Category: WSET Advanced

WSET Advanced

1999 Lanson Gold Label Champagne

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, med- lemon (to gold), watery rim, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing to fully developed, sourdough, toasty, biscuity, green fruit, citrus
Mouth: dry, high acidity, med to med+ alcohol, med- body, long length, med+ intensity, delicate bubbles
All in all: Very good quality; drink now, but has potential for ageing.

Compared alongside some NV Henkell Trocken.

Ah, of course – the quintessential Champagne for the beginning of WSET class tasting. Of course, though, I stumble into class just in time for class to begin.

I don’t remember why, but in comparison to the previous Champagnes I’ve had, this one seemed just a touch lacklustre. I felt that, although the overall nose was intense, that the yeasty notes were not as pronounced in comparison to the nose as a whole.… read more

WSET Advanced

2006 Louis Jadot Chardonnay Meursault Genevrières

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, pale to med- lemon
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, flinty, leesy, apple, oak, butter, nutty
Mouth: dry, med bodied, med+ acidity, long length, med+ alcohol, med+ intensity, citrus, mineral
All in all: Very good quality; Can drink now, but has potential for ageing.

Tasted against the 2010 Joseph Drouhin “Laforet” Chardonnay.

Although I did record my tasting notes and the quality of this wine, the fact that this expensive-as-shit wine wasn’t entirely memorable sort of worries me a bit, and I’m wondering if it just didn’t have enough character in the end. I did note that this wine was well-balanced but could have had more complexity for the price.

Buy this if you’re filthy rich. Otherwise, for the same price, you can buy a cheaper bottle of Chardonnay, dinner, and still have leftover money to do so for the next day or so.… read more

WSET Advanced

WSET Advanced Course and Wines

Posted on by Josh

My goodness – the six-day WSET Advanced classes really are intense – but not because it’s six days, but because I have to wake up at 7:30AM for two sets of three days in a row, when my current lazy summer schedule calls for me waking up past ten. I really don’t mind the long wine tasting sessions, except for the fact that the coffee buzz starts to wear off after lunch and all your energy goes into digesting, and you happen to find yourself at the literal almost-snore stage of drifting off during the time your wine instructor is in the middle of showing a video on German Riesling. To make matters worse, the lights are off during these videos, and then I realize it’s 12th grade history class all over again but with alcohol.… read more