Durbanville 2009 Sauv blanc

Posted on October 14, 2010 by John Galea

Stopped by Walkers Fish Market for their free Oyster Thursdays! Vicky and Sylvie the bartenders were taking care of me this evening and recommended this wine. It is pale in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are lots of lovely green grass and citrus fruits. The finish is slightly tart and lives on to build in the mouth lingering nicely. I had it with oysters and it went well. I would give it an 88 or so. Quite a good deal for the money.

From the LCBO web site:
DURBANVILLE HILLS SAUV BLANC LCBO 22251 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.95
Wine, White Wine 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: South Africa, South Africa By: Distillers Corporation Limited

Tasting Note
Pale colour; herbaceous, cut grass and gooseberry aromas; intense and crisp flavours of grass and citrus.

Serving Suggestion
Olive and garlic foccacia; herb based dishes like pesto pasta, seafood

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DE BORTOLI DEEN VAT 10 PINOT NOIR

Posted on October 4, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is ruby red in color, varietal for a Pinot Noir. On the nose are the usual black fruits and some rustic bouquets again varietal for a Pinot Noir. On the mid pallet are the usual earthy notes with some rustic flavors. The wine has a long finish. This wine is a smack on varietal Pinot Noir. A good deal for the price. I would give it an 89 or so! Yummy.

From the LCBO web site:
DE BORTOLI DEEN VAT 10 PINOT NOIR LCBO 61622 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.05
Wine, Red Wine 13.6% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: South Australia, Australia By: De Bortoli Wines

Tasting Note
clear ruby colour; black cherry and cranberry aromas with a mineral tone; dry, medium body, fruit flavours with spice; well balanced with soft tannins to finish

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ELDERTON FRIENDS SHIRAZ 2009

Posted on September 14, 2010 by John Galea

When I first read the description on the LCBO web site I was excited so I grabbed one of these. The wine is inky dark in color with some deep rich berry flavors coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet are some equally deep red berry rich flavors. This is definitely a fruit forward Shiraz. Lots of jammy flavors, cherry pie, semi sweet, some chocolate all coming through. There’s lots going on. On the finish the wine is on the lighter side of medium with some tannins and oak coming through. It’s moderately dry on the finish. This wine is a kind of a collection of different flavors. If you like fruit forward you might enjoy it. If your looking for a big bold shiraz as one would expect from Barossa you will not. We paired it with a BBQ steak and it went reasonably well. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:

ELDERTON FRIENDS SHIRAZ 2009 VINTAGES 660480 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Elderton Wines

Release Date: Jul 24, 2010

Description
If you want to impress your friends without breaking the bank, then this is your wine. From Barossa, this crowd-pleasing Shiraz is rich and vivacious with aromas and flavours of crushed berries, black plum, vanilla, chocolate and earthy notes. A stunning wine, this smooth and luscious red is great with roasted lamb, grilled steaks or even meat-based gourmet pizza.

Winecurrent.com’s write up on this wine:
Sharp and spicy aromas ”spiced plum and dark berry” rip from this tangy red. Theres a gusher of palate-coating racy flavour, cranberry and cherry pie balanced with kirsch liqueur and spice-infused bramble berry. Its medium-bodied quite well balanced with just a lick of toasty oak and vanilla. It finishes dry and mouth-watering and pairs well with grilled lamb chops. (Vic Harradine) (660480) $17.95 Rating 4/5 from Winecurrent.com

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Astrolabe 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on September 3, 2010 by John Galea

Pale in color. Lots of green grass on the nose. On the mid pallet are lovely green grass and tar flavors. The finish is on the medium side with the tartness lingering nicely. I would give this an 88 or so. A nice varietal sauv blanc. One dominated by tartness.

From the LCBO web site:
ASTROLABE VOYAGE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010 VINTAGES 10421 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 21.95
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Marlborough, New Zealand By: Astrolabe
Release Date: Dec 10, 2011

Tasting Note
Astrolabe left an impression during the 2010 Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival and has found a receptive Canadian audience. Expressive aromas of guava, passion fruit, capsicum, honey and white grapefruit with typical sweaty undertones. A rich, creamy texture offers additional complexity and the very lengthy, mouth watering finish trails spicy, zesty flavours. Score – 4 1/2 Stars (out of 5). (Daenna Van Mulligen, Vines, Oct. 2011)

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Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2008

Posted on September 3, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is very dark inky in color. On the mid pallet are some dry oaky flavors with some dark fruits coming through. On the finish the wine is slightly dry with some lingering flavors. I would give it an 88.

