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Dublin, Ireland
Hi, I'm Dermot Nolan, and I became a Master of Wine (MW) in 1997, and resigned from the Institute of Masters of Wine in 2023 after being an MW for exactly 26 years. I opened a wine shop in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, called The Wine Library, which closed in 2018, and this is my personal wine blog. I will do my utmost to be fair and responsible in my posts – please read my Who Pays article in re the ethics of wine trips and writing. I have worked in wine education, retail, and consultancy since 1990. I was a Director of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) from 2008 to 2014 and was also a member of the Events Committee, founder of the Trips Committee, and member of the Governance Committee. Having had problems with potentially libellous comments from unidentifiable posters, I now require that if you post a comment, you must identify yourself properly or it won't be published. Please note that I do not review products or services on request so kindly don't ask. I value my independence and I believe my readers (few that they may be) do so also.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Diploma joys for starters.

I suppose one of the benefits of running the WSET Diploma in Ireland is the chance to taste some pretty good wines. This month has been very busy - all in all 8 lectures, all full day events. By the end of today some 77 wines will have been tasted by the 1st and 2nd year students. Stockists in parentheses are listed at the end.

A brief resume for those who want to know what it's all about. The 1st years don't taste too many wines - their lectures cover Viticulture, Vinification, Tasting Techniques, Study & Examination Techniques and Global & Local Markets. For their Grape Varieties lecture, they tasted a decent Dr Thanisch Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spatlese 2003 (GG) €40, a yummy Marc Colin Puligny-Montrachet “Le Trézin” 2007 (BD) €38, a good Peter Lehmann Barossa Semillon Reserve 2001 (CO) €21 or so - the last year as Reserve as it's now Margaret, a good but not great Domaine duClosel SavennièresClos du Papilon” 2004 (JN) €33, the always reliable (and often under-rated) Hunter’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (GL) €19.45, the very good Robert Chevillon Nuits-Saint-Georges “Les Pruliers” 1er Cru 2006 (BD) €48 - Chevillon is a text-book producer IMHO - as well as a very good St Hallett “Old Block” Barossa Shiraz 2003 (GL) €39.50, the very good Santa Rita “Floresta” Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (GL) €31.20, a good Carmen Gran Reserva Merlot 2008(ED) €16.30, a slightly disappointing Moulin de la Gardette Gigondas 2004 (WWC) €26.45 (2004 really doesn't show that well) and a lovely and classy Muga Gran Reserva “Prado Enea” 2000 (CO) €43.75.
Now, that's all they get to taste at this stage - the real meat of the course happens next year for them. Still, that's a nice range to start with!
The stockists are WWC = Wicklow Wine Company, JN = James Nicholson, BD = Burgundy Direct, ED = Edward Dillon, GL = Gilbey's, GG = Gleeson Group, CO = Coman's. The last four named are wholesalers and can only sell to retailers.

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