Tag: Red

WSET Diploma

2009 Chateau du Trignon Sablet Côtes du Rhone Villages

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, red fruit, cherry, spice, earth, game, cola, white pepper, oak, savoury
Mouth: dry, med body, med- acidity, earth, med- fine tannin, med flavour intensity, med+ alcohol, game, red fruits, cherry, slightly herbal, med length
All in all: Good quality: a moderate complexity is held up by a softer structure. Lacks a bit of concentration, but is still enjoyable. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2009 Chateau du Trignon Sablet Côtes du Rhone Villages

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

This poor little wine was shoved within the last 5 or so minutes we had of the class, and it was also bought with the intention to display some for of a Grenache and Syrah dominated blend (i.e.… read more

WSET Diploma

2010 Borsao “Tres Picos” Garnacha

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, ripe, sweet spice, hint of leather
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, med fine tannin, strawberry, raspberry, high alcohol, white pepper, sweet spice, herbs, med+ intensity, med+ finish
All in all: Good quality: a moderately complex and ripe expression of Garnacha is well-concentrated and has a high alcohol content that is relatively balanced. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.

2010 Borsao "Tres Picos" Garnacha

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Garnacha is one of those grapes that I think I like but never really choose to drink. Being a thin-skinned grape variety with lots of flesh, it produces lighter-coloured wines with lower tannins but can still produce a wine with a considerable amount of body and alcohol – although in drought and in hotter conditions, thicker skins and a deeper colour aren’t unknown (like this wine), but all in all, this wine tends to oxidize quickly; read – drink most of these wines young.… read more

WSET Diploma

2007 Delas “Les Clos” Crozes-Hermitage

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ ruby, garnet rim
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, leather, game, soy, oxidizzled
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med- fine tannin, med+ flavour intensity, med+ length
All in all: Graced with the likes of oxidizzlement. I mean oxidation.

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Premature oxidation, unfortunately. Had a nutty stewed smell, though, sort of like a chestnut ale. Would one day love to retry this.

2007 Delas "Les Clos" Crozes-Hermitage

Producer: Delas
Designation: N/A
Region: France
Sub-Region: Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône Valley
Variety: Syrah
ABV: 13%
Vintage: 2007
Tasted: June 5, 2013
Price: $60

… read more
WSET Diploma

2008 Alpha Estate “Turtles Vineyard” Syrah

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep purple, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, black pepper, cured meat, black cherry, game, sweaty, bitter tea leaf, floral, oak, sweet spice, black fruits, smoke
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ acid, med+ fine tannin, black fruits, savoury, med+ flavour intensity, med+ length, sweet spice, gamey, black cherries, tar, dark fruit
All in all: Very good quality: although relatively high, the structural components are well woven into the wine, which shows a complex profile of dark fruit and savoury characteristics. The alcohol is a bit warming, but the wine is persistent. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

2008 Alpha Estate "Turtles Vineyard" Syrah

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

First of all: “Turtles Vineyard”.

Turtles Vineyard.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Château L’Argilus du Roi Saint-Estèphe

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clear, developing, med+ intensity, red fruits, tobacco, black fruits, oak, earth, rubbery earthy character
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ broad tannin, med+ flavour intensity, med+ acid, long length, med+ alcohol, earthy, black pepper, cassis, plum, oak, smoke, cinnamon, cedar, mint, floral
All in all: Very good quality: despite broad tannins, the structure is very well balanced and supports a concentrated and complex flavour profile. The wine is persistent and is almost proves to exist at a higher quality level. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

2009 Château L'Argilus du Roi Saint-Estèphe

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

And we arrive at the wine I was most choked about not being able to analyze to the fullest due to fried smell receptors, since I’m recovering from a cold – but I did the best that I could.… read more

WSET Diploma

2011 Thierry Germain “Cep by Cep” Saumur-Champigny

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med purple, legs
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, earthy, barnyard, brettanomyces, red fruits, strawberry, raspberry, floral, white pepper, leafy, pencil shavings
Mouth: dry, med body, med broad tannin, med+ acid, med alcohol, med flavour intensity, earth, grassy, raspberry, cherry, med length
All in all: Good quality: the funky brettanomyces character adds complexity to a fresh palate; the acidity is well-integrated, but the green tannins can put off newer drinkers. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

