Irony Chardonnay 2007 Napa Valley

Posted on December 1, 2009 by John Galea

Wine can be quite the educator if you let it. I submit this tasting for your edification … I had a preconception that this wine would be a big buttery fruit forward Chard. No idea where I got that but that was my thoughts. On opening the wine is quite pale in color. Not as deep and rich yellow as some chards. On the nose the wine is quite mild. On first tasting out of the fridge I get some butteryness, some fruit, some creamyness and a medium finish with just a hint of tartness to balance it out. I am thinking wow now this is not what I expected. Lesson one, preconceptions. And so comes lesson two … Chards are really effected by temperature. Get them too cold and things will seem quite mild. As this one warmed up even a little all of sudden out came that lovely buttery, chard, with some creamyness with yet still just a hint of tartness on the finish. This is a classic California style Chard! Very nice all in all. The layers in this wine are best appreciated without food. This is a good sipping wine. I paired it with a pan fried cod and it kinda overwhelmed the food. Onto dessert it was a chocolate chip cookie and it faired well there. I would give this a solid 90 for the complexity. In the end this wine lived up to the expectations I had set for it. Yumm … Schools out … call me when you don’t have any class 🙂

From the LCBO web site:
IRONY CHARDONNAY 2007 VINTAGES 27409 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, White Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Delicato Vineyards

Release Date: Sep 26, 2009

Tasting Note
This delicious white wine is exploding out of the glass with its tropical nose of pineapple, vanilla and apple that will tempt you to keep swirling and sniffing. This is followed by clean, fruit-forward flavors of apple, pear, mango and pineapple, with the perfect amount of acidity that will jazz your palate, followed by a finish that is very balanced with just the right amount of toasty, creamy vanilla that makes this wine truly exceptional … [It] is very food-friendly but would be superb with a big plate of raw oysters or some sea scallops from the grill with a big summer salad. I will tell you this is my favorite Chardonnay that I have tasted in 2009 … Score – 91. (Doug Harmon, Wichita Fall Times Record (Texas), June 3, 2009)

Here is what Winecurrent.com had to say:
14.5% alcohol Aromas of spice vanilla and floral notes waft form the glass. Full of flavour this washes over the palate in creamy-textured waves with toffee apple vanilla and tropical fruit to the fore. Everything is in synch with acidity fruit and well-integrated oak all in good balance. The finish is mid length refreshing and clean. Pair with roast chicken. (Vic Harradine) (027409) $19.95 Rating 4/5

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IMAG0043

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Lilly Pilly 2008 Sauv Blanc

Posted on November 30, 2009 by John Galea

We headed up to Millcroft Inn for some rest and relaxation this past weekend. We discovered they have a lovely restaurant with a well stocked wine cellar. Jeff the manager there, a German fellow, was very knowledgeable in wines. They even had a Grüner Veltliner on the wine list. Impressive selection. I was having rare pan seared Tuna and my GF was having Pheasant so we wanted a white. From the list we narrowed it down to this one as one that was reasonably priced, we had not had and sounded interesting. The wine is pale in color as expected. On the nose all the usual citrus and grass one would expect from a Sauv Blanc. On the mid pallet are some mild grass, and lemon flavors. On the finish are some tart over tones that build as your drink. A very food friendly wine, but not an overwhelmy great Sauv blanc. I would give it an 87-88. Lilly Pilly Sauv Blanc

XXSB 500

Here’s an image from the lovely Inn. We sat in the restaraunt overlooking the falls for breakfast. Very nice!
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VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO MONTEZOVO DOC 2007

Posted on November 29, 2009 by John Galea

Had this one at Terroni’s, and shockingly, it’s in the LCBO. I actually wonder if this is the exact one. It is unusual for Terroni’s to use wines that are in the LCBO. This wine is a Ripasso. A process that to my knowledge is unique to Italy. Using this method you can get a much more complex wine out of a cheaper grape. The wine is fruity on the nose with fruit dominant on the mid pallet. Unlike some, this one is not dominated by raisin flavors. On the finish the wine has some nice dryness and noticeable tannins. This is a typical Ripasso and is pretty good. I would give it an 88-89 or so!

From the LCBO web site:
MONTE ZOVO SA’ SOLIN RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA 2007 VINTAGES 650713 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: Veneto, Italy By: Corte Zovo
Release Date: Oct 10, 2009

Tasting Note
Simple, yet it hits the spot! Tasty, knock-it-back quaffer for barbecues and potlucks. Perfect for watching Mission Impossible 14. Food matches: roast leg of lamb, gourmet pizza with the works. Score – 88. (Natalie MacLean, www.nataliemaclean.com, Aug. 15, 2009)
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650713

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Nautilus 2008 Sauv Blanc

Posted on November 27, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped on by Spice Route again last night where we were well taken care of by Alice. The staff are great in this place and the food is wonderful. The fusion of tastes is a treat. We often order seafood based dishes so a white is in order. We decided on a lobster chow mein dish so a Sauv Blanc sounded like a great choice. It went for $40 for the bottle in the restaurant, and it was one I had not had before. Pale straw in color, grassy and lemony on the nose the wine was shaping up well … On the mid pallet are some lovely under control lemon, grass and citrus flavors. The finish is also smooth, on the medium side in length. Overall this is a well crafted wine and it went well with the seafood. I would give it an 89 or so. Not the longest Sauv Blanc I’ve ever had but quite nice none the less. Before we knew it, evaporation had taken place (or we had consumed the bottle) and all that was left was to pay the bill (and write this blog of course!). Another fine night at Spice. Whoever they have choosing wines at Spice is doing a great job. Reasonably priced, nice selection, paired well with their foods. The staff seem to know how to treat the wine with the respect it deserves too, always a plus.

