Whoa! Loads of citrus - lime and white grapefruit - with fresh cut grass and a hint of tinned asparagus. I was really glad we opened this just before choosing which veggies to make with tonight's dinner; it was definitely magic with fish and roasted asparagus. Even though it's got some body, there's a good hit of acidity here so it does especially well with food (as opposed to being a great sipper) unless, of course, it's a killer sunny day on the patio in which case it is exactly what you want.
I couldn't find this listed on the BC government store site, but you can find it for about $18 at Firefly in Maple Ridge, probably at Firefly on Cambie and certainly at other private shops.
Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Cerelia Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Cab Franc
Just trying some wines from Cerelia in the Similkameen Valley, and which are available at Firefly in Maple Ridge. Check them out at http://www.cerelia.ca/index.htm.
Pinot Gris
Fresh, tart green apple notes, lemon and some minerality.
Chardonnay
The oak can't mask the bright fruit, and there's generous acidity that makes this very food-friendly.
Cab Franc. Well, hello there green pepper and herbs. Pair with Italian sausage with fennel or lamb sausage from your local butcher (not your local chain grocery store). Delicious, but begs for food. Our favourite of the three, by far.
Pinot Gris
Fresh, tart green apple notes, lemon and some minerality.
Chardonnay
The oak can't mask the bright fruit, and there's generous acidity that makes this very food-friendly.
Cab Franc. Well, hello there green pepper and herbs. Pair with Italian sausage with fennel or lamb sausage from your local butcher (not your local chain grocery store). Delicious, but begs for food. Our favourite of the three, by far.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Passover wine - Galil Mountain Chardonnay
It's not your bubbe's Manischewistz.
Our seder guests brought over a bottle of 2008 Galil Mountian Chardonnay, and it was a lovely match with our roast turkey. Fresh, lively and bright with lots of crisp fruit tempered by hint creamy butter. And yes, it's kosher for Passover. As for as what that entails, really, the wine making process is not significantly different (rabbinic supervision, yeast strain that doesn't come in contact with anything leavened for Passover wines, vines of a certain minimum age, etc.) hence, there's no technical reason you wouldn't get a fabulous wine. This one proves it.
Our seder guests brought over a bottle of 2008 Galil Mountian Chardonnay, and it was a lovely match with our roast turkey. Fresh, lively and bright with lots of crisp fruit tempered by hint creamy butter. And yes, it's kosher for Passover. As for as what that entails, really, the wine making process is not significantly different (rabbinic supervision, yeast strain that doesn't come in contact with anything leavened for Passover wines, vines of a certain minimum age, etc.) hence, there's no technical reason you wouldn't get a fabulous wine. This one proves it.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Mistaken Identity Vineyards
We're about to taste Mistaken Identity Vineyard's full selection of whites and their rose tonight And when I say we, I mean a bunch of friends with a variety of wine interest and education levels - from newbies, to interested amateur collectors to a somellier who's starting her WSET diploma. Stay tuned!
Abbondante Bianco
Green fruit and white blossoms on the nose, crisp tree fruit with underlying minerality, lean palate, flavours of granny smith apple, lime zest, lots of acidity, unripe kiwi mid-palate and white grapefruit on the finish. Definitely quaffable. You could drink a ton of this blend on a hot summer day.
Gewurtztraminer
Fairly neutral on the nose with some pear, light lychee, pink grapefruit, very fresh, lots of acidity and green fruit with a bit of sweet ginger and maybe just a hint of smoke.
Pinot Gris
Fresh of freshly sliced pear and pineapple on the nose - refreshing! Lots of acidity again. Lean and green.
Rose
Some floral notes on the nose. This is a crisp summer sipper with its hits of cranberry and strawberry jam.
They've just released a Merlot that was very promising when I tried a barrel sample several months ago, and I cannot wait to try it now that it's ready. These grapes they brought in from a grower in the Okanagan, so think big and juicy. Like all their other wines, the Merlot is organic.
Check out their beautiful patio when you're on Saltspring this summer: www.mistakenidentity vineyards.com
Abbondante Bianco
Green fruit and white blossoms on the nose, crisp tree fruit with underlying minerality, lean palate, flavours of granny smith apple, lime zest, lots of acidity, unripe kiwi mid-palate and white grapefruit on the finish. Definitely quaffable. You could drink a ton of this blend on a hot summer day.
Gewurtztraminer
Fairly neutral on the nose with some pear, light lychee, pink grapefruit, very fresh, lots of acidity and green fruit with a bit of sweet ginger and maybe just a hint of smoke.
Pinot Gris
Fresh of freshly sliced pear and pineapple on the nose - refreshing! Lots of acidity again. Lean and green.
Rose
Some floral notes on the nose. This is a crisp summer sipper with its hits of cranberry and strawberry jam.
They've just released a Merlot that was very promising when I tried a barrel sample several months ago, and I cannot wait to try it now that it's ready. These grapes they brought in from a grower in the Okanagan, so think big and juicy. Like all their other wines, the Merlot is organic.
Check out their beautiful patio when you're on Saltspring this summer: www.mistakenidentity vineyards.com
Monday, January 18, 2010
Cornucopia 2009 - Killer Values
I'm following up on a recent article for Vendor Magazine (http://www.vendormagazine.ca/) and posting my notes from the events I attended the 2009 Cornucopia wine fest in Whistler. Check out these Killer Values:
Killer Values
Yellow Tail Bubbles Rosé $14
Medium sweet with big bubbles and very pronounced ripe peach and strawberry. It’s very fresh and juicy, straight forward and simple with essentially no finish. There’s a lot of pressure to not like Yellowtail, nut this would be fine with waffles and strawberry sauce or with spicy Asian fare.
Crios de Susana Balbo, Torrontes, Argentina 2008 $19
Mmmmm… perfumed with floral notes of neroli and - but not sweet - with a rich almost oily or lanolin mouthfeel and great citrusy acidity.
Anakena Viognier, Chile 2008 $16
A bit of oaky spice, toast and vanilla compliments the mandarin orange and apricot notes. Notoriously hard to grow, you wait and wait until one day Viognier grapes just turn ugly and withered, and that’s when they’re ready. Kind of an uly duckling with poor timing, as far as grapes go, but aromatic and delicious as far as wines go!
