Tag Archives: WSET

Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2016, North Coast, California

11 Tuesday May 2021

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My wine course is finishing up with sparkling wines and fortified wines. This particular bottle was brought over by our friends Arty and Keef. It’s been sitting in the fridge, waiting for the right occasion. Dinner with my cousin and Aunt after a nearly two year COVID hiatus is a good time to pop this bottle.

It’s a medium lemon shade in the glass with nice mousse. The nose has a good intensity of pink grapefruit, lemon, bananas, bread dough and almonds. The palate is dry with juicy acidity, is medium bodied with pronounced flavors of green pear, grapefruit, lemon, brioche and almonds. The finish is decent in length and the wine is very good. I am giving this Chardonnay based sparkler 91 points and for $32 it’s a great deal that gets 5 stars from me. Thanks guys at the 204! Drink till 2030. Salut….

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Harveys Solera Sherry NV, Spain

11 Tuesday May 2021

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It has been 41 years since I last necked some Sherry. Those of you who know me will realize how old/young I was, and you could probably cotton-on to the fact that it was not a good experience. It’s taken this long PLUS an assignment in my wine course to get me to buy and taste a glass of the stuff. I must say, I kinda liked it.

This particular brand is like the Budweiser of Sherry, mass produced, generally okay stuff and cheap enough. My intro back into the world of fortified Spanish wine was easy enough. This wine is rather straightforward and basic. It is tasty without too much complexity and should be served chilled. We missed that part of the equation. I would not even know how to score this wine, but if you are looking for an aperitif- try some….it’s unique and won’t break the bank. You can use the leftovers to make a Lobster bisque! $16 is a nice price to boot. Salut….

Appearance : 

  • Intensity : Light
  • Color : Tawny

Nose : 

  • Intensity : Medium 
  • Aroma characteristics : Primary notes of Orange peel, Fruitcake and raisin.  Tertiary aromas of Caramel and walnut.

Palate : 

  • Sweetness : Medium
  • Acidity : Medium
  • Tannin : Medium 
  • Alcohol : Medium
  • Body : Light
  • Flavor intensity : Light
  • Primary flavors of Fruitcake, raisin, fig.  Tertiary flavors of walnuts.  No secondary flavors detected
  • Finish : short

Conclusions : Quality : Acceptable

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Kirkland Asolo Prosecco DOCG NV, Italy

10 Monday May 2021

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One of my course requirements this week is to taste a Prosecco. I had previously bought some very reasonably priced bottles at Costco so I thought I would rate one. I enjoyed the wine- it’s rather basic but fresh and light. We are ordering some spicy Thai dishes tonight, this has to be one of the best pairing options. At $ 7, it’s a steal that gets 88 points from me. Stock up and enjoy chilled in the summer- 5 star stuff. Salut….

Kirkland Asolo Prosecco DOCG NV, Italy.  11% ABV

Appearance : 

  • Intensity : Pale
  • Color : Lemon

Nose : 

  • Intensity : Medium 
  • Aroma characteristics : Primary notes of Green Apple, Grapefruit and lemon

Palate : 

  • Sweetness : Off-Dry
  • Acidity : High
  • Alcohol : Low
  • Body : Light
  • Flavor intensity : Medium with Primary notes of pear, lemon and grapefruit. 
  • Finish : short

Conclusions : Quality is Acceptable

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Dr. H. Thanisch Berncasteler Ley Riesling Auslese 2017. Mosel, Germany

06 Thursday May 2021

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As you may have read in my last post- the assignment for the wine course I am taking has a comparison between a dry Aussie Riesling with a sweeter German Auslese. Here is the official review that I submitted:

Dr. H. Thanisch Berncasteler Ley Riesling Auslese 2017.  Mosel, Germany.  8.5% ABV

Appearance : 

  • Intensity : Pale
  • Color : Gold

Nose : 

  • Intensity : Light 
  • Aroma characteristics : Primary notes of Mango, Passion Fruit and Apricot.  Secondary aromas of Gingerbread.

