Tag: Sparkling-other

Life · Quaffing · Travel

Josh Likes Maryland: Part 3

Posted on by Josh

We were literally scheduled to just chill out and have an appropriate lazy Monday the day after New York City, though some of the family opted to go visit some large church or something. Monkeying around seemed much more fun, though I can say I went to a Chipotle for the first time ever, so technically I accomplished something. #goals

We ventured back out to DC the next day, getting as close as we could to the White House because how can you not, and then we had a big nerdy day at both the Freer Gallery of Art and the Museum of National History, both of which I loved. You can only retain so much information, but hey: cool rock exhibits are pretty and science is awesome, kids.… read more

Life · Quaffing · Travel

Josh Likes Maryland: Part 1

Posted on by Josh

I’ve found that I can’t enjoy full-fledged roller coasters anymore, but I enjoy the hints of thrills from airplane turbulence and chunky landings. Kinda gross.

We fly to the eastern part of the continent for a family reunion on the mother’s side – not just the immediate family, but a whole congregation of 19 humans of all ages on a plane. And Baltimore is the closest relevant city to where we’re staying – so that’s where I tell people where we’re going for 13 days – and I have little knowledge on these parts of the United States so I understand none of the references on crabs (“…is there a really bad inside joke on lice that I’m not getting?”).

It’s a bit of a trek from the airport to the neighbourhood, which is best approximately described as a more brick and tree-laden Wisteria Lane, and the arrival day is a bit of midnight blur involving godly 1AM croissant sandwiches and inflating air mattresses.… read more

Life · Tasting

Sun rays and Vouvrays

Posted on by Josh

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

Quaffing

Back to its sparkling Portuguese glory: Caves São Joao 2013 Bruto Reserva

Posted on by Josh

Caves São Joao 2013 Bruto ReservaThis wine serves as a mini-celebration after a long-ass week and even more Bordeaux studying. My current tasting notes are consistent with those from the big portfolio tasting exactly a week beforehand. I was a big fan of the 2011 vintage, but I didn’t exactly favour the 2012 version of the same wine from what I remember was a bit of disjointed acid. I was pleasantly surprised when the new vintage wriggled its way into my life, swimming past my doubt and into the pleasure portions of my brain, so I definitely had to buy a bottle. But mostly because I had nothing to drink yesterday and I have to make up for that, like now.

The wine returns to its glory this vintage, with soft pear, lime, and white flowers gliding from the glass, providing a little more intensity on the palate.… read more

Tasting

Wine Bloggers Conference 2014 – Speed Tasting i.e. Tinder for Wines

Posted on by Josh

Speed tasting. It’s one of the unique events of the Wine Bloggers Conference that’s always explained to you if you’ve never heard of the WBC before, kind of like the warning nod of the hangover to the newly legal. It’s always described as “speed dating but with wine” – though in this case, it’s only a one-way road of looking at your date in disgust. So there’s a plus, and it’s sort of like a Tinder swipe-left-or-right sort of situation.

In the essence of the Live Wine Blogging event, you have 50 minutes to taste through 10 wines. In each 5-minute session, the winery representative pours you wine and gives you a bit of a quick overview before moving on to the next table.… read more

Quaffing

Margaery Tyrell: NV Skillogalee Sparkling Riesling

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med+ lemon, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, citrus, lemon, lime, lemon zest, petrol, floral, white flowers, mineral, green pineapple, hints of yeast, hint smokiness
Mouth: dry, med body, high acid, med alcohol, med+ length, pronounced flavour intensity, lemon, lime, lemon zest, floral, citrus explosion
All in all: Good (to very good) quality: the wine excels in its uniqueness, flavour intensity on the palate, and relatively persistent flavours. Slightly more complexity would have propelled the wine into a higher category. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.

mt2

NV Skillogalee Sparkling Riesling

A wine that smells and tastes like flowers, citrus, and sparkles like royalty. Hence the whole Margaery Tyrell sort of thing and the eternal sun that Highgarden seems to be in.… read more

WSET Diploma

“When I Come Around” – Green Day: NV Jansz Premium Cuvée

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med gold, bubbles
Nose: clean, med intensity, youthful, mineral, citrus, hint herbaceous, stone fruit, peach, mineral, floral, apple, pear, slight toasty and yeastiness, “bread and butter”
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med body, med+ acid, med+ flavour intensity, citrus, lemon, green apple, hint of stone fruit, peach, hint herbaceous, med length
All in all: Good quality: though not super complex or persistent, the wine is balance and the mainly fruity (but not jammy or confected) flavours, combined with a bit of yeastiness, are quite expressive. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage New World Sparkling.
Is really: High-priced Non-Vintage Transfer Method Sparkling from Tasmania, Australia.

NV Jansz Premium Cuvée[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 5]

This was the fruitiest in our first flight of four wines – and an interesting transition from the vintage Champagne, the non-vintage Champagne, and the vintage Franciacorta.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Love Shack” – The B-52s: NV Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, med lemon-green, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, youthful, rubber, petrol, mineral, citrus, stone fruit, peach, apricot, apple, apple skin
Mouth: off-dry, creamy mousse, med+ intensity, med body, med alcohol, med+ acid, citrus, rubber, mineral, apple skin, stone fruit, med length. stony finish
All in all: Good quality: the sweeter and simple ripe stone fruits are balanced well with the bright acid, bubble, and Riesling mineral tones. Average length. Drink now, not suitable for ageing.
Identity Guess: Mid-priced Non-Vintage New World sparkling wine.
Is really: Mid-priced Non-Vintage Deutscher Sekt from Germany.

NV Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

Disclaimer: I liked this. Bite me.

This was the third wine in our six-wine flight and it was obvious that the first two were a traditionally-made blanc de noirs and a traditionally-made blanc de blancs.… read more

WSET Diploma

“Embers” – Just Jack: NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs

Posted on by Josh

Tasting Note:

Eyes: clear, pale onion skin, bubbles
Nose: clean, med+ intensity, developing, hint yeast, citrus, hint brioche, floral, red apple, hint red fruit, red berry, spice
Mouth: dry, creamy mousse, med+ acid, med body, med alcohol, mineral, med flavour intensity, hint yeast, mineral, citrus, hint red fruit, med length
All in all: Very good quality: a balanced structure supports a fair amount of secondary characteristics. Flavours are intense and present but don’t have more than an average length.
Identity Guess: Premium Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Champagne.
Is really: Premium Non-Vintage Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine from California.

NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs[Tasted during WSET Diploma class – Section 2 – Week 4]

Austere Champagne really does call for the pairing of either the equally austere string-driven royal classical numbers, OR, what I personally deem the quasi royal-ish equivalents of frowned-upon current times.… 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