Boutari, Moschofilero, Greece 2008 $19
Greek wine hasn’t always had a stellar reputation. During the Renaissance, the Italians used Greek wine and a crusty penny loaf to clean the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – which should give you some indication of what its modern equivalent would have been. Ahhh, but it’s not so. This Moschofilero (pr. MoskoFEELero) is surprisingly complex for $19 with a mushroomy earthiness that’s balanced by light crisp apple and lemony acidity. It shows a stony minerality, herbaceous notes, and manages to be honeyed yet dry. Serve this to your wine snob friends who’ve tried it all. You’ll almost certainly stump them.
Rodney Strong, Chardonnay, USA 2008, $20
All the creamy butteriness that makes you either love or hate Chard. And you know what, if you hate it, it’s probably because it’s the only white you drank in the ‘90s. Time to get over yourself.
Thornhaven, Pinot Noir, 2007, $18
Spicy red raspberry and dried cherry, with greens like carrot top and garden herbs. Rather Burgundian in its low 11.45% alcohol, so drink up. Try your local VQA shop.
Vina Albali Reserva, Tempranillo, Spain, 2003 $20
Dried sweet fruit like dates and berries, it’s big but the tannins are well integrated. Loads of age on this and it’s only $20. You’re not going to find that anywhere else. Grab it and run home to your cupboard full of glasses. Run!
Boekenhoutskloof, The Wolf Trap, South Africa, 2008 $15
Full and smoky, earthy and spicy with black fruit and berries. Pretty smooth and ready to roll.
La Cetto, Petit Syrah, Mexico 2004 $16
With all that juicy blueberry goodness and medium tannins, I would have guessed Australia, not Mexico. But there’s a mesquite smokiness that makes you think twice. Another good one for your wine friends who think they’ve seen it all.
Killer Values
Yellow Tail Bubbles Rosé $14
Medium sweet with big bubbles and very pronounced ripe peach and strawberry. It’s very fresh and juicy, straight forward and simple with essentially no finish. There’s a lot of pressure to not like Yellowtail, nut this would be fine with waffles and strawberry sauce or with spicy Asian fare.
Crios de Susana Balbo, Torrontes, Argentina 2008 $19
Mmmmm… perfumed with floral notes of neroli and - but not sweet - with a rich almost oily or lanolin mouthfeel and great citrusy acidity.
Anakena Viognier, Chile 2008 $16
A bit of oaky spice, toast and vanilla compliments the mandarin orange and apricot notes. Notoriously hard to grow, you wait and wait until one day Viognier grapes just turn ugly and withered, and that’s when they’re ready. Kind of an uly duckling with poor timing, as far as grapes go, but aromatic and delicious as far as wines go!
Boutari, Moschofilero, Greece 2008 $19
Greek wine hasn’t always had a stellar reputation. During the Renaissance, the Italians used Greek wine and a crusty penny loaf to clean the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – which should give you some indication of what its modern equivalent would have been. Ahhh, but it’s not so. This Moschofilero (pr. MoskoFEELero) is surprisingly complex for $19 with a mushroomy earthiness that’s balanced by light crisp apple and lemony acidity. It shows a stony minerality, herbaceous notes, and manages to be honeyed yet dry. Serve this to your wine snob friends who’ve tried it all. You’ll almost certainly stump them.
Rodney Strong, Chardonnay, USA 2008, $20
All the creamy butteriness that makes you either love or hate Chard. And you know what, if you hate it, it’s probably because it’s the only white you drank in the ‘90s. Time to get over yourself.
Thornhaven, Pinot Noir, 2007, $18
Spicy red raspberry and dried cherry, with greens like carrot top and garden herbs. Rather Burgundian in its low 11.45% alcohol, so drink up. Try your local VQA shop.
Vina Albali Reserva, Tempranillo, Spain, 2003 $20
Dried sweet fruit like dates and berries, it’s big but the tannins are well integrated. Loads of age on this and it’s only $20. You’re not going to find that anywhere else. Grab it and run home to your cupboard full of glasses. Run!
Boekenhoutskloof, The Wolf Trap, South Africa, 2008 $15
Full and smoky, earthy and spicy with black fruit and berries. Pretty smooth and ready to roll.
La Cetto, Petit Syrah, Mexico 2004 $16
With all that juicy blueberry goodness and medium tannins, I would have guessed Australia, not Mexico. But there’s a mesquite smokiness that makes you think twice. Another good one for your wine friends who think they’ve seen it all.
Cornucopia 2009 - Wines for a Blue Moon
Check out these notes forma very special once-in-a-blue-moon wine tasting at Whistler's 2009 Cornucopia festival.
Wines for a Blue Moon
This year ended with a blue moon – the second full moon in a month, which comes along ever 17 years, always on New Years Eve. Depending on your budget, you may have some of these special wines just as rarely. If you’re like me, your taste tends to out-pace your budget, so tastings like this at about $35 are a great way to try about $900 worth of wines. Vancouver’s three favourite wine guys: Sid Cross, Anthony Gismondi and David Schoelfield dug these gems out of the cellar.
Krug Grand Cuvee NV $255
All those times we enjoyed crisp good-value bubbly were just a warm up to the Krug. Complex, with deep, full, low notes of toast, yeast, dried apricots, cashews, soft butter, cream and dried fig. Krug is blended from as many as 50 wines from three grape varieties, 20-25 growths, and 6-10 vintage years. If you’re lucky enough to have a glass (or heck a bottle) keep going back to it and marvel at how it evolves.
William Fevre, Chablis, 1er Cru, Montee de Tonnerre 2006
Very gentle, spohoisticated and subtle with stony minerality and gentle pear and apple. Fresh and juicy with plenty of acidity, this will pair easily or you could cellar it. A touch of oak, but generally there’s been little intervention.
Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvee MMVII (2007) $62
Morgon is a top producer in Beaujolais with impeccably managed vineyards, and ’07 was an epic year, according to our trio of tasting experts, but $62 for a bottle of Gamay?
Bouchard Pere, 1er Cru, Baune de Chateau 2005 $42
This one’s going to be great. There’s lots of potential here with flavours of fall leaves, tobacco, cherry, spice and wood. Right now though, it’s a bit young, closed and tannic.
Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir 2003 $88
Ahhh, the moment I’ve been waiting for. Just amazing. Really complex, and landing somewhere between old world and new world in terms of style. It’s leafy and vegetal with dried cherry, black pepper and well-integrated tannins. Somehow, Felton Road is albe to get their Pinot Noir skins to ripen before the juice, which means they’re able to pick at a lower sugar level, which, in turn, gives a wine with less alcohol. They’re also farming biodynamically, and David Schoelfield swears they play Schubert piano concertos in the cellar. As in, they play it to the wine in the vats. Seriously, whatever works, and this works.
Piaggia “Il Sasso” Carmignano, Italy 2006 $62
70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabertnet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Floral and smooth with plenty of red and black fruit and solid, dusty, integrated tannins.
Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri, Italy 2006 $80
A blend of Cab Sauv, Merot and Syrah produced by Antinori. The nose id minty form the Cab, but overall it smells like Italy. There’s no mistaking that sour cherry, cassis and earth. It’s dense, and dark to nearly opaque. This is a big boy - chunky, juicy and tannic.
Mission Hill Quatrain $45
This is Mission Hill’s big red answer to what followers of their Occulus can buy from them now to enoy without waiting 10 years. It’s more Syrah-based, with delicious mocha and coffee notes. Sorry, not sure if this was the 2005 or the 2006, which was also available at the time of the tasting.
Rhone Gang “Hold-Up” 2007 $22
Hey, what’s this $22 bottle doing at their fancy tasting? Who cares; it’s good. Loads of acidity, really red, bright, crisp and light-medium bodied. It needs food, and would work well chilled just a little. Make this your go-to red for summer 2010.
Domaine de Cristia, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2006 $105
Red and black fruit, which is typical of CdP, but here it’s super ripe. It’s earthy, meaty, balanced and smooth – what a combo. The red fruit comes from the Granache in the blend, here it’s 80% along with 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. David Schoelfield called it a new-fangled Robert Parker CdP. I think his point is that there’s a certain power that comes from a lack of restraint or wish to please a certain type of palate, as opposed to following a more traditional, and perhaps restrictive style.
Sadie Family, Columella, Swartland, South Africa 2005 $80
Un-freaking believable, says Gismondi. Smoky, fruity, ripe, earthy, smooth and rich with good tannins, says Solomon. It’s complex to the point that no one grape stands out, but it’s 80% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre. So aside from this being a fantastic wine, there’s some great stuff going on behind the scenes. The winemaker’s a young guy – about 35 – and he’s trying to get back to rudimentary techniques. This year his goal is to make wine without electricity. Talk about old school.
Wines for a Blue Moon
This year ended with a blue moon – the second full moon in a month, which comes along ever 17 years, always on New Years Eve. Depending on your budget, you may have some of these special wines just as rarely. If you’re like me, your taste tends to out-pace your budget, so tastings like this at about $35 are a great way to try about $900 worth of wines. Vancouver’s three favourite wine guys: Sid Cross, Anthony Gismondi and David Schoelfield dug these gems out of the cellar.
Krug Grand Cuvee NV $255
All those times we enjoyed crisp good-value bubbly were just a warm up to the Krug. Complex, with deep, full, low notes of toast, yeast, dried apricots, cashews, soft butter, cream and dried fig. Krug is blended from as many as 50 wines from three grape varieties, 20-25 growths, and 6-10 vintage years. If you’re lucky enough to have a glass (or heck a bottle) keep going back to it and marvel at how it evolves.
William Fevre, Chablis, 1er Cru, Montee de Tonnerre 2006
Very gentle, spohoisticated and subtle with stony minerality and gentle pear and apple. Fresh and juicy with plenty of acidity, this will pair easily or you could cellar it. A touch of oak, but generally there’s been little intervention.
Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvee MMVII (2007) $62
Morgon is a top producer in Beaujolais with impeccably managed vineyards, and ’07 was an epic year, according to our trio of tasting experts, but $62 for a bottle of Gamay?
Bouchard Pere, 1er Cru, Baune de Chateau 2005 $42
This one’s going to be great. There’s lots of potential here with flavours of fall leaves, tobacco, cherry, spice and wood. Right now though, it’s a bit young, closed and tannic.
Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir 2003 $88
Ahhh, the moment I’ve been waiting for. Just amazing. Really complex, and landing somewhere between old world and new world in terms of style. It’s leafy and vegetal with dried cherry, black pepper and well-integrated tannins. Somehow, Felton Road is albe to get their Pinot Noir skins to ripen before the juice, which means they’re able to pick at a lower sugar level, which, in turn, gives a wine with less alcohol. They’re also farming biodynamically, and David Schoelfield swears they play Schubert piano concertos in the cellar. As in, they play it to the wine in the vats. Seriously, whatever works, and this works.
Piaggia “Il Sasso” Carmignano, Italy 2006 $62
70% Sangiovese, 20% Cabertnet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Floral and smooth with plenty of red and black fruit and solid, dusty, integrated tannins.
Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri, Italy 2006 $80
A blend of Cab Sauv, Merot and Syrah produced by Antinori. The nose id minty form the Cab, but overall it smells like Italy. There’s no mistaking that sour cherry, cassis and earth. It’s dense, and dark to nearly opaque. This is a big boy - chunky, juicy and tannic.
Mission Hill Quatrain $45
This is Mission Hill’s big red answer to what followers of their Occulus can buy from them now to enoy without waiting 10 years. It’s more Syrah-based, with delicious mocha and coffee notes. Sorry, not sure if this was the 2005 or the 2006, which was also available at the time of the tasting.
Rhone Gang “Hold-Up” 2007 $22
Hey, what’s this $22 bottle doing at their fancy tasting? Who cares; it’s good. Loads of acidity, really red, bright, crisp and light-medium bodied. It needs food, and would work well chilled just a little. Make this your go-to red for summer 2010.
Domaine de Cristia, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2006 $105
Red and black fruit, which is typical of CdP, but here it’s super ripe. It’s earthy, meaty, balanced and smooth – what a combo. The red fruit comes from the Granache in the blend, here it’s 80% along with 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. David Schoelfield called it a new-fangled Robert Parker CdP. I think his point is that there’s a certain power that comes from a lack of restraint or wish to please a certain type of palate, as opposed to following a more traditional, and perhaps restrictive style.
