Training for Advanced Sommelier

Hi, I am in the process of training for the Advanced Sommelier program and would like to share my findings so far. Any feedback, tips, recommendations etc would be great. I am tasting as much as possible in Queenstown, NZ, but many wines are impossible to source or very expensive. I have a great group who help me share the cost though!
I'll add WTN as I go.

German Riesling tasting 01/08/08
2006 Kunstler Stielweg Riesling QbA, Rheingau
Ap. Light straw/copper hints, star bright, high alcohol
Ar. Sweet fruit, lemon/lime, floral, bubblegum, orange blossom and ginger. Mineral notes. Mandarin and white peach, sweet citrus with stonefruit at the core.. White flowers and mineral overtones with a hint of ammonia – sulphur.
Fl. Very high acid, lemon.lime, juicy lime cordial finish. Citrus peel drying on finish. High acid and dry with high alcohol, very focused and linear. Burnt orange with some palate weight emerging.
Ov. Good quality, very high acid – all citrus and flowers – dry style.

2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Ap. Very light gold, star bright and light bodied.
Ar. Tea, hops and fresh apple. Honey and white peach. Granny smith apples, sweet apple sauce, med sweet high acid and low alcohol – balanced and pure.
Quite simple but pure, elegant and light.

2006 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe
Ar. Very light straw, star bright,
Ap. White peach, melon, honey, ginger, bubblegum and orange peel
Fl. Some palate weight – textured more than linear. Burst of citrus apple peach – oily mid-palate.
Ov. Medium bodied wine not overly acidic and medium sugar
A gorgeous Riesling, boasting grapefruit, mandarin orange, iris and stone notes. Pure and lacy, with refreshing acidity and a long, graceful finish. 90 cases imported.

2006 Kunstler Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau
Ap. Light gold with green flecks.
Ar. White flower, mandarin, lime, citrus peel and tea. Very funky.
Fl. Focused, powerful acidity – burst of citrus flavour and honey – mineral notes – riverstones.
Sweetness balanced by acidity. Has weight and ling finish.
Pale golden yellow. Ripe aromas of peach, lemon oil and nettles. Soft and creamy in texture, with sweet melon flavor enlivened by vibrant spice. A lively spatlese that finishes with a salty tang.

2007 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Ap. Light straw, green hints, star bright
Ar. Lemon blossom, lemon and lime, citrus peel, white peach – very fresh and bright. Very aromatic.
Mandarin flavours with minerals and lychee, exotic spices, perfume talcum powder and rose water.
Fl. Core of citrus, light palate, very linear and focused. Long and refreshing and evolving.
Ov. All lightness and freshness.

2003 Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling, Auslese, Rheingau
Golden colour, faded rim, star bright and very slow legs.
Caramel peach, some aged toffee characters and brulee
Serious. Thick, intense and powerful, wrapping its apricot, passion fruit and citrus notes in a velvety texture, all offset by a vivid structure. Great length. Set for a long life.

Cheers
Paul

Tasting held at Wine Tastes – 16/07/08

2005 Savinnieres Clos de Saint Yves, Domaine de Baumard
Ap. Light straw, star bright, light bodied.
Ar. Caramel, fudge, cooked ham, honey
Pa. Soft front palate, fattens in the middle with a hot finish. High balanced acid with noticeable alcohol.
Fl. Fresh minerality once opened, vinous with hints of nutty, oxidative winemaking
Ov. Nose promised more than palate – potential for aging. Acid carried through springy palate. Nuttiness extreme.

2006 Raats Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch
Ap. Light gold /copper, green tinges, star bright.
Ar. Ripe peach, pear, honey, candied fruit and grapefruit.
Pa. Fat, oily with a thread of acidity. Mouthfilling texture. Tough, phenolic finish. High acid, no obvious oak.
Fl. Apples, nuts, oxidative, vinous.
Ov. New World style, well made but lacking character. Has drinkability.

2005 Champalou Cuvee de Fondreaux Vouvray
Ap. Light gold, star bright, light/watery rim
Ar. Perfumed with honey and beeswax, cream, peach, pear and red apple.
Pa. Balanced. Medium sugar balanced by acid – cloys a touch on the finish.
Ov. Well balanced, typically Vouvray – honeyed, sweet and sour.

