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WSET Diploma Practice Tasting - Guess the Region
Victualler, Wapping
Tasted May 24, 2016 by Andrewbdc with 304 views
Introduction
More practice tastings, four pairs of wine, each from the same country/region.
Flight 1 - Australia (2 notes)
Two classic wine styles - Hunter Valley Semillon and cool climate Victoria Shiraz. Not easy particular as both were probably a little young.
White
2011 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1
90 points
The wine is clear and pale lemon-green in colour.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of citrus (lemon, lime), floral (honeysuckle), green fruit (apples, pears), tertiary (honey, nuts, almonds). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) alcohol, medium body, medium (+) intensity flavours of apple, pear, lemon, almonds, honey, brioche. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. The acidity balances the fruit, which has reasonable concentration and some nice complexity, mainly from primary clusters but with some developing tertiary elements.
The wine has reasonable length but lacks intensity and complexity to be outstanding.
The wine can be drunk now but has the acid structure and the intensity of fruit necessary to age for the next 5-10 years.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of citrus (lemon, lime), floral (honeysuckle), green fruit (apples, pears), tertiary (honey, nuts, almonds). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) alcohol, medium body, medium (+) intensity flavours of apple, pear, lemon, almonds, honey, brioche. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. The acidity balances the fruit, which has reasonable concentration and some nice complexity, mainly from primary clusters but with some developing tertiary elements.
The wine has reasonable length but lacks intensity and complexity to be outstanding.
The wine can be drunk now but has the acid structure and the intensity of fruit necessary to age for the next 5-10 years.
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Red
2012 The Wine Society Shiraz Exhibition Victoria Shiraz
89 points
The wine is clear and medium ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit (bramble, blackberry, plum, black cherry), spice (black pepper), oak (vanilla, smoke), tertiary (games, leather). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) fine but grippy tannins, medium (+) alcohol, full body, medium (+) intensity flavours of blackberry, plum, black pepper, smoke, vanilla, game. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. It has good depth and concentration of fruit with complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary flavour clusters. The acidity and tannins are balanced by the fruit. The finish is moderately persistent. It lacks concentration and length to be outstanding.
The wine can be drunk now but is suitable for further ageing up to 5 years. It is fruit forward style, but has the required concentration and structure to enable further tertiary elements to develop.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit (bramble, blackberry, plum, black cherry), spice (black pepper), oak (vanilla, smoke), tertiary (games, leather). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) fine but grippy tannins, medium (+) alcohol, full body, medium (+) intensity flavours of blackberry, plum, black pepper, smoke, vanilla, game. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. It has good depth and concentration of fruit with complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary flavour clusters. The acidity and tannins are balanced by the fruit. The finish is moderately persistent. It lacks concentration and length to be outstanding.
The wine can be drunk now but is suitable for further ageing up to 5 years. It is fruit forward style, but has the required concentration and structure to enable further tertiary elements to develop.
Flight 2 - Rioja, Spain (2 notes)
The red fruit, tannin levels, oak, development and different quality levels helped make this a reasonably easy region to identify.
Red
2011 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Viña Real Crianza
89 points
The wine is clear and medium ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of red fruit (red cherry, strawberry, red currant), oak (vanilla, nutmeg), spice (liquorice), tertiary (leather). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) ripe tannins, medium (+) alcohol (13.5%), medium body, medium (+) intensity flavours of red cherry, strawberry, vanilla, leather. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. It has good concentration of fruit, the acid and tannins are balanced by the fruit and the finish is moderately persistent. It lacks complexity and concentration to be outstanding.
The wine should be drunk now (over the next 2-3 years) and is not suitable for further ageing. A crianza rioja is released when ready to drink, and although it won't fade for some time, it is unlikely to develop significantly greater tertiary characteristics. After 5 years, the fruit is likely to fade, leaving the acid and tannin structure.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of red fruit (red cherry, strawberry, red currant), oak (vanilla, nutmeg), spice (liquorice), tertiary (leather). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) ripe tannins, medium (+) alcohol (13.5%), medium body, medium (+) intensity flavours of red cherry, strawberry, vanilla, leather. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. It has good concentration of fruit, the acid and tannins are balanced by the fruit and the finish is moderately persistent. It lacks complexity and concentration to be outstanding.