Sadie Family, Columella, Swartland, South Africa 2005 $80
Un-freaking believable, says Gismondi. Smoky, fruity, ripe, earthy, smooth and rich with good tannins, says Solomon. It’s complex to the point that no one grape stands out, but it’s 80% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre. So aside from this being a fantastic wine, there’s some great stuff going on behind the scenes. The winemaker’s a young guy – about 35 – and he’s trying to get back to rudimentary techniques. This year his goal is to make wine without electricity. Talk about old school.
Cornucopia 2009 - Pinot Noir
More tasting notes from Cornucopia 2009 in Whistler, and follow up from my article at www.vendormagazine.ca:
Pinot Noir
Sacchetto Pinot Rosa della Venezie IGT $19
A good-value frizzante with a sweet strawberry nose, creamy bubbles and a bright red cherry bite.
Joseph Faively “Paulée” Bourgogne AOC 2007 $23
Cherry, earth and green peppercorn with light tannins that sneak up on you on the finish. Great with food.
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2007 $30
Starts off with soft forward fruit like cherry and plum, with nicely spicy black pepper and cloves on the finish. Blue Mountain’s been making my favourite BC Pinots for years. Buy it at the winery and at private wine shops (if you can find it) otherwise you’ll be stuck paying double at your local restaurant.
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir 2007 $35
The first thing that’ll strike you is the colour – it’s pretty dark for a Pinot. The second is the nose – verrrry Central Otago. It’s fuller bodied with lots of cedar, spice, and velvety smooth plum and dried black cherry, and some light tannins.
Familia Schroeder “Saurus” Pinot Noir 2007 $22
As the story goes, construction workers unearthed dinosaur remains while building the winery in Patagonia, hence the name “Saurus”. Seriously, as far as brand stories go, is that a marketer’s dream, or what? Silky and easy to pair with a variety of dishes, there’s plenty of light, bright red fruit and berries, with a touch of spice and light tannins. At $22 it’s good value for the money.
Cono Sur “20 Barrels” Pinot Noir 2007 $30
A very New World Pinot with lots of darker, baked fruit, oaky spice and earth. There’s a good hit of acidity and medium tannins that dissipate on the finish. Pair it with chargrilled meats.
Yebby Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
Mmmmm, smells like a chalet with all that nice cedar wood. Lots of red berries and spice, but with a lighter nose and less fruit-forward in style than I would have expected from Australia. Love it when the Aussies show some restraint, especially in their lovely cooler climate offerings.
Cristom “Jessie Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2005 $65
If you were tasting this blind there’d be no doubt that it was New World, and in pinning it down more specifically, no doubt that it’s from Orgeon. Deep, dark, luscious fruit, and that hint of dill so often found in Oregonian Pinots give it away. This is a stunning wine, with a floral nose of violets, tobacco leaf and forest, with stems added in the winemaking process to increase the tannins. Check for it on your next cross-border read trip, where you won’t be paying BC’s 117% import tax.
Davis Bynum Pinot Noir 2005 $35
You can taste the sunny days they must have had in the Russian River Valley in the summer of ’05 in the silky smooth baked cherry pie flavours. The fruit starts off sweet and lush, but is followed up quickly by a bite of tannins.
Pinot Noir
Sacchetto Pinot Rosa della Venezie IGT $19
A good-value frizzante with a sweet strawberry nose, creamy bubbles and a bright red cherry bite.
Joseph Faively “Paulée” Bourgogne AOC 2007 $23
Cherry, earth and green peppercorn with light tannins that sneak up on you on the finish. Great with food.
Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2007 $30
Starts off with soft forward fruit like cherry and plum, with nicely spicy black pepper and cloves on the finish. Blue Mountain’s been making my favourite BC Pinots for years. Buy it at the winery and at private wine shops (if you can find it) otherwise you’ll be stuck paying double at your local restaurant.
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir 2007 $35
The first thing that’ll strike you is the colour – it’s pretty dark for a Pinot. The second is the nose – verrrry Central Otago. It’s fuller bodied with lots of cedar, spice, and velvety smooth plum and dried black cherry, and some light tannins.
Familia Schroeder “Saurus” Pinot Noir 2007 $22
As the story goes, construction workers unearthed dinosaur remains while building the winery in Patagonia, hence the name “Saurus”. Seriously, as far as brand stories go, is that a marketer’s dream, or what? Silky and easy to pair with a variety of dishes, there’s plenty of light, bright red fruit and berries, with a touch of spice and light tannins. At $22 it’s good value for the money.
Cono Sur “20 Barrels” Pinot Noir 2007 $30
A very New World Pinot with lots of darker, baked fruit, oaky spice and earth. There’s a good hit of acidity and medium tannins that dissipate on the finish. Pair it with chargrilled meats.
Yebby Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
Mmmmm, smells like a chalet with all that nice cedar wood. Lots of red berries and spice, but with a lighter nose and less fruit-forward in style than I would have expected from Australia. Love it when the Aussies show some restraint, especially in their lovely cooler climate offerings.
Cristom “Jessie Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2005 $65
If you were tasting this blind there’d be no doubt that it was New World, and in pinning it down more specifically, no doubt that it’s from Orgeon. Deep, dark, luscious fruit, and that hint of dill so often found in Oregonian Pinots give it away. This is a stunning wine, with a floral nose of violets, tobacco leaf and forest, with stems added in the winemaking process to increase the tannins. Check for it on your next cross-border read trip, where you won’t be paying BC’s 117% import tax.
Davis Bynum Pinot Noir 2005 $35
You can taste the sunny days they must have had in the Russian River Valley in the summer of ’05 in the silky smooth baked cherry pie flavours. The fruit starts off sweet and lush, but is followed up quickly by a bite of tannins.
Coruncopia Whistler 2009 - Bubble-icious
Following up on my articles on www.vendormagazine.ca, here are tasting notes from the Cornucopia wine events I attended in Whistler in 2009.
Bubble-icious
Luna Argenta Prosecco $20
Fairly new to BC, this has been available for about two months. Crisp with a touch of sweetness and Granny Smith apple and pear drop notes.
