Introduction
2 full days of intense lectures and wine tasting
Flight 1 - Day 1 AM: Introductory (6 notes)
- Wine Tasting/ Food Pairing
- Storage and Service
- Factors affecting Style, Quality, Price
- Understanding the Label
White
2015 Sant'Elena Pinot Grigio
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Isonzo
clear, medium gold; clean medium nose of green apples and citrus; dry, medium acid, low tannin, medium body, green apples and citrus, pepper; medium finish
White
2014 Faustino Rioja Faustino VII Blanco
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
clear, medium lemon; clean, light nose of lemon and cheese; dry, low acid, medium tannins, apricot, herbs, spices; short finish; just acceptable only...
Red
2014 Brigaldara Valpolicella
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella
clear, pale ruby; light nose of mint and grass; dry, acidic, low tannins, light body, cranberry, sour cherry, mint; short finish; barely...
Red
2010 Bersano Barolo Nirvasco
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
pale tawny; medium nose of nail varnish, tar, leather, mint; dry, acidic, tannic, medium body, earth, cherry, lackberry, limestone; medium finish
White
2005 Hugel Gewurztraminer "Hugel"
France, Alsace
clear, deep lemon; clean, pronounced nose of nectarine, figs, fruit jam, orange marmalade; sweet, in fact so sweet it's cloying, hardly tasted any acid or tannins, can't continue further; a wine totally spoilt by the one-dimensional sweetness... poor...
White - Sweet/Dessert
2012 Carmes de Rieussec
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
clear, deepr lemon; clean, pronounced nose of honey nectar, apricot, mango, pineapples; sweet, acidic, low tannin, full body, tropical fruits, oats, vanilla; long finish; heartwarming sweetness balanced by acids and tropical fruits... really good!
Flight 2 - Day 1 PM: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (4 notes)
Chardonnay:
- Style: green, citrus, tropical fruits (depend on climate), some have creamy notes, yeasty notes, oak
- Climate: cool to hot; versatile
- Winemaking effects: Malolactic fermentation, lees, oak ageing
- Major regions: Burgundy, California, Chile (Central, Colchagua), Mendoza, Western Cape (Walker Bay), Australia (Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Yarra), Marlborough
Pinot Noir
- Style: typically medium bodies, light colour and low tannins (thin skins)
- Climate: cool to moderate, but not too cold; fussy grape
- Winemaking effects: oak ageing
- Major regions: Burgundy, Germany (Pfalz, Baden), California (Sonoma, Los Carnieros, Santa Barbera), Oregon, Casablanca, Walker Bay, Australia (Mornington, Yarra), NZ (Otago, Marlborough)
White
2015 Jip Jip Rocks Chardonnay
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast
clear, pale lemon; clean, light nose of pear, lime, lemon, honeydew;dry, acidic, low tannins, light body, grass, herbs, lemon zest; short finish
White
2013 Domaine Bertrand Bachelet Chassagne-Montrachet
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet
clear, medium lemon; clean, pronounced nose of honey, apricots, banana, vanilla, cinnamon, smoked meats; dry, acidic, low tannins, light body, rose, apples, melon, buttercream, toast, some floral bouquet, long finish; really good!
Red
2014 Domaine Heimbourger Bourgogne
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne
clear, pale ruby; clean, light nose of violet, redcurrant, plums, grass and earth; dry, acidic, low tannins, medium body, strawberry, cherry, prunes; medium plus finish; quite enjoyable!
