Category: WSET Diploma

Life · WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma – Section 2 – Week 3

Posted on by Josh

Jan 22-23, 2014

It’s hilarious how WSET classes are easily becoming the Glee equivalents of the Art Institute of Vancouver, where wine classes can seem even half-justifiably hilarious to the outsiders. Then there’s the occasional giggle or awe from passers-by and friendly wine banter from other faculty members (“care to share some wine with us? *smirk*”) and the stares from visual arts students or the oft white-clad cooking apprentices, but I guess it’s a nice refresher from the Sauder suits and the brobots of UBC who are scantily-clad in the middle of winter.

But this is an arts school. So we’re all losers and it’s actually a huge Glee club!

Just kidding. Insert musical number here.

First off: WSET Diploma Unit 4 (Spirits) results.… read more

WSET Diploma

Effie Trinket, from the Hunger Games: NV Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Brut Rosé

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med salmon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, smoke, hint yeast, mineral, flint, dried red fruits, raspberry, cherry, hints of toast and yeast
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ body, med alcohol, high acid, med+ flavour intensity, med+ finish, nuts, raspberry, dried red fruits, yeast, brioche, cherry
All in all: Very good quality: the wine’s flavours are complex, and the structural components are well-balanced. Though the flavours last on the palate, the flavours aren’t particularly expressive on the nose. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Rosé Champagne from France.
Is really: Premium Rosé Champagne from France.

NV Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Brut Rosé[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

After having watched the Hunger Games trailer for the first time ever (and I don’t recall much of the moment), I remember being intrigued by the contrast of Effie’s pink and flamboyant persona to everything else in the reaping scene.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Applause” – Lady Gaga: NV de Venoge “Vin du Paradis” Champagne

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, yellow apple, melon, toast, biscuit, moss, citrus, honey, mineral, hint nuts, funky, mushroom
Mouth: off-dry, creamy mousse, high acid, med body, med alcohol, med+ flavour intensity, yellow apple, citrus, toast, biscuit, melon, moss, med+ finish
All in all: Very good quality: though the complex flavours can appear shy at first, they persist on the palate with balance. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: High-priced Non-Vintage Sparkling Vouvray from Loire, France.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.

NV de Venoge "Vin du Paradis" Champagne[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

Me and a friend are going to see Lady Gaga in May when she comes to Vancouver. We may or may not have a wine party either before or after said concert, and we may or may not open this to pair with the current royal fanfare of her highness.… read more

WSET Diploma

Albus Dumbledore: NV Jacquesson Cuvée 736 Champagne Extra Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, developing, ripe green apple, brioche, mineral, bread, cashew, white nuts, citrus, caramel, hint honey, hint mushroom, spice
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, high acid, med body, pronounced flavour intensity, med alcohol, long length, ripe green apple, citrus, white nuts, mineral, flint, honey, mushroom
All in all: Very good quality: the expressive, oxidative, and complex flavours last long on the palate. The acid sticks out in the slightest. Can drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Champagne from France.

NV Jacquesson Cuvée 736 Champagne Extra Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

This wine was super unique for its type. That means a lot for Champagne, which already sets the gold standard for orgasmic sparkling wine.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” – Katy Perry: NV Martini Asti

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, floral, grapey, stone fruit, canned peaches, honeydew, melon
Mouth: sweet, med- acid, med body, delicate mousse, med+ flavour intensity, med length, med- alcohol, candied peach, floral, grapey, stone fruit, hint mango
All in all: Acceptable quality: though there is an intense Moscato flavour on both the nose and palate, the wine lacks acidic balance, complexity, and persistence. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Moscato from Piedmont, Italy.
Is really: Inexpensive Non-Vintage Moscato from Piedmont, Italy.

NV Martini Asti[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

Moscato absolutely slays me. I know I’m supposed to be a seasoned WSET Diploma student who learns to cringe at its presence and be as critical to its sweetish facades like a disciplinarian parent to a disobedient child, but it’s so hard.… read more

WSET Diploma

Thursday in a bottle: NV Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, developing, mineral, hint spice, hint yeast, bread dough, ripe green apple, peach, melon, buttery
Mouth: dry, aggressive mousse, med- body, med+ acid, med- alcohol, med flavour intensity, med length, mineral, citrus, lemon, floral, ripe green apple, stone fruit, melon
All in all: Good quality: there is a moderate amount of complexity wrapped up by a balanced structure, but the wine shies away in intensity and length. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Cava from Spain.
Is really: Inexpensive Non-Vintage sparkling wine (transfer method) from Australia.

NV Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

I didn’t find this wine quite exciting at first.… read more

WSET Diploma

That one song you secretly like but aren’t supposed to: NV Valdo “Marca Oro” Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon-green, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, mineral, green apple, pear, citrus, hint herbaceous, flint, floral
Mouth: off-dry, aggressive mousse, med acid, med- body, med- alcohol, med flavour intensity, green apple, mineral, citrus, pear, hint herbaceous, med+ finish
All in all: Good quality: the wine has structural balance and a relatively long finish, though the flavours are a bit simple and delicate. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Inexpensive Non-Vintage Sekt from Germany.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Prosecco from Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG, Veneto, Italy.

NV Valdo "Marca Oro" Valdobbiadene Prosecco Extra Dry[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 3]

Okay so for some reason I flat out thought this was lower quality than it was. I would like to go ahead and apologize to this wine, who did nothing but try to please me with its bubbly goodness.… read more

Life · WSET Diploma

WSET Diploma – Section 2 – Week 2

Posted on by Josh

Jan 15-16, 2014

This past week might as well have been the boring one, because the next couple of weeks involve more birthday shindigs, UBC tastings, staff parties, and a wine lunch. This all leads up to the Vancouver International Wine Festival at the end of February, whose tickets I’ve hopped on like a giddy teenaged girl waiting for the early release of One Direction tickets. I’ve already squealed about certain wines and their respective rockstar presenters. Eeeeee!

I’m legitimately looking back in my calendar to see if I did anything superexciting in the past week. I can’t really think of much, but let’s go through this day-by-day to see if anything fun comes up. Flashback style. I’m not always a bucket full of fun, y’know.… read more

WSET Diploma

The Ugly Duckling: Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino Sherry

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, white almonds, brine, citrus, hint pear, mineral
Mouth: dry, med body, med- acid, light fortification, med+ flavour intensity, salty, brine, white almonds, citrus, pear, hint butter, med length
All in all: Good quality: The wine’s simple fino flavours are intense and concentrated, wrapped up by a fresh and balanced structure, but isn’t too persistent. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Fino Sherry from Spain.
Is really: Mid-priced Fino Sherry from Spain.

Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Fino Sherry[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

The Palomino grape is a bit of a boring jerk in its grape form, but it’s able to blossom into several types of sherries. … read more

WSET Diploma

Haim – “Falling”: NV Lini 910 “Labrusca” Lambrusco

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep purple, hint of bubbles
Nose: clean, youthful, pronounced intensity, hint of dark chocolate, dark berry jam, blueberries, blackberries, earth, bramble, cassis, grapey, apple, hint herbal
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, delicate mousse, med alcohol, low soft tannin, med length, med+ flavour intensity, bramble, dark berry jam, apple, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrant
All in all: Good quality: the brightly acidic wine provides a balance to the intense dark berry flavours which are simple and only have a medium length on the palate. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Sparkling Shiraz from Australia.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Lambrusco from Italy.

NV Lini 910 "Lambrusca" Lambrusco[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 2]

I’m not super familiar with the sparkling red that is Lambrusco.… read more