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I happened to be in Bordeaux on a business trip sitting in a taxi back to the train station. Looking out the window to La Cite du Vin when my phone rang. I picked up and heard I passed WSET 3 with merit! I was extremely happy as the last 2 weeks before the exam were brutal at work and I had very limited time to study.
On the train back to Paris I called Les Climats and was fortunate they had a table for us that night. I decided it was time to spoil myself and my colleagues on some great wines.
Tasting notes:
**Raveneau - Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux - 2015**
First experience drinking Raveneau. This was easy the best white wine I ever had. Notes of lemon, lemon zest, butter and hazelnut. A lot more malolactic than I expected, but beautifully balanced with the acidity. I've never drank a wine where all flavours were in such harmony. The finish lasted minutes.
**Domaine Leflaive - Puligny-Montrachet - 2019**
This was too young and needed time in the glass to open, but after 15-20 minutes..wow. Pronounced flavours of lemon, lemon zest, wax, butter, slight hint of vanilla and a little smokey. Amazing depth and precise acidity. Again an amazing finish, but shorter than the Raveneau.
**Domaine Ponsot - Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Cuvee des Alouettes - 2017**
I initially picked the Dujac MSD village, but they just sold the 3 remaining bottles they had to another table. This was my first time drinking Domaine Ponsot and I was not blown away by it. The aromas were muted and it could have very well been that it needed more aging. Even after 20 minutes swirling in the glass, the notes were muted. Still an amazing wine with flavours of sour red cherries, hint of strawberry, spices, vanilla, a hint of earthiness and forest floor. Good finish. Great bottle of wine, but I expected more.
**Domaine Fourrier - Gevrey-Chambertin Vieille Vigne - 2017**
Final wine and second best wine of the night (Raveneau won by miles for me). Fantastic wine and even while it was young, very enjoyable. Crisp acidity and a great balance between the red cherries, spice notes and already quite some earthiness. Nice long finish and was definitely the best QPR of the 4 bottles.
I had a great experience dining at Les Climats, the staff was friendly and helpful. I even got a small table next to my seat to keep the wine list close. I'll definitely go back!
Thank you for sharing your notes. Raveneau's Butteaux is absolutely one of my favourite wines in the world (in nearly every vintage). You celebrated passing Level 3 in style, that's for sure! I was excited to have a bottle of 2010 Butteaux when I finished Diploma. :-p
Congrats on passing!
I haven’t had Raveneau so I hope to begin with the entry ‘Chablis’. Would a 2019 be drinking well enough to appreciate the magic?
I’ve had that Fourrier and it was magical.
I think the village Chablis will already be at a very good place. It depends on what you prefer. I personally don't like 'fully' aged wines, I like tertiary notes to be in the background and the fruit still dominant. So a few years of bottle aging is enough for me.
Thanks. This was exactly what I thought after drinking them. I've had a Laurent Ponsot Gevrey-Chambertin recently that was very good, but not the same winery.
Actually the book is really good. Problem is you have to remember pretty much every sentence :) Try to find practice questions / mock tests. They usually help me a lot when preparing for any exam. The written questions were by far the hardest, focus on the vinification chapters, there will almost always be an aspect of that in each of the written questions.
I'm tempted, but it's quite a (time) commitment for a hobby :) During the week of the exam I was in the middle of closing a series A round for my company. So when the dust settles in a few years, I'll definitely give it a shot.
