Stage 2 Exam 2023, Practical Paper 3
Another run down of the wines, the questions, and my answers. This time from the 3rd Paper.
Where does the time go? It’s been a couple of weeks since the last exam run down, but I actually have two jobs, and a few other things I get involved with. Writing this newsletter is consistently on my mind, but I need to get my head in the game to actually bring anything of worth of value when I’m doing it.
Paper 3 - Anything Goes, an Overview.
If you’ve read the other two run downs, Paper 1 & Paper 2 (below), you’ll know the format. If you’ve studied any part of the MW already1, you'll doubtless have had a go yourself by now.
The ‘Anything Goes’ Paper as I call it, is literally that, and is often the one used by educators to give you a good idea of just how broad the MW papers can be.
There’s lots of comparisons with Paper 3 and the Stage 1 Assessment, however the S1A generally has White and Red wines as a core element, with something fizzy to start and something sweet to finish. Looking back, that was a walk in the park if I’m honest.
The MW Paper 3 generally skips Red & Whites in isolation, or, as you’ll see, bundles them into other styles of wine. This year we had a flight of fizz, a flight of rose, a sweet & still from the same grape, and a trio of reds in different styles.
This was my best paper in terms of identification, and probably the most fun to taste, but as ever, I’ve got no idea how I’ve actually done beyond that.
The most agonising part of this exam is where we pour all the still wines, then we have to stand in the corridor for what felt like half an hour, while they pour all the sparkling wines. We weren’t allowed (supposed) to talk, so lots of awkward shuffling, eye contact, pacing and staring didn't make the wait any easier.
This post is, like the other MW Exam run downs, for Subscribers Only for now, until I get the results in September.
Just one list thing before we crack on. Are you interested in a run down of the Practical Exam Papers? There’s five of them, and there’s a lot to go through!
Let me know in the Comments.
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