Wiine Tasting Deconstructed

Have you loved 15 dollar bottle of wine then paid 50 for its refined cousin expecting an experience 3 times more ethereal?  Been acutely disappointed? 

Why are charmed by one bottle and deflated after the next?   Like a great first date, that leads to an awkward second that leaves you wondering why it was you said yes. 

Great romances require effort and these ecstasy/abandonment experiences made me certain that if I only knew more I could improve the quality of my relationship with wine.

Where to start: books and the internet. But, the more I read, the more confused I became.  Wine spectator, Decanter, Oz Clarke’s books, copy of The Wine Bible.  Lots of information but no way to tie it all together.  Like looking up symptoms on the internet, your disease just gets worse. 

And tastings!  At least you get to drink while you ponder.  But pretentious presenters describing wines in nebulous terms (“it is unctuous” …. “do you get the hint of acacia?”)  and sounding like they were  vacationing in more interesting places was not helping.

My epiphany came with the Augusta’s Garden City chapter of the  American Wine Society and their use  of the University of California 20  point scale (see link below). This structure allows for an organized process to think through what was in my glass, no inflated terminology.  That led to the 3-year AWS Wine Judge Certification Program and a happily evolving and endlessly stimulating relationship with wine.

Now as people ask me about how to learn about wine, it’s hard to retrace all the steps over all the years.  So to save you time and trouble I will post:

1.        Resources:  Books, articles, links to useful information

2.       Wine evaluation techniques

3.       Reviews of specific wines

4.       Wine Road Trips

5.       Food and wine: I have yet to find someone who loves wine who is not interested in great food

6.       Random thoughts (not all my musings will fit a bulleted list)

Cheers!

Kathy Webb American Wine Society Certified Wine Judge

American Wine Society  www.americanwinesociety.com   

http://www.americanwinesociety.org/associations/10474/files/AWS%20Wine%20Evaluation%20chart%202012.pdf

Burgundy's Chardonnay Wine World Tasting October 12, 2012

If you are not in the habit of attending Wine World of North Augusta’s monthly specialty tasting you are missing a unique opportunity.

The tastings are always well organized, well presented and offer a taste of unique wines.

October 12, 2012 Burgundy tasting was extraordinary. 

The wines are listed in total on Dennis Sodomka’s www.bottlereport.com http://bottlereport.com/2012/10/12/burgandy-tasting-seminar-wine-world-oct-12/

Burgundy is notable for its 2 primary varietals: chardonnay and pinot noir. 

Wine prices ranged from 47.00 to 146.00 as wines from this region are recognized world wide and command a commensurate price.

All the produces showcased were small, most producing no more than 500 cases of these wines each year.

The only chardonnay offered alongside the 7 pinots was the St. Aubin Blanc rom Jean-Claude Boisset Estates.  The estate is in the southern area, Côte de Beaune.  We were regaled by the presenter Jean-Pierre Chambas, founder of Aleph Wines.  He explained that this southern area is the peasant cousin of the more famous Cotes du Nuit northern region and the wines were less refined and silky.    But I found the character to be lovely.

  The aromas of all these cooler climate wines were subtle and complex.  More white peach, fresh citrus, floral and just a balancing trace of oak.  The taste was almost explosive, expanding through the mid palate and a lingering  aftertaste.  For the price it compares with other more expensive California offerings and worth asking if you can still place an order

  

Wine World, 133 Georgia Ave., North Augusta, SC

American Wine Society Garden City Chapter: Italian Tasting August 2012

American Wine Society Garden City Chapter Italian Tasting August 2012

The American Wine Society (AWS) was organized in 1967 as a non-profit, educational, consumer-oriented organization for those interested in learning more about all aspects of wine.  Now in its 45th year, the American Wine Society is the largest consumer based wine education organization in North America.

Membership is open to anyone interested in wine.
The AWS has an incredible annual convention, the next is in Portland in November, but most members participate on the local level with their chapter.

The Augusta area has had an active chapter of this national association for many years: Garden City Chapter.

 If you have an interest in joining the chapter email WineAugusta@gmail  or check out the AWS website www.americanwinesociety.org

We meet every other month and our August 2012 event featured an Italian line-up from the two most well known regions: Tuscany and the Piedmont.

2010 Banfi Centine Rosso Toscana   Region: Tuscany, Italy Price: $10-$12

Grape: 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot

2006 Fattoria Nicodemi  Montepulciano d’Abruzzo   Region: Tuscany $18

2007 Villa Cerna Chianti Classico Reserva Tuscany   25$

2010 Parusso Barbera d’abla Orinati Region: Piedmont  $20

2007 Vietti Perbacco  Nebbiolo  Region: Piedmont  28$

2007 Zenato Amarone  Corvina blend 55$

AND:  spectacular bottle was donated by an illustrious member

1997 Solengo  Super Tuscan $135

Indy International Wine Competition 2012

The Indy International  is known as  is the largest scientifically organized and independent wine competition in the United States, the world's largest wine market. Nearly 3,000 entries from 15 countries and 40 US states were evaluated.

This was my second opportunity to judge at Indy.  The judges are divided into two groups.  The commercial wines are judged by wine industry experts. As a young judge (by experience, not by age...sadly)  I was a member of the group judging the non-commercial (but certainly not amateur) wines.

The sheer number of wines is staggering, and is managed by the "Pit Cru"...you'll see the play on the Indy 500 in the flags on the judging table.  The captain would wave the appropriate flag ask for another flight, or indicate a problem.

A typical flight was 6-12 wines, and would be graded as no medal, bronze, silver, gold, or double gold (all 3 judges awarded gold).  In the finals, all double golds, in flights of 24-40 wines would be judged for best in class or for best in show.

It was an amazing experience, and a great learning opportunity!