The wine should be drunk now (over the next 2-3 years) and is not suitable for further ageing. A crianza rioja is released when ready to drink, and although it won't fade for some time, it is unlikely to develop significantly greater tertiary characteristics. After 5 years, the fruit is likely to fade, leaving the acid and tannin structure.
Red
2008 Bodegas y Viñedos del Contino Rioja Contino Reserva
90 points
The wine is clean and medium ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with pronounced intensity aromas of red fruit (red cherry, strawberry), black fruit (black cherry), oak (vanilla, smile), spice (liquorice), dried fruit (fig, cooked blackcurrant), tertiary (leather, game). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) ripe tannins, medium (+) alcohol (14%), medium (+) body, pronounced flavours of red and black cherry, vanilla, fig, leather. The finish is long.
The wine is outstanding quality. It has excellent fruit concentration and complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary flavour clusters. The acid and tannins are balanced by the fruit and the alcohol is well integrated. The finish is long and persistent.
The wine can be drunk now but is suitable for further ageing (5-7 years). It has the concentration of fruit and the acid and tannins structure to support further development of tertiary characteristics.
The nose is clean with pronounced intensity aromas of red fruit (red cherry, strawberry), black fruit (black cherry), oak (vanilla, smile), spice (liquorice), dried fruit (fig, cooked blackcurrant), tertiary (leather, game). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) ripe tannins, medium (+) alcohol (14%), medium (+) body, pronounced flavours of red and black cherry, vanilla, fig, leather. The finish is long.
The wine is outstanding quality. It has excellent fruit concentration and complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary flavour clusters. The acid and tannins are balanced by the fruit and the alcohol is well integrated. The finish is long and persistent.
The wine can be drunk now but is suitable for further ageing (5-7 years). It has the concentration of fruit and the acid and tannins structure to support further development of tertiary characteristics.
Flight 3 - Bordeaux, France (2 notes)
Obvious herbaceous characteristics in both suggested bordeaux blend wines. The first was 70% merlot, 20% CF, 10% CS and the herbaceousness really dominated. The St Estephe was 60% CS, 30% merlot and 10% CF. This was more classic. The overall fruit, tannin and acid structure made a Bordeaux identification fairly easy, although the first by itself could have been a Loire Cabernet Franc.
Red
2014 Duc des Nauves
86 points
The wine is clear and medium ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe red fruit (red currant, raspberry, cranberry), herbaceous (green bell pepper, blackcurrant leaf). The wine is youthful.
The wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium grippy tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium intensity flavours of redcurrant, cranberry, green bell pepper. The finish is medium.
The wine is good quality. It has straightforward red fruit flavours but limited complexity. The acid and tannins are balanced by the moderate fruit concentration. The finish is only moderate in length.
The wine should be drunk now (next 2 years) and is not suitable for further ageing. It does not have the concentration of fruit, nor the acid and tannin structure, to allow development of tertiary flavours and is likely to fade after that time to leave just the acid and tannin structure.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of ripe red fruit (red currant, raspberry, cranberry), herbaceous (green bell pepper, blackcurrant leaf). The wine is youthful.
The wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, medium grippy tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium intensity flavours of redcurrant, cranberry, green bell pepper. The finish is medium.
The wine is good quality. It has straightforward red fruit flavours but limited complexity. The acid and tannins are balanced by the moderate fruit concentration. The finish is only moderate in length.
The wine should be drunk now (next 2 years) and is not suitable for further ageing. It does not have the concentration of fruit, nor the acid and tannin structure, to allow development of tertiary flavours and is likely to fade after that time to leave just the acid and tannin structure.
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Red
2009 Château Pomys
88 points
The wine is clear and medium ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of of black fruit (lassi, blackcurrant, black cherry, plum), oak (vanilla, cloves), tertiary (leather, truffles). The wine is developing.
The wine is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) ripe tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium (+) intensity flavours of cassis, black cherry, vanilla, smoke, leather, spice. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. The acid and tannins balance the fruit, which is quite concentrated. It has some complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary fruit clusters. It lacks concentration and the finish is not long enough to be outstanding.
