Really interesting article about decanting from Wine Searcher.
http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2013/08/decanting-what-makes-it-work
It goes into detail about the chemistry of what happens to a wine when it is aerated in this way. Also, they conclude that the oxygen is not reacting with the tannins so it's just an issue of perception that tannins are softened by aerating.
Thursday 23 October 2014
Saturday 18 October 2014
Spain (WSET)
More notes from ages ago... Spain tasting at the WSET Centre.
1. Tinajas de la Mata, Bodegas Bernabe Navarro
Didn't note the vintage
Medium gold colour. Semi-cloudy appearance (unfiltered). Medium strength oxidative aroma. Floral. Very complex. Almost cider-like nose.
Dry, high acid. Quite light body, but complex aftertaste. More apple fruit on the palate than on the nose.
Very good. This would be an enjoyable aperitif wine. Very interesting.
Price: GBP 12.42
2. El Bon Homme, Rafael Cambra, 2010
DO Valencia
Pretty deep purple colour. Somewhat watery rim. This smells like a young red wine - blackcurrant, vanilla. Something savoury overlaying this though.
High acid, medium body. Surprisingly high tannin. Decent length.
Good, but not amazing.
Price: GBP 10.95
3. La Tremenda, Enrique Mendoza 2010
DO Valencia
Deep purple colour. Medium(+) fruit intensity. Meaty, savoury notes overlaying the black fruit. Somewhat stewed fruit - presumably very ripe grapes.
Medium(+) body. Juicy fruit. More likely to age than the previous wine. High tannin, very fresh. Good concentration. Pepper. Silky mouthfeel.
This is very good. Felt like it had ageing potential.
Price: GBP 11.95
4. Altico Syrah, Bodegas Carchelo
DO Valencia. Didn't note the vintage. 100% Syrah
Opaque red wine. Inky.
Almost port-like nose (spiritous)
High tannin, high(ish) acid. Fairly simple character.
Enjoyable, but wouldn't seek it out. Much less refined than the previous wine.
Price: GBP 12.99
5. Doble Pasta, Cien y Pico
DO Manchuela. Vintage not noted (again!)
Inky purple colour. Medium intensity. Woody, with vanilla notes. Also some blueberries and cherries.
Spicy finish. Medium body. High tannin. Only 13.5% abv. Smooth mouthfeel on initial attack, but pretty searing after a while. This gets too much.
Price: GBP 11.45
6. P.F. 2010, Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce
DO Manchuela
This is made from the bobal grape.
Pretty deep purple colour. Watery rim. Green pepper, herbal notes. Some vanilla.
Smooth and silky on the initial attack. Serious tannin comes through after a while though - very fine tannin, even if a lot of it. Intense and mouthfilling. High acid.
Price: GBP 15.90
7. Mestizaje Tinto, Bodega Mustiguillo, 2011
Deep, almost opaque purple. Modern-style nose.
Smooth, juicy fruit. Very balanced. Complex. Very interesting.
Price: GBP 11.95
8. Felipe Gutierrez de la Vega, Casta Diva, Moscatel 2009
DO Alicante
Honey-coloured. Nose has intense orange and floral notes. A little "grapey". Very clean. No botrytis.
Honey and apricots on the palate. Fresh, good acid. Well balanced. Intense. Sweet, but not at all cloying.
Very nice.
Price: GBP 18.90
1. Tinajas de la Mata, Bodegas Bernabe Navarro
Didn't note the vintage
Medium gold colour. Semi-cloudy appearance (unfiltered). Medium strength oxidative aroma. Floral. Very complex. Almost cider-like nose.
Dry, high acid. Quite light body, but complex aftertaste. More apple fruit on the palate than on the nose.
Very good. This would be an enjoyable aperitif wine. Very interesting.
Price: GBP 12.42
2. El Bon Homme, Rafael Cambra, 2010
DO Valencia
Pretty deep purple colour. Somewhat watery rim. This smells like a young red wine - blackcurrant, vanilla. Something savoury overlaying this though.
High acid, medium body. Surprisingly high tannin. Decent length.
Good, but not amazing.
Price: GBP 10.95
3. La Tremenda, Enrique Mendoza 2010
DO Valencia
Deep purple colour. Medium(+) fruit intensity. Meaty, savoury notes overlaying the black fruit. Somewhat stewed fruit - presumably very ripe grapes.
