Our Wines and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 Advanced Award in Wines and Spirits test in coming up on May 1 and after a week of intense book learning Gail and I decided to do some tasting exercises at Wine Story as a final review. Here are my WSET-style notes: (Ideally, the wines should be tasted blind but obviously that wasn't possible.)
Big Red Syrah 2009 - A wine commissioned by Wine Story as their own label. I am informed the vineyard that supplied the fruit for this also supplies fruit to Sine Qua Non. The wine is clear, medium (+) ruby and has legs. The nose is clean with medium intensity aromas of plum, blackberry, black pepper, black cherry and roasted meat. (I missed writing that it was youthful which is -1 on my score.) The wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium tannin, medium alcohol and medium body. There are medium intensity flavors of plum, black pepper, coffee, black cherry, and blackberry. Length is medium (+). Quality is good. I missed writing an assessment of readiness for drinking which is another -1 for me. It should be can drink now but has potential for aging. Price is premium at over P 3000.00.
Monbousquet Blanc 2005 - The wine is clear, medium (+) lemon, with legs. The nose is clean, medium (+) intensity of honey, peach, overripe mango, apricots and straw. Again I missed noting the development so -1. I should have noted that it was developing. The wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium alcohol, medium body and medium intensity flavors of unripe pineapple, mango and peach. Medium length. Drink now not intended for aging. Quality is acceptable. Price is high. I thought there was a huge disconnect between the nose which suggested a sweet luscious wine and the flavors which seemed rather muddled to me. Of course, it's opinions like this which aren't part of the WSET system.
Chateau Hosanna 2004 - The wine is clear, medium (+) garnet and with legs. The nose is clean, with medium intensity aromas of plum, cinnamon, nutmeg, blackberry and meat. The nose suggests the wine is developing. It is a dry wine with medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, medium alcohol, medium body and medium intensity flavors of roast meat, plum, black cherry, blueberry and coffee. Length is medium. It can be drunk now but can age. Quality is good. Price is premium. I don't think I missed anything in this note.
Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2003 - The wine is clear, medium lemon, and has legs. The nose is clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas of floral notes, orange rind, pineapple, honey, oak and nuts. The nose suggests this is fully developed. The wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium alcohol, and medium body. It has flavors (I forgot to write the intensity which is medium so -1) of nuts, butter, pineapple and oak. Length is medium. It is for drinking now and not intended for aging. Quality is good and it is high priced.
Les Monts Damnes Sancerre 2009 (I forgot to note the producer) - The wine is clear, pale lemon and has legs. The nose is clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas of grass, guava, green pepper and passionfruit. The nose is youthful. The wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium alcohol, medium body, and medium intensity flavors of lemon, lime, gooseberry, stone, mineral, grapefruit and unripe pineapple. Length is medium. Drink now not intended for aging. Quality is good. One could be forgiven for mistaking this for a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Arietta Cabernet Napa 2007 - The wine is clear, medium ruby and has legs. The nose is clean, with medium intensity aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, mint and leather. The nose suggests it is developing. The wine is dry, with medium acidity, medium (+) tannin, medium alcohol, medium body and medium intensity flavors of leather, oak, blackcurrant, blueberry, cinnamon and nutmeg. The length is medium (+). Can be drunk now but with potential for aging. Quality is good and price is premium.
Chateau Doisy Daene 2006 - The wine is clear, medium lemon and has legs. The nose is clean with medium (+) intensity aromas of peach, apricot, candied pineapple, mango and honey. The nose is youthful. The wine is luscious with medium acidity, medium alcohol, medium body and medium (+) flavors of honey, apricot, mango, peach, and candied pineapple. Length is long. Can be drunk now but has potential for aging. This is very good wine at a high price.
It's a pretty clinical way of describing wines but it has its uses. I've hardly been posting since I learned this system. Maybe it's just nerves about the test. Hopefully I'll get back into a note taking mood after the May 1. If anyone out there has taken the test and has any advice on my notes or any aspect of the test, I'd sure appreciate hearing from you.