From the LCBO web site:
FUZION ALTA RESERVE MALBEC LCBO 135475 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.00

Wine, Still Table Wine, Red Still Table Wine 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Argentina, Argentina By: Familia Zuccardi

Tasting Note
Bright, deep ruby with pale ruby rim; ripe black fruit aromas with notes of spice, chocolate, toast and vanilla; dry with medium/full body, balanced medium acidity and fine velvety tannins; ripe cherry, raspberry and spicy flavours lead to a long finish; serve with barbecued flank steak or lamb with a cherry reduction.

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SEÑORIO DE ARDURA CRIANZA 2006

Posted on September 1, 2010 by John Galea

Crianza in case you are not aware is 100% Tempranillo grape is unique to Spain. This one is dark in color. On the nose there are some nice dark fruits coming out and a bit of oak. On the mid pallet are dark fruits coming through. On the finish this wine has some big tannins, some dry pucker power, a bit of acidity, a bit of chocolate cacao, leather and a longer finish. The wine softened as it breathed, I suspect this one is a bit too young still. Some time in the decanter would help too but I didn’t have one with me at the cottage. This is a reasonably varietal Tempranillo and we paired it to BBQ’d lamb chops. It held it’s own and complemented the lamb quite well. I would give this an 88. A year would like make a world of difference on this one if you have the patience and enjoy tempranillos.

SEÑORIO DE UÑUELA CRIANZA 2006 VINTAGES 172544 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.1% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: Rioja, Spain By: Bodegas Patrocinio

Release Date: Jun 26, 2010

Description
Winner of a Silver Medal at the 2009 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Tasting Note
This 100% Tempranillo has a wonderful deep ruby colour. Engaging aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, and sweet cedar delight the nose. Dry, medium bodied with plush tannins and ripe blackberry and raspberry notes on the palate. Enjoy this Rioja alongside beef tenderloin topped with cherry sauce. (VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2009)

Winecurrent.com’s write up:
14.0% alcohol A well-priced crowd-pleasing red there are aromas of toasty oak vanilla and ripe red cherry/berry. Mid weight with a silky mouth feel it gushes with gorgeous succulent flavors of cassis and blackberry balanced and moderated by tangy pie cherry. Theres ripe tannin and fruit flavor galore on the long mouth-watering finish. Give it a go with grilled chorizo. (Vic Harradine) Upstream in winecurrent Vintages Release: August 21 2010 (172544) $14.95 Featured 6/26/2010. 4/5 stars

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2008 WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY

Posted on August 29, 2010 by John Galea

I first encounted this wine at the Churchill wine cellars annual portfolio tasting and wrote it up then.. We were stopped on by Walkers Fish market and chose this one off their wine list. They were charging $42 for $17 bottle of wine. The wine is slightly golden in color. On the nose are some mild chard bouquets with some Sauv blanc mixed in. On the mid pallet are some lovely deep rich chard flavors with some butteryness. This is a wine that is all about control. If your looking for a mild Chablis style chard this is not your wine. If your looking for a big in your face buttery creamy chard this is not your wine. If your looking for a well crafted wine that will go well with many different foods, then this is a good choice. The wine is on the longer side of medium with a lovely lingering flavor and bit of tartness. The oak is there with some vanilla evident on the tongue but again well in control. Alcohol is there but well integrated. I really enjoyed this wine. I paired it with Oysters and a tomato sauce based shrimp pasta and it went very well. I would give this wine an 89. For the money I think this is a good deal!

From the LCBO web site:
WENTE MORNING FOG CHARDONNAY LCBO 175430 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 16.45

Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Wente Brothers

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; tropical fruit and a touch of coconut aroma; tropical fruit and soft vanilla oak flavour

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LOUIS JADOT MACON VILLAGES CHARDONNAY 2007

Posted on August 26, 2010 by John Galea

The wine is pale in color very mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some very subtle chard flavors with little to no oak present and alcohol well under control. This is not really a fruit forward wine either. This would be in the milder side of a Chablis style French chard. The finish is on the lighter side with not a whole lot living on in the mouth. I paired it with smoked Salmon and it went ok but not really a good match. I did try the wine it’s own before and after and it did not change my thoughts. I also let it warm up and that also did not change it a whole lot. All in all this is a very mild wine which may or may not be to your tastes. For me there is not enough going on to justify the price. I would give it an 87. I won’t be rushing out for more of this one for sure …

LOUIS JADOT MACON VILLAGES CHARDONNAY LCBO 164145 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.15
Wine, White Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Burgundy, France By: Maison Louis Jadot

Tasting Note
Clear pale yellow colour; inviting aromas of apple, citrus and white nut with floral, vanilla and mineral notes; dry, medium body, well balanced and lively on the palate with refreshing acidity; flavours of pear, apple/citrus fruit, with notes of mineral and nut on the finish.