Sumac Ridge Tribute Sparkling Brut Blanc des Blancs $30
Vincor’s Olympics sparkling contribution is 100% Chardonnay. A bit tropical on the nose with hints of mango and peach, it open up into red Macintosh apple and baked pastry.
Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva Cava
A hint of rubber on the nose, reminiscent of a Riesling. Creamier and richer than the first two, with notes of yeast and almond. Delicious.
Graham Beck Brut $21
A South African blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this is nicely balanced with small, creamy bubbles. A great buy for $21. Yeasty, toasty and buttery, my event companion says, “You can taste the sun.”
Lucien Albrecht Cremant Rose $30
This versatile Alsacian was the hit of the tasting, with most people picking it as their favourite over other, much more expensive options. This one’s 100% Pinot Noir and a pretty pale salmon colour. It has a nice hit of raspberry acidity and will be great with any dish you’re serving.
Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut Champagne $110
A gorgeous sunset pink with delicate bubbles, it’s got the complexity you’d expect and a lingering finish you won’t find on any budget bubbly. Strawberries and cream all the way – yum.
Penny’s Hill Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz $
Yep, it’s the colour of Shiraz. A sparkling red that goes great with Christmas, and all the chocolate you’ve got around the house that time of year. It’s pretty sweet with lots of blueberry jam and blackberry going on. Bring it out for a crowd of fun friends.
Bubble-icious
Luna Argenta Prosecco $20
Fairly new to BC, this has been available for about two months. Crisp with a touch of sweetness and Granny Smith apple and pear drop notes.
Sumac Ridge Tribute Sparkling Brut Blanc des Blancs $30
Vincor’s Olympics sparkling contribution is 100% Chardonnay. A bit tropical on the nose with hints of mango and peach, it open up into red Macintosh apple and baked pastry.
Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva Cava
A hint of rubber on the nose, reminiscent of a Riesling. Creamier and richer than the first two, with notes of yeast and almond. Delicious.
Graham Beck Brut $21
A South African blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this is nicely balanced with small, creamy bubbles. A great buy for $21. Yeasty, toasty and buttery, my event companion says, “You can taste the sun.”
Lucien Albrecht Cremant Rose $30
This versatile Alsacian was the hit of the tasting, with most people picking it as their favourite over other, much more expensive options. This one’s 100% Pinot Noir and a pretty pale salmon colour. It has a nice hit of raspberry acidity and will be great with any dish you’re serving.
Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut Champagne $110
A gorgeous sunset pink with delicate bubbles, it’s got the complexity you’d expect and a lingering finish you won’t find on any budget bubbly. Strawberries and cream all the way – yum.
Penny’s Hill Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz $
Yep, it’s the colour of Shiraz. A sparkling red that goes great with Christmas, and all the chocolate you’ve got around the house that time of year. It’s pretty sweet with lots of blueberry jam and blackberry going on. Bring it out for a crowd of fun friends.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Heartland Stickleback Red 2008
Whoa. The Heartland Stickleback Red is killer, and a great value at about $20 at Firefly. We had Heartland's Shiraz last weekend in Whistler, and it was so good that I picked up whatever Firely carried. A blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dolcetto and Lagrein, this is our new go-to winter wine.
The Stickleback's vineyards are in Langhorne Creek which, owing to the influence of the Southern Ocean, is a cooler part of Australia. The Shiraz and Cab really sing in the blend, with juicy black fruit like blackberry, cassis and blueberry jumping out with lots of smoky, peppery goodness going on here too. Man, oh man. The Lagrein, an oddball little Italian grape from Northern Italy, adds tannin and colour. Not that the tannins are overwhelming, they're actually really well integrated, and the overall the Stickleback Red is very well balanced, especially for being so affordable. Dolcetto "the little sweet one" is another surprise in here. But then there are some interesting blends coming out of Langhorne (see the white blend from Langhorne that we chose for our wedding here) that are great to share with that friend who's had everything. So maybe I should stop acting so surprised.
I'm looking forward to trying every other Heartland wine carried in BC, and have high hopes that they will join D'Arenberg in my stable of I-love-everything-you-produce Aussie wineries.
The Stickleback's vineyards are in Langhorne Creek which, owing to the influence of the Southern Ocean, is a cooler part of Australia. The Shiraz and Cab really sing in the blend, with juicy black fruit like blackberry, cassis and blueberry jumping out with lots of smoky, peppery goodness going on here too. Man, oh man. The Lagrein, an oddball little Italian grape from Northern Italy, adds tannin and colour. Not that the tannins are overwhelming, they're actually really well integrated, and the overall the Stickleback Red is very well balanced, especially for being so affordable. Dolcetto "the little sweet one" is another surprise in here. But then there are some interesting blends coming out of Langhorne (see the white blend from Langhorne that we chose for our wedding here) that are great to share with that friend who's had everything. So maybe I should stop acting so surprised.
I'm looking forward to trying every other Heartland wine carried in BC, and have high hopes that they will join D'Arenberg in my stable of I-love-everything-you-produce Aussie wineries.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau 2009
It's here! Beaujolais Nouveau. Once a year it's released, and when it is you'd better drink up, because Beaujolais Nouveau is meant for today. Seriously, today.
Beaujolais Nouveau goes through a process called carbonic maceration, in which whole bunches of grapes are fermented, and this gives the wine its unique cotton candy, bubble gum and banana flavour characteristics.
Tonight I tried the 2009 Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages AC, and it was pretty darned good, as far as Beaujolais Nouveau goes. The Joseph Drouhin is like skipping down the street to your neighbourhood 7-11. It has all your favourite flavours of the penny candy aisle. Soft, squishy banana candy? Check. Hubba Bubba? Check. Sour cherry blasters? Check. Cream soda Slurpee? Check and check. It's convenience store cheap, too. About $10 for a half bottle and $17 for a full bottle at private store, less for something similar in provincial stores.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the stuff usually. I've just never really understood the value in rushing to bottle and distribute Beaujolais Nouveau. It always seemed like a gimicky cash grab to help with cash flow for wineries whose better products require more age. (Who're you calling cynical?) Alright, alright, I'll lighten up. Beaujolais Nouveau has its appeal, for sure. It's bright and fresh with some characteristics you probably aren't finding in whatever else you're drinking. And different is good. Maybe you won't want to drink it every day, and that's fine, it's even kind of the point since it's only released once a year. Branch out a little and get out of your Shiraz rut for a sec this November.