Nautilus Sauv Blanc
Nautilus_Sauv_Blanc_negmain

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Irony Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa Valley

Posted on November 26, 2009 by John Galea

The wine is quite dark in color. On the nose are some mild cab notes. On the mid pallet are some distinctive Napa cab tastes, lots of dark fruits, cherries and the like. Not the most fruit forward or boisterous of all that I have had but quite nice. On the finish there are some tart flavors that quickly overwhelm the lovely fruit. I suspect this wine maybe a bit young. The tannins are getting in the way. I let this breath for 1/2 an hour, I suspect I should have done longer. Some aging would also help. the review below says “moderating acidity” and I can definitely go with that description. I would give it an 89 or so. Quite good. And even better with patience I suspect!

Update: Two days after opening it the wine has improved nicely. The fruit is not as vibrant but the tartness has all but vanished. Very nice wine.

What Winecurrent.com had to say:
Irony Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Napa Valley. Alluring aromas of dark berry fruit and vanilla segue this lovely expression of California Cab at an attractive price. The flavours of black currant minty cherry and hints of savoury spice and herbs are delivered on a nicely textured mouth feel balanced by moderating acidity. The tannins are plush and supple and the finish lengthy and fruity. Give this a go with steak-frites. (Vic Harradine) (025106) $19.95 Featured 11/21/2009. 4.5/5 stars
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SAW Pacific Mid west tasting event

Posted on November 24, 2009 by John Galea

I attended the Society for American wines Pacific Mid west tasting event last night. This was another unique event! I really enjoy these structured tastings with well aged wines from the cellars! We don’t get a lot of wine from this area in Ontario so this is a unique opportunity. The tasting was guided by Chris Bee. The cabs were all decanted/filtered before being poured. Some of the wines through quite a bit of sediment with lots of heavy scarring on the bottle. It would have made for quite the chewy experience had they not been decanted 🙂
decant

None of these wines are currently in the LCBO, not even a different year from what was tasted.

The event was run as a blind tasting to add some fun!

We started the evening with a cab from Marietta Cellars $20 or so. This is a very interesting wine in that there is no year on the bottle. They blend grapes from different years into the bottle to craft the wine. I am told this is called an “NV” or non-vintage wine. I have run into a few times but not all that common. The wine was dark in color with a dominant tobacco smell that persisted. On the mid pallet there were lots of dark dried fruits, cherries, prunes etc. On the finish the wine was light with a hint of dryness that built on the tongue. One would not confuse this with a Napa cab, very unique experience!
marietta

For the rest of the tasting we first did Pinot Noirs and then onto cabs. Pinot’s can be quite interesting. Bouquet’s of earthy notes, barnyard, and the like are not uncommon. Rustic tastes are also quite common.

First up was a 2006/2005 Adelsheim Pinot Noir.
adelsheim
It was quite surprising how different the 2005 and 2006 were. The 2006 was the typical light color while the 2005 was dark enough to be confused as a cab. The 2006 was $35 and the 2005 was $38.

On the nose the 2006 was earthy and rustic. On the mid pallet there were lots of lovely subtle fruits. On the finish the wine was moderately complex with just a hint of tartness. This was my favorite of the Pinots.

The 2005 had quite a barnyard smell on the nose. Not unpleasant, not atypical. On the mid pallet this too was a fruity wine with medium finish and a rustic taste. The wine had a funky finish to it that was not all that nice. It was also not as long as the 2006. This wine was my second least favorite of the pinots. Amazing what difference a year can make!

Next up are the 1997 and 1999 Sokol Pinot Noirs. The 1999 was an Old Vines. They 97 went for $35 and the 99 Old Vines went for $120.
sokol

The 1997 had a very unpleasant bouqet which reminded me of a bathroom. Yuk. The wine tasted better than it smelled, but not a whole lot. This one earned the least favorite Pinot in my book. The wine was rustic on the mid pallet and really not a great finish. I suspect my taste buds could not get past the nasty smell.

The 1999 displayed prominent wood on the nose. Quite smooth on the mid pallet but the fruit had all but dissipated (for my tastes). On the finish the wine had a slightly bitter tart taste that fought a bit with some of the mid pallet sweetness. I actually wondered in my mind if this one was past it’s prime. For the smoothness this was my second favorite of the Pinots.

Now onto the Cabs!

First up is the Wineglass cellars 1998 cab which retailed for $69.50.
wineglass-cellars
The wine was quite mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some subtle cab flavors with cherries being dominant. On the finish this is a smooth easy drinking food friendly cab. This will not be mistaken for a boisterous Napa Cab. This is a well made, wine that has aged very well. This one netted my “best of the night cab”!