What Winecurrent.com had to say:
12.5% alcohol Alluring aromas of honeyed fruit floral notes and wisps of green apple roll of this deftly balanced crisp and refreshing number. Its medium bodied with a nice mouth feel and a persistent and focused stream of racy flavourölemon zest and white grapefruitöthat improves as it warms in the glass. It finishes lengthy and luxurious in a blaze of pineapple tropical fruit and yellow plum. This punches well above its price offering good value. (Vic Harradine) (164145) $14.95 Featured 7/10/2010. 4/5 stars
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GEMTREE CITRINE CHARDONNAY 2009

Posted on August 25, 2010 by John Galea

I first tasted this wine at an Aussie wine event … It is pale in color mild on the nose with some citrus coming through. The paleness leads me to expect this to be a milder chard and the pallet matched the expectations. On the mid pallet the wine is a middle of the road chard with some varietal chard coming through with some citrus, lemon flavors. On the finish the wine is also middle of the road with it being on the lighter side of medium. On the back of the bottle they say 1/2 of the wine received oak aging and half did not and that totally matches what you get on this one. You can taste some oak and oak imparted flavors a hint of butter but very mild. If your looking for a huge big California style chard you will be disappointed. If your looking for a crisp Chablis French style Chard you will also be disappointed. This is right in the middle of the two. So it depends on your tastes as to whether you will enjoy the wine. I liked it, and I would give it an 88. Gemtree seem to be making some good wines with good value in the equation. I last blogged about their Tadpole Shiraz which was lovely and good deal for the money.

From the LCBO web site:
GEMTREE CITRINE CHARDONNAY 2009 VINTAGES 138305 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, White Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: South Australia, Australia
By: Gemtree Vineyards

Release Date: Jul 24, 2010

Description
‘Gemtree makes wine from estate-grown fruit … their focus appears to be on making quality wine as the new Gemtree collection is filled with outstanding value from top to bottom.’ (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2009)

Tasting Note
Pleasant citrus nose, with aromas of lemon, lime and lychee. The zesty citrus continues on the palate, joined by flavourful notes of tart green melon and juicy pear. All the flavours culminate in a lovely finish, with a touch of spearmint. Enjoy it tonight with a grilled vegetable frittata, or some shrimp penne with pesto sauce. (VINTAGES panel, Sept. 2009)
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Two Oceans 2009 Cab Sauv Merlot

Posted on August 20, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with cab dominating the nose. On the mid pallet are some sweet dark berry flavors. This is a young wine. There’s not a lot of complexity on the mid pallet. On the finish the wine has some nice dryness and a bit of tannins. This is definitely more of a fruit forward wine with very little oak present. I would give the wine an 87 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
TWO OCEANS CAB SAUV/MERLOT LCBO 340398 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.95

Wine, Red Wine 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: South Africa, South Africa By: Distillers Corporation Limited

Tasting Note
Deep ruby colour; smoky, cherry and candied fruit aromas with notes of leather, oak and cassis; dry, medium bodied, with soft tannin, smooth, smoky, oaky berry flavours; approchable, easy drinking style.

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SCOPETANI CHIANTI RISERVA 2006

Posted on August 18, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is dark in color with a bouquet of dark fruits. On the mid pallet the wine is lovely and matches nicely the bouquet. This is a varietal Chianti. On the finish the wine has some nice tannins and dryness that builds nicely on the mouth especially without fruit. The oak is noticeable but not out of control. There are some leathery, smokey flavors, also present. The finish was medium in lenght. I enjoyed this wine and thought it was a good deal for the price. I would give it a 89-90!

From the LCBO web site:
SCOPETANI CHIANTI RISERVA 2006 VINTAGES 164814 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 13.95
Wine, Red Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: Tuscany, Italy By: Scopetani Srl

Release Date: Jun 26, 2010

Description
This blend of Sangiovese with dollops of Malvasia and Trebbiano was aged for two years in oak. Soft and elegant, it delivers aromas and flavours of black cherries, dried herbs and a touch of spice. Eminently versatile with foods, it will match a range of dishes and finger-foods, from pasta salad with tomatoes, to herb-sprinkled grilled lamb, to thinly sliced pancetta and soft cheeses.