The wine an be drunk now but has the potential for further ageing (5-8 years). It has sufficient fruit concentration and the tannin structure to allow further development of tertiary flavours over this period.
The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of of black fruit (lassi, blackcurrant, black cherry, plum), oak (vanilla, cloves), tertiary (leather, truffles). The wine is developing.
The wine is dry with medium acidity, medium (+) ripe tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium (+) intensity flavours of cassis, black cherry, vanilla, smoke, leather, spice. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. The acid and tannins balance the fruit, which is quite concentrated. It has some complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary fruit clusters. It lacks concentration and the finish is not long enough to be outstanding.
The wine an be drunk now but has the potential for further ageing (5-8 years). It has sufficient fruit concentration and the tannin structure to allow further development of tertiary flavours over this period.
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Flight 4 - Puglia, Italy (2 notes)
Two IGT wines from Puglia. Had really no idea of the region. The ripeness of fruit suggested a warm climate. Pure varietal wines suggested IGT or Geographic origin wines. Clearly not mainstream grape varieties. Which I suppose probably means Italy or Spain as the most likely options.
Red
2014 Castello Monaci Negroamaro Maru Salento IGT
85 points
The wine is clear and medium ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with medium intensity aromas of ripe red fruit (red cherry, strawberry, raspberry), floral (violet), spice (liquorice). The wine is youthful.
The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium ripe tannins, medium alcohol (13%), medium body, medium intensity flavours of red cherry, strawberry, violet, liquorice. The finish is medium length.
The wine is good quality. It has straightforward ripe red fruit profile which is balanced by the moderate acidity. It lacks complexity, concentration, and length of finish.
The wine should be drunk now (next 12-18 months) and is not suitable for further ageing. It has no tertiary characteristics and is lacks the concentration of fruit necessary for these to develop with time. The fruit will simply fade.
The nose is clean with medium intensity aromas of ripe red fruit (red cherry, strawberry, raspberry), floral (violet), spice (liquorice). The wine is youthful.
The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium ripe tannins, medium alcohol (13%), medium body, medium intensity flavours of red cherry, strawberry, violet, liquorice. The finish is medium length.
The wine is good quality. It has straightforward ripe red fruit profile which is balanced by the moderate acidity. It lacks complexity, concentration, and length of finish.
The wine should be drunk now (next 12-18 months) and is not suitable for further ageing. It has no tertiary characteristics and is lacks the concentration of fruit necessary for these to develop with time. The fruit will simply fade.
Red
2013 Cantine San Marzano Malvasia Nera Talò Salento IGT
90 points
The wine is clear and deep ruby in colour.
The nose is clean with pronounced intensity aromas of dark fruit (black cherry, bramble), spice (black pepper, liquorice), oak (smoke, clove), dried fruit (date), tertiary (leather, game). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, high ripe tannins, medium (+) alcohol (13.5%), full body, pronounced intensity flavours of bramble, black cherry, pepper, smoke, leather, game. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. The fruit has good concentration and complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary flavour clusters. The acid and tannins are balanced by the fruit. It lacks finesse and length of finish to be outstanding.
The wine can be drunk now but has potential for further ageing - at least 5 years. It has the fruit concentration, acid and tannins and support further tertiary development, although it will certainly lose its freshness, given how developed it already is.
The nose is clean with pronounced intensity aromas of dark fruit (black cherry, bramble), spice (black pepper, liquorice), oak (smoke, clove), dried fruit (date), tertiary (leather, game). The wine is developing.
The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, high ripe tannins, medium (+) alcohol (13.5%), full body, pronounced intensity flavours of bramble, black cherry, pepper, smoke, leather, game. The finish is medium (+).
The wine is very good quality. The fruit has good concentration and complexity from primary, secondary and tertiary flavour clusters. The acid and tannins are balanced by the fruit. It lacks finesse and length of finish to be outstanding.
The wine can be drunk now but has potential for further ageing - at least 5 years. It has the fruit concentration, acid and tannins and support further tertiary development, although it will certainly lose its freshness, given how developed it already is.