WSET Intermediate Course, Session 4 Tastings

Washington Wine Academy, Arlington, VA
Tasted Tuesday, February 15, 2011 by jsimmons with 496 views

Introduction

Tasting notes from fourth session of WSET Intermediate Course at Washington Wine Academy (Sparkling Wine and the New World). Notes taken using WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, with some additional commentary of my own.

Flight 1 - Sparkling Wines (2 Notes)

Only set of sparkling wines, tasted sequentially.

  • NV Gruet Winery Brut 85 Points

    USA, New Mexico

    Appearance: clear, pale-medium intensity, lemon. Nose: clean, light-medium intensity, green apple, yeasty (almost overripe), biscuit. Palate: dry, medium acidity, light body, green apple, lime, cloves, toast, biscuit, yeast, medium length/finish. Conclusion: acceptable-good (a basic, inoffensive, methode champenoise dry sparkling wine).

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  • 2010 Saracco Moscato d'Asti 86 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti

    Appearance: clear, pale intensity, lemon. Nose: clean, medium-plus intensity, grapefruit, peach, apricot, orange blossom. Palate: medium sweetness, low acidity, medium body, orange, peach, melon (all seemed very candied-fruit-like), orange blossom, short length/finish (mostly just a lingering, nondescript sweetness). Conclusion: acceptable-good (a basic, inoffensive Moscato).

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Flight 2 - New World Wines I (2 Notes)

First set of New World wines - one wine each from South Africa and Australia, tasted separately.

  • 2008 Wildekrans Estate Pinotage 85 Points

    South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Bot River

    Appearance: clear, pale-medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, light-medium intensity, cherry, strawberry, oak (primary aspect), rose, black pepper, rubber, very meaty. Palate: dry, medium acidity, low-medium tannin, medium-full body (primarily heat from alcohol), plum, black pepper (substantial), animal fat, bacon, and a thyme or eucalyptus herbaceousness, short length/finish (just a lingering spiciness). Conclusion: acceptable (for its style; I'm not personally a huge fan).

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  • 2007 Mandu Shiraz 82 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, medium-plus intensity, dried blackcurrant, blueberry, nutmeg, mint, coffee/mocha, charred oak, vanilla. Palate: dry, low-medium acidity, medium-high tannin, medium-plus body, cassis, black cherry, some secondary characteristics but they're all muddled together, short length/finish. Conclusion: acceptable (not particularly interesting, but probably needed some decanting).

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Flight 3 - New World Wines II (2 Notes)

Second set of New World wines - one wine each from New Zealand and America, tasted separately.

  • 2007 Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 84 Points

    New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, light-medium intensity, very smoky. Palate: dry, medium-high acidity, light-medium tannin, medium body, cherry (somewhat muted), general red fruit, a burnt, bitter woodiness, toast. Conclusion: acceptable (a typical New Zealand Pinot, with the typical New Zealand burnt flavors).

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  • 2009 Adelsheim Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 84 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Appearance: clear, pale, lemon. Nose: clean, medium intensity, lemon, lime, pear, stony minerality. Palate: dry, medium-high acidity, light-medium body, pear, nuttiness (very slight from the mild oak treatment), a bit or minerality, short-medium finish. Conclusion: good (a little flabby, but with decent minerality).

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Flight 4 - New World Wines III (3 Notes)

Final set of New World wines - one wine from Chile and two from Argentina, tasted sequentially.

  • 2009 Doña Paula Torrontés Estate 77 Points

    Argentina, Valles Calchaquíes, Salta, Cafayate

    Appearance: clear, pale-medium intensity, lemon. Nose: clean, medium intensity, peach, lemon, heavy oak - vanilla and smoke. Palate: dry, medium acidity, light-medium body, lemon, lime, sweet peaches, more heavy oak - woodiness, smoke, some petrol and salinity, medium length/finish (primarily salinity). Conclusion: poor-acceptable (not really sure why they decided to put Torrontes in oak, but it didn't really work out for me).

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  • 2008 Hacienda Araucano (Lurton) Carménère 85 Points

    Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, medium intensity, concentrated dried fruits - raisin, dates, plum, red pepper/capsicum, bell pepper, well-integrated oak, smoke, beef jerky. Palate: dry, medium acidity, full body, medium-high tannin, red fruits: plum, sour cherry, prune, pepper, smoke, very meaty, beefy aspect, short length/finish (and a little slick). Conclusion: good (the finish was really the only disappointing part).

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  • 2009 Andeluna Cellars (Familia Reina) Malbec 85 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Appearance: clear, medium intensity, ruby. Nose: clean, medium intensity, bright black fruit, vanilla. Palate: dry, medium acidity, medium tannin, full body (very slick-feeling), very juicy fruit - sour cherry, blackberry, sweet vanilla, medium length/finish. Conclusion: acceptable (a slightly-better-than-average, decently-balanced Argentina Malbec).

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