Sparkling: example tasting notes

Question 1

Default SAT tasting note

for all sparkling whites

Answer 1

• Appearance: pale lemon
• Nose:
  
  • Fruits: lemon, (green) apple, grapefruit, (green) pear
  • Autolytic: Biscuit, brioche, toast, cream

If not prosecco or Asti it will be trad method ie Hint of bread, cream, brioche, biscuit

• Palate:
  
  • Off dry (most Brut 5-6 g/l resid sugar)
  • High acid (new world & Cava poss med +; only Asti & Proscecco will be lower)
  • Medium alcohol (Asti low, poss basic Prosecco)
  • Medium body (vintage champagne med+)

Question 2

SAT Quality Assessment on good quality Prosecco

Answer 2

There is good balance between the flavour intensity and acidity which makes the wine refreshing rather than sharp or tart.

The length and intensity are medium which make the wine better than acceptable quality but there is little complexity with the primary fruit being simple making the wine good.

A longer length and more definition and complexity are required for a higher quality assessment.

Question 3

SAT Other Conclusions on good quality Prosecco

Answer 3

the fresh simple pear aromas plus off-dry sweetness and relative light body is typical of the glera grape that makes Prosecco. The lack of autolysis and gentle foamy mousse which suggest the tank method is further evidence

Question 4

SAT guidance on “suitability for ageing”

Answer 4

1. One mark for being correct (this is/ is not suitable for ageing in bottle)
2. One for stating what it would require to age (more intensity - rather than definition or complexity - is a better argument),
3. Finally one mark for stating what would happen to the wine if it did (eg develop tertiaries, soften tannins, simply lose freshness and primary fruit eg

‘Even though it has sufficient acidity the wine did not have enough intensity of flavour to age positively/ for tertiary development. It would hold but not develop further complexity and the flavours would dull in bottle ‘

Question 5

SAT formulaic wording for Other Conclusions (including justifying the grape/region/likely wine)

Here used for a Crémant

Answer 5

The hint of x, y, z (autolytic notes) show the wines to be a NV traditional method wine however the lack of x, y, z (pronounced intensity or slightly earthy/ hint of rubber often found in Cava) show the wines not to be Cava or Champagne. The x, y, z are more consistent with Cremant ( then choose one)