VINTAGES CHÂTEAU L’ENCLOS BONIS 2005

Posted on July 7, 2009 by John Galea

I grabbed this one on spec and was rewarded. On first opening you know this is going to be a big wine and it sure it. The color is a very dark purple, almost black. The bouquet is lovely varietal Bordeaux. The wine shows lots of mid pallet fruit albeit not the most fruit forward wines (which is a good thing for me). The finish is long. Tannins are well under control. There is a lot going on with plenty of complexity! There is a slight vinegar taste on the wine on first opening but that quickly passed. This wine could easily be drunk now but will integrate more in 1-2 years. Oaks are well under control. This is a big wine. I would give this a good 91. Yumm … Smack on my taste buds!

From the LCBO web site:
New at VINTAGES CHÂTEAU L’ENCLOS BONIS 2005
AC Saint-Estèphe (Maison Sichel)
We’ve said it before, but it is worth repeating: The 2005 vintage in Bordeaux was so across-the-board spectacular that even lesser-known houses, places like Château L’Enclos Bonis, produced superlative wines. From its tiny 6.6 hectares, L’Enclos Bonis produces Merlot-dominated wines with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in support roles. Try this fabulous value-priced wine and discover for yourself the depth of quality in the 2005 vintage. (XD) 750 mL $26.95
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TRIUS RED 2007

Posted on July 5, 2009 by John Galea

A friend of mine Vik gave me this wine, thanks Vik! Consistently year after year Hllebrand does a good job with this wine. They manage to take the wild tannins that are prolific in Niagara and tame them into an approachable wine that can be drunk now and will keep for a bit too. This wine is dark rich in color with a nice Cab bouquet. The Cab Franc is not as dominant as one would expect. The wine has some lovely deep cherry flavors on the mid pallet. In taming this wine some of the edge, more well defined fruit flavors are lost but that is the price to pay. The finish is medium to long with a nice bit of dryness. The oak and alcohol are well integrated. Hats off to the wine maker. I would give this an 89 or so. No need to decant this one … Just open sip and say ahhhh.

TRIUS RED (V) VINTAGES 303800 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 21.95 Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D This is a VQA wine
Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Andres Wines Ltd
Release Date: May 23, 2009

Description
Hillebrand’s Trius Red was among the first Bordeaux-blend wines to demonstrate the virtues of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from Niagara. A consistently well-bred and delicious wine, it displays complex aromas and flavours of cedar, blackcurrant, cherry, plum, vanilla and tobacco, leading to a clean, juicy, medium-long finish. Try it now with grilled sirloin strips and multi-coloured peppers, or serve it with semi-hard Canadian cheeses. Cellar it for 4-6 years to experience its full potential.

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MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

Posted on July 3, 2009 by John Galea

I’ve had this wine before and enjoyed it. This time there is something there … I taste the smack on varietal cab. Lots of depth and fruit typical of a cab. Very nice. And then … there is something there that just doesn’t belong. I can’t place it. I tried two bottles and the same on both. Just something I can’t put to a description that doesn’t belong. I’m not sure if aging might help it. Don’t get me wrong this is a very nice wine. Alcohol and oaks are well under control. Finish is medium. Fruit is prominent but not grape juice. But there is something there … Overall I would give this an 88. I am a little disappointed I must say. I’ve had a few of these from previous years I have laid down and am anctipating great things from … But this year won’t be occupying space in my cellar. I wish I could be more specific … Now the conundrum, do I return the two I have left or hope that aging removes this … Breathing nor decanting helped so I doubt it …

From the LCBO web site:
MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 VINTAGES 322586 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 21.95 Wine, Red Wine, 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Montes S.A.
Release Date: Jun 6, 2009

Description
Here’s an excellent Cab from one of Chile’s most reputable producers. Aged for 12 months in French oak, this well-structured, full-bodied Cab is a fine display of the magic that top Chilean winemakers are able to conjure with this grape. Delicious berry fruit flavours lead to intriguing notes of chocolate, tobacco, vanilla and spice box, and all of these elements are woven beautifully together. Winemaker Aurelio Montes is a hot commodity and this wine shows precisely why.

