This week we are running a 3-day intensive Intermediate Course. We have students from the UK, Ireland, Paris and Limoux attending. It’s a great course covering the wines of the world and is a real eye opener on the complexities and variations from one country/region to another.

Yesterday we tasted the Chateau d’Armailhac Pauillac Cru Classe 2005 against a Chateau Grand-Pontet St-Emilion Grand Cru and Cape Mentelle Cabernet Merlot 2006 Margaret River. What a fascinating comparison, from the pencil shavings and cedar wood character of the Pauillac to the rich dark fruits and chocolate of the St Emillon to the cassis and mint of the Margaret River. Each wine showed their individual character and demonstrated how the same varieties, albeit in different proportions, produced such variation in taste and aroma.