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WSET Level 2 Day 2
WSET
Tasted February 23, 2014 by Derek Darth Taster with 603 views
Introduction
Day 2 of the WSET Level 2 course. Intense tastings.
Flight 1 - 6 whites (6 notes)
White
2011 Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fumé
Appearance is clear, pale, lemon colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of smoke, citrus fruits, and slight minerality.
On the palate, high acidity, medium body, and flavours of mild oak, citrus fruits with lots of lemon, and a persistent smokiness. Medium finish.
I like this.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of smoke, citrus fruits, and slight minerality.
On the palate, high acidity, medium body, and flavours of mild oak, citrus fruits with lots of lemon, and a persistent smokiness. Medium finish.
I like this.
White
2013 Fat Bird Sauvignon Blanc
Appearance is clear, pale, lemon colour.
Nose is clean light-medium intensity, with aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers.
On the palate, high acidity, medium body, and strong flavours of citrus fruit, lemon-lime with a bit of a green apple undertone. Long finish. Quite obvious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc style.
Nose is clean light-medium intensity, with aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers.
On the palate, high acidity, medium body, and strong flavours of citrus fruit, lemon-lime with a bit of a green apple undertone. Long finish. Quite obvious New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc style.
White
2012 Villiera Chenin Blanc Barrel Fermented
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, gold colour.
Nose is clean, light intensity with light buttery oak aromas.
On the palate, medium+ acidity, full body, with flavours of expressive creamy buttery oak. Long finish. My criticism is that there is not enough acidity, and the malolactic fermentation seems to have compromised the crispness of the Chenin Blanc.
Nose is clean, light intensity with light buttery oak aromas.
On the palate, medium+ acidity, full body, with flavours of expressive creamy buttery oak. Long finish. My criticism is that there is not enough acidity, and the malolactic fermentation seems to have compromised the crispness of the Chenin Blanc.
White
2013 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling
Appearance is clear, pale, lemon colour.
Nose is clean, light intensity, with flavours of citrus fruit - lemon-lime, and a touch of minerality.
Dry style Riesling. High acidity, medium body, with lots of lemon flavour, and I detected a saline minerality. But no one else in the class agreed with me about the minerality. Medium finish.
Quite a nice Aussie Riesling.
Nose is clean, light intensity, with flavours of citrus fruit - lemon-lime, and a touch of minerality.
Dry style Riesling. High acidity, medium body, with lots of lemon flavour, and I detected a saline minerality. But no one else in the class agreed with me about the minerality. Medium finish.
Quite a nice Aussie Riesling.
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Comments (1)
White
2011 Gunderloch Riesling Kabinett
Appearance is clear, pale, darker lemon-almost gold colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with an oily aroma and smoky oak.
On the palate, this is an off-dry style Riesling, with only medium acidity and medium body. Flavours of lemon-lime and a touch of minerality at the finish. Short-medium finish.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with an oily aroma and smoky oak.
On the palate, this is an off-dry style Riesling, with only medium acidity and medium body. Flavours of lemon-lime and a touch of minerality at the finish. Short-medium finish.
White
2006 Domaines Schlumberger Gewurztraminer Kitterlé
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, nice gold colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with beautiful perfumed aromas of dried flowers and honey.
On the palate, this is a medium sweetness style of Gewurztraminer. Low acidity as Gewurz is, it is full bodied, and full of complex flavours. Floral notes - ?honeysuckle and elderflower, gingery spice, and some citrus fruit elements. Long finish.
I like this and my opinion is that it could still go strong for at least another 3 years. However, the course trainer's opinion is that it is almost or a little over the hill. Well, Jancis says drink 2011-2018 and I concur.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with beautiful perfumed aromas of dried flowers and honey.
On the palate, this is a medium sweetness style of Gewurztraminer. Low acidity as Gewurz is, it is full bodied, and full of complex flavours. Floral notes - ?honeysuckle and elderflower, gingery spice, and some citrus fruit elements. Long finish.
I like this and my opinion is that it could still go strong for at least another 3 years. However, the course trainer's opinion is that it is almost or a little over the hill. Well, Jancis says drink 2011-2018 and I concur.
Flight 2 - 3 Pinot Noirs and a Chenin Blanc (4 notes)
Red
2008 Reine Pédauque Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, garnet colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of spice, oak, and earth.
On the palate, medium-high acidity, low tannins and spice with some forest floor/earthiness. Not much fruit. Medium body. Short finish. Quite a disappointing Premier Cru. May possibly be sleeping.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of spice, oak, and earth.
On the palate, medium-high acidity, low tannins and spice with some forest floor/earthiness. Not much fruit. Medium body. Short finish. Quite a disappointing Premier Cru. May possibly be sleeping.
Red
2009 Bouchard Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, light intensity, with aromas of red fruit and mild oak.
On the palate, medium acidity and medium tannins. Full bodied Gevrey village. Consistent with the 09 vintage, this is friendly and approachable, with flavours of ripe red fruits, bit of oak, and spice towards the long finish.
Nose is clean, light intensity, with aromas of red fruit and mild oak.
On the palate, medium acidity and medium tannins. Full bodied Gevrey village. Consistent with the 09 vintage, this is friendly and approachable, with flavours of ripe red fruits, bit of oak, and spice towards the long finish.
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Comments (2)
Red
2010 Nautilus Estate Pinot Noir
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of sweet spice, oak, and red cherries. Maybe a bit of loamy earth.
On the palate, medium+ acidity, medium tannins, medium body, with flavours of redcurrant, sweet cherries, and mild spice. Long finish.
I remember the 2009 vintage I tried previously to be even more forward and tasty.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of sweet spice, oak, and red cherries. Maybe a bit of loamy earth.