Cheers!
Beaujolais Nouveau goes through a process called carbonic maceration, in which whole bunches of grapes are fermented, and this gives the wine its unique cotton candy, bubble gum and banana flavour characteristics.
Tonight I tried the 2009 Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages AC, and it was pretty darned good, as far as Beaujolais Nouveau goes. The Joseph Drouhin is like skipping down the street to your neighbourhood 7-11. It has all your favourite flavours of the penny candy aisle. Soft, squishy banana candy? Check. Hubba Bubba? Check. Sour cherry blasters? Check. Cream soda Slurpee? Check and check. It's convenience store cheap, too. About $10 for a half bottle and $17 for a full bottle at private store, less for something similar in provincial stores.
Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the stuff usually. I've just never really understood the value in rushing to bottle and distribute Beaujolais Nouveau. It always seemed like a gimicky cash grab to help with cash flow for wineries whose better products require more age. (Who're you calling cynical?) Alright, alright, I'll lighten up. Beaujolais Nouveau has its appeal, for sure. It's bright and fresh with some characteristics you probably aren't finding in whatever else you're drinking. And different is good. Maybe you won't want to drink it every day, and that's fine, it's even kind of the point since it's only released once a year. Branch out a little and get out of your Shiraz rut for a sec this November.
Cheers!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
How to Choose Wedding Wines
Looking for wines for your wedding? My fiance and I certainly are, and we wanted to get the most for our money.
You can save a ton of money by choosing a venue that allows you to serve your own wines, because you don't get charged the mark-up - we didn't choose that option, so it was especially important that we got great value.
Rule #1 - In order for our venue to charge us the minimum cost per bottle we were told we could select wines that were up to $13 retail. If we picked more expensive wines the venue would simply charge us more, and we'd like to stick to the minimum while getting the biggest bang for our buck.
The Wines - We selected 5 whites and 5 reds between $9-$14, and invited our friends over for a blind tasting.
The Whites:
There are two basic ways we determined the winner. First, we asked each guest to taste each wine, and rank it 1-5 with one being their favourite. For this to work they had to rank each wine, and not skip any or duplicate any. So no half marks or anything. We kept in anonymous, so people would feel comfortable and not be influenced by each other. Guests tried the wines in whatever order they wished. As a back up, we checked which bottle emptied first, second and so on. And hey, when all else fails, this is a sure-fire was to handle the most casual of blind tastings.
Blind Tastings - How To
You can save a ton of money by choosing a venue that allows you to serve your own wines, because you don't get charged the mark-up - we didn't choose that option, so it was especially important that we got great value.
Rule #1 - In order for our venue to charge us the minimum cost per bottle we were told we could select wines that were up to $13 retail. If we picked more expensive wines the venue would simply charge us more, and we'd like to stick to the minimum while getting the biggest bang for our buck.
The Wines - We selected 5 whites and 5 reds between $9-$14, and invited our friends over for a blind tasting.
The Whites:
- Raimat Albarino Chardonnay, Spain $ 13.99
- Bleasdale, Langhorne Crossing, Verdelho/Riesling/Chardonnay, Australia $ 12.99
- Concha Y Toro, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile $ 12.97
- La Vielle Ferme, Cotes du Luberon, France $ 13.99
- Trapiche, Astica, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Argentina $ 9.00
The Reds:
La Vielle Ferme, Lasira, France $ 13.00
Bleasdale, Langhorne Crossing, Cab Sauv/Shiraz/Petit Verdot, Australia $ 12.99
Viu Manent, Malbec, Chile $ 12.99
Finca Los Primos, Malbec, Argentina $ 9.96
Paiara, Negroamaro/Cab Sauv, Italy $ 9.99
Blind Tastings - EssentialsThere are two basic ways we determined the winner. First, we asked each guest to taste each wine, and rank it 1-5 with one being their favourite. For this to work they had to rank each wine, and not skip any or duplicate any. So no half marks or anything. We kept in anonymous, so people would feel comfortable and not be influenced by each other. Guests tried the wines in whatever order they wished. As a back up, we checked which bottle emptied first, second and so on. And hey, when all else fails, this is a sure-fire was to handle the most casual of blind tastings.
Blind Tastings - How To
- Make a list of the wines, and assign each a number.
- Wrap the bottles in tin foil to cover the labels, and write the number on each bottle.
- Print out slips of paper with the number of each wine on it, and provide one to each guest.
- Ask guests to rank each wine, with #1 being their favourite, and giving the highest number to their least favourite.
- Add up the scores at the end.
- The wine with the lowest total score wins (i.e the wine most guests have ranked as their favourite).
The Winners
These two nearly tied. The Bleasdale is more complex with an elegant texture, and the Trapiche is a ridiculously fantastic value with crowd pleasing hits of tropical fruit.
The Whites:
#1 - Bleasdale, Langhorne Crossing, Verdelho/Riesling/Chardonnay, Australia $ 12.99
#2 - Trapiche, Astica, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Argentina $ 9.00
The Reds:
#1 - Paiara, Negroamaro/Cab Sauv, Italy $ 9.99
#2 - Bleasdale, Langhorne Crossing, Cab Sauv/Shiraz/Petit Verdot, Australia $ 12.99
The Paiara came out on top, but we went with the Bleasdale because it is better balanced, a better sipper and because we felt we would get maximum value (the venue charged us the same end price whether we selected a $10 or $13 wine). You can't go wrong with the Paiara though. It's a bit rustic, but a pretty terrific value for a nice pizza wine our friends loved. The price has gone up a couple of bucks in BC since our tasting, but it's still worth it.
I love this next wine, and will definitely be buying it more often. Classic gooseberry and mouthwatering acidity that reminds me of summer. It scored high among the whites, but we didn't think it's sharp acidity would make it a wedding-style crowd pleaser other than at a warm weather outdoor affair.
#3 - Concha Y Toro, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile $ 12.97
We had high hopes for these wines, but they were completely knocked out of the scoring.