Next up was the Januik 1999 Cab which retailed for $64.95.
januik
The wine had quite an earthy note to it. If I had not been told, from the bouquet, this wine smelled a whole lot more like the Pinots we had tasted. Chris said “vegetal highlights”. Yup I could go with that. On the mid pallet the wine also had more of a rustic pinot like taste. Finish was mild. This was my second least favorite cab. It wasn’t nasty by any means, just not what I expect from a cab.

Pepper bridge 1999 cab which retailed for $65 was next up. Their Merlot is in the LCBO but not the cab. And a whopping 5 in the whole province of Ontario …
pepper-bridge
On the nose I got some strong alcohol/petrol smells. No idea where this came from. Happily the wine tastes better than it smells! On the mid pallet this is a lovely smooth wine with a nice finish with tannins in control. This wine has aged well. This was my second favorite cab!

Last up is the Hedges 1999 cab which retailed for $85.
hedges
The wine is quite mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some fruit masked slightly by a tartness. This wine is quite long and dry and builds in the mouth. This was my least favorite cab but even this was not bad at all!

The event was held at the University of Toronto Faculty club!
room

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Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay 2008

Posted on November 23, 2009 by John Galea

This is another one from the Chilean wine event That I decided to give a more thorough review. Again this is another well priced wine. I did not find a lot of good chards at the event, but this one was ok. The wine is light yellow in color. Not as golden as some, but not as pale as others. On the nose the wine is quite mild, a little chard coming through but not a lot. On the mid pallet the wine is a combination of a slightly tart Sauv Blanc like and some slightly sweet chard flavors. On the finish the wine is quite mild with some of the tartness sticking around on the tongue. This is by no means a boisterous chard. It is a smooth, well refined wine. I would say it actually tastes more like a Sauv Blanc truth be told. My GF who hates chards actually did not mind it, a true testament to it’s lack of varietal flavors. One could even say it had more of a chablis like taste. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA CHARDONNAY RSV LCBO 304022 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; light toasty notes with peach and apple fruit; medium-bodied with toasty, tropical fruit flavours
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2008 J. Lohr Painter Bridge Chard and Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on November 22, 2009 by John Galea

I stopped by the J Lohr booth at the Food and Wine show. I’m a big fan of J Lohr wines. To date I have reviewed there Syrah, Riverstone Chard, Painter Bridge Zinfandel, and Seven Oaks cab. They are consistently making great wines at good prices.

2008 Painter Bridge Chard
On the nose the wine displays some lovely chard varietal bouquets. On the mid pallet this is a fruit forward, chablis style Chard. No butteryness or creamyness is present. On the finish the wine is on the milder side. This is a smooth easy drinking chard. This would no doubt be a great food friendly wine. Probably even more so than the chards that are buttery and creamy. I’d give this one a 88.

2008 Painter Bridge Cab
On the nose are some lovely Cab fruits. On the mid pallet this is again a fruit forward wine with some jammyness and strawberry flavors. Some cherries are present as well. On the finish there are very little tannins and not all that dry. This is a simple easy drinking wine as well. Also an 88.

Neither are in the LCBO for now.

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WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES NO. 99 CABERNET/MERLOT 2007

Posted on November 21, 2009 by John Galea

I am always leery of these celebrities that lend their names to wines. Wayne Gretzky however is a gentleman and in my opinion one of the last hockey greats that played the game because they loved it. I remember watching Wayne play when I was a kid (and so was he). Even then people knew they were watching an exceptional player and individual. At the Food and Wine show I had a chance to talk to a booth person about Gretzky wines and I was enlightened. These wines are dedicated to supporting the Wayne Gretzky foundation with all profits going there. A charity that brings hockey to underprivileged kids. Yet another example of Wayne being a gentleman and giving back to the country that made him who he is. I only wish at some point he had played for the leafs. I do digress …

So I had a chance to try this wine. It is quite dark in color with lots of dark fruits on the nose. On the mid pallet are some dark fruits with some tannins and typical Niagara terroir. This is more of a fruit forward wine. They have managed to keep the Niagara tannins under control on this one. The alcohol and oak are prevalent but not overwhelming. Overall this is not a bad wine 87-88 or so. The fruit for this wine comes from 12 different vineyards from all over Niagara I was told.

From the LCBO web site:
WAYNE GRETZKY ESTATES NO. 99 CABERNET/MERLOT 2007 VINTAGES 128652 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 18.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D This is a VQA wine
Made in: Ontario, Canada By: No. 99 Wayne Gretzky Estates

Release Date: Aug 29, 2009

Tasting Note
Made by Rob Power and Craig McDonald of Creekside, this Cabernet/Merlot shows why they were named Winemakers of the Year at the 2008 Ontario Wine Awards. Deep ruby/purple colour leads the way to a pretty nose featuring cassis, blueberry, new leather, toasty oak and plum. Dry with lots of extract, fine tannic grip and good acid all coming together to make this wine special. Age it 2-4 years to shake its youth, or enjoy it tonight with a rare steak or lamb chops. (VINTAGES panel, June 2009)