On the palate, medium+ acidity, medium tannins, medium body, with flavours of redcurrant, sweet cherries, and mild spice. Long finish.
I remember the 2009 vintage I tried previously to be even more forward and tasty.
White - Off-dry
2011 Domaine Bourillon Dorléans Vouvray Demi-Sec
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, lemon colour.
Nose is clean, light intensity, with aromas of light white flowers, citrus fruits, and some hint of Chinese herbs ?ling yang.
On the palate, off-dry sweetness, medium acidity, light body, with flavours of citrus fruit - lemons. Short finish.
Nose is clean, light intensity, with aromas of light white flowers, citrus fruits, and some hint of Chinese herbs ?ling yang.
On the palate, off-dry sweetness, medium acidity, light body, with flavours of citrus fruit - lemons. Short finish.
Flight 3 - Full-bodied Reds (4 notes)
Red
2011 Pierre Henri Merlot Vin de Pays d'Oc
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of oak (but somewhat different - possibly of the staves/wood chip type), and some ?stewed fruit (possibly mildly heat damaged). All that once I got past the alcohol fumes.
On the palate, high acidity, medium tannins, full body, with a generic Merlot taste. Medium finish. Sorry to say this reminds me of cheap supermarket Merlots.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of oak (but somewhat different - possibly of the staves/wood chip type), and some ?stewed fruit (possibly mildly heat damaged). All that once I got past the alcohol fumes.
On the palate, high acidity, medium tannins, full body, with a generic Merlot taste. Medium finish. Sorry to say this reminds me of cheap supermarket Merlots.
Red
2004 Château Bernadotte
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, almost garnet colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced, with classic Left Bank Bordeaux aroma, French oak and some spice.
On the palate, medium acidity, lots of dry tannins, full body, and flavours of French oak and some vegetal notes. Fruits seemed to have faded. Long finish. No point ageing this any longer.
Nose is clean, pronounced, with classic Left Bank Bordeaux aroma, French oak and some spice.
On the palate, medium acidity, lots of dry tannins, full body, and flavours of French oak and some vegetal notes. Fruits seemed to have faded. Long finish. No point ageing this any longer.
Red
2009 Château la Croix de Tourans
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of mild French oak and plummy fruit.
On the palate, medium-high acidity and high tannins but soft. Full body with flavours of plush plummy fruit and mild vegetal hints. Long finish. Averagely good St Emilion claret from a good vintage.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of mild French oak and plummy fruit.
On the palate, medium-high acidity and high tannins but soft. Full body with flavours of plush plummy fruit and mild vegetal hints. Long finish. Averagely good St Emilion claret from a good vintage.
Red
2012 Apaltagua Malbec Reserva
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, leaping out of the tasting glass with aromas of vanilla oak, sweet spice, and black fruits.
On the palate, high acidity, big big tannins, full body, and flavours of spicy ripe black fruits. Long finish.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, leaping out of the tasting glass with aromas of vanilla oak, sweet spice, and black fruits.
On the palate, high acidity, big big tannins, full body, and flavours of spicy ripe black fruits. Long finish.
Flight 4 - Mixed bag of Reds (4 notes)
Red
2005 Geoff Merrill Cabernet-Shiraz
flawed
51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Shiraz. 14.5% alcohol.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
Nose of spice, some blackcurrant fruit, and a herbaceousness that with more air became more pesticide/insecticide-like. Pronounced to be "corked" by the course trainer.
All I got on the palate was spice and some soy flavour.
From a screw cap bottle, so the TCA could be from somewhere else along the production chain.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet colour.
Nose of spice, some blackcurrant fruit, and a herbaceousness that with more air became more pesticide/insecticide-like. Pronounced to be "corked" by the course trainer.
All I got on the palate was spice and some soy flavour.
From a screw cap bottle, so the TCA could be from somewhere else along the production chain.
Red
2011 Tempus Two Merlot
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of oak, spices, plums, and mild vegetal notes.
On the palate, medium acidity, medium tannins, full body, and flavours of plums. Long finish. Average easy drinking fruity Merlot.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of oak, spices, plums, and mild vegetal notes.
On the palate, medium acidity, medium tannins, full body, and flavours of plums. Long finish. Average easy drinking fruity Merlot.
Red
2009 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of creamy vanilla oak, ripe blackcurrants, and herbaceousness.
On the palate, medium acidity, high level of tannins, full body, with flavours of sweet blackcurrant and vanilla oak. Long finish. Quite a nice classic Cabernet Sauvignon I must say.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with aromas of creamy vanilla oak, ripe blackcurrants, and herbaceousness.
On the palate, medium acidity, high level of tannins, full body, with flavours of sweet blackcurrant and vanilla oak. Long finish. Quite a nice classic Cabernet Sauvignon I must say.
Red
2009 Bersano Barbaresco Mantico
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, garnet colour.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of oak, spices, and some tar. No floral notes on this Barbaresco.
On the palate, high acidity, lots of dry tannins, full body, and flavours of spice and oak. Not much fruit here. Long finish.
Pleasant enough for a relatively young Barbaresco, but really nothing memorable.
Nose is clean, medium intensity, with aromas of oak, spices, and some tar. No floral notes on this Barbaresco.
On the palate, high acidity, lots of dry tannins, full body, and flavours of spice and oak. Not much fruit here. Long finish.
Pleasant enough for a relatively young Barbaresco, but really nothing memorable.
Closing
I really need more experience with wine faults. Will strive to learn more and hopefully taste some more examples of "corked" wine. Makes me wonder if some of my previous tastings have been of off-bottles.