The Very, Very Inofficial World Championship In Wine Tasting

Yes, it was time again. For the very, very inofficial world championship in wine tasting. Held in Stockholm as ususal. 

Due to sickness and other obstacles there were only five brave participants who sat down around the table.

Last years champion Oscar had arranged a very nice tasting with two flights, the first with six white wines and the second with six reds. 

All wines tasted double blind. You get points for grape (major), country, district, vintage, producer, but you don´t have to guess on everything, and there is thankfully no minus points for wrong guesses...

This is how it went. 

The Whites

Glass No 1

A young, fresh, elegant nose with notes of grass, white pepper and white currants. 

The taste is pure and racy with a fine acidity and notes of grass, chrushed rocks and lemon. 

My guess - 2020 Austrian Riesling

Answer - 2019 Albarino, Do Ferreiro

88p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 2

A deep, forward nose with some age and notes of apricots, oil cloth and glue. Very, very good.

The taste is long, broad and dry with notes of lime, apricots and wet stones. 

My guess - 2010 Vouvray Chenin Blanc

Answer - 2006 Hochrain Smaragd Riesling, Franz Hirtzberger

90p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 3

A fine, open nose with notes of ripe lemons, gravel, dry fudge and summer flowers. Fine.

The taste is tight and fine with a great mouthfeel, a fine acidity and a long finish with a hint of warmth. 

My guess - 2017 Saint-Aubin (Chardonnay)

Answer - 2017 Chardonnay, Calera

90p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 4

A smoky, spicy nose with notes of green pears, dried flowers and sand. Very good in a restrained way.

The taste is young and fresh with notes of white pepper, chrushed rocks and dried flowers. A high acidity. 

My guess - 2019 Austrian Grüner Veltliner

Answer - 2019 Chablis 1er Cru Mont-de-Milieu, Domaine Pinson (Chardonnay)

87p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 5

A young, perky nose with notes of grass, white pepper, lemon licorice and white flowers. Very good.

The taste is light and fresh with notes of grass, white flowers and cap gun smoke. A good acidity.

My guess - 2019 Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc)

Answer - 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay

Glass No 6

A rich, mature nose with notes of dried apricots, wool, saffron, wet asphalt and dried herbs. Very deep.

The taste is expressive and mature with notes of dried apricots, orange peel, smoke and chalk. Very long and intense with a high acidity.

My guess - 2000 Anjou (Chenin Blanc)

Answer - 1998 Cuvée Frederic Emile, Trimbach (Riesling)

92p   (tasted 2022/05)

Ah well, that didn´t went well... Two Rieslings and I thought both were Chenin Blanc. I don´t taste enough Albarino to have a taste memory (but that "memory" didn´t get me far with the others...).

On to the reds!

Glass No 1

A deep, seedy nose with a hint of maturity and notes of black currants, plums, and tobacco. Very, very good.

The taste is cool and refined with notes of graphite, black currants, earth and tobacco. Silky tannins. Fine.

My guess - 2005 Left Bank Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Answer - 2005 Château d´Armailhac

Glass No 2

A warm, spicy, earthy nose with notes of a mix of raspberries and blackberries, cement and a hint of VA.

The taste is high and spicy with notes of dried assorted fruits, dusty earth and a hint of alcohol warmth in the finish. 

My guess - 2017 Mourvedre, Spain

Answer - 2015 Côte-de-Beaune Villages, Joseph Drouhin   (wtf!)

85p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 3

A big, round, warm nose with notes of ripe blueberries, scorched earth, bakelite and shoe polish. A fine intensity.

The taste is almost fiery but keeps it together with notes of dried raspberries, plums, sweet tobacco and tar. Very long.

My guess - 2010 Grenache from Priorat

Answer - 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos de Mont Olivet

89p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 4

Home! I dared to state that if this wasn´t a Nebbiolo, I would quit wine tasting all together. Luckily I can keep on drinking wine...

The nose is lovely with a hint of maturity, with notes of black cherries, tobacco, asphalt, Finnish licorice and dried roses. Very deep and fine.

The taste is tight and concentrated with notes of cherries, rosehips, tar, dried flowers and cold coffee. Very long with some still unresolved tannins. Great.

My guess - 1998 Barolo

Answer - 1999 Barolo Pajana, Domenico Clerico

94p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 5

A deep, elegant nose with notes of raspberries, licorice, anise and forest floor. A fine sweetness to the fruit. Very fine.

The taste is high and pure with notes of ripe raspberries, butter biscuits, earth and assorted herbs. A very fine acidity.

My guess - 2018 California Pinot Noir

Answer - 2018 Finca Pêna Lobera Tempranillo, Hacienda Solamno

92p   (tasted 2022/05)

Glass No 6

A finely tuned, concentrated yet light on its feet nose with notes of ripe red currants, band aid, dried meat, black pepper and earth. Very fine.

The taste is peppery and upfront with notes of violets, blackberries and cured meat. A long, lingerings finish. A cool character. Lovely.

My guess - 2017 California Syrah

Answer - 2018 Syrah, Ojai

92p   (tasted 2022/05)

Well, the reds turned out a better result, but in the end I had to settle with a split third place on this evening. Congrats to Maria who won!

Next year...