What winecurrent.com had to say:
Wayne Gretzky Estates No. 99 Cabernet/Merlot 2007 VQA Niagara Peninsula
12.7% alcohol The Great One scores a winner here with aromas of dark toasty oak field berry fruit and mixed spice notes. Succulent flavours of black berry and juicy Bing cherry coat the palate in waves. Its deftly balanced the oak has been seamlessly integrated the finish lingers and the spine of moderating acidity is apparent throughout. Its also full of promise as the drying tannin is perceptible making this a candidate for optimum drinking 2012 to 2018. (Vic Harradine) (128652) $18.95 Rating 4/5

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Food and wine show Toronto and GEMTREE CITRINE CHARDONNAY 2008

Posted on November 20, 2009 by John Galea

I attended the Food and Wine show last night. This is one of the largest I’ve been to. The size is quite incredible. The event actually does feature both food and wine. There are even cooking demonstrations and wine chats going on that you can register for as well. The event is held annually at the convention center in downtown Toronto and is easy to get to and from by public transit with Union Station being a close walk. You pay for entry and then buy tickets for food and wine sampling. There are lots of different types of food there but getting enough to be considered a meal might be a challenge and expensive. The wine tastings vary based on the cost of the bottle of wine. There’s lots of room to sit and relax for a few minutes to rest your weary feet.

Unlike some events there is no one book that shows you all the wines at the event for you to make tasting notes for. Frankly it would be HUGE. Couple that with the fact that literature of what you are tasting really varies booth to booth and this is not an easy one to end up with notes for. So be sure and take along something to write on and with.

I really wish more of the booths would provide a simple sheet with what was being tasted at the booth, is it in the LCBO (and if so the LCBO number) and the price. Preferably with somewhere to write tasting notes. Sounds simple enough.

I enjoyed myself and will comment on a few of the wines in this and future posts, but in the end, my summary was that I really didn’t find anything that was earth shatteringly good, or earth shatteringly bad. That said with so many wines being tasted it is a matter of what you choose to taste as to how your experience will be!

Onto a wine! This one was one that stood out for me. This is a well made middle of the road chard. It has been well crafted with balance in mind. On the mid pallet are some lovely chard fruit flavors. On the finish is a bit of oak, some creamyness and medium in length. This is clearly a wine that is responding to the critics that have been going at the overly buttery/creamy chards! Very nice wine. I would give it an 89-90. Finesse is a word that comes to mind for this wine! I woud prefer if it a little longer but quite good none the less!

from the LCBO web site:
GEMTREE CITRINE CHARDONNAY 2008 VINTAGES 138305 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Gemtree Vineyards

Release Date: Oct 24, 2009

Tasting Note
Shows sophisticated use of winemaker inputs; fresh and crisp, with oak perfectly integrated and balanced; long, clean finish; well-priced. Drink [until] 2012. Score – 92. (James Halliday, www.winecompanion.com.au, Aug. 2008)

What winecurrent.com had to say:
Gemtree Citrine Chardonnay 2008 McLaren Vale South Australia
13.0% alcohol Gemtree owned by the third-generation-growers Buttery family have been following bio-dynamic principles since 2008. This is flavourful and deftly balanced. Aromas and flavours abound with yellow peach pear honeydew melon lemon-lime tang and spiced yellow plum among them. The prudent barrel treatment, only 30% aged in oak is perfectly integrated while the lively finish is crisp and refreshing with tangy citrus and spice flavour. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour pick up a few. (Vic Harradine) (138305) $17.95 Rating 4.5/5 from Winecurrent
Featured 10/24/2009

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MONTECILLO CRIANZA 2006

Posted on November 18, 2009 by John Galea

My friend David pointed this one out to me from the general list (so very available). Rioja are known as one of the best areas for wine in Spain and Tempranillo (which is the grape used in a Crianza) are a signature grape for them. This wine is medium in color. On the nose the wine is quite mild with some black fruits coming through. On the mid pallet are typical Tempranillo flavors, black fruits, some cherries etc. On the finish there are some oak, and smokey/leather tastes. The wine has some dryness, some tannins and no tartness on it’s medium finish. This wine is very well made. Alcohols are well under control, a welcome change after the last two alcohol bombs. I paired the wine with a pork sausage and it went well. I would give the wine an 89-90. Very nice. Thanks David!

From the LCBO web site:
MONTECILLO CRIANZA LCBO 144493 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Rioja, Spain By: Osborne Y Cia

Tasting Note
Medium ruby red colour; raspberry, sweet cherry, violet, lavander and cassis fruit aromas with hints of vanilla and oak; dry, medium-full bodied, good acidity with ripe plum, cherry, cedar and leather notes on the palate; long, smooth finish.

