Wine Tasting Masterclass with Special Guest MW Nick Jackson Thursday, October 30th 6pm
When it comes to wine, I tell people to throw away the vintage charts and invest in a corkscrew. The best way to learn about wine is the drinking.
-Alexis Lichine
We aim to create new experiences with wine at Wine Watch and although we have conducted over 4000 wine tasting events over the last 27 years, this is the first time we have ever promoted a masterclass with a MW here at Wine Watch.
We have had several events over the years that we have hosted with MS (Master Sommeliers) and MW (Masters of Wine) and although they are similar there are subtle differences with the courses and requirements for both but the common factor with both is that there are a small number of wine professionals that have achieved either title. The numbers as of 2022 were that close to 117,000 students were working on their studies to achieve the MW title and there are less than 500 that have achieved this title since they began the program in 1953.
This event will be classroom style and will be a fun informative tasting guided by our MW Nick Jackson. Chefs Toni and Dani will be making a small course to compliment each wine so in addition to learning how to break down these wines in terms of flavors and aromas this will be a wine pairing dinner.
The fee for this event which includes dinner and a signed copy of the book Beyond Flavour is $150 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservation if you have any food allergies.
Wine Tasting Master Class
With Special Guest MW Nick Jackson
Thursday, October 30th 2025
6pm
Beyond Flavour: Wine Tasting by Structure Paperback – September 5, 2022
by Nick Jackson MW (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 57 ratings
Beyond Flavour is a practical guide to wine tasting which will help wine professionals, students and amateurs improve their tasting skills and understanding of the world's wines. The book offers detailed descriptions of the key attributes of major grape varieties and wine producing regions, and argues that assessing a wine's structure – acid structure in white wines and tannin structure in red wines – is a more reliable indicator of a wine's identity than the traditional reliance on flavour.
Study Course of Wines
2024 Firmin Dezat Sancerre
Price: $40.50 Sale $35.64
Sancerre is a familiar wine, yet we will discuss how good examples aspire to fine wine status in their deft handling of acidity, minerality and texture.
Firmin founded his domaine in 2020, after splitting from his cousins who wanted to pursue a more commercial approach to Sancerre production. Firmin is meticulous in the vineyards and has achieved organic certification for his 22 hectares of vines in Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and Menetou-Salon. Top quality fruit, extended time on the lees (bottling at Easter as opposed to at Christmas for more commercial operations) ensures concentrated, textured and mineral styles of Sancerre.
Arctic Char Carpaccio Serve on Brioche with Goat Cheese, Lemon and Mint
2024 Heinrichshof Riesling Goldtröpfchen GG
Price: $42.00 Sale $36.96
German wine has quietly undergone a revolution in the past 20 years, with the focus now firmly on dry wines, particularly those from celebrated grand cru sites. Are these now among the wine world's great values?
Brothers Peter and Ulrich are among the Mosel's most exciting young producers of dry (trocken) styles of Riesling and Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder). From their winery in the middle Mosel village of Zeltingen, the brothers produce energetic, slatey expressions of their terroir, without ever suffering from tartness or aggressive acidity that besets some dry German Rieslings. The GG (Grosses Gewächs or grand cru) wines are remarkable examples of lightness and concentration, and, since Heinrichshof is not a member of the VDP (a license to hike prices), they remain remarkable value.
Smoked Mussel Served on Anise Charred Rye Crostini
2023 Walter Scott Cuvée Anne Chardonnay
Price: $63.00 Sale $55.44
American Chardonnay is often treated with derision by fine wine lovers, but producers like Walter Scott are turning expectations on their head with tensile, focused styles a far cry from the 'butter bowl' clichés.
Founders Ken and Erica Pahlow are responsible for some of this country's most thrilling examples of Chardonnay. Since the creation of the Willamette estate in 2008, professionals and drinkers alike have been stunned by the tautness, concentration and energy of these wines, made in a trademark reductive style; the very opposite to conventional expectations for American Chardonnay. Careful vineyard work, as with all great producers, remains the foundation of the project. In recent years, the Pinot Noir wines have blossomed, and now count as among Oregon's finest, in a zesty, fresh style.
