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WSET III, part 2
Portland, ME
Tasted December 3, 2011 - December 4, 2011 by indiscriminate palate with 507 views
Introduction
Finally entering some notes from WSET Level III. Many are very brief, and most are very formulaic. This is notes from the second weekend (of two).
Flight 1 - Session 9: North America (8 notes)
White
2008 Jean-Claude Thévenet & Fils Mâcon-Pierreclos
(served blind). Clear; pale lemon color, broad colorless rim. Clean, medium(-plus?) intensity nose of citrus, stone fruit, floral and mineral notes. Youthful. Dry; medium-minus body;, medium-plus acidity, medium alcohol. Medium(+) intensity palate of stone fruit, mineral. Malo-buttery. Medium length. Good. Mid-high price? Drink now.
White
2009 Saintsbury Chardonnay Unfiltered Carneros
(served blind). Clear, pale(+) lemon color. Clean; medium-intensity nose of stone fruit, lemon citrus, butter; toasty - oak, lees? Youghtful. On the palate, dry, medium-plus body, medium acidity, high alcohol. Medium-plus intensity butter, vanilla, malo, oak. Medium length. Mid price? Good. Drink now.
White
2009 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc
Medium-minus to pale lemon-green color. Clear; medium(+) intensity smoky, vegetal nose. Youthful. Medium-plus acidity, body, alcohol. On the palate, mineral and smoke. Drink now.
Red
2009 Anne Amie Pinot Noir
Clear; medium-minus ruby color with a watery rim. Clean; medium-intensity developing nose. Medium-minus body and tannin, medium alcohol, with medium(+) acidity. On the palate, red berry, sour cherry, mushroom, and spice. Good. Ready to drink, not intended for aging.
Red
2008 Milbrandt Vineyards Merlot Traditions
Clear; medium ruby color. Clean; smoke on the medium-intensity nose; developing. Medium acidity and tannin, medium-plus body and alcohol. Medium-plus intensity palate of leather, dried fruit, tobacco, and plum. Good. Drink now.
Red
2009 Big Vine Cabernet Sauvignon
Clear, medium(+) ruby color. Clean medium-intensity nose of black fruit and spice. Medium-plus body, alcohol, and tannin, with medium acidity. Medium flavor intensity, with black cherry and green pepper. Medium finish. Good to very good. Drink now, though has potential for aging.
Red
2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Paso Robles
Clear; medium/medium-plus ruby. Pronounced(medium-plus) developing nose of black fruit, raisin, stewed fruit, spice, toast, and dill. Dry. Medium acidity and fine tannin. High alcohol. Medium body, medium-plus intensity palate of black fruit and vanilla.
White - Sweet/Dessert
N.V. Jackson-Triggs Vidal Icewine Proprietors' Reserve Niagara Peninsula VQA
(NV?) Ripe raisin, medium-plus acidity, full body.
Flight 2 - Session 10: South America (6 notes)
White
2010 Vistamar Sauvignon Blanc
Clear; pale lemon with light legs. Clean; pronounced/medium+ nose of lemon and grapefruit; youthful. Dry, medium acidity and body. Medium-plus intensity palate of Apple and toast. Medium finish. Drink now. Good.
Red
2010 De Martino Carménère Legado Reserva
Medium+ intensity flavors of green pepper, cherry, herbs. Clean; developing. Dry. Medium(+) acid, tannin, body, length. Med+ alcohol black fruited. Good. Drink now, with potential for aging.
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Red
2009 Debauchery Cabernet Sauvignon
Clear, medium-plus ruby. Clean, medium-intensity nose; green, eucalyptus, herbal, black and red fruit. Developing. Dry. Medium-plus acid and tannin. Medium bodied. On the palate, eucalyptus, bell pepper, dried cranberries. Very good. Can drink now, but potential for further development.
White
2010 Valle de la Puerta Torrontés La Puerta
Clear, medium-minus lemon color. Youthful, medium-plus intensity nose of honeysuckle, orange, apple, floral notes. Dry, medium bodied, medium-plus acidity and flavor intensity. Honey, flowers, lemon, raisin. Medium-plus length. Very good. Drink now.