Winecurrent.com’s write up on this wine:
12.5% alcohol Well paced and well priced earning its final -+ star on value it jumps from the glass with heady aromas of toast sweet field berry and mixed spice. There are racy flavours of Montmorency cherry and cranberry adorned by herb and spice. Nicely balanced and still showing a perceptible tannin backbone it finishes dry with nice fruit balance. Try with thin crust tomato and pepperoni pizza or pasta in arrabbiata sauce. (Vic Harradine) Spain: White Wine (164814) $13.95 Rating 4/5
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Beringer 2009 Pinot Grigio

Posted on August 17, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is pale in color mild on the nose. On the mid pallet is candied pear and a bit of peach. The peach came out more as it warmed up. The wine is medium in finish with some of the sweetness lingering. The wine is definitely biased by sugar. I would give it an 87 or so. Too sweet for my tastes but not way over the top.

From the LCBO web site:
BERINGER CALIFORNIA COLLECTION PINOT GRIGIO LCBO 112995 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas

Tasting Note
clear, pale straw colour; floral, melon and soft lime aromas; dry, medium body; round, spicy apple flavour and soft finish

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ESPIRITU DE CHILE SAUVIGNON BLANC

Posted on August 17, 2010 by John Galea

Sauvignon blanc is quickly becoming one of my favorite white wines. I find them very food friendly. This particular one is very pale in color with some mild citrus and some grassy smells coming through on the nose. On the mid pallet the wine has some varietal Sauv Blanc flavors with mild citrus, and lemon coming through. This wine is very light on the finish. There’s nothing horrible about this wine, but nothing great either. For a few bucks more I think there are much better wines out there. This is a thin, flabby wine with not a lot going on. I’d give it an 86 or so …

From the LCBO web site:
ESPIRITU DE CHILE SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 60640 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.00
Wine, White Wine 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Chile, Chile By: Espiritu De Chile Limited

Tasting Note
An elegantly structured Sauvignon Blanc which impresses with its pronounced fruit notes. Aromas of peach and citrus blend perfectly with spicy freshness and subdued earthy tones.

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L’Ecole No 41 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Posted on August 12, 2010 by John Galea

Another wine from the Calibrium hosted L’Ecole tasting event where they showcased 8 wines from the Columbia Valley in Washington. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

This wine is mild on the nose with lots of deep rich fruit coming through. On the mid pallet is a taste to match! Lots of deep rich cherries with some lovely long pallet coating tannins! This is a beautiful example of a Cab. I would give it a 91 due to it’s lovely rich complexity. If it wasn’t for the $39.50 a bottle price tag I would buy a case … Available in 12x750ml cases. Wow. Very nice …

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DOMAINE BOUDAU LE CLOS 2008

Posted on August 10, 2010 by John Galea

A friend gave me this wine as a gift. The wine is dark in color with lots of deep dark fruits coming through on the nose as well as some alcohol. On the mid pallet are flavors to match the bouquet. Deep rich dark fruits abound with some oak. On the finish the wine is quite complex with layers of flavors living on in a long finish with tannins but well under control. There are also hints of spice and pepper on the finish which comes from the syrah in the blend. The alcohol is quite high on this one, and it is noticeable. I suspect I should have let this breath but I was concerned it would loose it’s complexity in the process. I suspect what this really needs is some aging. I quite enjoyed this wine in spite of the alcohol and would have no trouble going out and getting some more. For the price this wine is a good deal. I would give it an 90. We paired it with a bbq steak and while it went well, the food overwhelmed the wine a bit and it lost it’s complexity. I encourage you to try it on it’s own without food first.

From the LCBO web site:
DOMAINE BOUDAU LE CLOS 2008 VINTAGES 149989 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 16.95
Wine, Red Wine 15.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Roussillon, France By: Véronique et Pierre Boudau, Vign.-Récolt.

Release Date: Apr 17, 2010

Description
A Gold Medal winner at the 2009 Concours des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants.

Tasting Note
This is a very attractive red blend of 80% grenache and 20% syrah. Look for good complexity in the flavours and a nice balance that produces an edgy, slightly tangy texture. The flavours are solid and well extracted but not dominant, and this is an excellent choice for grilled lamb and other red meats. Score – 4 1/2 Stars (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, www.rodphillipsonwine.com, Feb. 3, 2010).