Sea Scallop with Candied Lemon, Lime, Orange and Lavender Aioli
2019 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino
Price: $75.00 Sale $66.00
Light, fresh reds are enjoying their moment in the sun. No where does this style better than Italy. Schioppettino is a study in perfume, finesse and purity.
Ronchi di Cialla is a cult estate in Friuli, a few miles from the Slovenian border. The Rapuzzi family single-handedly saved the Schioppettino variety from extinction in the 1970s, and to this day remain the greatest exponent of this aromatic, light-bodied, complex red. They also make outstanding whites from Ribolla Gialla as well as red Refosco, a more full bodied variety than Schioppettino.
Sauerkraut Sausage Balls with Mustard Aioli
2023 François Buffet Volnay Premier Cru Carelle Sous la Chapelle
Price: $117.00 Sale $102.96
Pinot Noir is one of the most texturally fascinating varieties, where the tannins and fruit seem to meld. And what is Burgundian exceptionalism anyway?
Marc-Olivier Buffet flies under the radar among producers of red Côte de Beaune wines but is beginning to receive the critical recognition his work deserves. Certified organic, Marc-Olivier is obsessive about fruit quality entering the winery. He is blessed with a range of Volnay's finest premiers crus, which he makes in a style that emphasises aromatic purity, silky textures and complex, mineral finishes. The wines are stunning studies in terroir, and are made in an accessible style that enables early drinking, yet without ever sacrificing the potential for extended aging.
Deconstructed Coq Au Vin
2020 Bideona Laguardia or Samaniego
Price: $60.00 Sale $52.80
Few terroirs in Europe have been betrayed by bad winemaking as much as Rioja in the last century. But the revolution is finally here, as a new wave of producers works to express the origins of their grapes, especially from the wonderful terroirs of Rioja Alavesa.
Bideona is one of Spain's most exciting new projects (first vintage 2018). Master of Wine Andreas Kubach, frustrated by Rioja's reliance on extended, oxidative oak aging for complexity, created an estate dedicated to the expression of the terroir of Rioja Alavesa. From more than 280 tiny vineyards of old vines, planted on Alavesa's chalky, limestone soils, Bideona produces a thrilling range of regional, single village and single vineyard wines that tell the story of Alavesa.
Pochas a la Riojana
The fee for this tasting which includes dinner and a signed copy of the book Beyond Flavour is $150 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or aversions and chefs Toni and Dani will be happy to accommodate you.
A bit about Nick Jackson MW:
Nick Jackson is a British Master of Wine (MW), fine wine importer, and the author of Beyond Flavour, an influential study of wine tasting. Nick began his wine career at Sotheby’s, where he was the buyer for the New York retail store. In 2022, Nick launched Crescendo Wines, through which he imports and distributes European wines to Florida’s restaurants and retailers. Nick became a Master of Wine in 2019 and published Beyond Flavour in 2020, and the second edition in 2022. Nick holds a Ph.D. in Catholic Theology from the University of Cambridge and lives in beautiful Jupiter, Florida.
All the wines from these great producers on SALE!
2024 Walter Scott Blanc Fir Crest Vineyard Willamette Valley
Price: $39.00 Sale $34.32
A blend of 83% Pinot Blanc, 15% Pinot Gris and 2% Auxerrois. Tucked into the coastal foothills at the far southwestern edge of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Fir Crest Vineyard is defined by its quiet isolation and forested surroundings. Planted in 1985 and bordered by towering Coast Douglas Fir trees, the site feels deeply rooted—both in soil and in spirit.
2023 Walter Scott La Combe Verte Chardonnay Willamette Valley
Price: $43,50 Sale $38.28
2024 Walter Scott La Combe Verte Chardonnay Willamette Valley
Price: $45.00 Sale $39.60
The estate wine is a great value introduction to the very different world of Walter Scott Chardonnay, where chiseled purity of fruit and freshness combine to thrilling effect.