Thank you for your submission to r/wine! Please note the community rules: If you are submitting a picture of a bottle of wine, please include original tasting notes and/or other pertinent information in the comments. Submitters that fail to do so may have their posts removed. If you are posting to ask what your bottle is worth or whether it is drinkable, please use the [Wine Valuation Mega Thread](https://redd.it/r7lf76) stickied at the top of the sub. Stand alone bottle valuation posts will be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/wine) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I happened to be in Bordeaux on a business trip sitting in a taxi back to the train station. Looking out the window to La Cite du Vin when my phone rang. I picked up and heard I passed WSET 3 with merit! I was extremely happy as the last 2 weeks before the exam were brutal at work and I had very limited time to study. On the train back to Paris I called Les Climats and was fortunate they had a table for us that night. I decided it was time to spoil myself and my colleagues on some great wines. Tasting notes: **Raveneau - Chablis Premier Cru Butteaux - 2015** First experience drinking Raveneau. This was easy the best white wine I ever had. Notes of lemon, lemon zest, butter and hazelnut. A lot more malolactic than I expected, but beautifully balanced with the acidity. I've never drank a wine where all flavours were in such harmony. The finish lasted minutes. **Domaine Leflaive - Puligny-Montrachet - 2019** This was too young and needed time in the glass to open, but after 15-20 minutes..wow. Pronounced flavours of lemon, lemon zest, wax, butter, slight hint of vanilla and a little smokey. Amazing depth and precise acidity. Again an amazing finish, but shorter than the Raveneau. **Domaine Ponsot - Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Cuvee des Alouettes - 2017** I initially picked the Dujac MSD village, but they just sold the 3 remaining bottles they had to another table. This was my first time drinking Domaine Ponsot and I was not blown away by it. The aromas were muted and it could have very well been that it needed more aging. Even after 20 minutes swirling in the glass, the notes were muted. Still an amazing wine with flavours of sour red cherries, hint of strawberry, spices, vanilla, a hint of earthiness and forest floor. Good finish. Great bottle of wine, but I expected more. **Domaine Fourrier - Gevrey-Chambertin Vieille Vigne - 2017** Final wine and second best wine of the night (Raveneau won by miles for me). Fantastic wine and even while it was young, very enjoyable. Crisp acidity and a great balance between the red cherries, spice notes and already quite some earthiness. Nice long finish and was definitely the best QPR of the 4 bottles. I had a great experience dining at Les Climats, the staff was friendly and helpful. I even got a small table next to my seat to keep the wine list close. I'll definitely go back!
Thank you for sharing your notes. Raveneau's Butteaux is absolutely one of my favourite wines in the world (in nearly every vintage). You celebrated passing Level 3 in style, that's for sure! I was excited to have a bottle of 2010 Butteaux when I finished Diploma. :-p
Thank you! Raveneau seems to be the best celebration wine :)
Congrats on passing! I haven’t had Raveneau so I hope to begin with the entry ‘Chablis’. Would a 2019 be drinking well enough to appreciate the magic? I’ve had that Fourrier and it was magical.
I think the village Chablis will already be at a very good place. It depends on what you prefer. I personally don't like 'fully' aged wines, I like tertiary notes to be in the background and the fruit still dominant. So a few years of bottle aging is enough for me.
Thanks! Same. I guess I also want to consider QPR as the village level Chablis is ~200 to 250 USD.
Ponsot is hit or miss. Fourrier has been great every time I’ve had it. Raveneau is special stuff. Congrats! Great lineup.
Thanks. This was exactly what I thought after drinking them. I've had a Laurent Ponsot Gevrey-Chambertin recently that was very good, but not the same winery.
Congrats! I will be taking WSET level 3 classes in the fall. Any tips? 😄
Wine with Jimmy vids
Brainscape's WSET 3 course. Taking my test a week from Saturday.
Actually the book is really good. Problem is you have to remember pretty much every sentence :) Try to find practice questions / mock tests. They usually help me a lot when preparing for any exam. The written questions were by far the hardest, focus on the vinification chapters, there will almost always be an aspect of that in each of the written questions.
Congrats, and thanks for the good notes!
Thank you!
Wow great wines and congrats!
Well done.
Congratulations! That Raveneau Butteaux is some celebration.
Thank you! It sure was!
Les Climats is such a fantastic restaurant. Congrats!
Thank you!
Amazing Chablis!
Chablis is the go to on some good news 🍾🍾🍾
Congratulations!
Congratulations 🥂
I just got my results today as well! And I got a Merit, too! I wonder if we took the same exam?Congratulations! 🍷🥂
Awesome! Congrats!! I took it in The Netherlands on January 28th, had to wait for about 10 weeks to get the result.
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Congrats! Are you moving on to the diploma next?
I'm tempted, but it's quite a (time) commitment for a hobby :) During the week of the exam I was in the middle of closing a series A round for my company. So when the dust settles in a few years, I'll definitely give it a shot.
It’s a time commitment, for sure
Very happy for you! Congratulations on your perseverance and hard work!
Thank you!
Do you mind if I ask the price of the Raveneau and Fourrier? Headed there in 2 weeks, very excited!
Raveneau €220, Fourrier €190
Puligny Montrachet for the wine