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VINA COBOS FELINO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

Posted on November 16, 2009 by John Galea

I have not had good luck with Argentina cabs, but I am always looking for the next one that is going to shatter my preconceptions. On the heels of the last Merlot that was very alcoholic I noticed this one has 14.8% alcohol … o-o. The wine is quite dark in color. On the nose are some lovely deep cab cherry smells. Most prominent when first opened. The bouquet fades as it has been open even a short period. Right out of bottle this wine is dominated by alcoholic flavors. Underneath you can taste some lovely deep and complex cab flavors. I decanted it 1 hour and it helped a lot allowing the fruit to come out and play on your pallet, all the while, specifically on the finish, the alcoholic tones are still there. The finish is slightly dry with some tannins. After two hours it was continuing to improve but even then the alcohol on the finish was noticeable. 2-3 years worth of bottle aging might let this shine and come out as the incredible wine I think it could be, but for now I HIGHLY recommend at least 2 hours decanting time. I would give this an 88 right now. It could reach 90-91 if 2-3 years. For the money I think there are better cabs out there. This is just below that magic $20 mark and they know it.

From the LCBO web site:
VINA COBOS FELINO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 Mendoza Vina Cobos is the Argentine winery of acclaimed Napa Valley winemaker Paul Hobbs. TASTING NOTE: The purple-colored 2007 Felino Cabernet Sauvignon offers up spicy black currants and blackberry. Smooth-textured and layered it has excellent balance and a lengthy pure finish. It’s hard to think of a better value in Cabernet Sauvignon. Score – 91. (Jay Miller www.erobertparker.com Dec. 2008) 132365 $19.95 Featured 11/7/2009
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132365

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CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE MERLOT 2006

Posted on November 14, 2009 by John Galea

I did not read the reviews on this one close enough before opening it and missed the recommendations by Vic and the LCBO panel to decant it. My mistake because this one really needs breathing. I don’t tend to decant Merlots, I find they loose that distinctive subtle Merlot flavor quickly. Upon initial opening I could pick up a hint of varietal Merlot. On the mid pallet the wine is overwhelmed by dominant alcohol. There were some very mild Merlot flavors and some dark fruits but hidden. After some time the alcohol did start to subside so I suspect some breathing would have helped HUGELY. Some aging to give the alcohol time to integrate would also help. As it breathed I found it was tasting more cab like than Merlot. On the finish there are some tannins. This is by no means a fruit forward style Merlot. If you don’t have the patience to decant this one and like your Merlot’s fruit forward, then I recommend you skip this one. Because of my poor handling of this wine I would give it an 87 or so. Not a chance I’ll be running out to grab more.

From the LCBO web site:
CLOS DU BOIS SONOMA RESERVE MERLOT 2006 VINTAGES 34900 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Constellation Wines U S
Release Date: Nov 7, 2009

Tasting Note
An impressive Sonoma Merlot at an incredible price. The aromas bring to mind pretty blackberry, plum, dark chocolate and spice. Ripe fruit on the palate yet very skillfully balanced by medium-to-firm tannins. There is very good depth of flavour here, and a substantial finish. Cellar it 2+ years, or decant and enjoy it this evening with rich meat dishes. (VINTAGES panel, April 2009)

What winecurrent.com had to say:
Clos du Bois Sonoma Reserve Merlot 2006 Alexander Valley Sonoma County. 14.5% alcohol Nudging 5 stars this is another fabulous Wine of the Month selection its rich concentrated and flavourful. Dark berry mocha and mixed spice on the nose the palates coated with well-balanced and fully textured flavours black Damson plum black currant and cassis moderated by good acidity and underpinned by a supple tannin structure. The finish lingers adorned by nuances of bittersweet chocolate and kirsch liqueur. Aerate/decant a couple of hours before serving. (Vic Harradine) (034900) $19.95 Featured 11/7/2009. 4.5/5 stars

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34900

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Insolia suliccenti 2008 igt

Posted on November 13, 2009 by John Galea

I had this wine at Terroni’s the other day. They tend to have a good selection of wines by the glass and rotate them through. As usual they are not available in the LCBO. The server informed me this wine is a blend of a Chard and a Sauv Blanc and based on tastes that sounds right. The wine is quite golden in color, similar to a chard. On the nose there are some lovely mild chard smells … On the mid pallet you get the sweet, slightly buttery chard flavors. On the finish the tartness of the Sauv blanc comes through. A bit later you can taste some of the chard. This is an interesting experience. The two tastes are not all that harmonious in nature. Perhaps with time they might integrate better. While I would not say the flavors were fighting, I couldn’t actually say they were complementing each other as well. Overall a very interesting experience. It reminded me of a couple of the chard in Prince Edward county that got some minerality and tartness from the terroir of the county! I would give this an 88-89.

This wine is from Italy and is an IGT (Super Tuscan).
IMAG0049

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LOUIS BERNARD COTES DU RHONE

Posted on November 12, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped on by La Petite France for dinner and chose this wine. It was one of the few that was by the 1/2 litre that caught my attention. I really wish restaurants would start offering more wines by the 1/2 bottle or 1/2 litre. Given how low the legal limits are for blowing yellow these days having to order a whole bottle for two to get a decent wine is getting old real fast. I do digress …

So I chose this one. How bad can a Cotes du Rhone village be I figured? The wine is quite dark in color. On the nose are some earthy notes and some fruit. All in all quite mild. On the mid pallet are some slightly sweet red berry fruit flavors with some herbal notes. I often read reviewers referring to “La Garrique” flavors and that might just be it. On the finish there are some mild dry notes and some tannins. The wine is more a collection of poorly integrated flavors than anything else. There is nothing horrible about this wine, but nothing fabulous either. I would give it an 87-88. I won’t be rushing out for more. I paired it with a rack of lamb and it went fine, complementing the meal pretty well.