Red
2009 Gardel Bonarda Colección
Clear, medium ruby. Clean; medium-intensity, developing aromas of strawberry, currant, raspberry, and dried cherries. Dry. Medium body, medium acid, medium-minus tannin, medium-plus alcohol. Medium intensity flavors of stewed fruit, cherry, and strawberry. Medium length. Good. Drink now, with potential for aging.
Red
2010 Don Manuel Villafane Malbec Estate
Clear, medium(-plus?) ruby. Clean, developing, medium-plus intensity nose of plum, red and black fruit, raisins; appears sweet on the nose. Medium-plus body, tannin, acidity, and alcohol. Medium-plus intensity palate of pepper, plum, cherry, spice, and mineral. Medium-plus finish. Very good. Drink now, with potential for aging.
Flight 3 - Session 11: Australia (6 notes)
White
2007 Penfolds Riesling Thomas Hyland
Clean, pronounced nose of petrol, wax, lemon, and peach; developing. Off-dry with medium acids. Medium-plus intensity palate of lemon-lime and peach. Medium-plus length. Good. Drink now, though can develop.
White
2008 Torbreck Woodcutter's Semillon
Clear, medium-lemon color with watery rim. Clean, medium-plus intensity, developing herbal, grassy, lemon nose. Medium body and alcohol, medium-plus acidity and flavor intensity. Citrus, lemon peel, stone fruit, almond, white pepper.
Red
2008 Yering Station Pinot Noir Little Yering
Clear; medium ruby color, some legs. Developing aromas of cherries, dried cherries, flowers, and some leafiness. Medium-minus body and tannin, medium-plus acid and alcohol. Medium-plus flavor intensity of dried fruit. Medium finish. Good.
Red
2008 Oxford Landing Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre
Medium ruby, with a lighter rim. Clean, developing, medium-plus intensity nose of candied cherry, smoke, strawberry, and leafy and savory notes. Dry. Medium-minus tannin, medium acid, and high alcohol. Medium-bodied, with medium-plus intensity of dried fruit. Medium finish. Good.
Red
2006 Jacob's Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve South Australia
Medium-plus intensity ruby color. Pronounced nose of eucalyptus and dark cherry. Dry; medium body, acid, and tannin. Medium-plus flavor intensity, Medium-minus length finish. Drink now, with some potential for aging.
Red
2009 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Koonunga Hill
Clear; medium-plus ruby color with thick, pigmented legs. Medium-plus body, medium-minus tannin. On the palate, black cherry, black currant, herbs, and smoke. Some potential for aging. Good, but uggh - boring!
Flight 4 - Session 12: New Zealand and South Africa (6 notes)
White
2010 Escarpment Pinot Gris The Edge
Clear, medium-minus lemon color, with a narrow rim and some viscosity/legs. Clean, youthful, medium(-plus) intensity nose of pear, lemon, apple, spice, and mineral. Dry. Medium-plus body, medium acid, and high alcohol. Medium-plus flavor intensity of white peach, spicy pear, sweet apple, and honeysuckle. Medium-plus length. Good. Drink now, though can age.
Red
2008 Crown Range Wines Ltd Pinot Noir
Medium ruby color, narrow rim, some viscosity/legs. Clean, developing, medium-plus intensity nose of red fruit, black cherry, brown spice, flowers, black tea, and mushroom. Dry, medium-minus body and tannin, medium acid, medium-plus alcohol. Medium-plus flavor intensity of ripe dried cherries, leafiness & herbal notes, sweet spice (cinnamon), mushroom, black tea. Medium-plus length. Very good. Drink now, with potential for aging.
Red
2006 Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels Vineyard
Clear, medium-plus ruby color. Clean, developing, medium-plus intensity nose of red fruit (red cherry) and black fruit (black cherry). Dry, medium-plus body and alcohol; medium tannin, medium(+) acid. Medium-plus intensity palate of dried plum, kirsch, black fruit, jammy, strawberry, toast, spice, black chocolate. Medium-plus length.
White
2009 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc (Steen op Hout)
Medium-minus lemon color with narrow rim and some viscosity/legs. Youthful, medium-intensity nose of lemon and toast. Dry, medium-bodied, with medium-plus acidity and alcohol. Medium-plus intensity of lemon, mineral; toasty, smoky. High alcohol. Good. Drink now, potential for aging.