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CLOUDY BAY CHARDONNAY 2006

Posted on July 2, 2009 by John Galea

A while back I tasted this wine (albeit a much older vintage) at a New Zealand tasting event and was quite impressed with it. I quite enjoy chards. As whites go I find them more complex. This one is no exception. The color is on the lighter side of honey. The bouquet is quite mild. The flavor is dead on in the middle. There is some butteryness, some creamyness, some oak and some nice fruit. All in all this is a well balanced Chard, very well done. The finish on the wine is medium. Complexity and layers of flavors are well done for a white. A very nice wine. I would give this a 90 for sure. If you like French Chablis and hate Californian style Chards, skip this one.

From the LCBO Web site:
CLOUDY BAY CHARDONNAY 2006 VINTAGES 359513 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 37.95 Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D Made in: New Zealand, New Zealand By: Cloudy Bay Vineyards Release Date: Sep 27, 2008 Description Ranked #6 on Cuisine Magazine’s Top Ten New Zealand Chardonnays of 2006. (Issue 128, April 2008) Tasting Note Out from the shadow cast by the other varietals from this iconic winery, this Chardonnay won its place at the top table with its distinctive Old World scents and generous, rich, nutty palate – a Cloudy Bay Chard trademark. (Cuisine Magazine (New Zealand), April 2008)

From winecurrent.com:
Perhaps no other producer in New Zealand can lay claim to having put this country on the map for its Sauvignon Blanc and for good reason. This effort from Cloudy Bay is quite impressive and certainly evolves over time in the glass. It opens with green melon aromas combining with the fresh grass and bell pepper thatas so typical of the region. Myer lemon flavours appear on the palate which is softer in acidity than previous vintages giving a somewhat oily mouth feel. Medium in body and impressive in length this wine will not only be enjoyable today but also over the next few years. Try it with pan-seared halibut with fresh herbs. (MT) (304469) $33.95 Rating 4/5 from

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OAK HEIGHTS COVERT HILL WHITE 2007

Posted on July 1, 2009 by John Galea

Happy Canada day eh! I first had this wine at the Toronto Food and Wine show and was impressed. For the money this is a nice wine for sitting on the patio sipping. Very food friendly. Easy drinking. The description below is pretty accurate. Light bodied with some nice fruit, some sweetness and all in all a nice wine. An 88 or so. If your looking for an easy drinking wine, this is a great choice. This is a Prince Edward County wine. We had a lovely trip to Prince Edward county and are heading back soon so their will be lots more to read about. In the mean time read all about our last Excursion!

OAK HEIGHTS COVERT HILL WHITE LCBO 104885 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 9.95 Wine, White Wine, 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : 1 This is a VQA wine
Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Oak Heights Estate Winery

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; aromas of tropical fruit and vanilla; slightly off-dry, light bodied, flavours of stone fruit, melon and a hint of oak.

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SABOR REAL VIÑAS CENTENARIAS TEMPRANILLO 2005

Posted on June 30, 2009 by John Galea

Wimps need not apply 🙂 Ok if you like your wines big and bold, this is a wine for you. If you don’t, there is plenty of room about happy little elves in theater number two (a reference from Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events 🙂 Moving on … Upon first opening I knew this would be a big bruiser and it did not disappoint. This wine is big and bold. The bouqet right up front hits you in the face and says pay attention. The wine has tons of deep fruit flavors on the mid pallet with a beautiful long finish on it. This wine has lot of alcohol at 15% and it is reasonably under control. This is classic tempranillo which you either like or hate. There is a slight bit of pepperyness on the finish but not outrageous. The wine has lots of complexity to it as well. I did not decant it, but 1/2 in the glass did help. For the price this wine is a bargain. If you like Tempranillos, grab a bunch. A bit of time in the cellar will likely help it out … I would agree with the 91 rating. Smack on my taste buds!

From the LCBO Web site:
SABOR REAL VIÑAS CENTENARIAS TEMPRANILLO 2005 VINTAGES 122325 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 19.95 Wine, Red Wine, 15.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Toro, Spain
By: Campina De Toro
Release Date: Jun 20, 2009

Tasting Note
The 2005 Vinas Centenarias, as the name implies, comes from vines over 100 years of age. Purple-colored, it offers up a complex perfume of pain grille, violets, mineral, spice box, black cherry and blackberry. Bigger, richer, and more sweetly-fruited than its younger colleague, it would benefit from 2-3 years of additional cellaring. Balanced, lengthy, and altogether hedonistic, it should drink well through 2015. Score – 91. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Aug. 2008)

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DOÑA PAULA ESTATE MALBEC 2006