From the LCBO web site:

LOUIS BERNARD COTES DU RHONE LCBO 581645 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 12.00
Wine, Red Wine, 13.8% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Rhone, France By: Les Domaines Bernard

Tasting Note
Medium deep brick red colour; aromas of pepper, anise, plums with earthy notes; dry, medium bodied, with ripe, juicy berry fruit flavours and hints of cocoa on the finish.
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Errazuriz Max Reserva Shiraz 2007

Posted on November 10, 2009 by John Galea

Yup another wine from the Chilean wine event. This is one of the few reds that caught my attention. The wine is dark in color, easy on the nose with some nice black fruit coming through. On the mid pallet are some lovely complex black fruits combined with noticeable alcohol. This is a young wine that has not had time to integrate and it shows. On the finish there are some lovely dry tannins with a medium finish. This is creaping up near that magic $20 figure. I would give it an 89 or so. This is definitely more of a syrah than a shiraz, little to no pepper. There are some smokey flavors to it as well. Not the most amazing bargain on the planet, not as much of a bargain as the whites I have been featuring but quite good none the less … Coming on the heels of the J. Lohr Syrah makes this a tough act to follow. For the money I would choose the J. Lohr, for the variety this is a nice choice!

From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVE SHIRAZ LCBO 614750 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.85
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A

Tasting Note
Dark purple in colour; aromas of spice, wood & cigar; full-bodied with flavours of black cherry & spice; tannic finish.
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J. LOHR SOUTH RIDGE SYRAH 2006 (re-review)

Posted on November 9, 2009 by John Galea

I last tasted this back in August and it’s amazing what a difference 3 months can make. All the edgeyness is gone. I decanted it for 1/2 an hour and it made for a beautiful smooth and silky wine. Lots of lovely deep fruit flavors, slightly jammy and all in all a beautiful wine. The wine is deep purple in color. This is made much more in a French style Syrah than an Aussie Shiraz. There is no peperryness at all. This is now heading into a 91. Well worth it. Grab some!

From the LCBO Web site:
J. LOHR SOUTH RIDGE SYRAH 2006 Paso Robles TASTING NOTE: Deep purple-ruby in colour this Syrah is packed with ripe fruit accented by spicy notes. The nose opens to sweet blackberry black cherry anise and black pepper. These flavours carry through on the palate whose plush fruit flirts with jamminess but is restrained by fine silky-smooth tannins. Very approachable this wine will make a lovely partner to grilled back ribs or barbecue chicken wings. (VINTAGES panel June 2009) 948240 $18.95

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Tarapaca Sauv Blanc 2009

Posted on November 8, 2009 by John Galea

This is another of the wines I first tasted at the Chilean Wine event. The wine is quite pale in color as would be expected from a Sauv Blanc. On the nose the wine is quite mild with nothing I could put a name to. On the mid pallet are some lovely slightly tart green apple like flavors with a hint of sweetness. On the finish the wine is on the lighter side of medium. My GF got some herbs off the taste as well which the review below did as well.

I am amazed at how such young wines can have such well defined flavors. They must have rushed this one right out the door. I would give this an 87-88. It is on the milder side, softer, more subtle. Very food friendly. We paired it with a pork tenderloin and it went well and complemented the meal. For the price this is another good deal. This is the last of the Sauv Blancs from the Chilean wine event. I have a few chards and a syrah to try yet. All in all this has been a very enlightening experience. I am really glad I went.
From the group my favorite was the Errazuriz Sauv Blanc!

From the LCBO web site:
VINA TARAPACA SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 414185 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.15
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 9.90 Now: $ 9.15 Save: $ 0.75 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tarapaca Ex Zavala

Tasting Note
Light yellow straw colour; aromas and flavours of gooseberry, herbs and green apples; dry, light- to medium-bodied with softer acidity; with a soft finish
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FIELDING ESTATE UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2007

Posted on November 5, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped on by Spice for lunch. They rotate their wines through the wine list. Whoever they have picking the wines they are doing a good job. I had not tasted this one recently so I gave it a try. I sometimes find unoaked chards to be a little subtle for my tastes. The wine is yellow in color but not as deep as some. On the nose are some lovely Chard flavors but on the subtle side. On the mid pallet are some lovely Chard flavors, some creamyness, a bit of sweetness and all in all a nice experience. On the finish there are some subtle tart flavors to balance out the sweetness and a medium finish. The wine built in the mouth as I continued tasting. I paired it with a Cantonese Chow mein with loads of seafood and some crispy duck and it went VERY well. I would give it an 89-90. A very nice wine!

