Tag: Canada

WSET Diploma

2011 Prospect Winery “Ogopogo’s Lair” Pinot Grigio

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon, slow-forming legs, some bubbles
Nose: clean, med- intensity, mineral, youthful, pear, apple, peach
Mouth: dry, med- bodied, med+ acid, high flavour intensity, short length, med alcohol, lemon, peach
All in all: Good quality: a relatively high acidity is well-balanced and flavours are concentrated on the palate, but this lacks complexity and length. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2011 Prospect Winery "Ogopopo's Lair" Pinot Grigio

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

I could tell right away that this was a wine that I was “trained” to turn my nose up at. A relatively neutral nose exploded with bordering-on-spritzy and fresh fruit characteristics on the palate. Definitely a less serious but drinkable wine in a New World style – I almost understand why such a varietal is so popular.… read more

Tasting

Joiefarm Wines – 2012

Posted on by Josh

I had the opportunity to try six of Joiefarm’s wines today, all being part of the new 2012 vintage.

Hilariously pronounced by many customers (“Joey”) – some with confidence, some hesitant, and most with charm – these wines are popular with the locals, but personally, I’ve never been drawn to their wines. They take advantage of BC’s relatively cooler climate and vinify mostly white grapes, although their PTG has been praised by Jancis Robinson (all hail the queen). All good checkboxes for reasons to buy, but perhaps it’s the 20-30 dollar price point (which honestly, makes sense for some good BC wine anyways) or perhaps it’s the weird combination that the labels bring: simple but somehow ugly. That’s just me, though.… read more

Quaffing

2010 OKV Vineyard Select White

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale lemon
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, ripe pear, sweaty
Mouth: dry, med bodied, med- acid, short length, med+ alcohol, med- intensity, green apple
All in all: Good quality, drink now.

2010 OKV WhiteA popular 10 dollar blend. Why not give it a go?

I’m not entirely sure of the details, but apparently this wine is owned by Vincor (now apparently known as “Constellation Brands”). Being VQA, I wouldn’t be surprised if this wine is made from leftover grapes or sloppy seconds from the various BC wineries part of their portfolio.

The nose is as expected, but vaguely interesting. A light wave of ripe pears is what I mainly get, but there is a layer of interesting yeasty sweatiness that I recognize from none other than beer.… read more

Life

2013 Term 2 Week 4 – FNH 330 is a total joke

Posted on by Josh

Last week ended off nicely. 5 of us went to the Sandbar on Granville Island for Dine Out Vancouver and then we went clubbing afterwards which was high-energy yet somehow boring and bordering on chore-like as the night went on. I’m definitely not a club-goer: glancing at awkward guys who dance like they’re hailing cabs and saving my female friends from over-friendly chaps aren’t really my favourite things, but if I have to go a club, I’d at least like to dance 1) drunk; 2) oblivious to anyone around me but my friends; and 3) to guilt-free Top 40 music (hey: time and place, right?) which I didn’t even get: the music was shitty(/shittier) and I knew little to none of the music.… read more

Quaffing

nine bottles for six bodies

Posted on by Josh

Yeah – part of my job is that I get to taste a lot of wines. It’s really helping with stressful midterm season, and my co-workers and I decided to taste some stuff at one of our houses (Thanks! I’m sure we annoyed your neighbours oops). Unfortunately one of us was sick and couldn’t make it, which really sucks because we tasted some pretty cool things, but I guess more wine for us OH WELL.

Also, we all had these blind with the exception for the last one, which is always fun. I’m glad everyone waited for a co-worker and I to close and travel to the place – I’m sure everyone was itching to open the first bottle, which was delish.… read more

Tasting

wine 101 @ UBC

Posted on by Josh

So yeah! I led the first tasting of this school year at the UBC Wine Tasting Club. It was awesome and complete with me spilling wine while demonstrating swirling, me speaking horrendously quietly and fast while avoiding the tens and tens of eyes on me, and me silently freaking out and wondering if people were getting bored as I barked on and on about the noble grape varieties. Which is great, because that’s me being normal.

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating.

What was also fantastic was that Holly brought her Le Nez du Vin set which was amazingly fun. People were trying to quiz each other with smells or just smelled the little vials in general. My favourite picture was the one with the goat-looking beast with weird fangs (“Musk”).… read more

Quaffing

2011 Wild Goose Autumn Gold

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Notes:

Eyes: clear, very pale lemon – almost water white
Nose: clean, med intensity, green fruit, lychee, notes of stone fruit, sweet aromas
Mouth: off-dry, med body, med- to med acidity, med- length, tart, round, tropical fruit finish
All in all: Good quality, drink now.

Maybe it’s because of the label, but compared to the Sauvignon Blanc I tasted next to this, this was more ripe and more spring sunset than spring sunrise. Don’t worry, I’m not sure I know what that means either, and I’m not even sure why I said it. Typed it. Whatever.  

On the nose, you get a whiff of green fruits – almost-ripe apples and pears – with a touch of stone fruit, all wrapped up in this light and sweet tone.… read more