Red
2015 Saint Clair Family Estate Pinot Noir
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
clear, medium purple; clean, pronounced nose of blackberry, blackcurrant, plums, pepper; dry, acidic, low tannins, blackcurrant, salami, chacuterie, peppers, chilli; medium plus finish; really good
Flight 3 - Day 1 PM: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (4 notes)
Cabernet Sauvignon
- Style: heavy body, deep colour, high tannins, intense flavors
- Climate: moderate to hot
- Winemaking effects: oak ageing
Merlot
- Style: heavy body (more body and alcohol than Cab Sauv)
- Climate: moderate to hot
- Winemaking effects: oak ageing
- Often blanded together, with other local grape varieties
- Major regions: Bordeaux, Pays d'Oc, California (Napa, Alexander, Oakville, Rutherford), Chile (Maipo, Central, Colchagua, Cachapoal), Mendoza, Stellenbosch, Coonawarra, Margaret River, Hawke's Bay
Red
2014 Casa Silva Merlot Reserva Cuvée Colchagua
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
clear, medium purple; clean, pronounced nose of blackberry, chili peppers, chocolates; off-dry, low acid, medium tannic, full body, plums, cherry, pepper, kirsch, blackforest cake; like the dark punchy goodness :)
Red
2013 Château La Bastienne Montagne-St. Émilion
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Montagne-St. Émilion
clear deep ruby; clean medium nose of blackberry, nutmeg, mint, medicinal herbs, mushrooms, charred oak, vanilla, tobacco; off-dry, mediumacid, medium tannins, full body, grass, mushrooms, nutmeg, liquorice, forest floor; interesting
Red
2012 Château La Tour Carnet
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
clear deep ruby; clean, medium nose of strewberries, plums, blackcurrant, cinnamon, cloves; dry, medium acid and tannins, medium body, blackcurrant, cassis, cinnamon, charred oak, vanilla, cigar box; nice!
Red
2012 Morambro Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway
clear deep ruby; clean, pronounced nose of sweet dried fruits, fruit cake, raisins; medium sweet, very fruity, acidic, tannic, black cherries, raisins, mint, cassis, liquorice, leather; very nice!
Flight 4 - Day 2 AM: Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Riesling (4 notes)
Sauvignon Blanc
- Style: high acid, aromatic, most have no oak
- Climate: cool to moderate
- often blended with Semillon
- Major regions: Loire, Bordeaux, Napa, Marlborough, Western Cape (Elgin, Constantia), Chile (Casablanca, Central)
Syrah (Shiraz)
- Style; deeply coloured, medium acid, medium to hight tannins, spicy
- Climate: moderate to hot
- Major regions: Northern Rhône (Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage), Pays d'Oc (Minervois), Australia (Hunter Valley, McClaren Vale, Barossa)
Grenache (Garnacha)
- Style: full-bodied, high alcohol, low acidity, also used for rosé
- Climate: hot
- Major regions: Southern Rhône (Côte du Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape), Spain (Priorat, Rioja, Navarra)
Riesling
- Style: high acid, acomatic, floral, fruity, petrol notes when aged
- Climate: cool to moderate
- Major regions: Germany (Mosel, Rheingau, Pfalz), Alsace, Austria
White
2015 Saint Clair Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
clear, medium lemon; clean, pronounced nose of grapefruit, lime, green apples, grass, peas; dry, acidic, low tannins, lime, grapefruit, peach, lemon zest, minerals, floral bouquet; very nice!
Red
2006 Clarendon Hills Grenache Clarendon
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon
clear, deep ruby; clean, pronounced nose, of red berries, baked fruits, cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg; off-dry, low acid, medium tannins, blackcurrant, raising, toasts, smokehouse, chocolate, coffee; long finish of kahlua coffee hints; really velvety, excellent!
Red
2010 Xavier Vignon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Anonyme
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
clear, deep ruby; clean, medium nose of blueberries, cranberries, mint, dill; dry, medium acid and tannins, mushrooms, game, toast, black pepper, black olive, coffee, chocolates; medium finish; pretty nice
White - Off-dry
2012 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese
Germany, Rheinhessen
clear, deep lemon; clean, pronounced nose of honey, apricots, burnt rubber, petrol; medium sweet, acidic, low tannins, full body, figs, dried prunes, stewed fruits, fruit jam, cheese; medium finish; like liquid fruit tart...