2011 Thierry Germain "Cep by Cep" Saumur-Champigny

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

I don’t remember the last time I’ve bought and tried a Cabernet Franc – has it really been that long? It actually may have been around two years ago.… read more

WSET Diploma

2008 Benziger Merlot

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful to developing, plum, spice, oak, cherry, raspberry, floral, strawberry, red fruit, black fruit, juicy, sweet baking spice
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med fine tannin, med acid, med+ alcohol, med flavour intensity, med+ length, cherry, plum, spice, prune, vanilla, baking spice
All in all: Very good quality: there is a good concentration of fruit and developing characteristics here, and balanced structural components for Merlot. The alcohol is a little warming, but the wine has a long length. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

2008 Benzinger Merlot

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Where Cabernet Sauvignon is vanilla, Merlot is chocolate, and the voluptuous grape that makes textured, fuller mid-palate wines is often blended with the former grape, sort of like a McDonalds vanilla-chocolate swirl ice cream cone.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, deep ruby, garnet rim
Nose: clean, pronounced intensity, youthful, cassis, oak, eucalyptus, dark cherry, black pepper, herbal, fennel, spice, blackberry
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med+ ripe tannin, med+ acid, med+ flavour intensity, med+ alcohol, med+ length, cassis, dark fruits, blackberry, spice, green, herbal, smoke, clove, floral
All in all: Very good quality: a ripe structure supports concentrated flavours. Although the alcohol is warming, the acidity adds a paradoxical fresh lightness. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.

2009 Sandalford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 9]

Ah, Cabernet Sauvignon. The de facto red grape, and, in the game of ice cream flavours, is essentially the bucket of quintessential vanilla. In the theme of its masculinity, it has thick skins and relatively small berries, leading to a high pip to pulp ratio and a high amount of phenolics which contributes to darker-coloured wines and high tannin, respectively.… read more

WSET Diploma

2009 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, deep ruby (or purple), legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, dried (yet vibrant) dried fruit, mineral, earth, white pepper, cherry, raspberry, bramble, plum, oak, herbal, spice, smoky, charred wood
Mouth: dry, med+ body, med acid, med fine  tannin, med+ alcohol, med length, red fruits, strawberry, sour cherry, med flavour intensity, raisin, vanilla, stewed, plums, cherries
All in all: Good quality: moderate complexity, but needs a little more tannins to support the structure and the alcohol is slightly imbalanced. Concentrated fruit. Drink now; not intended for ageing.
Identity: High-priced (Tempranillo/Barbera [d’Alba]/Sangiovese/Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Zinfandel) from Italy.
Is really: Mid-priced Zinfandel from California; 4 years old.

2009 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 8]

Compared to the Ribera del Duero, this was much more vibrant.… read more

WSET Diploma

2006 Viña Mayor Ribera Del Duero Reserva

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clean, deep ruby, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful (to developing), vanilla, leather, oak, red fruit, black fruit, white pepper, tobacco, cigar box, black cherry, prune, raspberry, sweet baking spice, smoky, cola, hay, herbal
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med+ fine tannin, med+ alcohol, med+ length, med flavour intensity, savoury, black cherry, blackberry, black pepper, cassis, cinnamon, cranberry
All in all: Very good quality: A concentrated amount of fruit, high structure, and complexity outweigh the slightly imbalanced alcohol and lack of finesse and elegance. Drink now: not suitable for ageing.
Identity: Mid-priced (Tempranillo/Barbera/Sangiovese/Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Zinfandel) from Spain.
Is really: High-priced Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Spain; 7 years old.

2006 Viña Mayor Ribera Del Duero Reserva

[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 1 – Week 8]

Fuller-bodied, more classic expressions of Tempranillo can often be so deceiving, but for me – but the brooding leathery and oaky secondary characteristics combined with the melancholy-toned darker fruits cross with an underlying tone of oxidation are often landmarks – “poetic” and noteworthy enough for me to type, but my nose still needs a handle on identifying the wide range that this grape can produce.… read more