Juliet Bruce Jones MW and I hosted our first MW blind tasting weekend in December. The idea was simply to give MW students experience and practice at answering the practical under exam conditions – a sort of mock exam. The tastings follow the exam format (2 and a quarter hours for each paper) and these are then followed by feedback sessions, whereby the students are given constructive advice on how to answer in a manner the examiners are looking for.
Eleven people from five different countries participated in this first event with one first year student coming from Vancouver for the weekend ! It’s not all school and exams : there are also dinners where people share bottles they’ve bought (more about this in an upcoming post) and even some free time..The main focus, however, is the tasting papers and as any MW student will tell you, the more you practice the luckier you get….
The wines tasted over the weekend as follows :
Paper 1
1. McHenry Hohen Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Margaret River, Australia
2. Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2005, Graves, Bordeaux
3. Tyrell’s Vat 1 Hunter Semillon 2002, Hunter Valley, Australia
4. Isabel Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand
5. Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett JJ Prüm 2007, Mosel, Germany
6. Forster Pechstein Bürklin-Wolf Riesling 2007, Pfalz, Germany
7. Erbacher Marcobrunn Riesling Kabinett Von Simmern 2007, Rheingau, Germany
8. Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2006, Auckland, New Zealand
9. Kumeu River Village Chardonnay 2008, Auckland, New Zealand
10. René Muré Signature Pinot Gris 2009, Alsace, France
11. AS Sortes Godello 2008, Valdeorras, Spain
12. Tesco Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009, Western Cape, South Africa
Paper 2
1. Clos St Denis Grand Cru Jadot 2006, Morey St Denis, Burgundy
2. Volnay Vieilles Vignes Nicolas Potel 2006, Volnay, Burgundy
3. Bourgogne Cuvée St Vincent, Vincent Girardin 2006, Burgundy
4.Vosne Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots, Conferon-Contedit 2006, Vosne Romanée, Burgundy
5. Brunello di Montalcino, Gianni Brunelli 2003, Tuscany, Italy
6. Brindisi Vigna Flaminia Vallone 2007, Puglia, Italy
7. Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Torre del Falasco 2008, Veneto, Italy
8. Barolo Monprivato Mascarello 2005, Piedmont, Italy
9. De Martino Legado Reserva Carmenère 2008, Maipo, Chile
10. Cline Zinfandel 2008, California, USA
11. Domaine Pierre Cros Minervois, Les Aspres 2008, Minervois, France
12. Faldeos Nevados Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina
Paper 3
1. Nyetimber Brut Classic Blend 2005, Sussex, England
2. Pelorus Brut Cloudy Bay 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand
3. André Gallois Vin Mousseux NV, France
4. Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve NV, Champagne, France
5. Barroubio Muscat de St Jean de Minervois 2009, St Jean de Minervois, France
6. Stanton and Killeen Rutherglen Muscat (av 12 years), Victoria, Australia
7. Cave de Beblenheim, Muscat Sec 2009, Alsace, France
8. Asti Spumante Villa Jolanda NV, Piedmont, Italy
9. Hardy’s Nottage Hill Cabernet Shiraz 2008, SE Australia
10. Château Musar 2003, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
11. Lustau Oloroso Don Nuno, Jerez, Spain
12. Henriques & Henriques Bual 15 y.o. , Madeira