WSET Intermediate Course, Session 2 Tastings

Washington Wine Academy, Arlington, VA
Tasted Tuesday, February 1, 2011 by jsimmons with 500 views

Introduction

Tasting notes from second session of WSET Intermediate Course at Washington Wine Academy (Storage and Service of Wine, Classic Grape Varieties). Notes taken using WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, with some additional commentary of my own.

Flight 1 - White Wines I (2 Notes)

Only full set of white wines, tasted separately.

  • 2009 Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    Appearance: clear, pale intensity, lemon. Nose: clean, medium intensity, fruit: green or golden apple (dominant), pineapple, oak: some woodiness, a little butter. Palate: dry, medium acidity, low tannin (from oak), medium body, fruit: ripe apple, lemon, oak: (very dominant) a bit sour woodiness, butter, medium length/finish (residual sourness from the oak). Conclusion: acceptable (for the style, but I personally have no palate for such wines and do not score them).

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  • 2010 Bodega O. Fournier Sauvignon Blanc Urban Uco 82 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco

    Appearance: clear, very pale intensity, lemon (but very light; even has a greenish tinge). Nose: clean, medium-plus intensity, fruit: green apple, unripe berries (gooseberry), lime, grapefruit, vegetal: green bell pepper. Palate: dry, high acidity, very light body, fruit: lime, grapefruit (one-dimensionally citrus), vegetal: green bell pepper (just a hint), short length/finish (simply seems lazy or empty). Conclusion: acceptable.

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Flight 2 - Mixed Wines (2 Notes)

Second set of wines (one white, one red), tasted separately.

  • 2007 J & HA Strub Riesling "Soil to Soul" 91 Points

    Germany, Rheinhessen

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, lemon-gold. Nose: clean, medium-plus intensity, petrol (rubber/gasoline, extremely dominant), fruit: green apple (light), apricot, lemon, floral (nondescript, lush white flower), other: flinty minerality. Palate: off-dry, medium-high acidity (masked by RS), medium body (primarily via RS), fruit: green apple (primary component), peach, lemon, other: petrol (but limited), flinty minerality, medium-plus finish (balanced sweetness and acidity). Conclusion: very good (bordering on outstanding; perfect balance and sublime finish).

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  • 2007 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 84 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, medium intensity, fruit: red fruit - cherry, strawberry, raspberry, floral: rose petal, spice: baking spices (a hint?), vegetal: smoke (very subtle, not from oak), mushroom. Palate: dry, medium-high acidity, light body, low tannin, fruit: tons of red fruit - cherry, raspberry, spice: cinnamon (significant, somewhat unpleasant), oak (spicy), medium length/finish. Conclusion: good (typical Sonoma Pinot, but not particularly distinctive).

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Flight 3 - Red Wines I (2 Notes)

First full set of red wines, tasted sequentially.

  • 2006 Graham Beck Merlot 77 Points

    South Africa, Coastal Region

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, light intensity, fruit: blueberry, raspberry, spice: capsicum (like hot peppers in vinegar), vegetal: coffee, mocha. Palate: dry, medium acidity, medium tannin, medium body, fruit: nondescript red fruit (undistinguished), spice (undistinguished), green bell pepper, short length/finish. Conclusion: poor (completely dead on the palate).

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  • 2008 Wagtail Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

    Appearance: clean, deep intensity (practically opaque), ruby. Nose: clean, light-medium intensity, fruit: dark black fruit - blackberry, cassis, black cherry, floral: violet (very light), spice: baking spices, oak: dry, dusty, char, smoke. Palate: dry, medium-high acidity, high tannin, medium body, fruit: dark, powerful black fruit, some spice, some oak, very tannic (mix between grape and oak tannins), medium-long length/finish (primarily tannin). Conclusion: good (solid, very New World-style Cabernet).

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Flight 4 - Red Wines II (2 Notes)

Second full set of red wines, tasted sequentially, but rather rushed at the end of the class.

  • 2007 Elizabeth Spencer Syrah Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Appearance: clear, medium-deep intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, light-medium intensity (very closed), fruit: black fruit (very dusty, like dehydrated fruit), black pepper, oak (heavy). Palate: dry, medium-high acidity, medium tannin, medium-full body, black fruit, pepper (very tight), medium length/finish (primarily tannin). Conclusion: acceptable-good-very good (impossible to tell - desperately needed to decant, hence no score given).

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  • 2009 Bodegas Ateca Calatayud Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines 83 Points

    Spain, Aragón, Calatayud

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, medium intensity, black fruits, (I picked up an odd cheese component as well, but tasting was rushed in last few minutes of class). Palate: dry, medium acidity, medium tannin, medium body, some black fruit, pepper, short length/finish. Conclusion: acceptable-good (solid stylistic representation, but not distinctive).

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