WSET Foundation - Evening 2

This was the second evening, part 2 of 3 for my WSET foundation level course. These 6 wines were tasted mainly with a view to providing a match / contrast to different foods. Salt, MSG, cheese, chilli crackers, smoked salmon, lemon & caramel wafers provided the accompaniment, and obviously some went better than others with some of these wines!

• 2013 Vignale Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 80 Points

  Italy, Delle Venezie

  Just about scrapes over the line this one - nothing wrong with it, as such, but really reinforces the stereotypical 'Weaker than water' reputation that Pinot Grigio has. Clean, bone dry, light bodied. Hints of green apple, freshly cut grass, citrus on the nose. Not much on the palate, notes of lemon & green apple, but really, really thin. Opened up with a little lychee after half an hour and a title warmth in the glass. Just not much to it though. Acidic.

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• 2012 Montes Chardonnay Alpha Special Cuvée 84 Points

  Chile, Casablanca Valley

  Dry, clean, and medium-full bodied. Very oaky on the nose, strong scent of vanilla beans, tropics fruit. Palate had pineapple and other tropical fruit, vanilla, butter and toasted oak. Hint of coconut? Medium acidity - just enough

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• 2011 Joseph Drouhin Pinot Noir Bourgogne Laforet 83 Points

  France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

  Not a lot going on with this one, a bit simple. Clean, dry & light-bodied. Red cherry & strawberry on the nose, with red currant, strawberry, cherry and a little wet earth on the palate. High acidity, almost no tannin.

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• 2010 Antinori Chianti Classico Tenute Marchese San Casciano Val di Pesa 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  A lovely example of Sangiovese, well balanced & savoury. Medium bodied, verging on full. A medium red colour. Woody, gamey, sour cherry & green herbs on the nose, and the same again in the mouth with a hint of black pepper on the finish. High acidity, high tannin.

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• 2011 St Hallett Shiraz Faith 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  My experience with St Hallet so far made me wary of an over-oaked fruit-bomb, but this was far more balanced than I was expecting. Deep crimson, and full-bodied, spicy black fruit on the nose. Plenty of vanilla on the pallet, with blackberry, black pepper, and a hint of cassis. Medium acidity, nice rounded tannins

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• 2008 Château Laville 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  My wine of the night, first hints on the nose suggested this might be a little over-done, but these fears were unfounded. Nose was a little raisiny, with a hint of Christmas spice, apricots, candied orange peel, vanilla, honey, a hint of nuttiness.
  
  Palate was all honey & stone fruit, just verging on pineapple, something a little more tropical, peach. Finish was long, acidity balanced out the extreme sweetness, a lovely wine.

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The Sauternes was the star of the show tonight for me, a real shining example of a desert wine. It was the most expensive, however, whilst the slightly adequate but dull Pinot Grigio cost under a fiver! Reds much better this week, more balanced oak in the Aussie wine, and a nice savoury Chianti.