Medium(+) body. Juicy fruit. More likely to age than the previous wine. High tannin, very fresh. Good concentration. Pepper. Silky mouthfeel.
This is very good. Felt like it had ageing potential.
Price: GBP 11.95
4. Altico Syrah, Bodegas Carchelo
DO Valencia. Didn't note the vintage. 100% Syrah
Opaque red wine. Inky.
Almost port-like nose (spiritous)
High tannin, high(ish) acid. Fairly simple character.
Enjoyable, but wouldn't seek it out. Much less refined than the previous wine.
Price: GBP 12.99
5. Doble Pasta, Cien y Pico
DO Manchuela. Vintage not noted (again!)
Inky purple colour. Medium intensity. Woody, with vanilla notes. Also some blueberries and cherries.
Spicy finish. Medium body. High tannin. Only 13.5% abv. Smooth mouthfeel on initial attack, but pretty searing after a while. This gets too much.
Price: GBP 11.45
6. P.F. 2010, Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce
DO Manchuela
This is made from the bobal grape.
Pretty deep purple colour. Watery rim. Green pepper, herbal notes. Some vanilla.
Smooth and silky on the initial attack. Serious tannin comes through after a while though - very fine tannin, even if a lot of it. Intense and mouthfilling. High acid.
Price: GBP 15.90
7. Mestizaje Tinto, Bodega Mustiguillo, 2011
Deep, almost opaque purple. Modern-style nose.
Smooth, juicy fruit. Very balanced. Complex. Very interesting.
Price: GBP 11.95
8. Felipe Gutierrez de la Vega, Casta Diva, Moscatel 2009
DO Alicante
Honey-coloured. Nose has intense orange and floral notes. A little "grapey". Very clean. No botrytis.
Honey and apricots on the palate. Fresh, good acid. Well balanced. Intense. Sweet, but not at all cloying.
Very nice.
Price: GBP 18.90
Monday 10 Sept 2012
1. Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Very pale, almost colourless. Restrained nose for a Sauvignon Blanc - some gooseberry, some citrus notes. Quite grassy. However, the wine has an intense palate - probably as a result of being left on the lees. Heavier mouthfeel. Plenty of fruit on the palate. Good length. Perhaps a little hot on the finish but otherwise very good. Powerful, primary character.
2. Chardonnay 2010
Medium gold. Intense nose. Noticeable oak, apple, nuts, cream, vanilla (the usual suspects). Very high acid. Full bodied, with a silky mouthfeel. Palate is quite intense - nuts, cooked apple, candied lemon. This is good, but perhaps would prefer it if it had more noticeable primary fruit character.
3. The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Really juicy blackberry fruit on the nose. Also, spice, liquorice, tobacco. The fruit is less prominent on the palate, but still plenty of liquorice. Sour finish, but otherwise very easy drinking. Simple and nice, not for storage but enjoyable now.
4. Old Bush Vine Pinotage 2010
Jammy red fruit on nose. Very ripe. Banana note on palate - in fact somewhat reminiscent of a barbecued banana . Quite soft and enjoyable, but somewhat sour finish. Probably better with food.
5. Three Cape Ladies 2010
This is the first serious red wine tonight. Red fruit on the nose... also something like beer too. Can a wine be "hoppy"? Ripe fruit - something cooked or concentrated about the flavour on the nose - not really noticeable on the palate. The oak is there but feels restrained, despite having spent almost 2 years in oak! Prominent tannins. This is somewhat austere, but in a good way. A very good wine. Will age.
6. Trilogy 2009
Complex meaty aromas overlaying black fruit. Really refined palate. Silky mouthfeel. Great fruit intensity. Meaty and savoury on the finish. This is really very good. Power, balance and complexity. Should age well too.
7. Cabernet Franc 2009
Ripe black fruit and tobacco on the nose. Silky and high acid on the palate - the tannins, whilst present, feel well camouflaged. A little restrained at first, this opened up nicely in the glass. Probably needs a little time to really hit its stride - promises great things. However, it's very nice now as well.
1. Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Very pale, almost colourless. Restrained nose for a Sauvignon Blanc - some gooseberry, some citrus notes. Quite grassy. However, the wine has an intense palate - probably as a result of being left on the lees. Heavier mouthfeel. Plenty of fruit on the palate. Good length. Perhaps a little hot on the finish but otherwise very good. Powerful, primary character.