Posted on June 29, 2009 by John Galea

This is a lovely smack on varietal Malbec from Argentina. Unlike the French who only use Malbec as a blending grape (primarily) the Argentinians will often use it entirely on it’s own. This is a lovely deep wine. The color is dark purple with good berry fruit flavors on the mid pallet. The alcohol and oak are well integrated. I bought this back in Nov of last year and it just keeps getting better. It is a smooth well refined wine for the money. Very hard to beat. I would give it a 90! I only have one more of these left … pout. Unfortunately no more of these left in the LCBO …

From the LCBO web site:
DOÑA PAULA ESTATE MALBEC 2006 Mendoza TASTING NOTE: Solid, with a juicy core of red plum, raspberry and red licorice flavors backed by alluring spice and floral notes on the finish. Drink now through 2008. Score – 89. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Oct. 31, 2007) 661819 (D) 750 mL $16.95
Featured 11/8/2008

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LAMMERSHOEK BARRIQUE CHENIN BLANC 2007

Posted on June 28, 2009 by John Galea

Chenin blancs are one of those wine that can be all over the map. I am discovering more and more wines like that. It’s likely to do with how “crafted” the wine is coupled with the heavy influence of Terroir on a wine. Some Chenins are really sweet (really not to my tastes), others are quite acidic. This one is right smack dab in the middle. The color is on the lighter side of golder. It has a lovely bit of sweetness to it, good fruit and a medium finish. The oaks and alcohol are well balanced. I get some nice acidity with apple and pear flavors coming through. I would give this a 90ish … Back in May I bought 6 of these and they are rewarding me well. They are a versatile wine that a lot of people like, even those who don’t often like wine!

From the LCBO web site:
LAMMERSHOEK BARRIQUE CHENIN BLANC 2007 WO Swartland South Africa produces some of the best Chenin Blanc wines in the world and this is a great example. With grapes hand-picked from 40-year-old bush vines and hand-sorted to ensure only the very best fruit is used, Lammershoek’s Chenin Blanc is the embodiment of a hand-crafted wine. Rich with honey, smoke and baked apple aromas, this dry, full-bodied wine is elegant and complex and will pair well with rich seafood, roast chicken and pastas in a cream sauce. Featured May 24th 2008 058206 (XD) 750 mL $18.95 Featured 5/24/2009.

Winecurrent.com wrote:
This displays elegance and finesse and is not to be passed by. Aromas of honeyed tree fruit and mangos waft from the glass while rich full flavours drench the palateGÇöquince caramel honeyed ripe pear and cleansing key lime on the refreshing finish. Medium bodied and fleshy in texture it pairs well with pan-seared garlic prawns on a bed of baby arugula. A dazzling wine. (VH) (58206) Rating 4.5/5

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2004 Fattoria Monte Chianti Rufina Reserva

Posted on June 25, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

This was a recent Vintages release (June 6th) that I stumbled upon in my local store a week or so ago. A Chianti Rùfina (Reserva no less) priced at $20 is always a good potential bargain so I leaped in and grabbed one. On our recent trip to Tuscany, Mrs CWG and I actually avoided the Chianti region and as such our collection is rather lacking. The Rùfina region is the north-eastern most area of the modern Chianti region, with the historic Fattoria Monte being only a stones throw east of Florence. The Bellini family owns the vineyard and members of the family still run it while producing around one million bottles per year. This sangiovese based wine is Chianti Rùfina d.o.c.g. On to the tasting!

With a deep crimson colour this wine had a good cherry nose right off the start. Hints of licorice and a hint of vanilla were the compliments to red cherries on our first few sips. The tannins were normal for a chianti, medium to strong. The finish was rather short for a wine that exhibited such a full body on the first few sips. The fruit remained as we made our way through the bottle with hints of spices and more licorice poking their heads up amongst it. Overall, this wine as decent, but nothing special. The price makes this a good enough value to bring to a dinner party and not be embarrassed, but by no means would I recommend grabbing 3 or 4 for your cellar.

The CWG-SR is 86 out of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

Ho Hum.

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2004 M. Chapoutier Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage

Posted on June 24, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

This is one of those bottles we decided to get two of when they were released in February. My thoughts on buying this pricier northern Rhône were simple, I really enjoy wines from Michel Chapoutier. The wine giant calls this one of their Prestige wines from the AOC Hermitage, more then enough reason to try a bottle. Many people believe the term Hermitage means syrah/shiraz, while the primary grape is in fact the grape made truly famous by the Aussies, it does not mean that it is synonymous with it. While Chapoutier has become an extremely large vintner it still produces some of the best wines from the Rhône region, be it southern or northern. This Hermitage comes with high praise from what is generally a mediocre vintage year. This organic wine has one of the Michel Chapoutier distinctive abbreviated Braille labels that have become semi-famous in the wine world. My taste buds were simply primed for this bottle, so on to the tasting!