2005 Francois Chidaine Baudoin Vouvray
Oxidised – dry Vouvray

2003 Domaine Sourdais-Taveau Chinon
Ap. Light ruby red, day bright, slight brown rim
Ar. Tomato stalk, Cheese, Manure, hung meat and game. Dried herb, yeast and stalk
Pa. – wood tannins evident with high acid, balanced with tannins. Rounded texture.Some red fruits emerging with hints of balsamic
Ov. Light bodied red with raspberry fruit emerging after time. Drinking in its prime – beautiful, aromatic style – very dry

2005 Baumard Coteaux du Layon
Ap. Light straw – obvious viscosity from sugar.
Ar. Apples dominant, cooking apples – apple pie, Straw, honey and key lime pie.
Pa. Rounded, light with thread of limey acid. High sugar – no obvious oak or botrytis
Ov. Balanced late harvest style. Apple and lime dominated flavours with the acid holding the sweetness right through the palate.

Torres Celeste 2005 Ribera del Duero D.O. Crinza
100% Tempranillo
Ap. Dark plum red, pink hue, star bright, med bodied legs
Ar. Rich red/black fruit, vanilla toast. Black cherry, confectionary fruit/fruit compote
Slight popcorn/butter aroma, deep and dark fruit aromas. Very sweet fruit.
U.S. oak influence – quite obvious – vanilla toast and bubblegum.
Pa. Glycerol palate with hints of smoke. High toast barrels. Sweet cherry, plum attack which firms up on the mid palate. Tight tannins finishing dry. Med+ finish. Balanced oak and acidity – medium acidity. Very clean, fruit driven red/black fruits and hints of vanilla and smoke. Dries out a little on finish. Medium quality and needs time.
As wine warms the mid palate fattens up and shows an earthy/meaty character.
Ov. Impression – Modern style, well made and clean. Didn’t like the popcorn note. Medium bodied, fruit driven red – tempranillo seems to be high ph? - not a fat, mouth-filling wine.

Marques de Cáceres 2004 Rioja Crianza, Vendimia Seleccione D.O.C
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Marzuela
Ap. Very light tawny red w/ faded rim – day brught/orange hints. Light bodied red. Fast legs w/ no colour pigmentation.
Ar. Cooked fruit w/ dusty/earthy aromas, light balsamic, forest floor, cooked fig, savoury. Smells rustic with a sweet fruit core as it opens. Baked cherry – bakewell tart.
Pa. High acid, low tannin – medium finish. Tomato beefstock flavours with earth and wood. Dry finish – herbal. Sweet basil. Sweet and rounded attack followed by an acid finish.
Ov – Light bodied, rustic wine with baked cherry and beefstock. Wood prominent. High acid, med tannins, sharp finish. Old world style.

Artadi Orobio Rioja D.O.C. 2006
100% Tempranillo
Ap. Dark plum red, pink hue, star bright. Rich deep colour. Med bodied – very light coloration in legs.
Ar. Very sweet black cherry, plum and vanilla. Cinnamon hints with obvious oak influence. Faint earth/manure hints – sweet confection fruit – compote.
Pa. Core of sweet fruit w/ earth. Closed, tight palate. Dusty w/ sweet spice aroma. Med tannins and acidity. Moderate alcohol, med bodied. Lightly smoked meat character. Seet fruit attack, firm tannin on the mid palate – juicy finish. Sweet strawberry compote – dusty top note.
Sweet smokiness – U.S. oak? And high toast.
Ov. Balanced, juicy red with \savoury component to make it interesting. Med bodied and simple but very drinkable. Progressive Rioja style/warm vintage?
Rioja seems to have higher acid than Ribera.

