since I’ve had Muscadet.… read more

WSET Diploma

2008 Alpha Estate “Hedgehog Vineyard” Xinomavro

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med- ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, red fruits, raspberry, cherry, earth, spice
Mouth: dry, med+ acid, med tannin, med- body, med alcohol, med- flavour intensity, med finish, savoury, red fruits, earth
All in all: Good quality: this had a decent amount of complexity, with red fruits balanced with earth and spice characteristics. There was also present structure, with med+ acid and med tannin (which was deceiving because of the light colour – Nebbiolo anyone?). However it lacked in a bit on concentration at the alcohol was slightly out of balanced. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity guess: Mid-priced Pinot Noir from Chile; 2 years old.
Is really: High-priced Xinomavro from Greece; 5 years old.… read more