The decant provided a raspberry to rust coloured wine that emanated licorice and berries. The first swirls brought forward more raspberry with a hint of spices. The first few sips showed a firm body with tannins that were evident, not overwhelming, just chewy enough. The finish was long and eventful. As you get into the wine currants and licorice remain as some minerals are brought forward as well. This wine is well crafted and with the tannins the way they are and the solid body I’d assume you could lay this down for another 2 to 5 years without it harming or hindering the over quality in this offering. Will it necessarily improve it? Possibly but that we will leave for the second bottle. Quite a nice wine overall, but as is the case with many Rhônes, overpriced.

The CWG SR is 90 out of 100.

Mrs CWG and Bacchus state

Yum!

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SAW Merlot tasting event …

Posted on June 23, 2009 by John Galea

I attended Society for American Wines Merlot event with great anticipation. There are a couple things I am appreciating at the SAW events. First is these are guided tastings. A well informed person (Chris Bee this time) guides us through the tasting. Second they pull well aged wines from their cellar. It takes a lot of patience and discipline to have wines in a cellar. And the fruits of your labor are well refined wines that have improved with time (if your lucky)!

I have not had a chance to taste well aged Merlot’s before so I had no idea what to expect. Up front I had an opinion that Merlot’s do not age well.

So with all this up front onto the event! It was being held at the U of T Faculty club which do a good job and is a good venue for the event.

The event started out with two reception wines.

The first, a Fieldstone 2005 Merlot. This wine was 80% Merlot 20% Cab Sauv. The wine had a slight peppery taste to it with some Oak. $23.95 Quite a reasonable wine. All in all quite a nice Merlot.

The second reception wine was 100% Merlot this time also from Fieldstone. Coro Graziano 2005 from Mendicino $26.95. This wine was much drier than the first but had a touch of a bitterness to it. I believe it might have needed bit more breathing or it might have been a bit too young.

Neither of these wines are available at the LCBO.

Beringer 1995 Hill Mountain Merlot $76. My wine glass (or the wine itself) had a slight rubber smell off it. The effect did not continue into the wine which was a good thing. The wine was very nice. Classic Merlot flavors, slightly dry, with no perpperyness. Chris got some tannins off it and thought it might be very close to it’s prime. This wine was my favorite (in spite of the rubbery smell) and ranked as number 2 for the group. I would give it a 90-91.

Clos Pegase 1999 Merlot $46. On the nose I got quite a wiff of alcohol. I got a reasonable amount of oak on palette with some tannins. The wine had a nice bit of dryness to it and a nice finish. This was my number 3 (I would give it a 89-90) and was tied for 5th from the group.

Havens 1999 $34. This wine was all wrong for me. They blended in a cab franc with this one. I don’t get that. Cab Franc is such a big wine it dominated the taste. I could get some Merlot but it was elusive. In spite of that I found this wine a lighter Merlot with a light finish. I’d be hard pressed to give this an 88. This wine ranked number 4 for me and 4th for the group.

Bargetto 1997 $49. This wine is 100% Merlot. On the nose I got a lot of wood. On the tastes the oak was dominant (over done for my tastes). There was a strong alcohol flavor and it had a medium finish. I would give it an 87-88 and ranked number 5 for me and dead last for the group.

Merryvale 1996 $50. This wine had some cab sauv blended in. On the nose I got a very mild bouquet. I got a strong bitter alcohol flavor on the finish of this wine. I didn’t appreciate this one at all. I would say an 86-87 and my least favorite wine of the evening. It was number 3 for the group.

Quail Ridge 1997 $52. On the nose I got smoke and tobacco. There was a slight bit of bitterness on the finish of this wine. Chris got chocolate off the wine. I would give it an 87 and it was number 7 for me and tied for 5th for the group.

Shafer 1996 $56. This wine has some cab sauv blended in. Once again I had some rubbery smells off mine. I even confirmed this with a few folks around the table. It must have come off the glass. I found this wine had a slight bit of pepperyness to it, consistent with the cab suav blended in. This wine was the groups favorite!