2. Chardonnay 2010
Medium gold. Intense nose. Noticeable oak, apple, nuts, cream, vanilla (the usual suspects). Very high acid. Full bodied, with a silky mouthfeel. Palate is quite intense - nuts, cooked apple, candied lemon. This is good, but perhaps would prefer it if it had more noticeable primary fruit character.
3. The First Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Really juicy blackberry fruit on the nose. Also, spice, liquorice, tobacco. The fruit is less prominent on the palate, but still plenty of liquorice. Sour finish, but otherwise very easy drinking. Simple and nice, not for storage but enjoyable now.
4. Old Bush Vine Pinotage 2010
Jammy red fruit on nose. Very ripe. Banana note on palate - in fact somewhat reminiscent of a barbecued banana . Quite soft and enjoyable, but somewhat sour finish. Probably better with food.
5. Three Cape Ladies 2010
This is the first serious red wine tonight. Red fruit on the nose... also something like beer too. Can a wine be "hoppy"? Ripe fruit - something cooked or concentrated about the flavour on the nose - not really noticeable on the palate. The oak is there but feels restrained, despite having spent almost 2 years in oak! Prominent tannins. This is somewhat austere, but in a good way. A very good wine. Will age.
6. Trilogy 2009
Complex meaty aromas overlaying black fruit. Really refined palate. Silky mouthfeel. Great fruit intensity. Meaty and savoury on the finish. This is really very good. Power, balance and complexity. Should age well too.
7. Cabernet Franc 2009
Ripe black fruit and tobacco on the nose. Silky and high acid on the palate - the tannins, whilst present, feel well camouflaged. A little restrained at first, this opened up nicely in the glass. Probably needs a little time to really hit its stride - promises great things. However, it's very nice now as well.
Gavalas Winery, Santorini
Visited in Summer 2012.
The contrast beween this winery and Boutari was very interesting. Boutari is a large, modern winery with plenty of new winemaking technology. This is a small old-fashioned family producer. For example, the Vin Santo is still made by foot-treading in a concrete lagare (or whatever the correct Greek word for this is!) with the filtration being done by having the wine drip through a wicker basket!
Like an idiot, I didn't note down any of the vintages here. D'Oh!
1. Katsano (actually 85% Katsano and 15% Gaidouria)
This is a new grape variety for me. Apparently it accounts for around 1% of Santorini wine production. Since this is not Assyrtiko, this is officially a "regional wine of the cyclades" rather than from the Santorini appellation.
Pale lemon colour. Herbal and smoky nose (no oak). Smooth mouthfeel. Very acidic and refreshing. Light body. Well balanced. Mineral finish. This is very good, if unusual.
2. Santorini
Very pale colour. Nose is predominantly primary fruit - lots of lemon. Also some floral notes. Upon swirling the wine in the glass, the usual Santorini sea-salt smell comes through as well. Intense palate. Lots of lemony acidity. Strong minerality. Great length and powerful finish. An excellent unoaked example
3. Nikteri
This is not barrel-fermented, but is aged in oak for 6-months after fermentation. A half-way house between the usual Santorini style and the Barrel-Fermented style. I like it. Medium-pale gold colour. Nose has usual primary fruit, but also spice, nuts and vanilla. Also creamy notes from the oak. The palate is intense and the wine is surprisingly full bodied. This is somewhat rustic in character. High acid, but soft and creamy mouthfeel. Lots of power and well balanced. Very good.
4. Vin Santo
Dark toffee/treacle colour. Strong sweet aromas such as toffee, also plenty of complexity. Coffee, orange. The palate is a bit too sticky, a little raisiny. Some rancio character on the palate. Bitter chocolate. This does have high acid, but the sweetness still feels a little overdone. This is good, but only in very small doses.
The contrast beween this winery and Boutari was very interesting. Boutari is a large, modern winery with plenty of new winemaking technology. This is a small old-fashioned family producer. For example, the Vin Santo is still made by foot-treading in a concrete lagare (or whatever the correct Greek word for this is!) with the filtration being done by having the wine drip through a wicker basket!
Like an idiot, I didn't note down any of the vintages here. D'Oh!
1. Katsano (actually 85% Katsano and 15% Gaidouria)
This is a new grape variety for me. Apparently it accounts for around 1% of Santorini wine production. Since this is not Assyrtiko, this is officially a "regional wine of the cyclades" rather than from the Santorini appellation.