Tinto Pesquera Ribera Del Duero 2005, Crianza, D.O
100% Tempranillo
Ap. Dark ruby red, purple hints, pink rim, star bright. Glycerol rich colour – fast legs with pigmentation.
Ar. Very sweet black cherry, plum mulberry, damson, freshly picked crushed berries. Vanilla and cinnamon, polished wood. Hot-buttered popcorn. Medium bodied. Acai – Brazilian fruit. U.S. oak influence. Dusty top note. Hints of coffee and spice.
Fl. Oak top heavy. Tight creamy attack, slight burnt aroma, mid palate with a dry finish. Medium alcohol – med tannin and acidity. Fine grain tannins.
Ov. Excessive alcohol and oak. Slight grilled meat flavour.

Tinto Pesquera Ribera Del Duero 2004, Reserva, D.O.
Ap. Dark plum red/purple hints, pink rim. Day bright – unfiltered?. Medium bodied w/ colour pigmentation.
Ar. Acai, black cherry, earth, manure, tar and cinnamon. Hot tar and gravel. Some V.A. but not obtrusive. Roasted meet, core of sweet fruit, leather.
Fl. Tight-knit closed palate, tightly structured w/ med acidity and med+tannins. Long and balanced, beef stock and meat. Balanced tannins firming up on the finish. Medium bodied – low ph wines?. Linear – not a mouthfilling wine.
Ov. Ribera seems to be linear with a tight palate. More obvious tannins – reserve. Low acid, low p.h. with strong us oak influence. Sweet fruits and spices.

Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva Rioja, 2001, D.O.
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano
Ap. Dark ruby red, lightly faded rim, star bright. Med bodied little or no col. Pigmentation
Ar. Some malic notes, cooked fruit – baked berries/cherries. Vanilla. Aged notes. Dusty oak influence. Polished wood, beef stock, cooked meat. Savoury. Acai.
Pa. Rich palate w/ med tannins, acid and a meaty rich palate. Meaty rich palate, game meat and silky. Finishes with black cherry, med+ length. In prime balanced and elegant, spice cinnamon.
Ov. Drinking superbly with a silky palate and integrated flavours.

Rhone Tasting 20/08/08

2006 Guigal Condrieu
Ap. light gold, star bright and slow legs.
Ar. Apricot, perfume, powdery texture, dried fruit. White peach, musk. Very aromatic and floral.
Fl. Oily, low acid and hot. Peach and musk. Dry palate with heat on the finish. Long finish and a broad palate.
Overall – quite light and a little dull

2006 Chapoutier Les Meysonnieres Crozes Hermitage
Ap. Dark plum, pink hue, high alcohol.
Ar. Plum, dark cherry, black pepper and chocolate. Earthy and floral with dried herbs and sweet spice.
Palate – high acidity and low tannins, lots of cherry bakewell tart, almond and a core of sweet fruit, balanced oak – dries out on finish.

2004 Guigal Cote du Rhone
Ap. Light plum, pink hue, high alcohol
Ar. Rose, floral, violets, red fruits and nettle. Dried herb and creamy fruit liqueur.
Pa. Light and fruit driven. Simple palate and short. Some tannins present but light. Fruit liqueuer - strawberry cherry and cassis.

2005 Chapoutier Bernadine Chateauneuf de Pape
Ap. Deep ruby red, pink hue, day bright, dark centered and full bodied
Ar. Earth, oak and fruit liqueur, chocolate, plum and cherry. Sweet spice and balsamic.
Pa. Sweet fruit attack w very dry tannins. Very young. Persistent flavours – earth, oak and plum. Grape and wood tannins. Still aggressive but a sweet nose
Ov. Charred/cooked fruit with grippy tannins and high acid.

2003 Domaine de Coyeux Muscat de Beaumes Venise
Ap. Talc, powder, lychee, flowers, apricot and peach. Honey. Very sweet nose and a little coconut,
Light, elegant palate, sweetness. Waxy, lanolin nose.
Very light and pretty. Bitter lemon/tonic bitterness. Orange peel. Musk, peach and cocnut.

Hi Paul,

The thing I notice most is that those wines are all extremely young. How will you develop your palate to be able to differentiate the quality of aged wines? I know that purchasing such wines is nearly cost prohibitive.

Torres Celeste 2005 Ribera del Duero D.O. Crinza

Share your thoughts on this one! Need a few years but still flies off the shelf. Never thought Canadians liked their wines so young (grin wink)!!
The Muga sounds about right, good notes all round.