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L’Ecole No 41 Syrah 2007

Posted on August 9, 2010 by John Galea

Another wine from the Calibrium hosted L’Ecole tasting event where they showcased 8 wines from the Columbia Valley in Washington. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

This wine is 93% Syrah and 7% Grenache. As you may know Syrah and Shiraz are based on the same grape with the difference being style. More often than not a good Shiraz will display some peppery spiciness on the finish.

This wine is mild on the nose with some rich cherries coming through. On the mid pallet are deep rich cherry flavors coming through to match the nose. On the finish the wine is tart with some acidity present on a medium finish. The wine has some tannins coming through but nothing overwhelming. This is a nice varietal Syrah, well made, I would give it a 90. It’s $34 a bottle and is available in cases of 12x750ml …

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El Burro Shiraz

Posted on August 8, 2010 by John Galea

This wine was given to me by a friend. The wine is dark in color with a nice nose of black fruits. On the mid pallet are some uncharacteristic sweet flavors. Something like strawberry jam. I had a little difficulty placing it. Similar to a Petite Syrah. There are also some dark fruits as well, but I was distracted by the sweetness. On the finish the wine has some peppers, a bit of spiciness and some tannins. The finish was medium in length but just barely. I paired it with a steak and it went Ok. All in all this is a unique Shiraz. With the right open mind this is a good wine, but not what I would call a varietal Shiraz. This is my first Spanish Shiraz. I would give it an 88 or so, which for the price is not horrible. If your able to open up your mind, give it a try. But don’t expect a typical Aussie Shiraz or you will be disappointed.

From the LCBO web site:
EL BURRO SHIRAZ LCBO 70938 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 12.90
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Spain, Spain By: Guy Anderson Wines

Tasting Note
Deep purple colour; aromas of cassis, plum, and white pepper; dry, full-bodied, rich texture, flavours of ripe black fruDeep purple colour; aromas of cassis, plum, and white pepper; dry, full-bodied, rich texture, flavours of ripe black fruit and a long spicy finish.

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L’Ecole No 41 Estate Perigree 2007

Posted on August 5, 2010 by John Galea

Another wine from the Calibrium hosted L’Ecole tasting event where they showcased 8 wines from the Columbia Valley in Washington. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

This wine is 60% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot 10% Cab Franc.

The wine is surprisingly quite mild on the nose with the usual dark fruits coming through. On the mid pallet comes some lovely bold, deep rich dark fruits, cherries and the cab franc being easy to pick out. On the finish the wine has some lovely tannins and a medium to long finish. This is another well made wine from these folks. I would give this one a 91! If it wasn’t for the $63 price tag I would be getting some of this … It’s available in cases of 6x750ml. Wow another lovely wine!

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L’Ecole No 41 Chenin Blanc 2008

Posted on August 3, 2010 by John Galea

This was another wine from the Calibrium hosted a L’Ecole tasting event. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

This wine is pale in color mild on the nose. It was on the lighter side of medium in finish and quite frankly after following the Semillon was difficult to appreciate. The wine was light in tastes with a slightly tart finish. I would give it an 88 or so. Not a bad wine, and I might have appreciated it more if it didn’t follow the semillon. $22 available in cases of 12×750

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PIEDEMONTE CRIANZA 2006

Posted on August 1, 2010 by John Galea

A good friend of mine gave me this bottle. They call this a Crianza which is a little odd because normally a Crianza is 100% tempranillo but this one is a blend of tempranillo, cab sauv, and merlot. The wine is dark in dolor with a lovely nose of dark fruits. On the mid pallet the wine is a deep rich with some of the plum from the merlot coming through, lots of varietal tempranillo coming through and some dark fruits, cherries etc. The oak is quite pronounced but not out of control. The wine is lovely and dry with lots of tanins. The finish is on the long side, with some tartness and some nice complexity. All in all this is a lovely wine and a bargain for the price. I would give it a 90! I paired with with a BBQ’d steak and it held up very well. Thanks Manuel!