La Vielle Ferme, Cotes du Luberon, France $ 13.99
Raimat Albarino Chardonnay, Spain $ 13.99
Viu Manent, Malbec, Chile $ 12.99
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wines of Chile 2008: Part 1
On September 25th Vancouver hosted its annual Wines of Chile consumer tasting event to showcase the range of wines Chile is producing. If you were there then you had a chance to drink some amazing wines. If you weren't there, then allow me to walk you through what I tasted, and the influencers I met along the way.
Anakena
This winery is a perennial favourite of mine among the Chilean wineries.
- Riserva Chardonnay 2007 is spicy and very full bodied, and this year there's no malolactic fermentation.
- For $13 their 2007 Carmenere is a steal.
- Chile makes some great cool climate wines, and Anakena's Pinot Noir has a vibrant orange zest nose with woodsy and cherry flavours.
- Check out ONA, their Bordeaux style blend. It has good balance with lots of fruit and great tannins.
Icon Wines
Chile has been known for providing value, and one of the goals of this event is to introduce you and me to their higher end offerings. It's a real shame that so few of the examples they chose are available in local liquor stores. Regardless, there are times when you'll be traveling and find these available, so you should know about them and try them when you can.
- Santa Alicia Gran Reserva de los Andes Merlot 2005. This is a big, rich Merlot that I'd like to serve to Merlot haters so I could change their minds about this grape that's so often boring.
- Erazuriz Max Reserva 2006 is a blend of 96% Cab Sauv and 4% Petit Verdot. It's got huge ripe fruit up front, and would be a good move up for new world wine drinkers who are used to middle of the road fruity Australian Shirz. It's 14.5% alcohol packs a punch. This one's available and it's only $20. A definite good buy for home and for friends.
- Santa Carolina VSC 2006 blend of Cab Sauv, Carmenere, Malbec and Petit Verdot isn't available in town, but look for it elsewhere if you have a chance. It's very dark with black fruit, berries, plum, and baking spice.
Casas del Bosque
The best of this winery isn't available locally, but it was so good that I have to rave about it.
- Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008. Wow! Tropical fruit and gooseberry nose blasts into nectarine on the tongue. Seriously yum. Not to be confused with the Reserva Sauv Blanc 2008 which is available here, and is much lighter and not quite as elegant. $18 in BC liquor stores.
- 2007 Chardonnay is available at Liberty for about $18. Like most of the Chilean Chards I've tried it's full bodied and toasty, but this one doesn't lose the fruit which is a nice surprise.
- They also have a Reserva Syrah for $22 at private stores, and a Reserva Cab for $21 that's in government stores.
Check back soon for Part 2 featuring Concha Y Toro, Emiliana Vineyards, Geo and my interview with Juan Somavia, managing director of Wines of Chile.
Anakena
This winery is a perennial favourite of mine among the Chilean wineries.
- Riserva Chardonnay 2007 is spicy and very full bodied, and this year there's no malolactic fermentation.
- For $13 their 2007 Carmenere is a steal.
- Chile makes some great cool climate wines, and Anakena's Pinot Noir has a vibrant orange zest nose with woodsy and cherry flavours.
- Check out ONA, their Bordeaux style blend. It has good balance with lots of fruit and great tannins.
Icon Wines
Chile has been known for providing value, and one of the goals of this event is to introduce you and me to their higher end offerings. It's a real shame that so few of the examples they chose are available in local liquor stores. Regardless, there are times when you'll be traveling and find these available, so you should know about them and try them when you can.
- Santa Alicia Gran Reserva de los Andes Merlot 2005. This is a big, rich Merlot that I'd like to serve to Merlot haters so I could change their minds about this grape that's so often boring.
- Erazuriz Max Reserva 2006 is a blend of 96% Cab Sauv and 4% Petit Verdot. It's got huge ripe fruit up front, and would be a good move up for new world wine drinkers who are used to middle of the road fruity Australian Shirz. It's 14.5% alcohol packs a punch. This one's available and it's only $20. A definite good buy for home and for friends.
- Santa Carolina VSC 2006 blend of Cab Sauv, Carmenere, Malbec and Petit Verdot isn't available in town, but look for it elsewhere if you have a chance. It's very dark with black fruit, berries, plum, and baking spice.
Casas del Bosque
The best of this winery isn't available locally, but it was so good that I have to rave about it.
- Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2008. Wow! Tropical fruit and gooseberry nose blasts into nectarine on the tongue. Seriously yum. Not to be confused with the Reserva Sauv Blanc 2008 which is available here, and is much lighter and not quite as elegant. $18 in BC liquor stores.
- 2007 Chardonnay is available at Liberty for about $18. Like most of the Chilean Chards I've tried it's full bodied and toasty, but this one doesn't lose the fruit which is a nice surprise.
- They also have a Reserva Syrah for $22 at private stores, and a Reserva Cab for $21 that's in government stores.
Check back soon for Part 2 featuring Concha Y Toro, Emiliana Vineyards, Geo and my interview with Juan Somavia, managing director of Wines of Chile.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Sauvignon Blanc - White Hot White Wines
Summer's finally here and we're in for even more hot weather over the next two weeks, which begs the question - what should I drink? Sure, there are margaritas (I buy fresh lemon-lime juice from a local restaurant to make mine) and beer, but there are some fantastic whites that are made just for our hottest days.
Pinot Grigio is always a good bet. It's the same grape as Pinot Gris, just done in an Italian style instead of a French style. The Italians know hot, and Pinot Grigios usually have a good measure of refreshing acidity. At my wine shop we can't keep the Mission Hill PG on the shelves on hot days.
But it's not PG that I'm interested in telling you about, it's Sauvignon Blanc. IMHO it's one of the best hot weather options around.Typically characterized by green flavours (grass, peas) and tart gooseberries it's just a perfect thirst quencher on a hot day.
Here are three that I like:
Babich Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand $18 - Refreshing acidity is balanced by gorgeous tropical fruit flavours like guava. Serious yum factor here, and enough fruitiness to please a range of people - like those you invited over for a BBQ. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/560144
Astica Sauv Blanc-Semillon made by Trapiche in Argentina - It's not possible that this is $9. I kid you not, this is a seriously respectable wine for the price. In fact, my mom and step-father (who are both in the wine biz) keep pouring this blind for each other every few months to see if they still like it, and they always do. It's like they try to trick each other to see if they'll dismiss it as cheap - and they don't. It's everything you want in a crisp white, and at $9 it's practically free, people. Refreshing acidity, ripe peach and a long finish. This is a party wine, a wedding wine, a Tuesday wine, and one you could serve to wine lovers and they'll never believe what you paid. What more can you ask? I will buy it by the case for my next BBQ. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/243485
And finally one that I don't usually go for, but it recently quenched me on a ridiculously hot night in a stifling bar.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand $22. OMG is this ever tart... I mean refreshing. Lemon-lime, gooseberry, super citrusy and tart. Usually, I admit that I'm not a fan of it on its own, though paired with something that's also a bit acidic (salads with vinaigrette, anything with lemon or lime) and it'll tone down a bit. It's really quite great on a super hot day, in the same way that lemonade hits the spot. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/243485
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Rolf Binder Heysen Shiraz 2003
We had wine loving friends over for dinner last night, and I broke out my last bottle of Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Shiraz - the one that won best Shiraz in the world - knowing how much they'd appreciate it. Once we killed that bottle we poured the 2003 Rolf Binder Heysen Shiraz, and one guest proclaimed it better than the best-in-the-world JT. It certainly is a big, big, juicy, jammy, smoky wine with seriously intense black liquorice flavours. There's lots of sediment so decant carefully, if that sort of thing is important to you.
This is widely available on the Lower Mainland. Interestingly, the majority of it is in West Van, probably because that's where they're most likely to sell $55 bottles of wine like this one. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/200535?region=5
This is widely available on the Lower Mainland. Interestingly, the majority of it is in West Van, probably because that's where they're most likely to sell $55 bottles of wine like this one. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/200535?region=5
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pfaffenheim Grand Cru Steinert Pinot Gris 2001
Rich gold in colour, it's heady with aromas of honey, lanolin, baked red apple, dried apricot, candied pineapple, sweet spice and bitter almond. This is an incredibly complex wine, and for those who've been drinking simple young whites you'll be very pleased to see how nuanced and rich an aged white can be. Watch out for the 15% alcohol which packs a punch. There's a bit of residual sugar, but the wine has so much going on that it doesn't take anything away from it - just be aware when pairing. We had it with St. Andre triple cream brie and apple slices.
About $33 retail for the 2002. At this price it's not exactly a Tuesday wine, but it's a great choice for when your wine-loving friends and family are over for a visit and you want to wow them. I got the '02 last year and haven't tried the new vintage yet. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/147280
About $33 retail for the 2002. At this price it's not exactly a Tuesday wine, but it's a great choice for when your wine-loving friends and family are over for a visit and you want to wow them. I got the '02 last year and haven't tried the new vintage yet. http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/147280
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2006
While you can find this Washington state wine locally, it's available for a heckuva lot less at Costco in Bellingham - or at least it was when I was there.
There's some classic, pleasant petrol and plastic on the nose, along with lots of ripe fruit like apricot and peach and a bit of citrus and stone. Good acidity on the sides of the tongue help balance out some of the residual sugar in this off-dry Reisling. But don't let the off'-dry description scare you off. These sweet-tart characteristics have their place - turkey is a classic pairing.
This is worth a try, especially if you're bringing it back from Bellingham for about $6 instead of the $16 you'll find it for at the BCLDB http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/232512. I guess that's what happens when we tax our imported wines at 117% in this province.
There's some classic, pleasant petrol and plastic on the nose, along with lots of ripe fruit like apricot and peach and a bit of citrus and stone. Good acidity on the sides of the tongue help balance out some of the residual sugar in this off-dry Reisling. But don't let the off'-dry description scare you off. These sweet-tart characteristics have their place - turkey is a classic pairing.
This is worth a try, especially if you're bringing it back from Bellingham for about $6 instead of the $16 you'll find it for at the BCLDB http://www.bcliquorstores.com/en/products/232512. I guess that's what happens when we tax our imported wines at 117% in this province.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wine Lovers' Dishwasher Gel
Happy Earth Day to you! Finally, at long last, a dishwasher gel that doesn't leave a nasty chemical smell on wine glasses, and actually gets the dishes clean. Nature Clean is unscented, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and even septic safe for those of you enjoying wine in a rustic cabin situation. Given all those enviro factors you'd think the stuff wouldn't actually get dishes clean, but it does.
I know I sound like a commercial for this stuff, but I'm too lazy to wash my wine glasses by hand (nor do I have room on the counter to dry them all) and I can't stand the smell that regular chemically dishwasher stuff leaves on them.
Nature Clean is about double the price of the regular stuff, which ran me (read: my boyfriend) about $13 for 1.8L at IGA. It's only the price of a reasonable bottle of wine, and if you really care about how your wine tastes - and smells - then it's absolutely worth it.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sonora Ranch Semillon-Chardonnay
This is my party wine. It's everything you want in a crisp, dry crowd pleaser, and it's only $9.29. When I'm having a ton of people over with vastly different wine backgrounds, I try to avoid serving the expensive stuff. I'd rather save those bottles for my friends who care about wine, and then we'll pair something to go specifically with it. This stuff will please a lot of folks, and won't offend anyone. Drink it, cook with it, make sangria - it's a versatile budget wine, and there aren't a lot of those from BC.
There's lots of baked red apple on the nose, and tangy pineapple and citrus zest on the tongue. At 12.5% alcohol it's a tiny bit hot (a.k.a. I can taste the alcohol) but at such a great price I should just drink up and stop nit picking.
There's lots of baked red apple on the nose, and tangy pineapple and citrus zest on the tongue. At 12.5% alcohol it's a tiny bit hot (a.k.a. I can taste the alcohol) but at such a great price I should just drink up and stop nit picking.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Wine of the Week - Mission Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
We're running low on plain old Tuesday wine (yes, I know it's Thursday), so tonight we opened up a bottle of Mission Hill Cab. Usually, you'll just find this one in restaurants, but I managed to get one for home. And it's delicious. With lots of cherry and black fruit flavours, and a hint of smoky bacon fat, tobacco and spice, it's full bodied and mouth-watering.
Monday, March 3, 2008
VQA Fall Release Event in Vendor Magazine
Here's the article Vendor ran about the VQA Fall release event.
Even though you've read about this event in other postings, I thought you might like to see this, since the publication only goes to people in the industry.
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