From the LCBO web site:
FIELDING ESTATE UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2007 VINTAGES 78527 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.00
Wine, White Wine, 11.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD
Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Fielding Estate Winery
Release Date: Oct 11, 2008

Description
Fielding Estate’s winemaker Richie Roberts is part of the new generation of winemakers in Niagara. A native of the region, Roberts is a celebrated graduate of Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. His unoaked Chardonnay is a great value with plenty of citrus fruit and mineral characteristics, a full body, crisp acidity and a mouthwatering finish. 2007 is being touted as Niagara’s best vintage ever so you may want to stock up on this food-friendly Chard.

winecurrent.com’s comments on this wine:

Fielding Estate Unoaked Chardonnay 2007 VQA Niagara Peninsula
This is chockfull of complex aromas and flavours with tropical fruit, pineapple and honeydew melon, yellow plum and ripe citrus among them. They reflect the glorious 2007 vintage in Niagara. It’s medium bodied generously textured almost creamy and finishes crisp and refreshing. The deft balance versatility as a food wine and attractive price make this a great buy. Pair with all manner of seafood or chicken and veal dishes. (VH) (078527) $15.00 Rating 4.5/5

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CONO SUR VIOGNIER 2009

Posted on November 4, 2009 by John Galea

Another wine from the Chilean wine event. The wine is quite pale in color. On the nose it is more Sauv Blanc than Viognier. On the mid pallet is is quite dry with some peach and grapfruit tastes. It’s medium in length. I would give it an 88 or so. Not a bad wine for the price at all!

From the LCBO:
CONO SUR VIOGNIER 2009 LCBO 64287 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 13.7% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tocornal

Tasting Note
Pale gold colour; tropical fruit aromas with melon, peach and orange blossom notes; dry, medium bodied, with great acidity and flavours of grapefruit, peach, green apple and pineapple; good length on the finish.

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FEATHERSTONE ESTATE BOTTLED MERLOT 2007

Posted on November 3, 2009 by John Galea

Regular readers to this blog know I have a preconception of what a Merlot ought to taste like. And I am more often than not disappointed. Now add to that, I have never had a good Niagara Merlot and you have the making for a strong opinion. Now me and strong opinions are an oxymoron (NOT). So with all this in mind I bring you this review. Let me start out but saying HOLY CRAP. Ok, deep breath.

I had to go to three wine stores to find this one. Armed with two very favorable reviews of this wine I figured I had to give it a go. The wine is quite dark in color. On the nose are some mild black fruits. On the mid pallet are some lovely and luscious Merlot flavors. Eureka … There are some nice sweet fruit forward flavors typical of a Merlot. On the finish the wine has some tannins and out of the bottle a touch of pepper. It is medium to full bodied. It is quite dry on the finish but does not have pucker power. This wine is lovely and would earn the distinction of being THE best Niagara Merlot’s I’ve ever had and damn good Merlot to boot. Did I say HOLY CRAP already? Talk about bursting preconceptions. I love when this happens. I would give this a solid 90. I have no idea how well this will keep but I am quite impressed.

From the LCBO web site:
FEATHERSTONE ESTATE BOTTLED MERLOT 2007 VINTAGES 131540 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol Sugar Content : D This is a VQA wine
Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Featherstone Estate Winery
Release Date: Oct 10, 2009

Tasting Note
This very well-made merlot shows good depth of flavour and fine fruit-acid balance. The concentrated fruit is ripe, well defined and complex, and the tannins are soft and easily manageable. It’s drinking well now and is good for short-term cellaring. Enjoy it with roasted red meats. Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, www.rodphillipsonwine.com, July 30, 2009)

What winecurrent.com had to say:
Perfumed with exotic spice red licorice and field berry aromas it bathes the palate with well-sculpted luscious flavours. Expect succulent cherry black currant and black plum compote flavours persisting throughout the balanced lengthy and fruit-driven finish. Medium bodied and creamy smooth this deserves your attention. Its divine sipped on its own and food friendly”roast pork stuffed with dried cranberries leg of lamb with wine-reduction sauce or pour with your Thanksgiving bird and all the fixings. (Vic Harradine) Vintages release: March 2010 (131540) $19.95 Rating 4.5/5

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131540

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NAKED GRAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007

Posted on November 2, 2009 by John Galea

When you pick a name for a wine that is “catchy” it can cause some people to grab it, and others to leave it. Catchy to one, is irritating to another. I find this one of those. I know the general idea but was insulted by the name. Like it’s trying to appeal to my male side, since all North American men are obsessed with nudity 🙂 Ok enough of that … Back to the wine … So I have not tried any of the “Naked” wines. I was at Jack Astors having there Three cheese peppercorn rigatoni. I have found in the past a buttery chard and a creamy sauce don’t get along well, so a Sauv Blanc was in order. Add to that, I had not tried this one and it was my immediate choice. Niagara make some nice Sauv Blancs so there is a chance for this one …

For those of you that are regular readers you know I’ve been on a bit of a roll with decent Sauv Blancs and this one adds to that group! Oops gave away the punch line didn’t I 🙂

In the glass the wine is pale as one would expect. The wine is varietal Sauv Blanc on the nose albeit a bit mild. Usual grassy, lemony smells. On the mid pallet is a slightly tart Sauv Blanc with some grassyness but not overwhelming. On the finish it is on the lighter side of medium. There is a bit of texture to the wine as well. This is not a watery wine at all. There is little sugar to the wine and it’s actually a little “zesty”. Somewhat smooth and somewhat refined. For the price this is quite a bargain. I will have to try some more yum. I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
NAKED GRAPE SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 665224 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 9.45 Limited Time Offer Was: $ 10.45 Now: $ 9.45 Save: $ 1.00 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 11.7% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Vincor International Inc

Tasting Note
Pale straw with aromas of lemon lime and apple. Like flavours with fruity apple pear flavors.