Wineglass cellars 1999 $62. 100% Merlot. This wine was smack on varietal Merlot for me. All the usual plum tastes were there. I got a slight bit of bitterness to it and it through quite a bit of sediment. This wine was my second favorite but again tied for 5th in the group.

So all in all the event was excellent. I always seem to fall on the side of preferring a 100% Merlot. I appreciate the subtle gentle flavors of a well done Merlot. It’s a great opportunity to taste a lot of fine wines in a short period of time for a reasonable price. There were nibblies at the table that included pate, chesse and a few others. I am really enjoying the formal sit down, guiding tastings that SAW do!

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SANTA MARGHERITA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006

Posted on June 22, 2009 by John Galea

On the heels of my last Chianti I thought I would give this one a try blind. No research. I rarely do that. This wine is DOCG rather than an IGT so a little lower on the quality scale. It’s also a Classico not a Classico Supremo … On first opening this wine has a touch of bitterness. A little breathing is a good idea but not a lot. Say 1/2 hour or so. I only bottle breathed it for about an hour and that was fine. The wine is good, reasonably dry chianti with some nice fruit and oak/alcohol under control. If I were to compare it to the Gabbiano I raved about last this one is not as favorable, not as dry, not as complex and all in all not as good. Still a good wine, but when you add in that I paid more for this one I would say unless your looking for variety skip this one. I would give it an 89. A good wine for sure. Just not amazing …

From the LCBO web site:
SANTA MARGHERITA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 VINTAGES 91694 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 19.95 Wine, Red Wine, 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Tuscany, Italy By: S.M.T.
Release Date: Mar 14, 2009

Tasting Note
…a new-world style, a little darker and richer than traditional Chiantis. Dark berry and cherry aromas and flavors dominate the wine, with rich oak and even a touch of cocoa and tobacco. This medium-bodied red still retains its Tuscan charm, with nice earth and game meat notes, and enough acidity to keep the wine balanced….Like most Tuscan wines, [it] opens up and comes alive when tasted with food, particularly tomato and meat sauces. Also try this wine with not-too-spicy barbecue ribs, grilled chicken and baked ham. (Jarrett Osborn, Vail Daily, Nov. 28, 2008)

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DOMAINE GALEVAN PAROLES DE FEMME COTES DU RHONE 2007

Posted on June 19, 2009 by John Galea

I picked this one up last night and tried it straight off. The wine is a smack on varietal Cotes du Rhone. A good value for the money. The tastes are the typical, slightly sweet, cassis flavors with a medium finish. There was a hint of bitterness on opening. My LCBO product specialist said buy a case. I wouldn’t go that far but it definitely is a good deal, especially if you like Cotes du Rhones. For $15 kinda hard to find a fault. I would say the 89-90 is accurate (for my tastes).

From the LCBO web site:
DOMAINE GALEVAN PAROLES DE FEMME COTES DU RHONE 2007 AC (Jean-Pierre & Coralie Goumarre Vigns.) TASTING NOTE: The 2007 Cotes du Rhone Paroles de Femme (meaning “words of a woman”). This sexy deep ripe full-bodied effort is a blend of 60% Grenache 20% Mourvedre and the rest equal parts Cinsault and Carignan. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by abundant amounts of Provencal typicity as well as roasted herb meat juice kirsch and black raspberry fruit notes. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years. Score – (89-90). (Robert Parker Jr. www.erobertparker.com Oct. 2008) 125930 $15.00

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2006 Hartford Court Lands Edge Pinot Noir

Posted on June 18, 2009 by John Galea

A little while ago Mr and Mrs CWG (and Bachus) provided a review on this wine. They gave it such a glowing review I had to go grab one. This wine is on sale right now regularly $40 for $33. Pinot Noirs are never my favorite wines but it is uncommon for Brett to give a wine such a high rating so I had to run out and grab one. On first opening the wine is the color and bouquet one would expect from a Pinot Noir. It is garnet in color with a mild bouquet with some oak noticeable. On first drinking right out of the bottle you will notice there is not a hint of bitterness. No need to decant this puppy. The wine shows some lovely fruit and is a smack on varietal Pinot. The oaks and alcohol are well under control. Surprising given how high the alcohol content on this one is. The wine is slightly dry with a medium finish and some nice complexity. The wine is not by any means a huge pinot but it is definitely a good one. Brett was right this is a good Pinot. Personally I would give it a 91 or so, likely more about the fact Pinot’s are not my fave. My GF said she got some prunes on the tastes … We paired this with a lamb leg chop and it went VERY well. One of my favorite Pinots is Flat rock Cellars gravity Check LCBO stock. Like most Niagara reds this one has some tannin bite to it so some decanting is prudent.

