WSET Foundation - Evening 1

This was the first evening of the WSET Foundation (Level 1) course I sat at the WSET School in London. These wines were intended to be an introduction to White, Rose and Red wines, with light, medium and full bodies respectively.

• 2012 Jackson Estate Sauvignon Blanc Stich 89 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Really typical NZ Sav Blanc, clean, dry and crisp. Strong gooseberry, grassy aromas with a hint of rock melon perhaps. Palate had typical citrus, and grassy herbacious notes, with a slight green-pepper tinge on the finish. High, balanced acidity. Refreshing.

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• 2013 Esk Valley Rosé 79 Points

  New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay

  Clean, dark rose colour, much more so than I'm used to. Very slightly off dry, with a light / medium body. Aromas very strongly of strawberry & other red fruit, which came through on the palate as well, with red cherry, redcurrant. Slight bitter notes on the finish, with quite a strong alcohol burn - at 14%, I think this wine was actually quite unbalanced, and a little OTT. The only wine I left in my glass.

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• 2010 Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 83 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  A very rich dark ruby colour, totally opaque. Very spicy & peppery on the nose, almost overpowering the fruit. Palate showed the cassis fuit, with a slight leathery note, but really overpowered by lots of new oak. Tannic on the finish - this will probably last another few years

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, I only really got much enjoyment from the Sauvignon Blanc this evening - made more or less to my tastes, this was a really pleasant wine I'll look for again. I found the Rose a bit out of balance (too much alcohol on the finish), whilst the Cabernet Sauvingnon was over-oaked for my taste.