Pale lemon colour. Herbal and smoky nose (no oak). Smooth mouthfeel. Very acidic and refreshing. Light body. Well balanced. Mineral finish. This is very good, if unusual.
2. Santorini
Very pale colour. Nose is predominantly primary fruit - lots of lemon. Also some floral notes. Upon swirling the wine in the glass, the usual Santorini sea-salt smell comes through as well. Intense palate. Lots of lemony acidity. Strong minerality. Great length and powerful finish. An excellent unoaked example
3. Nikteri
This is not barrel-fermented, but is aged in oak for 6-months after fermentation. A half-way house between the usual Santorini style and the Barrel-Fermented style. I like it. Medium-pale gold colour. Nose has usual primary fruit, but also spice, nuts and vanilla. Also creamy notes from the oak. The palate is intense and the wine is surprisingly full bodied. This is somewhat rustic in character. High acid, but soft and creamy mouthfeel. Lots of power and well balanced. Very good.
4. Vin Santo
Dark toffee/treacle colour. Strong sweet aromas such as toffee, also plenty of complexity. Coffee, orange. The palate is a bit too sticky, a little raisiny. Some rancio character on the palate. Bitter chocolate. This does have high acid, but the sweetness still feels a little overdone. This is good, but only in very small doses.
Boutari Winery, Santorini
Visited in Summer 2012.
1. Santorini 2011
Pale green. Floral, appley nose. Hints of the sea. Very crisp and acidic. Strong lemon flavour on palate. Lots of minerality. Good fruit intensity. Surprisingly long given that this is just the entry level wine. Well balanced. Very good.
Cost: 8 EUR
2. Kallisti Reserve 2007
Deeper yellow colour than the previous wine, coming from the oak and the extra age. Noticeable oak on the nose - some smoky and creamy notes. Soft and silky mouthfeel, some oak tannins. There is a something of a sherry / oxidation character. Good, refreshing acid. Complex. Very interesting. This was paired with a Greek cheese (didn't get the name) and the pairing was excellent. The cheese tasted sharper and the wine tasted creamier.
Cost: 15 EUR
3. Mandilaria 2009
This is a semi-dry red wine, which sounds like a pretty inauspicious start. The grapes are dried for around 3 days before pressing. This sweetness helps to mitigate the tannins. However, it's not to my taste. The nose is simple red fruit. The palate is sour, with residual sugar. Light and simple. You'd have to be insane to buy this for more than the first wine though!
Cost: 9 EUR
4. Vin Santo Santorini 2007
Vin Santos come from white grapes which have been sun dried. The wine is then aged for over 3 years in barrel - sometimes much longer.
Intense aroma of toffee, nuts, coffee. Some oxidized and rancio aromas. Good acidity... the finish is almost sour. This is complex and well balanced. Very good.
Cost: 16 EUR (didn't note down bottle size though)
1. Santorini 2011
Pale green. Floral, appley nose. Hints of the sea. Very crisp and acidic. Strong lemon flavour on palate. Lots of minerality. Good fruit intensity. Surprisingly long given that this is just the entry level wine. Well balanced. Very good.
Cost: 8 EUR
2. Kallisti Reserve 2007
Deeper yellow colour than the previous wine, coming from the oak and the extra age. Noticeable oak on the nose - some smoky and creamy notes. Soft and silky mouthfeel, some oak tannins. There is a something of a sherry / oxidation character. Good, refreshing acid. Complex. Very interesting. This was paired with a Greek cheese (didn't get the name) and the pairing was excellent. The cheese tasted sharper and the wine tasted creamier.
Cost: 15 EUR
3. Mandilaria 2009
This is a semi-dry red wine, which sounds like a pretty inauspicious start. The grapes are dried for around 3 days before pressing. This sweetness helps to mitigate the tannins. However, it's not to my taste. The nose is simple red fruit. The palate is sour, with residual sugar. Light and simple. You'd have to be insane to buy this for more than the first wine though!
Cost: 9 EUR
4. Vin Santo Santorini 2007
Vin Santos come from white grapes which have been sun dried. The wine is then aged for over 3 years in barrel - sometimes much longer.
Intense aroma of toffee, nuts, coffee. Some oxidized and rancio aromas. Good acidity... the finish is almost sour. This is complex and well balanced. Very good.
Cost: 16 EUR (didn't note down bottle size though)
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