From the LCBO web site:
HARTFORD COURT LAND’S EDGE VINEYARDS PINOT NOIR 2006 VINTAGES 919712 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 33.35
Wine, Red Wine, 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Kendall-Jackson
Release Date: Jan 31, 2009

Tasting Note
An oaked wine with a big, ripe, juicy black cherry and bramble nose underscored with earthy mineral, hints of menthol and wood spice. The supple, fruit-forward palate shows less tannin, with a round, bright finish that recovers from an initial peek of heat. Score – 2 Stars (out of 4). (Lynne Char Bennett, members.forbes.com, Sept. 12, 2008)

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J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

Posted on June 17, 2009 by John Galea

This wine is one of the house wines available by the glass at the Keg. I have had it many times and enjoy it. I picked it up at the LCBO the other day. The wine is made in the “drink now style”. No decanting needed. Not a hint of bitterness. I would not expect this to keep a long time, nor would I expect it to age overly well. Lovely deep cherry and some vanilla off the oak. All well integrated. The finish is medium with tannins well under control. This is not a fruit forward wine and not as lively as some. This bottle went quickly as so often seems to be the case when it is a good one. We paired it with a pork tenderloin done on the bbq of course! I would give this wine an 89-90. Quite enjoyable and always consistent! This is now an essential so you can get it anytime! No need to rush …

From the LCBO web site:
J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON (V) VINTAGES 656561 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 20.95 Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: J Lohr Winery
Release Date: May 23, 2009
Description
Every time Vintages released this wine, it disappeared from store shelves at lightning speed! So we decided to make it an Essential to ensure that it’s always available and you’re never disappointed. Aged in oak for more than a year, this densely coloured red is packed with intense aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla, and spices. Full-bodied and sweet-centred, this Cabernet will pair beautifully with roasted or grilled red meats.

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GABBIANO CHIANTI 2008

Posted on June 15, 2009 by John Galea

We were Ottawa for the weekend and stopped by Vittoria Trattoria . Right in the Byward Market this Italian restaurant has an impressive wine list. They have a number by the glass, 1/2 litre, half bottle and full bottle. They have wines of a number of different styles, from a number of different countries. You could close your eyes and imagine this being a wine bar, but instead it actually is a fine restaurant. I would love to find a place just like this in Toronto! Looking around the choices I decided I wanted to try something I had not had before. Always risky, but sometimes rewarding. For some odd reason I ruled out the $1500 bottle 🙂 Seems my lottery ticket has still not provided me with my desired income. Of course we all know lottery tickets are simply voluntary taxation. I bet you thought this was going to be a wine review. I do digress 🙂

Dinner was chosen as surf and turn for me and veal marsala for my GF. So a bigger wine is in order. After perusing the wine menu for a good 10 minutes, discussing it with my GF and shoeing off the attentive waitress a number of times we had made a choice. By the way, sometimes, if you are in a fine restaurant the best thing you can do is ask if they have a Somelier. If they do ask for some suggestions. You can tell a somelier because they wear a pin on their lapel which is a bunch of grapes.

Ok, without further ado onto the review … So we chose a Chianti. I was a little hesitant because it was not an IGT and was not a Classico Superior. My knowledge of Italian wines is a little on the lighter side as well so I did not recognize the winery. But the price was reasonable $35, so heh why not 🙂

The wine was lovely right on the first sip. Lovely deep purple colors with a nice bouquet. The wine has a lovely bit of complexity to it and quite a bit of dryness. This is a big wine that builds on the pallet. Not Shiraz big, but big none the less. The flavors are of deep cherries and the tannins are well in check. The review says the tannins are velvety and I would agree. The oak is there but well under control. The alcohol at 12.7% was also well under control and well integrated. The wine went well with the meal, though, I really appreciated the deep layers of the wine most without food. This is a well made wine at a bargain price. I will definitely be grabbing more of these. We asked for a decanter but you won’t be needing it. I would say this is a 90-91!!

From the LCBO web site:
GABBIANO CHIANTI LCBO 78006 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 13.95 Value Added Promotion 750 mL bottle comes with FREE Knight Bottle Topper until Jun 20, 2009 or while supplies last!

