WSET第4級第3週品酒筆記

本週上課的內容是討論葡萄酒的行銷，試酒清單也終於增加到6瓶(雖然一樣廉價)。在試完每瓶酒之後，針對這瓶酒的特色與大家討論4P(Product, Price, Place & Promotion)的行銷策略，也意外地了解到其中最熱賣的Apothic加州紅酒($16)竟然是依照市場調查消費者喜好的口味而特別調配出來的葡萄酒，味道也出乎意料中的順口...

但是本週的推薦是10年的 Schild Shiraz Barossa

酒名：SCHILD ESTATE Shiraz Barossa 2010
產地：澳洲南澳巴羅莎河谷
品種：希拉
開瓶：2013-10-23於SET第4級課程 (CAD $30)
評分：無 (08年份 WS 94，百大葡萄酒第7名)
視覺：清澈，深石榴石色
嗅覺：純淨，中上的黑棗乾，香草，與皮革，年輕。
味覺：不甜，中酸性，中上單寧，高酒精濃度與豐富酒體。中上的櫻桃，黑棗乾，黑胡椒，檜木與巧克力口味。中回味長度。

結論：口味豐富但凝聚且平衡，有著絲綢般的單寧。可惜缺乏相對的香味與回味長度。已達適飲期，也有繼續貯存潛力。

WSET Level 4 Wine Tasting Week 3

Thanks to discussion of  wine marketing this week, we were able to taste 6 bottle of economy wines and base on the results to discuss product/price/place/promotion strategies.  What refreshing me was one of the top sales wines in north America - Apothic Red - was tailor-made based on market research of general consumers' aroma/flavor preferences.  Honest speaking, the wine was surprisingly not bad...

Pick of the week:  10 Schild Shiraz Barossa

SCHILD ESTATE Shiraz Barossa 2010

Tasted on 2013-10-13 at WSET Level 4 Class (CAD $30)
No rating (08' vintage was WS 94 & #8 of 2010's top 100)

Appearance: Clear, dark garnet

Nose: Clean, medium+ dry plum, vanilla, and leather aromas at youthful stage

Palate: Dry, medium acidity, medium+ tannin, high alcohol and full-bodied. With medium+ cherry, dry plum, vanilla, black pepper, cedar and chocolate flavors. Medium length.

Conclusion: A concentrated wine with balanced complexity and silky tannin but lack of aromas and length. Drink now and will benefit for further ageing.

WSET第4級第2週品酒筆記

有時候換了一個新工作或交了個新女友，才會知道舊的好。整個溫哥華只有一家學校提供WSET第4級課程，只好來被強迫來新的地方上課，才知道前一個學校一堂課品嚐８瓶酒（包括1到2瓶80元以上），配有助教，桌上鋪好放ISO試酒杯的白紙，除了水以外還提供了麵包，起司與水果，通通都是對學生的奢侈。新學校的教室竟然有的桌上還擺著電腦兼當電腦教室，老師還要處理每個同學充滿泡泡的吐杯，試飲的4瓶酒中有3瓶不到20元，其中竟然還包含一瓶9元...

本週的試酒清單不難決定地就只能推薦這瓶04年的Chateau de Ferrand

酒名：Chateau de Ferrand Saint Emilion 2004
產地：法國波爾多右岸聖愛美隆
品種：79%梅洛，11%卡本內弗朗，10%卡本內蘇維儂
開瓶：2013-10-16於SET第4級課程 (CAD $40)
評分：無
視覺：清澈，中石榴石色
嗅覺：純淨，中上的黑櫻桃果醬，花香，肉桂與皮革，陳年中。
味覺：不甜，中上的酸性，生澀單寧，酒精濃度與酒體。中上的黑櫻桃果醬，無花果，香草，礦物，肉桂與木材香料口味。中上回味長度。

結論：優質且價格實惠的聖艾米儂。已達適飲期，也有繼續貯存潛力。

WSET Level 4 Wine Tasting Week２

Good old days are always missed whenever switching to either a new job or a new girl friend.  There is only one place in Vancouver to attend WSET diploma course - right after studying at the new school for second week, I suddenly understood it was sumptuous at the previous school to have 8 wines per class (including 1-2 bottles $80+), a teaching assistant, sheets of white paper to hold the ISO glasses, and lastly, a huge and decorated plate of cheese, fruits and breads.

