Man in Black

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• Man in Black says:

  3/31/2017 4:48:00 AM - They have the same structure but they don't say the same. Look at the small details. Maybe our scales are different, acidity varies on different vintages, as well as the tannins texture, sometimes the alcohol level, and obviously the aromatics. I taste wines in a global context, so it's very difficult for me to say a Pauillac is "light bodied", "high in acidity", has "low alcohol" or "strawberry aromas". In the case of 2015 and 2014 yes, they tasted basically the same to me. Both are too young yet, with a very similar profile. I may be wrong when assessing a particular structural component or may have missed some aromas, but I didn't taste significant differences.

• hiker_guy says:

  3/30/2017 8:03:00 PM - Saw your Ponet Canet vertical notes today. Any reason they say the same exact same thing for all vintages? Maybe a technical error? The vintages I saw reviewed were all very distinct and taste very different.

• sweetstuff says:

  9/19/2015 7:02:00 AM - You may be interested to know that we're soon going to Mittel-europas once again--starting in Hungary, and going thru Slovakia, then Austria, and then on to Franken, the Badische Frankenland, and then our old stomping grounds along the Rhein (Rheinhesse, Rheingau, Nahe, and Mittelrhein.) We'll later spend a couple days museum-hopping for the first time in Amsterdam. Will attempt tasting notes, especially for unusual or interesting wines. Congrats on passing your WSET. I've seen some of the type of things you have to master, and it's a great credential to have. Glad I just have to enjoy wine, not really make a living from it, at this time in my life! It's strange, isn't it, how little even those passionate about European wines get a chance to explore the rich fields of some of these places! Actually, I get the joke about consumer-friendly notes. Reminds me of the quip made by Pascal, who didn't have time to write a short letter, only a long one. Smile.

• Man in Black says:

  9/19/2015 6:22:00 AM - Thanks sweetstuff. The Oremus tasting note was special, I opened that bottle to celebrate I passed my WSET Diploma with Merit, so I wanted to write a nice WSET style tasting note. However now I need to practice writing consumer-friendly tasting notes, so I'm afraid I won't be that disciplined for a while.

• sweetstuff says:

  9/17/2015 3:15:00 PM - Man in Black, saw your note on Oremus 5 putts 2000. Your philosophy of tasting is very close to mine (sweetstuff). I've added you to my 'fan' starred list, so I can pick up on your tasting notes. I also have a cellar at rromain. I appreciate your literate style of writing, and your disciplined approach. from Dayton (Piqua), Ohio, USA

• Man in Black says:

  1/17/2015 3:46:00 PM - Yes, I'll be there on Monday 2, February. But since I'm going to Barcelona the previous weekend I'll arrive late, about 14:00 or so and I'll leave around 20:00 to come back to Zaragoza. I'll be taking exams in late February and early March, so I cannot distract myself too much. I'll attend the Ch. L'Angelus tasting. Cooper is not coming.

• Harley1199 says:

  1/17/2015 2:42:00 PM - Hi there maños Are you coming next Enofusión? Any date? Please let me know it in time speacially if you gonna stay one nite in Madrid Cheers!

• Man in Black says:

  7/17/2014 5:59:00 AM - I was there, but I don't think we met. Probably you met Michael Cooper, I went with him and he has a wine shop relatively close to the Romareda.

• Harley1199 says:

  7/17/2014 3:57:00 AM - I've been thinking we met each other in Madrid during Chateaux Margaux tasting event. You were working close to Romareda, didn't you? Cheers!

• Man in Black says:

  7/16/2014 6:00:00 AM - I took already Unit 2, 6 and 1 (closed book) exams. Now I'm studying Unit 3 and starting my Unit 1 Coursework Assignment. As for tips... don't understimate the amount of time you need to devote to study. Multiply by four the WSET recommended times (so 240 hours for Unit 2, 120 for Units 6 and 5, etc.). Buy all the recommended books, and subscribe to the paper edition of a trade magazine like The Drinks Business of Harpers. My subscription to The Drinks Business saved my life in the Unit 1 Case Study closed-book exam (on the other hand its not helping much with my courswork assignment).

• FMG says:

  7/16/2014 5:51:00 AM - Any tips ? Or mistake to avoid ? I started now with Unit 2 and 1 well before the start of classroom (In Sep)... Will try to Cover some of Unit 3 as well...

• FMG says:

  7/16/2014 12:53:00 AM - Also taking WSET Diploma! Thanks for your notes!