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Basics of aging wine

Posted on October 31, 2009 by John Galea

Will all wines improve with age? A very common question. In general the answer to the question is no. Most wines especially those from the “new world” are designed in a “drink now” style. They don’t keep more than 1-2 years. Some wineries would do well to put best before dates 🙂

Others are designed to improve with age! How do you tell? Do your research. Some wineries are clever and put it on the back of the bottle. Some put it on their website. You can also find a raters opinion on how long the wine will age in some tasting notes. Not all tasters do this and they are not always accurate.

Depending on the grape some wines will simply mellow over time, some will become more integrated and complex. It really depends. Take Shiraz for example. Shiraz’s will continue to smooth out as they age, loosing that sharp edge and distinct pepperyness, ending up more like a Syrah. A cab will become more complex as it ages.

When a wine does age it get’s better up to a point where it peaks and then it starts to go downhill and eventually will be expensive vinegar 🙂 The trick is to not wait that long (ya think?).

Did you know, one of THE most ageable grape variety in the world is a white, not a red? Yes it is the Riesling grape!

In terms of storage you need a place that is cool (not too cool or it won’t age), dry, vibration free and dark. I have wine fridges and you can buy these at places like Home Depot and Bay or at more specialized places for bigger ones. You don’t need a wine fridge unless the temperature in your place varies significantly. Store the bottles laying down.

Be sure and take keep records of what you have put in the cellar. Keeping track of tasting notes, best before/after, price paid etc. These will be helpful in the long run. Consider using a database. There are free ones for example Bottle count or just keep paper notes.

So … do your research, age only those wines that will improve and don’t wait too long. How do you know when you’ve waited long enough and it’s time to drink it? When you just can’t bare to wait another moment!

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RINGBOLT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

Posted on October 30, 2009 by John Galea

This wine presented some challenges for me. On the nose there are lots of traditional cab smells. Lovely deep rich cassis, cherries and other dark fruits and there is something there. Not awful just not perfect. On the mid pallet the flavors match the bouquet. There are lots of deep rich cab flavors, cassis, cherries, some sweetness, all in all quite nice. On the finish there are some lovely tannins with a touch of dryness. Then there is something there just just is out of place. The descriptions mention things like eucalyptus and herbal and earthy notes. I can’t quite nail it down but that might be it. I let it decant for about 1/2 hour and it seemed to fade slightly. Given the price this is a deep rich wine, quite a bargain. I am pretty impressed with it. 89 or so. If some aging let that out of place flavor and smell disappear this could easily move into an 90-91 range it’s that good. Don’t let the out of place smell and taste distract you. I recommend you give it a try and decide for yourself. We paired it with a pork sausage with rice and carrots (and chocolate brownies of course) and it complemented the meal quite well!

Update two days after first opening it I tried it and the wine is definitely getting better and better. I would say this bodes well for aging!

From the LCBO web site:
RINGBOLT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 Margaret River Western Australia This round-textured well-balanced Cab is a winner every year. Delicious as always it features ripe blackcurrant black cherry chocolate licorice eucalyptus and cedar. Dry medium full-bodied with gentle tannins this wine would be a terrific match for rack of lamb or thick and juicy New York steaks. 606624 $19.95
Featured 3/28/2009

What winecurrent.com had to say:
14.5% alcohol (Previously reviewed in winecurrent) Heres a Cabernet Sauvignon that drinks like it should cost a fair bit more. It features nice complexity on the nose with cassis and mocha mingling alongside soft herbal and earthy characters as well hints of vanilla and black pepper. Its well structured with firm ultra ripe tannins creating great balance. This is a rich full-bodied wine that is expressive from the first sniff through to the expansive finish. If you can get your hands on some Kangaroo filet its a quality regional match if not a grilled pepper steak would do quite nicely. Very impressive. (Mark Tandan) (606624) $19.95 Rating 4.5/5

Check the LCBO web site for stock

606624

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Santa Carolina Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009

Posted on October 29, 2009 by John Galea

This is another of the wines I first tasted at the Chilean Wine event. The wine is quite pale in color as would be expected from a Sauv Blanc. On the nose there is a dominance of grassyness with little else shining through. On the mid pallet there are green fruit flavors and grassyness to match the bouquet. On the finish there are lots of tart flavors on a medium finish. The wine is quite young and it shows in the greenness. There are no sweet flavors to balance the tartness. The description on the back of bottle mentioned pineapple as a flavor. If it’s pineapple it sure isn’t the sweet golden pineapple but rather an unripe green pineapple. For my tastes this is an ok wine and especially for the price but I wouldn’t run out to grab a pile. I would give it an 87 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA SAUV BLANC RSV LCBO 337535 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; fresh, green apple aromas with a hint of lime zest; dry, medium bodied with a lemony palate.
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santacarolina

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