Practice
The Sampler - Islington
Tasted Monday, July 19, 2010 - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by G_Talbot with 595 views
Introduction
In a vain attempt to tune my nose and palatte for the WSET Level 3 Exam blind tasting I tested a number of wines over two short after-work stops at The Sampler. I focused mainly on the major red varieties.
Flight 2 - Italy and France (3 Notes)
Closing
In the end, the exam blind tasting wine was an off-dry white, so these practice sessions were a futile, if enjoyable, exercise.
2006 Ridge Lytton Springs
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
(7/19/2010)
Appearance: clear, medium (+), ruby, legs.
Nose: clean, pronounced and concentrated, developing, raspberry.
Palate: dry, high alcohol (14.50%), full body, raspberry, coffee grinds, medium (+) length.
Conclusions: very good, ready to drink, but can develop further.
Quoted Price: £28.40
Comments: Organic, 77% Zinfandel, 17% Petit Syrah, 6% Carignan
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1994 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
(7/19/2010)
Appearance: clear, medium (-), garnet, broad rim.
Nose: clean, hello oak!, though well integrated, lots of tobacco, strawberry.
Palate: dry, fine tannin, medium (-) alcohol (12.5%), medium body, strawberry, cured meat.
Conclusions: very good, at peak / drink soon.
Quoted Price: £50.50
Comments: left me wanting more, but maybe that's because I had just been tasting fuller bodied wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Rosedale Wines Shiraz
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
(7/19/2010)
Appearance: clear, deep, purple, ruby rim, legs.
Nose: clean, pronounced, developing, black cherry, coffee.
Palate: dry, medium (+) alcohol (14.5%), full body, pronounced flavour intensity, plum, cedary spice, medium length.
Conclusions: good, ready to drink but can develop further.
Quoted Price: £8.80
Comments: really odd, powerful nose, not the most balanced wine, but certainly value for money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Château Angelique de Monbousquet
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(7/19/2010)
Nose: clean, developing, raspberry, red plum.
Palate: dry, medium (+) tannin, medium body, spice, dark plum, generally lacking depth.
Conclusions: good, ready to drink, but can develop further.
Quoted Price: £19.00
Comments: merlot dominates the blend and provides a soft nose, while cabernet sauvignon supplies structure to the palate of an otherwise unexciting wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Château La Fleur Milon
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(7/19/2010)
Nose: clean, medium (+) intensity, developing, blackcurrant, toasty oak.
Palate: dry, medium (+) tannin, medium alcohol (13%), medium (+) body, blackberry, medium (+) length.
Conclusions: very good, ready to drink, but can develop further.
Quoted Price: £24.80
Comments: really lovely balance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Snoqualmie Vineyards Merlot
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
(7/19/2010)
Appearance: clear, ruby.
Nose: clean, plum, tobacco, spice.
Palate: dry, high tannin, medium alcohol (13%), red plum, raspberry.
Conclusions: good, ready to drink, but can develop further.
Quoted Price: £12.50
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
(7/19/2010)
WSET Systematic Approach - Group
Appearance: clear, deep ruby.
Palate: dry, medium (+) grippy tannin, high alcohol (14.4%), spice.
Conclusions: good - very good.
Quoted Price: £33.50
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue