2009 Ridgepoint White Cab

Posted on December 2, 2011 by John Galea

A red wine gets it’s color from being in contact with the skins after the grapes are crushed. (Except when the center of the grape is red). By removing the crushed grapes from the skins as quickly as possible. The limitation of this is that a fair amount of the flavor and the tannins come from the skins.

I recently have encountered a number of traditionally red wines that are white. This includes a white Pinot and this white cab.

I recently visited Ridgepoint winery. I had the pleasure of having lunch there. I love their country style Italian kitchen. Reasonably priced yummy foods. Stop by if your in the area!

Ridgepoint are doing some great work on their wines as well. I had the pleasure of chatting with the two owners the Scarsellones as well as the winemaker Arthur Harder during my visit.

On the white side their Riesling has surpassed Cave Springs as my favorite in Niagara. I bought some of this years and look forward to trying a bottle for a future review. On the red side Mauro explained they are working on softening their reds and removing some of the edgey tannic reds of past. Ridgepoint is also making some Nebbiolo a traditional Italian grape used in Barolo and Barbarescos.

Being a unique wine I had no idea what to expect from this one. The wine is pale in color. On the nose it is very reminiscent of a dry Riesling. On the mid pallet the taste matches the nose. It is somewhere between a Riesling and a Gewürztraminer. As the wine warmed up the length of the wine improved. All in all this was an interesting tasting! I would give it an 88 or so.


Copyright John Galea for CanadianWineGuy.com

Share
Posted in Canadian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

CHÂTEAU COUCHEROY BLANC 2008

Posted on November 28, 2011 by John Galea

I stopped by the iYellow Bordeaux after work party at Crush wine bar. This was my second one. I really like the way these events have been laid out. By having them early after work it made it easy to stop by on your way home. They were conveniently located at downtown bars, were inexpensive and a geat opportunity to try out a few wines and mix and mingle. I hope iYellow choose to do them again. Sadly there are no more scheduled at this time.

This particular wine is a Sauv Blanc as is typical of a white Bordeaux. Pale in color with a nose of citrus. On the mid pallet this wine is dominated by a tart grapefruit flavor. The wine is medium in length with this tartness gripping the tongue and holding on for a bit. To my tastes this is a rough, poorly made wine that I found fought in the mouth. Not well balanced at all. I would give it maybe an 87. Which for the price is by no means a good deal. If I had any I would take it back. Given the number of terrific Sauv Blanc’s I’ve reviewed here I would definitely recommend you look elsewhere.

Check LCBO Stock

Share
Posted in Bordeaux, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2005 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on November 25, 2011 by John Galea

Another wine from the Society for American Wines annual cab event. This was my second favorite of the evening. Dark in color with bold nose of red berries coming through. On the mid pallet this wine is big, bold, round, California style cab with lots of red fruits, cherries and the like coming through nicely. On the finish the wine has some lovely smooth tannins that build nicely as you sip. I would give this a solid 90-91. The current offering in the LCBO is $34.95.

Check LCBO stock

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2005 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cab

Posted on November 22, 2011 by John Galea

I love well aged cabs. They become so smooth, so elegant, a beautiful glass of yummy in a glass! I belong to Society for American Wines and one of the reasons is because their tastings draw from their extensive cellar of aged wines. The Cab event is one of my favorites. Brett (Mr CWG) and I attended together and this wine was by far our favorite of the night. Dark in color with lots of red fruits, cherries and the like on the nose. On the mid pallet you get some lovely deep rich, round cherries, well integrated. They fill the mouth. The wine is smooth on the medium finish with tannins, alcohol and oak all well under control. The years have been very good to this wine. I would give it a solid 91!

From the LCBO web site for this wine but for a different year:
CHATEAU MONTELENA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 VINTAGES 718452 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 54.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: California, USA By: Chateau Montelena

Release Date: Apr 2, 2011

Tasting Note
This is one for the cellar. Firm tannins are wrapped all around the fruit. Leave this in a cellar for 5-10 years (though, it may be enjoyed, decanted, with a rare steak or roast beef). Cedar, blueberry, cassis, pipe tobacco, mineral and dried cherry are the prime aromas here. Dry, tannic, and fairly tight at this stage, with fruit and a mineral tone in behind. Medium-full bodied with a long, firm finish. A promising wine that will deliver great pleasure over years to come. (VINTAGES panel, Feb. 2011)

Check LCBO stock

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

Alvento Aria 2007 Nebbiolo

Posted on November 20, 2011 by John Galea

The Nebbiolo grape is an Italian grape that is used in making Italy’s famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines. In Italian form these wines are big bruisers with lots of super dry pucker power! Problem is Barolo’s can be quite expensive. Barbaresco’s are a good alternative at a lower price point. One of my favorites is CASTELLO DI NEIVE BARBARESCO at $21.80 it is a great wine at a great price. I digress …

I have never been to Alvento winery but encountered them at the Gourmet Food and Wine show. When I saw they had a Nebbiolo I had to try it. I had no idea there was anyone other than Ridgepoint making a Nebbiolo in Niagara. Dark in color with a lovely nose of dark berries. On the mid pallet this wine is brimming with Red berries, and deep rich flavors that fill the mouth. On the finish this wine has the super dry pucker power a Nebbiolo ought to deliver. Lots of firm tannins that build VERY nicely in the mouth. I was HUGELY impressed with this wine. They have recreated the Italian experience very nicely. I had a Barolo and a Barbaresco at the show just before trying this one and it was clear to me how authentic it is! I would even say they have done it better than Ridgepoint. I would give this wine a SOLID 90. Perfect with a steak or any big hearty meal. The 2006 is in the LCBO but the 2007 isn’t. Based on the price difference $21.35 for the 2006 and $34.90 for the 2007 I would say they are having some year to year variability. Not a surprise as they figure out how to grow this grape in our climate. The 2007 for now is only available at the winery or off the website.

I’m thoroughly impressed how people like this are doing incredible pioneering work in Niagra wineries. Taking risks planting unique varietals like this. Hats off to you! I had the pleasure of meeting the wine maker at the show.

2006 at the LCBO.

Share
Posted in Canadian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

Gourmet Food and Wine show

Posted on November 18, 2011 by John Galea

I went to the Gourmet Food and Wine show last night! If you’ve not been before, be sure and check it out. You pay $40 to get in, and then pay for sampling tickets. The cost of samples varies depending on what the bottle is worth. It’s a great opportunity to sample a lot of different wines in a short period of time for reasonable money. My GF and I went through about $60 in sampling tickets. Most of which I used 🙂 There is food at the event but we chose to eat first to save our money for the wine! The show is located conveniently in the convention center and the crowds last night were quite manageable. Be sure and take public transit because it is almost impossible to tell how many you have had by the end of the night. Union station is a 15 minute walk which you can do entirely inside. It runs all weekend. Be sure and check it out! Gourmet Food and Wine show

Share
Posted in JG Review, Off Wine Topic | Leave a comment

2008 Wagner Dry Riesling Finger Lakes

Posted on November 17, 2011 by John Galea

Another reception wine from the Society for American Wine annual cab tasting event. Pale in color with some petrol coming through on the nose. I also got some sulfur but others did not. On the mid pallet this is a slightly sweet varietal Riesling, well made, smooth food friendly wine. The wine was on the lighter side of medium in length. This is not a bad wine, but given how many terrific Rieslings come out of Niagara for less money I’m afraid I would be passing this one over. I would give it an 87-88. Worth around $20, not in the LCBO.

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

FREI BROTHERS RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008

Posted on November 15, 2011 by John Galea

I previously had this one at a Society for American Wines event so when it came upon this recent release I jumped at it. Dark in color with a lovely nose of red berries. On the mid pallet this is a fruit forward traditional California style Cab. Lots of ripe cherries coming through. There are lots of layers to this wine! On the finish this wine has some lovely dryness coupled with some smooth tannins. The wine continues to build in the mouth. I would give this a solid 90. Yum! And to top it off this one is a keeper with 10 years left in it! Woohoo!

From the LCBO web site:
FREI BROTHERS RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008 VINTAGES 38075 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 23.95
Wine, Red Wine 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: California, USA By: E. & J. Gallo Winery

Release Date: Oct 29, 2011

Tasting Note
Another outstanding effort as well as a sleeper of the vintage is the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and the rest Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, it possesses a dense ruby/purple color, deep, medium to full-bodied flavors, lots of black currant, underbrush and loamy soil notes intertwined with a hint of oak, and a robust, extroverted, impressive finish. This wine should drink well for at least a decade. Score – 90. (Robert Parker Jr., erobertparker.com, Feb. 2011

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2009 Fog Head Chardonnay

Posted on November 11, 2011 by John Galea

Another reception wine from the Society for American Wine annual cab tasting event. Golden in color with some nice vanilla coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the vanilla and oak are there with some tart green apple flavors. The wine is quite light on the finish with not a lot going on. This is a light summer sipper for sure. I would give it an 87-88. Not available at the LCBO, $20 or so …

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2009 J. Lohr Riverstone Arroyo Chard

Posted on November 9, 2011 by John Galea

We had this as a reception wine at the Society for American Wine annual cab tasting event. Brett and I attended this one together. This wine is quite golden in color with a mild nose with some citrus and minerality coming through. On the mid pallet this wine is dominated by some strong acidity, tart grapefruit flavors that grip the tongue. The acidity over powers an underlying fruity chard that displays some toasty notes. The wine is medium in length again dominated by acidity. The wine improved as it warmed up, it was served way too cold. I find a number of chards really don’t do well when they are served too cold. I would give this wine an 87 or so. This wine is about $20, but for my money there are much better chards out there. I also don’t think this would be a very food friendly wine. Too tart. A better chard to my tastes for example, from Niagara the Inniskillin Three Vineyards Chard has become one of my regular wines. Goes amazingly with scallops!

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2000 Vasse Felix

Posted on November 4, 2011 by John Galea

My regular readers know I’ve been going back and reviewing my cellar insuring I haven’t forgot anything. Imagine the horror of waiting too long, opening a bottle only to find it undrinkable. That would be an unspeakable tragedy worthy of a trip to the confessional … forgive me father for I wasted alcohol :(.

You may wonder what is the value in your reading about a wine you can’t buy? Well it will give you some idea of what the aging potential of a wine may be as well as to allow you to learn at my expense 🙂

This one slipped through the cracks. I had expected it would keep until 2008 and only the other night cracked it. Oops. So I was reluctant. A BBQ striploin was on the menu so a mild over kept wine would not have done.

Cab/Merlot’s like this are always an odd one for me. The only purpose for the Merlot IMHO is to tame the cab. Let’s face it the chance of actually tasting the fruit forward plummy nature of a Merlot with a Cab are slim to none.

Upon opening the cork was deep inky black. Classic Aussie. Poured into the glass the wine was quite dark with some browning around the edges, a classic sign of an aged wine. As it gets past it’s prime this brown becomes more and more pronounced. On the nose are some mild elegant black fruits with nothing in particular jumping out at me. On the mid pallet, right out of the bottle this wine is dominated by strong spices, pepper with some underlying fruit still there. 1/2 hour in the decanter did the trick and the spicy nature of this wine was more in check. The next day even more so! I was shocked to find that even after 11 years this is still a big wine. After the time in the decanter the mid pallet is dominated by red fruits currents and cherries, with the cab franc quite prominent. On the finish there are firm but smooth tannins, on a lovely velvety medium finish. I can not believe how well this wine has held up. Still a solid 90. It held up really well to the striploin and complemented it nicely!

From the LCBO web site at the time: (be sure and save ANYTHING you can about the wine you are going to cellar at time of purchase!)
Margaret River, Western Australia (D) 750 mL (Vasse Felix) Vasse Felix’s Cabernet/Merlot is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Tasting note: Rich and generous, redolent of currant, cherry, mint and spice, with the tiniest hint of herb sneaking in on the round, beautifully polished finish. Drink now through 2008. Score – 90. (Harvey Steiman, www.winespectator.com, Sept. 30, 2002) 947879 CABERNET/MERLOT 2000 $ 24.95 Featured 3/9/2004

Currently not in the LCBO.
Copyright John Galea for CanadianWineGuy.com

Share
Posted in Australian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2007 Reserve Shiraz Queenston Rd Creekside Estate Winery

Posted on November 1, 2011 by John Galea

I tasted this one at the Sip and Savor event. It was one of the first ones I got when I walked in. Dark in color with lots of red berries on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine is big bold and round on the mouth with lots of cherries dominating. On the finish the wine has some strong tannins but not bitter or earthy. For the price this is an expensive wine, $36.95 at the winery. I would give it an 88.

Creekside Winery

Share
Posted in Canadian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2011 Stoneleigh Sauv Blanc

Posted on October 30, 2011 by John Galea

Pale in color, with a nose of citrus fruits and minerals. On the mid pallet the wine has lots of citrus, zest and grass. This is a vibrant boisterous sauv blanc! The wine is medium on the finish with the citrus going on nicely in the mouth. We paired this wine with a tandoori chicken and it held it’s own. I would give this wine a solid 88. A very nice varietal New Zealand Sauv Blanc. Not bad for the money. You will often find this one on the wine list in restaurants. Give it a whirl! Check LCBO stock

Share
Posted in JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2009 Casa-Dea Pinot Noir

Posted on October 27, 2011 by John Galea

I was thrilled to see Prince Edward County Wines at the recent Sip and Savor event. I did a week long trip to the county and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I would go back in a heart beat! The whites tend to be more minerally than Niagara and the reds are softer. Tannins are hard to come by. This winery was previously known as Carmella Estates and had the longest white (a Riesling) I’ve ever tasted!

This wine is pale ruby in color with a rustic nose. On the mid pallet the wine spot on varietal pinot albeit a milder one. Some lovely red fruits strawberry and raspberry come through. The wine is on the lighter side of medium on the finish with light tannins and nice finish. This is an easy sipping wine or quite food friendly. I would give this an 88-89. Unfortunately not available in the LCBO, $16.95 at the winery. A good deal for a pinot!

From the winery’s web site:
Our 100% estate-grown grapes were aged for 15 months in French Oak barrels. Medium-bodied wine with aromas of black cherries, raspberries, cigar box and herbs. This Pinot Noir has a smooth juicy palate. Matches well with mushroom risotto or roast duck.

The Winery

Share
Posted in Canadian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2010 Lindemans Bin 95 Sauv Blanc

Posted on October 25, 2011 by John Galea

Pale in color, with lots of citrus and lemon the nose. On the mid pallet are some lovely citrus, lemon and a hint of zest. The finish is medium in length and builds nicely as you sip. A very food friendly wine that would give Chilean Sauv Blanc’s a run for their money. This wine is a bargain for the price, $10.95! I would give it an 89. Be sure and check this one out!

From the LCBO web site:
LINDEMANS BIN 95 SAUV BLANC LCBO 181388 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.95
Wine, White Wine 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Region Not Specified, Australia By: Southcorp Wines

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; complex aroma of pear, gooseberry herbs & grass; flavour follows nose, crisp acidity balances fruit, good quality

Check LCBO Stock

Share
Posted in Australian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

On the Road

Posted on October 24, 2011 by CanadianWineGuy

I will be on the road all week. John will continue his posts, I meanwhile will be tweeting wine info @CanadianWineGuy

Follow along

Share
Posted in Wine | Tagged | Leave a comment

2009 Blackstone Winemakers select Chardonnay

Posted on October 22, 2011 by John Galea

Pale in color with a mild chard varietal nose. Nothing immediately jumping out at me. On the mid pallet the wine on first drinking is a very mild chard. Some nice vanilla, some oak, some caramel. The mildness of these flavors allows you to appreciate the crisp fruits of the chardonnay grape. As the wine warmed up the finish got longer and it gripped the tongue. Especially true without food. The vanilla and caramel came through very nicely to a medium finish. If you are looking for a big bold chard, this isn’t the wine for you. If a subtle, well made, smooth chard is too your tastes then this might be a nice choice. It would be quite food friendly. I would give it an 88-89. Unfortunately not in the LCBO. I suspect it’s around $15.

I paired it with Oysters, and it went ok with them. Not overly complementary to the oysters, but didn’t fight either.

From the winery’s web site:
2008 CHARDONNAY Blackstone Chardonnay shows aromas of pineapple, peach and lemon citrus with a touch of mineral notes and pleasing oak followed by luscious tropical fruit flavors and a touch of toasted vanilla on the palate This bright, well-balanced wine has a long, lingering finish. A fantastic food wine, it will complement herb-baked chicken, grilled fish or vegetarian entrees and light aged cheeses.
Varietal: 95% Chardonnay 3% Gewürztraminer 2% Semillon
Total Acidity: 7.0 g/l pH: 3.34 Alcohol: 13.5%

Winery’s web site

Share
Posted in American, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2010 Jackson Triggs Black Series Sauv Blanc

Posted on October 20, 2011 by John Galea

I enjoy Sauv Blancs. I find them very food friendly. There are lots of good ones for VERY reasonable money. Some good ones from New Zealand are smooth and elegant, some inexpensive ones from Chile are edgy and bold. With this background I gave this one a try.

Pale in color with minerality on the nose. On the mid pallet are some nice citrus flavors and some lemon. These build nicely on the finish. This is a sauv blanc right in the middle. Gentle and well made. For the price this wine is a good deal. Give it a try. I would give it an 88-89!

From the LCBO web site:
JACKSON-TRIGGS SAUV BLANC BLACK SERIES VQA LCBO 58438 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 13.95
Wine, White Wine 12.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Jackson-Triggs Winery

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; grapefruit, herbs and gooseberry on the nose; light, dry, refreshing acidity, and a long lemony finish.

Check LCBO stock

I tried this one at the Sip and Savour event held last night at the Round House in Toronto, the Steam Whistle building. I was dieing to see the building. It is quite unique. The event on the other hand was not well done at all. On a dull and dreary rainy night there were few signs to lead me to the entrance. I did find Leons however 🙂 Once in side the building is poorly laid out for an event of this size. Couple in the fact it was WAY over sold and I was unimpressed with this event for the first time. Very disappointing. In addition, in the past, the food has been excellent and lots of it. This time the food was good but very small portions and not much of it. All in all this event took a MAJOR turn for the worse. I can only hope it improves next year. It’s a great chance to sample a lot of Ontario wineries in one venue. They even had a few from Prince Edward County!

Share
Posted in Canadian, Wine | Leave a comment

2009 Wildass Stratus Riesling

Posted on October 18, 2011 by John Galea

This wine comes from the Niagara on the lake region. Pale in color, on the nose is some minerality consistent with wines from this region. On the mid pallet are some apple juice flavors, slightly sweet but not too much. The wine is on the lighter side of medium on the finish with the flavor lingering nicely. Apples are dominant front to back. This is a very food friendly wine, I would give it an 88-89. Consistently good.

A great introduction to tomorrow’s Sip a Savour event. A fabulous tasting of Ontario wines. If you haven’t been before, GO! This year it is being held in the historic Roundhouse! Year after year this has been a great event!

From the winery’s web site:
2009 Wildass Riesling

The aromatic profile exudes green apple and fresh pear character with subtle citrus notes in the backdrop. These aromatic notes reappear on the palate with heightened flavours of ripe, ruby grapefruit. The mouthfeel is soft and balanced with a refreshing spike of acidity on the finish.

Check LCBO stock

Share
Posted in Canadian, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

LUIGI BOSCA SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2008

Posted on October 16, 2011 by John Galea

I’ve had the Luigi Bosca Malbec for a number of years and it has been consistently good, and a good deal to boot. This one is dark inky in color, with lovely dark, rich berries on the nose. On the mid pallet are some deep rich dark berries, blueberries and the like. Quite rich. On the finish the wine is dominated by strong tannins and acidity. This wine is either too young or you need to have some patience and let it breath. The finish is on the longer side of medium with some oak also present. I would give it an 88 for now but with some breathing/aging it could easily be a 90.

From the LCBO web site:
LUIGI BOSCA SINGLE VINEYARD MALBEC 2008 VINTAGES 74922 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 21.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Mendoza, Argentina By: Leoncio Arizu S.A.

Release Date: Oct 1, 2011

Tasting Note
Full, deep red. Red plum, redcurrant, graphite, mocha, cocoa powder, mint and nutty oak on the inviting nose and palate. Suave, pliant and sexy, with a captivating suggestion of white fruits in the mouth. A silky, gently extracted malbec in a rather Old World style. Finishes with supple tannins and sneaky persistence. I like this. Score – 90. (Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, Jan./Feb. 2011)

Check LCBO Stock

Share
Posted in JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2009 CHATEAU PEY LA TOUR

Posted on October 12, 2011 by John Galea

Another from the iYellow Bordeaux after work party. My least favorite of the evening.

Dark in color with red berries on the nose. A blend of Cab Sauv and Merlot. On the mid pallet are red and dark berries with some of the dried fruit tastes coming through. On the finish the wine is medium in length with some tannins and some oak. This is a smooth well made wine but nothing exceptional. I would give it an 88-89. For the money I would look elsewhere.

From the LCBO web site:
CHATEAU PEY LA TOUR LCBO 264986 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.45
Wine, Red Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Bordeaux, France By: Dourthe Freres

Tasting Note
Deep ruby colour; cedar, earth, red liquorice, cassis, fresh cherry aromas with mushroom and spice notes; dry, medium to light bodied with cherry-tinged and plum fruit flavours, well balanced.
Copyright John Galea for CanadianWineGuy.com

Share
Posted in Bordeaux, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

2007 Stags Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay

Posted on October 10, 2011 by CanadianWineGuy

October 8 2011 was a gorgeous day in Toronto: 24 and sunny, almost no wind, not a cloud in the sky. On a Saturday such as this there was no excuse to not sit on the terrace and have some wine. So into the cellar I went and out came this Californian Chardonnay. I bought this wine in early 2010 on one of many trips through San Francisco, at the time it was more or less a ‘let’s give it a try we need more chardonnay.”

Little did I know at that time what an apostrophe’s placement could mean. Stags Leap AVA is considered one of the top appellations in the Americas and with that, competition for the name has occurred. There are two vineyards named after the region: one with Stag’s Leap and the other is Stags’ Leap. For those following alone, that ‘ means a great deal, otherwise I guess there is no confusion at all. Carl Doumani and Warren Winiarski, two of the original owners in the early 70s, both called their vineyards Stags Leap, litigation ensued and with a settlement in the courts the glorious apostrophe settled the issue and we got Stags’ and Stag’s. Silly history but still great to know.

If you are unaware of the region, the Napa Valley has some great little pockets but Stags Leap may stand out for several reasons. First would be that the region had vines planted in the late 1800’s, which makes it one of the oldest wine regions in the ‘New World’. Second would be the international acclaim it has received, starting with the first Californian first place medal in Europe (1976 for a Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon). Since that time some of the best houses in the Californian wine game have come from the appellation. Of note are both the aforementioned wineries but if you were to ask me personally which is the most outstanding I’d say Hartwell Estate Vineyards which will be reviewed in the months coming. Enough blather, what was this wine like?

The colour is a light yellow, almost the colour of an apple cider. Green apple with hints of floral hit your nose as you swirl the glass. First few drops yield apple and vanilla on the tongue, while melon all make appearances with a few more sips. The wine is easy on the mouth with low acidity and a nice long finish. This is a complex Chardonnay with fruit that balances out with good dryness and feel. Very enjoyable, I am glad it stuck around till now even though it still has potential for cellaring, think 3-5 years. For those wanting to know, price was roughly $28 a bottle.

CWG Subjective Rating is 87 out of 100.

Share
Posted in American, Wine | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Sip and Savour 2011 – Press Release

Posted on October 8, 2011 by CanadianWineGuy

This is a great event and what follows is an official Press Release and is not written by CWG. Having been to this even in the past I can vouch for it’s value and fun:

An Evening Dedicated to Ontario VQA Wines & Regional Cuisine in Support of Houselink

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 – Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse – With Ontario at the heart of Canada’s food and wine scene, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the plethora of food and wine events taking place in the province throughout the year. After seven years in the running, sip & Savour Ontario has grown substantially and established itself as Toronto’s ultimate local wine and food experience, offering both the public and media an opportunity to savour and explore the excellence of Ontario food and VQA wine.

With sip & Savour Ontario taking place right in the midst of harvest season, there’s no better time or place to experience the excitement and show your support for- the best of what our province has to offer! This year, we will be showcasing 29 award-winning Ontario wineries that will be pouring and pairing their wines with a delectable selection of gourmet regionally prepared foods.

“We are very proud to be associated with Houselink,” notes Tony Aspler, wine writer and partner of sip & Savour Ontario. “The Ontario Wine Awards and sip & Savour Ontario share the same core values. This worthy enterprise is community-based, helping those who cannot help themselves. The wine community is by nature a sharing community, willing to assist those less fortunate than ourselves.”

Culinary offerings created by chefs from a selection of Ontario’s top restaurants, including; Globe Bistro, The Drake Hotel, The Old Mill Inn & Spa, Frank Restaurant / AGO, The Boiler House Restaurant and Longo’s. An exciting addition to this year are three Ontario gourmet food trucks – El Gastrónomo Vagabundo, Gorilla Cheese and Cupcake Diner – will be there serving up their culinary delights. Guests are also invited to get up close and personal, and learn first hand how to prepare their own food and wine pairing at home, during the live culinary demonstrations taking place throughout the evening. Also, participating sponsors, Dairy Farmers of Canada, The Stonemill Bakehouse Ltd., and Q water, will be on hand to proudly share with the crowd what products they have to offer.

Partnering with Houselink, this year’s event will feature a silent auction with all proceeds to benefit Houselink, which provides housing solutions and support for people living with mental illness and at risk of being homeless. www.houselink.on.ca

Our event will give you a taste of Ontario’s home-grown excellence and inspire you to help fund the continued enjoyment of Ontario’s finest foods and VQA wines for years to come!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Steam Whistle Brewing, The Roundhouse
255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto
www.steamwhistle.ca

For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sipandsavourontario.ca

Share
Posted in Wine | Leave a comment

2009 CALVET SAINT-EMILION

Posted on October 6, 2011 by John Galea

This is another wine from the iYellow Bordeaux after work party.

It was my second favorite of the night. Dark in color with nice red berries coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine has some nice red berries to go with the bouquet. It is medium in body and medium on the finish. The tannins are subtle, fine as they say in the LCBO description below. The tannins build nicely in the mouth as you continue to sip (assuming your not drinking it with food). I would give it an 89. Not a bad deal given the price.

From the LCBO web site:
CALVET SAINT-EMILION LCBO 31898 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 18.95
Wine, Red Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Bordeaux, France By: J. Calvet & Cie – Bordeaux

Tasting Note
Deep ruby purple colour, almost opaque; cassis, vanilla and mint aromas; full bodied with dried black cherry flavours and oak spice; fine tannins on the finish.

Check LCBO stock
Copyright John Galea for CanadianWineGuy.com

Share
Posted in Bordeaux, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment

CHÂTEAU FERRAN BLANC 2007

Posted on October 4, 2011 by John Galea

This was the only white from the iYellow Bordeaux after work party.

This wine is a Sauv blanc. As usual the French do a great job of controlling the laws but a terrible job of labeling wines that the average person can understand 🙂

The wine is light in color with a strong nose of lemon and grass. On the mid pallet the wine has some strong acidity and a hint of sweetness. Some zest comes through as well. The finish is long dominated by citrus. It builds very nicely in the mouth. This is a complex wine with lots going on. I would give this a strong 89-90.

From the LCBO web site:
CHÂTEAU FERRAN BLANC 2007 VINTAGES 100867 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 21.00
Wine, White Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Bordeaux, France By: Famille H. Béraud-Sudreau, Prop.
Release Date: Jul 9, 2011

Description
Robert Parker Jr. gave this wine a score of 90, but did not provide a tasting note. (eroberparker.com, April 2010)

Tasting Note
A very pretty and layered nose that presents ripe orchard fruit, grapefruit zest and garden herbs with subtle toast, butter and coconut oil notes. Dry and medium bodied, it’s crisp with a vibrant acidity. A green apple note emerges on the palate; well handled oak adds complexity. Zippy, refreshing, medium-long finish. Enjoy with baked sole or lemon chicken. (VINTAGES panel, May 2011)

Check LCBO stock


Copyright John Galea for CanadianWineGuy.com

Share
Posted in Bordeaux, JG Review, Wine | Leave a comment