Flight 5 - Day 2 PM: Other varieties (4 notes)
White
- Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris (Italy/ France)
- Verdiccio/ Trebbiano/ Gavi (Italy)
- Garganega (Veneto, Soave/ Piemonte, Gavi)
- Chenin Blanc (Loire, Touraine, Vouvray)
- Melon Blanc (Loire, Muscadet)
- Viognier (various regions)
- Albarino (Rias Baixas)
- Sémillon (Pessac-Leognan/ Sauternes/ Hunter Valley)
- Gewurzstraminer (Alsace, New Zealand)
- Torrentés (Cafayate)
Red
- Gamay (Beaujolais)
- Tempranillo (Rioja/ Ribera del Duero/ Navarra)
- Nebbiolo (Piemonte, Barolo/ Barbaresco)
- Barbera (Piemonte)
- Sangiovese (Chianti/ Brunello di Montalcino)
- Corvina (Veneto, Valpolicella)
- Montepulciano (Abruzzo)
- Touriga Nacional (Duoro)
White
2015 Brigaldara Soave
Italy, Veneto, Soave
clear, medium lemon; clean, medium nose of green apple, grapefruit, grass, fennel; dry, acidic, low tannins, medium body, green apple, honeydew, honeycomb, grapefruit; short finish
Red
2013 Podere Poggio Scalette Chianti Classico
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
clear, medium ruby; clean, medium nose of cherry, mint, pine; dry, acidic and tannic, medium body, sour red cherry, pepper, tobacco smoke; short finish
Red
2014 Trivento Amado Sur
Argentina, Mendoza
clear, deep purple; clean, pronounced nose of cassis, mint, black currants, medicinal herbs, liquorice, fruit cake; off-dry, medium acid, tannic, full body, blackcurrants, liquorice, cassis; medium finish of minted hints
Red
2010 Faustino Rioja Reserva V
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
clear, medium ruby; clean, pronounced nose of strawberry, mint, pepper, toasty oak, cigar boc; dry, medium acid and tannins, full body, strawberry, mint, tarragon, leather; complex and intriguing
Flight 6 - Day 2 PM: Sparkling, Sweet, Sherry, Port (5 notes)
Sparkling
- Bottle fermentation - Traditional/ Transfer (Champagne, Crémant, Cava)
- Tank-fermentation (Prosecco, Moscato d'Asti, Sekt)
Sweet
- Fortification - interrupt fermentation
- Dried grapes - late harvesting/ drying
- Noble rot - Botrytis cinerea
- Frozen grapes - removal of ice crystals
Sherry
- Varietal: Palomino
- solera system maturation - for consistency
- Fino - flor yeasts
- Amontillado - flor yeast from Fino killed; more oxidation
- Oloroso - no flor yeast
- Pedro Ximénez - intensely sweet
Port
- Ruby - sweet, simple, fruity
- Vintage - long-lived
- Tawny - more oxidative, kernel flavors than fruits
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Trivento Brut Nature
Argentina, Mendoza
clear, pale salmon, fine beads; clean, medium nose of nectarine, mango, orange, thyme, bread yeasts; dry, medium acid, low tannin, light bodu, nectarine, raspberry, bread yeast, bell pepper, peas; short finish; quite enjoyable
White - Sparkling
N.V. Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Réserve
France, Champagne
clear, medium lemon; clean, medium nose of lemon and bread yeast; dry, acidic, low tannins, medium body, lemon, bread, cake, honey; short finish; refreshing and enjoyable!
White - Sparkling
2016 Bersano Moscato d'Asti Monteolivo
Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti
clear, medium lemon; clean, medium nose of peach, apricot, lychee, rose, leaf; medium sweet, low acid and tannins; light body, peach, lychee, rose; short finish; simple good moscato which surely is a hit among the ladies
Red - Fortified
N.V. Dow Porto Fine Ruby
Portugal, Douro, Porto
clear, deep ruby; pronounced nose of toffee, coffee, soy, nuts, olives, blackcurrant, liquorice; sweet, low acid and tannins, raisins, star anise, caramel, coffee, chocolates soy; medium finish; pretty nice, but I have had better Port
Closing
Very fulfilling, learnt a lot... but gloomy with an upcoming exam, and revision to do...