Palate : 

  • Sweetness : Medium
  • Acidity : Medium
  • Alcohol : Low
  • Body : Medium
  • Flavor intensity : Pronounced Primary flavors of  Peach and Apricot.   Tertiary flavors of Honey and Marmalade.
  • Finish : Medium

Conclusions : Very good quality, unctuous but not overly sweet.

Moxie was tasting with me but she thought this wine was too sweet for her. It’s a good quality drop if you are in the market but it runs $32 right now, getting 92 points makes it a 5 star sweetie. This one will last a good while, till 2035. Salut….

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Alkoomi Riesling 2019, Western Australia

06 Thursday May 2021

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In my wine course there is a definitive method to tasting wines. This week our task has been to compare an Australian Riesling with an Auslese version from Germany. Here are the notes, in the correct format, for the Aussie one.

Alkoomi Riesling 2019, Western Australia.  12.0% ABV

Appearance : 

  • Intensity : Pale
  • Colour : Lemon

Nose : 

  • Intensity : Medium 
  • Aroma characteristics : Primary notes of Grapefruit, Quince and Lemon.  Secondary notes of Papier Machè and bread dough.

Palate : 

  • Sweetness : Off-Dry
  • Acidity : High
  • Alcohol : Medium
  • Body : Medium
  • Flavor intensity : Medium with Primary flavors of  Lemon, Pink Grapefruit and Peach.   
  • Finish : Long

Conclusions : Good Quality

For $17, this 90 point wine is a 5 star effort if you are in the market for a crisp, juicy Riesling to pair with grilled Mackerel or Oysters on the half shell. Drink till 2025. Salut….

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Azienda Agricola Gabutti Boasso Barolo Serralunga 2016, Barolo DOCG, Italy

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

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The Nebbiolo grape is very deceiving. In the glass it is see-through and pale garnet in color yet I know what to expect when we first taste this one. The nose gives me gobs of red cherry, cranberry, strawberry, spice and some caramel. On the palate it’s exactly what I was expecting and hoping for. Richly tannic, mouthwateringly acidic and delicious with red fruits galore. Cherries, strawberries, mouth searing tannins, and enough acidity to melt nuts and bolts. The mid palate allows the fruit to shine whilst the tannins and acid step aside momentarily. The finish is a really dry affair but I still get red fruits- the tannins are searing. This young wine needs a bunch of time in the cellar or a good aerating. It will last a long time if cellared correctly and will hopefully gain some tertiary flavors as we have already seen with a touch of Caramel on the nose,( which did not translate onto the palate). 93 points for me make this a big wine. At $40, it’s at the lower end for most good Barolos and gets 5 stars from me. Drink from 2025 to 2035. Salut….

Vignobles Bulliat Moulin-a-Vent 2018, Beaujolais, France

28 Wednesday Apr 2021

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This Gamay is medium Ruby in the glass with some funk on the nose alongside red currants and cranberry. The palate is very tart and acidic with red fruits comprising red cherry, currants and pomegranate. Beaujolais wines typically have no discernible backbone of tannins as they rarely see much wood treatment or extended maceration with the skins but this one has me perplexed as I do sense some astringency on the gums and some potential tannic grip. At three years of age it’s already at peak and should be drunk sooner rather than later- preferably chilled and sitting on a sidewalk in Paris. I would pair this with salmon on the grill, roasted chicken or eggplant parmigiana. 88 points for this $14 effort make it a four-star wine. Salut….

Dr. Konstantin Frank Gewurztraminer 2017, Finger Lakes, New York

14 Wednesday Apr 2021

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Pale lemon in the glass this Gewurztraminer has a pronounced nose with flavors of rose petals, melon and lychee.  On the palate it is a touch sweet and rounded with lychee flavors and a slight astringency. The mid palate gives me some honey to go along with the strong lychee flavors. The wine is full-bodied and the finish carries on the floral and tropical fruit notes for a short to medium length finish. 89 points for me and for $14 this is a really good introduction to this varietal that gets 4 stars. At 13% alcohol it’s an easy quaffer for an afternoon by the pool. I would pair it with spicy dishes all day long.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

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