2023 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Cuvée Anne Chardonnay Willamette
Price: $63.00 Sale $55.44
The mid-tier is a sweet spot in the Walter Scott lineup, combining concentration, energy and precision.
2023 Walter Scott Mt Pisgah of Polk County Freedom Hill Chardonnay Willamette
Price: $97.50 Sale $85.80
Freedom Hill is a celebrated vineyard in the new Mt Pisgah AVA, in SW Willamette. This is a wine of great architectural detail and focus. Extremely age worthy.
2023 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Witness Tree Chardonnay Willamette
Price: $97.50 Sale $85.80
Made from multiple different Chardonnay clones vinified together, Witness Tree offers wonderful lightness of touch and purity of flavor.
2023 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills X Novo Chardonnay Willamette
Price: $120.00 Sale $105.60
The estate's top wine, X Novo combines the estate's usual raciness with additional power and concentration; a monumental wine that would benefit from drinking three or more years after the vintage.
2024 Walter Scott La Combe Verte Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Price: $45.00 Sale $39.60
The 2024, from a small vintage, offers delicious lightness of touch and an alluring floral flavor spectrum.
2022 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Cuvée Ruth Pinot Noir Willamette
Price: $60.00 Sale $52.80
2023 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Cuvée Ruth Pinot Noir Willamette
Price: $63.00 Sale $55.44
The Eola-Amity blend shows outstanding concentration, a velvety texture and a mineral-flecked, dark fruit profile.
2022 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Justice Pinot Noir Willamette
Price: $90.00 Sale $79.20
2023 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Justice Pinot Noir Willamette
Price: $97.50 Sale $85.80
Justice Vineyard, on volcanic soils, offers a particularly intricate and fine-boned expression of Willamette Pinot Noir, featuring precise red fruit and mineral flavors.
2023 Walter Scott Mt Pisgah of Polk County Freedom Hill Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Price: $97.50 Sale $85.80
Freedom Hill is a rich, generous Pinot Noir which nonetheless retains lively acidity and a gorgeous, multi-dimensional red fruit and floral aromatic profile.
2022 Walter Scott Eola-Amity Hills Sojeau Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Price: $90.00 Sale $79.20
(95 Points) Delicate and intense all at once, the Sojeau Vineyard Pinot Noir is a wine that displays the elegant oomph that Oregon-grown Pinot Noir can achieve. A rocky slope in the southern end of the Eola-Amity Hills, Sojeau has been certified organic for nearly 15 years. Concentrated aromatics of crushed pomegranate, turned earth and chipped flint spill forth from the glass. The palate offers layers of berry fruits, tart raspberry teases out blood orange notes and mingles with mint and white tea leaves. Delightful. Decanter, Review Date: N/A
2021 Ronchi di Cialla Ciallabianco Friuli Colli Orientali
Price: $45.00 Sale $39.60
2022 Ronchi di Cialla Ciallabianco Friuli Colli Orientali
Price: $48.75 Sale $42.90
the estate white wine is a blend of Ribolla Gialla and some Picolit and Verduzzo. It is a textural wine, with subtle hazelnut and almond notes, and at home with many light Italian dishes.
2018 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla Friuli Colli Orientali
Price: $67.50 Sale $59.40
2019 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla Friuli Colli Orientali
Price: $75.00 Sale $66.00
1995 Ronchi di Cialla Schioppettino di Cialla Friuli Colli Orientali
Price: $142.50 Sale $125.40
Schioppettino may be the best indigenous red variety from Colli Friuli Orientali, on the Slovenian border. Light in color, body and alcohol, the variety wows with its remarkable peppercorn, floral nose and diaphanous texture on the palate.
2004 Ronchi di Cialla Refosco dal Peduncolo Friuli Colli Orientali Rosso
Price: $117.00 Sale $102.96
The 2004 shows a plush richness of texture along with meaty and balsamic notes: a classic mature Italian red profile.
