Studying for the upcoming diploma exam in around 4 weeks is just as terrifying as it is satisfying, with each strikethrough on my study planning sheet providing temporary pleasure before moving on to another daunting section, though I was particularly proud of myself for the past few sections on Australia and USA. The sun’s also begun to commit to bright and humid days, which means more exposed skin and mostly, weekend days that equate to regret when I’m literally rolling around in my bed with my laptop trying to relax and study at the same time. And it works – almost too well, to the point where I’m questioning why my growing talent for memorizing soil types isn’t better put to use by, say, memorizing blood passageways in the human body, or types of diseases that affect the brain.… read more
Tag: Rosé
Rock out with your Hawk out
March 23, 2015
(Because, like, Alsace and rocks. And Hawksworth.)
Alsace as a person: some sort of plainly elegant freshly-shaven man – or a woman clad in some sort of colour-blocked dress – maybe something in-between? Possibly something cleanly cut yet bright that evokes images of Twiggy from the 60s, and maybe something equally as razor-sharp like a Polo and slicked-back hair with nary a thread out of place. Or like a United Colors of Benetton advertisement that shows five outfits that would all look disproportionately gross on me. (Truthfully, I’m an American Apparel medium and a Gap extra small, but I’m pretty sure my thighs set off fire alarms.) No oak, no malolactic, all vivid.
The brightness is no argument, because Alsace is literally the poster child-region for the dry and sunny climate that’s mentioned in every first paragraph that talks about the region.… read more
What was once my university spring break drink of choice: Famille Perrin 2013 Tavel
[Tasted during WSET Diploma – Unit 3 – Week 6: Rhône]
I wasn’t a big partier back during my time at university, though there was that one spring break during second year where a friend invited a group of us to her beautiful house on Vancouver Island. I’m talking about a house overlooking the docks, a bathroom where you can poop while dreamily viewing the ocean and clouds, and bowls of jellybeans on every side table. I don’t know why the jellybeans part sticks with me so much.
For some reason, I thought Tavel would be the perfect choice (while everyone else went for the sensible hard liquor and beer route), and though it wasn’t really what I expected for a rosé (at the time), it was still a delicious choice.… read more
Rosé from Gris: 2013 Domaine de Reuilly Rosé
[Tasted during WSET Diploma – Unit 3 – Week 2: Loire Valley]
A rosé from Pinot Gris, a grape that normally makes white wines, might be strange to some people, though the pink-skinned grape can make wines familiar to some people in the local BC market. Producers like Nichol and Kettle Valley come to mind right away: I wonder if the winemakers have been inspired by such a small region with an esoteric style – if that were the case, then that’s pretty awesome, knowing that this kind of rosé isn’t an overdone style that’s executed to make money. It’s a nod and a twist and a sashay.
I’m glad we tried a wine from Reuilly, because it’s one of those tiny appellations often eclipsed by the big boys in its respective area, like Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé.… read more
“Cherry on Top” – Oh Land: 2012 Lavau Tavel Rosé
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med+ pink, legs evident
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, red fruit, cherry, raspberry, mineral, rhubarb, floral, rose petal
Mouth: dry, med body, med+ acid, med- ripe tannin, med alcohol, med flavour intensity, med+ length, earth, mineral, floral, rose petal, red fruit, cherry, raspberry, savoury
All in all: Good (to very good) quality: this dry style of rosé from Tavel maintains balance and structure with its round acidity and subtle tannin. There is relatively long length and great intensity, but there could be slightly more complexity. Drink now, but has potential for short-term ageing.
Post WSET Diploma Unit 5 + 6 exam wine! I decided against buying anything sparkling just because symbolism. Bye. I can never outright deny a glass of bubbly if ever offered, but now I can get back to drinking still wines and not feel weirdly guilty about it.… read more
“White Nights” – Oh Land: 2013 8th Generation Pinot Meunier Rosé
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, med pink, legs
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, red fruit, rhubarb, citrus, strawberry, floral, hint roses, hint herbaceous
Mouth: off-dry to medium-dry, med body, med- acid, med- alcohol, med length, pronounced flavour intensity, red fruit, candied strawberry, rhubarb, floral, roses, hint spritz, little to no noticeable tannin, slightly woody finish
All in all: Good quality: the wine is deliciously gulpable with pronounced melodies of strawberry, rhubarb, and some floral notes. A bit more structure, finesse, and length would make this wine sparkle.
This wine serves to be a bit of a delicious double-edged sword for me at the moment. I’ve been craving an off-dry no-nonsense drink-all-of-me wine since the rainy morning. And I was doing so well for not having had a drink for two days in a row, but here I am.… read more
2014 Vancouver International Wine Festival – Wine Tour de France Seminar
This year’s wine fest kicked off with me doing the blind tasting challenge on the Wednesday – the rest of my day consisted of lunch with colleagues, errands involving heavy lifting, and then seeing the new Lego movie. I didn’t get as much sleep as I wanted, which is an obvious call for trouble: the next day started off with a France-themed tasting at 9:30AM; the big, busy, and irritating trade tasting at 2:30PM; and an exciting Bourgogne-themed tasting at 5PM. A day full of constant mouth stimuli.
Since this was one of the trade tastings (opposed to a consumer one), there were lots of familiar faces. But I shamelessly admit that any human interaction is personally difficult and gruelling before 11AM (or maybe I’m just a naturally horrible human being), and so I sat down on one of the seats, smiled at the 12 glasses in front of me, got my notebook ready, and did my best not to spill anything.… read more
A pink Rubik’s Cube: NV Louis Bouillot Crémant de Bourgogne “Perle d’Aurore” Rosé
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, pale salmon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med- intensity, youthful, mineral, dried red fruit, hint strawberry, hint raspberry, hint of yeast, hint herbaceous
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ acid, med- body, med- alcohol, med flavour intensity, mineral, dried red fruit, strawberry, cherry, med length, mineral finish
All in all: Good quality: though the sparkling rosé has elegant balance and finesse, the flavours lack a bit of focus and intensity. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Crémant Rosé from Bourgogne, France.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Crémant Rosé from Bourgogne, France.
[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 5]
I am way too harsh with traditional method sparkling rosés. My eyebrows were raised and my lips were pursed as soon as I saw the pale salmon poured from the bottle, and I gave it a sniff with a confirmed nod.… read more
Effie Trinket, from the Hunger Games: NV Diebolt-Vallois Champagne Brut Rosé
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.
[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
Karen Smith from “Mean Girls”: NV Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé
Tasting Note:
Eyes: clear, pale orange, bubbles
Nose: clean, light intensity, youthful, mineral, citrus, light red fruit, hint yeastiness
Mouth: dry, med body, med acid, med- alcohol, med- flavour intensity, med length, mineral, citrus, light red fruit, savoury + stony finish
All in all: (Acceptable to) good quality: the wine is balanced in structure and mouthfeel, but there is a lack in fruit, concentration, and flavour intensity. Drink now; not suitable for ageing.
(Disclaimer: after some thought, perhaps I am too hard on sparkling rosés…?)
I had to choose between this and cheap Cava tonight, and this won. I’ve been dying to retry wines that I’ve had further back in my wine education (especially if it was more than a year ago) just to see whether or not my palate is consistent, and whether or not I pick up on the same notes.… read more