From the LCBO web site:
BODEGAS PIEDEMONTE CRIANZA 2006 VINTAGES 166603 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 13.95
Wine, Red Wine 14.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: Navarra Province, Spain By: Bodega Piedemonte

Release Date: Jun 12, 2010

Description
A Silver Medal winner at the 2009 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Tasting Note
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Merlot. Deep ruby, with forward floral, cherry, fresh herbs, and earthy aromas leading to delicate flavours of plum, strawberry, herbs and spice mingling with coffee notes on the mid-palate. Medium bodied, braced by firm tannins and a bright cherry finish. Pair with grilled steak, hamburgers, or grilled vegetables. (VINTAGES panel, Nov. 2009)

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Terrace Vale Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on July 31, 2010 by John Galea

We stopped by Hair of the Dog to check out their patio on a Thursday and I had this wine. I enjoy Sauv Blancs and I was having a cream sauce so I thought this would be a good choice. The wine is pale in color VERY mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some light, delicate, Sauv Blanc like flavors with a little bit of citrus coming through. The finish is on the light side. Depending on your tastes you might just love this wine. It is smooth, easy to drink and the flavor does not last. It would be perfect for sitting on a patio on a hot day and you want something simple and light. You know like water … Well of course water would be cheaper 🙂 As you may be guessing this one is not to my tastes. Just not a lot going on in this wine. Lucky for us this one is not available in the LCBO. The wine comes from Hunter Valley Australia. I would give it an 87. Nothing awful about it. Just plain nothing 🙂

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L’Ecole No 41 Estate Apogee 2007

Posted on July 30, 2010 by John Galea

Another wine from the Calibrium hosted L’Ecole tasting event where they showcased 8 wines from the Columbia Valley in Washington. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

Alas a night has to come to an end. This is the last wine from this event. As you can tell by my write ups I truly enjoyed the wines that were presented. Not one was bad and there were a number of really good ones!

60% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot, 6% Malbec 4% Cab Franc
This wine is again surprisingly mild on the nose. On the mid pallet the cab comes through more dominant than on the Perigee. This wine is softer with some deep rich dark fruits coming through. The wine is medium in finish and lighter than the Perigree. This is a more smooth elegant wine. So it would depend on your tastes. For me this one is not as big or bold. I would give it a 90. For $63 a bottle the price is a bruiser. Available in 6x750ml cases.

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2008 Van Western Vino Gris

Posted on July 28, 2010 by John Galea

This wine is from the Naramata bench in BC and was given to us from a friend who brought it back with him. We don’t get a lot of BC wines here in Ontario since a number of them are made in small lots, so I enjoy the opportunity to check them out. BC’s wine industry are doing some great work with some unique results!

This one is a Pinot Gris. The wine is pale in color, mild on the nose with some citrus and sweetness coming through. On the mid pallet are some pronounced citrus and some pear maybe even some melon coming through. The description on the back of the bottle said peach but I don’t get that. The wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel leaving a clean smooth easy drinking wine which would be very food friendly. The wine is on the lighter side of medium on the finish. This wine is not available in the LCBO and is only made in small lots. I would give it an 88 or so. $18.80 at the winery. We paired it with a BBQ pork chop and enjoyed it on the deck at the cottage in Muskoka. Ah what a tough life it is indeed!

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L’Ecole No 41 Recess Red 2008

Posted on July 27, 2010 by John Galea

Another wine from the Calibrium hosted L’Ecole tasting event where they showcased 8 wines from the Columbia Valley in Washington. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

Onto the reds. This wine is a blend of 42% Merlot, 27% Syrah, 22% Cab Sauv, 5% Grenache, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cab Franc and the kitchen sink tossed in for good measure. On the nose there are some slightly sweet bouquets with some strawberries coming through. On the mid pallet are some lovely deep rich dark berries with the cab Sauv coming through loud and clear. You can get some of the merlot subtly on the mid pallet as well. On the finish the wine has some lovely firm tannins, that gently coat the pallet and linger nicely. This wine has a beautiful long finish and was one of my favorites for the night. I would give it a 91. Its $29 and available in cases of 12x750ml. Yummy!

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L’Ecole No 41 Merlot 2007

Posted on July 22, 2010 by John Galea

Another wine from the Calibrium hosted L’Ecole tasting event where they showcased 8 wines from the Columbia Valley in Washington. None of these wines are available at the LCBO so you will have to buy a case from them 🙂

This wine is 81% Merlot, 11% Cab Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cab Sauv. On the nose the varietal Merlot comes through with some plum. On the mid pallet is lots of lovely dry pucker power with black fruits dominating. You can really appreciate the cab Franc and cab sauv. The finish has some tannins and slight bit of bitterness but nothing too nasty. I would give it a 90 or so. Quite a nice wine. $36 available in cases of 12x750ml.

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