Red
2008 Neil Ellis Pinotage Stellenbosch
Medium ruby color. Clean, developing, medium-plus intensity nose of black fruit, plum, herbs, mint, tar, and some implied sweetness. Dry, medium-plus bodied. Medium acid, medium-minus tannin, high-medium alcohol. On the palate, black fruit, dried fruit, spice; smoky, toasty, herbal. Medium-plus/long finish. Very good. Drink now, with potential for aging.
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White
2008 KWV Roodeberg
Clear, medium ruby, with noticeable legs. Medium-plus intensity nose of green pepper, dried cherry, and smoke. Dry. Medium-plus body and acidity; medium-minus tannin; high/med+ alcohol. Medium-plus flavor intensity and length. Too much alcohol / unbalanced. Good.
Flight 5 - Session 13: Sparkling wines (6 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Il Colle Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Millesimato
Pale (medium-minus) lemon color. Youthful nose of stone fruit. Creamy mousse. Palate of green apple, pair. High acid, creamy texture. Good.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Yellow Tail Bubbles
Clear medium orange/salmon. Pronounced tropical fruit on the nose. Off dry. Aggressive mousse. Medium-plus acidity; pineapple palate.
White - Sparkling
2009 Naveran Cava Brut
Medium-minus lemon color; good persistence of mousse. Clean, youthful nose of rubber, oak, and some butter. Dry. Medium body, medium-plus acid. Bready, earthy, with very little fruit expressed. Good.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut
Medium-minus gold color, good persistence of mousse. Clean, developing aromas of grapefruit and sweet bread. On the palate, the wine is creamy, bready, and fruity.
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White - Sparkling
2002 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Vintage
Medium yellow/gold color; good persistence of mousse. On the nose, lemon, grapefruit; bready. Medium body, high acid, delicate mousse on the palate. Very good.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Gruet Winery Brut Blanc de Noirs
Medium gold color. Medium-plus intensity nose. Dry. Medium acid. Delicate flavors on the palate. Flabby. CO2 poorly integrated.
Flight 6 - Session 14: Fortified wines (6 notes)
White - Fortified
N.V. Gonzalez-Byass Palomino Fino Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Tío Pepe (Muy Seco-Extra Dry)
Pale lemon color. Clean, fully developed, medium-plus intensity nose of almond, lemon, saline, and brine. Dry. Medium bodied, palate of lemon, nuttiness, brine. Good. Drink now.
White - Fortified
N.V. Bodegas Dios Baco Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Amontillado
Clear, medium amber color. Clean, medium-plus intensity, developing nose of almond, biscuit, raisin and figs, prune, and dried tropical fruits. Off dry. Medium acidity (?), high alcohol, low tannin, and medium-plus body. Biscuit, almond extract, hazelnut, coffee. Long finish. Very good. Drink now with potential for aging.
White - Fortified
N.V. Bodegas Dios Baco Elite Oloroso Medium
Medium(+) brown color; clear. Clean, developing medium-plus intensity nose of hazelnut, almond, figs and prunes. Initially seems medium-dry (!), high alcohol, medium-plus acid, low/medium-minus tannin. Medium-plus flavor intensity of almonds, figs, honey. Salinity. Very good. Drink now, with potential for aging.
Red - Fortified
2000 Quinta de Ventozelo Porto Late Bottled Vintage
Clear medium-plus ruby color. Medium acid and tannin, medium-plus body, high alcohol. Very fruity, ripe plum, dark cherry. Medium length. Good. Drink now, not intended for aging.
Red - Fortified
N.V. Quinta de Ventozelo Porto 20 Year Old Tawny
Medium acid, high alcohol, medium-plus body, medium-minus tannin. Medium-plus intensity flavors of walnuts, vanilla, chocolate. Medium-minus finish. Good. Drink now, not intended for aging.
White - Fortified
2006 Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Clear; medium lemon-gold color with watery rim. Clean, youthful, pronounced nose of orange, apricot, honey, pear, flowers. Palate has same descriptors and honey. High alcohol. Medium length, with a hot finish. Good.