2015 Ronchi di Cialla Refosco dal Peduncolo Friuli Colli Orientali Rosso
Price: $70.50 Sale $62.04
Refosco is a variety indigenous to Friuli and presents a dark, gamey almost mysterious profile. The Rapuzzi family release the current vintage ten years after the vintage, since Refosco's tannins need considerable bottle age to soften.
2022 François Buffet Pernand Vergelesses Premier Cru Les Vergelesses
Price: $67.50 Sale $59.40
(93 Points) This forward, approachable wine boasts bright blackberry fruit with hints of peony and spice. The texture is supple and silky, but the wine has a core of substance that hints that it should age gracefully. The grapes are from vines planted in 1967 at the base of the east-facing slope below Ile des Vergelesses; they are 100% destemmed before a gentle fermentation on native yeasts before aging in cask (20% new). (Drink between 2027-2045). Decanter - Charles Curtis MW
2023 François Buffet Volnay
Price: $84.00 Sale $73.92
The village wine allures in this sultry vintage with its irresisible red-fruited nose, its silky palate and dry finish, demanding you take another sip.
2023 François Buffet Volnay Premier Cru Carelle Sous La Chapelle
Price: $117.00 Sale $102.96
The Carelle is, as usual, a hedonistic wine, with layers of luxuriant fruit yet animated by excellent acidity and subtle but present tannins.
2014 François Buffet Volnay Premier Cru Clos des Chênes
Price: $138.00 Sale $121.44
Volnay 1er Cru 'Clos des Chênes' 2014 is a library release. This wine shows very well the aging potential of Buffet wines. Hard to find these days library release wines in Burgndy.
2023 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Cabezadas Viura
Price: $24.00 Sale $21.12
The name of this wine, ‘Cabezadas,’ refers to the old-vine, low-yielding hilltop vineyards from which it was made. Traditionally, the whites of Rioja Alavesa were planted on the cabezadas (coming from the word “cabeza” which means “head”), where the soils were most poor. This wine joins the Tempranillo de Laderas as Bideona’s other regional wine, coming from various historic plots within the Rioja Alavesa appellation. Traditionally, Rioja’s whites haven’t had the same clout as its reds, with Viura typically being added to red Rioja blends to add acidity and perfume. But some of the most interesting wines of Rioja today are white, and like this wine, include the revisiting of age-old winemaking techniques in barrel to include stainless, concrete, and extended lees aging.
2022 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Laderas Tempranillo
Price: $24.00 Sale $21.12
This is an easy-drinking, regional wine from vineyards across Alavesa (with an average vine age of 35 years). Expect a smooth texture, abundant dark fruits and a spicy finish.
2021 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Las Parcelas (Tinto)
Price: $33.00 Sale $29.04
From a legendary Rioja vintage, Parcelas offers remarkable value for a regional Alavesa wine produced from vines with an average age of 50 years. Look for a slight garrigue tang, a dusty fruit texture and a dark-fruited finish.
2020 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Laguardia (L4GD4)
Price: $60.00 Sale $52.80
2021 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Laguardia (L4GD4)
Price: $60.00 Sale $52.80
Laguardia is a village lower down the slopes between the Ebro River and the Sierra Cantabria. The result is fruit that ripens easily and quickly, with freshness and brightness the watchwords. This is the most accessible of the Bideona village wines.
2020 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Villabuena (V1BN4)
Price: $60.00 Sale $52.80
Villabuena is a mid-slope village, harvested between the lighter Laguardia and the fuller Samaniego. It is the Chambolle-Musigny of Rioja Alavesa, combining a velvety texture and delightful violets and dark fruits flavor profile.
2020 Bideona Rioja Alavesa Samaniego (S4GM0)
Price: $60.00 Sale $52.80
Samaniego, at the top of the slope and just below the Sierra Cantabria, is well-exposed to the winds and is harvested late, in mid-October. The thick skins and high sugars give a concentrated, structured, black-fruited style.
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