On the contrary, it looks like a norm at the new school to have classroom with computers on-and-off tables, four bottles of tasting including two under $20 & one $8.95 wine, and an attractive and knowledgeable teacher who need to deal with 15 creamy-bubbled spit buckets herself...

It was not difficult to decide the pick of the week:  04 Chateau de Ferrand

Chateau de Ferrand Saint Emilion 2004

Tasted on 2013-10-16 at WSET Level 4 Class (CAD $40)

Appearance: Clear, medium garnet

Nose: Clean, medium+ black cherry jam, floral, cinammon, and leather at developing stage

Palate: Dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ fine green tannin, medium+ alcohol and medium+ bodied. With medium+ black cherry jam, fig, vanilla, mineral and wood spice flavors.  Medium+ length.

Conclusion: Very good and affordable St-Emilion.  Drink now and may benefit for further ageing.

NICOLAS FEUILLATTE Brut Rosé Champagne NV ★★★★

酒名：NICOLAS FEUILLATTE Brut Rosé Champagne NV
產地：法國香檳區
品種：Pinot Noir黑皮諾，Chardonnay夏多內與Pinot Meunier莫尼耶皮諾
購於：BC Liquor Store (CAD 70)
開瓶：2013-10-11於溫哥華自宅
評分：WS 92 
視覺：清澈，中鮭魚色，綿密泡沫
嗅覺：純淨，濃郁的草莓，櫻桃果醬，菇類與餅乾氣味，陳年中
味覺：不甜，高酸性，中酒精濃度，中上酒體。有中上的葡萄柚，檸檬，草莓，蘋果，櫻桃白蘭地，肉桂，餅乾，白胡椒與菇類口味，長餘韻

結論：★★★★具有優秀風味組合且典雅的粉紅香檳。已可適飲，應無繼續貯存潛力。

NICOLAS FEUILLATTE Brut Rosé Champagne NV

Bought at BC Liquor Store (CAD 70)

Tasted at Vancouver home on 2013-10-11

WS 92 

Appearance:Clear, medium salmon, creamy mousse

Nose: Clean, pronounced strawberry, cherry jam, mushroom and biscuit aromas at developing stage

Palate: Dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol and medium+ bodied. With medium+ grapefruit, citrus, strawberry, apple, kirsch, cinnamon,  biscuit, white pepper and mushroom  with long length.

Conclusion: ★★★★Very well structured and elegant rosé Champagne.    Drink now, not suitable for further ageing.

WSET第4級第1週品酒筆記

邁向WSET第4級，心中有些惶恐，因為這個學位的級數竟然要分六個部份分別地測驗，一般人大約需要花2年的時間來完成這個及格率不到3成的考試。聽完講解心中已經涼了半截，在驚嚇當中試酒的能力被打回Ground Zero。

本週的試酒名單首選 10年的Chapoutier Schieferkopf Lieu-Dit Fels Riesling

酒名：M. CHAPOUTIER Riesling Alsace Lieu-Dit Fels Schieferkopf 2010
產地：法國阿爾薩斯
品種：麗絲玲
開瓶：2013-10-09於WSET第4級課程 (CAD $45)
評分：WS 92 / RP 93
視覺：清澈，淡金色
嗅覺：純淨，濃郁的柑橘，鳳梨，花香，礦物與石蠟氣味，年輕。
味覺：微甜與不甜之間，中上的酸性，酒精濃度與酒體。中上的葡萄柚，檸檬，鳳梨，白胡椒與礦物口味。長回味長度。
結論：有著現代風味的優質阿爾薩斯麗絲玲。已達適飲期，最多可再貯存4-5年。

WSET Level 4 Wine Tasting Week 1

Picks of the week:  10 Chapoutier Schieferkopf Lieu-Dit Fels Riesling

My tasting skills was back to ground zero after the shock of finding out the 2+ years, 6 exams and <30% passing rate of this diploma level...  

M. CHAPOUTIER Riesling Alsace Lieu-Dit Fels Schieferkopf 2010

Tasted on 2013-10-09 at WSET Level 4 Class (CAD $45)

WS 92 / RP 93

Appearance: Clear, pale gold

Nose: Clean, pronounced tangerine, pineapple, floral, mineral and waxy aromas at youthful stage

Palate: Dry to off-dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol and medium+ bodied. With medium+ grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, white pepper and mineral flavors with long length.

Conclusion: Very good Alsace Riesling in modern style.  Drink now and may benefit for 4-5 years further ageing.