Wine, Red Wine, 12.7% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Tuscany, Italy By: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas

Tasting Note
Medium ruby red colour; aromas of red cherry, dried herbs, nuanced by vanilla notes; dry, medium-bodied, velvety tannins, displaying flavours of liquorice, spice and red cherries on the finish.

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Upcoming Toronto Events June

Posted on June 12, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

I know it is a bit late to chat about these two events, but hopefully if you are reading this and have time you might venture down to Old Town and give one or both a shot. First the wine event:

On Tuesday June 16th is the ‘sip & Savour Ontario’ event. I attended and blogged about this event two years ago but had to miss out last year due to a business trip. If you can find the time and $60 you will be blessed with an opportunity to try, taste and savour wines from most of the Ontario wineries as well as some delicious food from some brilliant chefs. You can visit this link to register and see below for a quick synopsis of the event.

Locally Yours. . . Closer than you think!
An evening dedicated to Ontario VQA Wines & Regional Cuisine
Ontario VQA Wines and local cuisine come together to satisfy your inner epicure while supporting local enterprise.
Award-winning VQA wines from more than 25 Ontario wineries will be paired with elegant and delectable offerings of regional cuisine inspired by local chefs.
With live culinary demonstrations featuring Savour Ontario Chefs, Ontario will be yours to sip & Savour.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
The Distillery Historic District, Fermenting Cellar
55 Mill Street, Toronto

The second event is not of food or wine, but of dog, dogs, and more canines. 2009 Woofstock happens this weekend (June 13th and 14th) and if you like, love or adore the four legged friends, then Front Street is where you need to be. East of Yonge and West of Jarvis you will find anything dog related you ever wished to see. Many unique vendors will be in attendance along with over 100,00 visitors and their canines. Big, small and fat you are guaranteed to see something that will please you. As well, like usual, the rescue organizations will be there with information on how to adopt or foster if you are so inclined. More information can be found here.

Have a great weekend.

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Quails Gate Chardonnay 2006 VQA Okanagan Valley

Posted on June 11, 2009 by John Galea

I enthusiastically grab Okanagan wines. I am impressed with what they are doing and there results speak for themselves. They are coming in with good quality wines at acceptable prices. Given the size of this region the fact we in Ontario get any is a statement of an industry that thinks beyond it’s own borders. They could easily consume it all in B.C. and say … to Ontario (and the rest of the world!). B.C. is not a cheap area to make wine in (neither is Niagara). So if we are to support a wine industry we need to be willing to pay a little more. Or so I think anyway. Onto the wine. Upon opening I get a smack on varietal Chard with mild notes. The reviewer said peach, I don’t get that at all. The color is a lighter yellow. Not quite pale, not quite deep. So I from this I new what to expect. Sure enough … The wine has been crafted in the Californian style. It has the some butteryness one expects from Malolactic fermentation as well as some creaminess from Sur lie . I am guessing about this because the bottle was not explicit but the tastes are there. The fruit is mild in flavor but definitely varietal. I would put this one just north of the middle of the road as Chards go. If you prefer a Chablis then this one will not be to your tastes. The wine is not overly sweet either. The finish is medium. All in all this is a well crafted wine. I would give this one an 88-89. I paired it with Fettucine Alfredo and it went ok. I think a Sauv blanc would have gone better. I find the creaminess of some Chards can fight with a cream based sauce. A crisper more acidic wine would have cut through the fats in the Alfredo sauce better. But then you never know what to expect from Chards and the bottle was no help either.

From Winecurrent.com:
Quails Gate Chardonnay 2006 VQA Okanagan Valley. 14% alcohol An interesting nose of green apple mineral notes and fennel introduce this medium-bodied very generously textured gem. We see far too few from B.C. Reach with both hands for this one it’s gorgeous. Aromas and warm flavours of citrus peach honeydew melon and spice abound. It’s complex deftly balanced well structured and finishes dry and lengthy. Lovely sipped on its own it pairs well with pan-seared firm fish like Tuna. (VH) U.S.A.: White Wine (377770) $19.95 Featured 5/23/2009. 4.5/5 stars

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Bacchus Update

Posted on June 10, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Not only is Bacchus the Greek god of wine and a nice German hybrid grape, but he is also a cute as a button puppy (picture provided as proof). I am sipping on a 2008 Private Reserve Pinot Gris from Peller Estates that we recently received from their wine club. Soft, fruity (pear and apple), very light in colour, about a 1 on the sweetness scale. Not a bad wine, easy going patio fare, a tad high in price at $17 and it is only available from the winery. Bacchus and I are sipping and enjoying. Have a great evening!

dsc01425

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2005 Hartford Court Lands Edge Pinot Noir

Posted on June 9, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

This is one of those wines I picked up at the little wine shop in SFO (San Francisco airport) a year or so ago on a whim. I remember somewhere, at sometime, possibly reading about Hartford Family Wines and figured maybe that tidbit I read was a good write up and as such bought their pinot noir I am about to review. Heck what is $40 bucks on a bottle with no knowledge at all? So as I looked into what I bought the next day I was quite pleased to see that this bottle in particular had been fawned over by all those types that are suppose to matter. As someone who writes reviews, I take them all with a grain of salt (and sometimes cheese), and as such I often times find ratings to be misleading. If you are a regular reader here you will well know I am tough on wines. With the bulk being rated by the CWG-SR system in the 80s. Generally I will rate based on my own overall experience and not hover in, or pin point one reason or another why I did or did not rate a wine well, maybe that is why I call it the CWG ‘subjective rating’. With that small detour we bring ourselves back to this Sonoma Coast pinot, and instead of going into detail about the winery (you can read that on their site) I am going to dive into the tasting notes.

We decanted this out of habit and while the aeration in the end helped the wine a tad, it will not be necessary if you are using the correct stemware as the bowl of a pinot glass will give it more then enough. Intense cherry with hints of wood will hit your nose immediately. Swirl it a few more times and then settle in for a few sips. That cherry will stay consistent but casis and vanilla will creep in. This is a nice firm, chewy pinot noir. Good balance, even finish and firm tannins yield a wine that even a Burgundy hound would love. I was pleasantly surprised as a great many of the Californian pinot noirs I have had recently have disappointed. As we progressed through the bottle the flavours and quality remained, there was no fading or disappearing, a good sign for a great wine. This wine will go well with most entrees with pork tenderloin, marinara pasta or veal coming to mind. While I paid $40US for this, the 2006 vintage is on sale for $33 at the LCBO, which is odd, as even the vineyard has the the 2006 listed for $45. While this review is for the 2005, if the 2006 is even half the wine, the LCBO price will be worth the purchase. If you can get your hands on the 2005, I highly recommend buying at least 6 as this wine will age, most probably for the better. I have to say, for once I agree with the lofty reviews, this wine is one of the better wines to have been released from the region recently!

The CWG SR is 92 out of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

I hope we have another of these!

2005_lands-edge

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2006 Chateau de Davenay Montagny 1er Cru

Posted on June 8, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

A recent white Burgundy release by LCBO/Vintages, this showed up (shockingly) at the Market (St Lawrence) shop. I plucked one off the shelf on Friday with the view at drinking right away. At $26.95 this is not exactly a bargain white, but it is still a good price for a 1er Cru. The literature about Montagny is limited so you must dive into the Cote Chalonnaise reading to get more information on the small area within this sub-region. The large Michel Picard group owns this vineyard and has an informative website which allows you to drill down to see details such as terroir and cellaring notes. Instead of condensing their notes I will simply jump right into tasting notes and thoughts.

With a vibrant golden yellow colour and green apple nose this wine looks the Burgundy part. After a good swirl or two and the initial sips you will notice the acidity right away, something that is common from Montagny. The apple gives way to pear and pineapple and the balance is even. While acidic, this is still a very palatable white. Despite this wine having gone through malolactic fermention there is none of the buttery velvety texture that is common with many Chardonnays made in similar fashion. This is a brisk, clean wine with good fruit and hints of mineralization. I would imagine that a couple of more years in the bottle would further compliment this offering. I’d recommend 2 to 5 while the wine-maker says 3 to 10 from bottling. Overall this is a good release and holds true to the regions typical wines. Think poultry and white fishes as a nice compliment/pairing.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 88 put of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

woof woof woof (I enjoyed this)

2006-chateau-de-davenay-montagny-1er-cru

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RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003

Posted on June 7, 2009 by John Galea

Sometimes you have to crack into the cellar when a special friend comes over! Jason was the guest of honor! This one has been in my cellar for almost two years now. I enjoyed this one when I first opened it and it has rewarded my patience. It is a smack on varietal cab from start to finish. The nose, the color, the finish are excellent. This has all the usual dark berry and cherry flavors one expects from a California cab, while not the most fruit forward or lively one. The oak is reasonably pronounced and the finish is long. Not a hint of spiciness! It has a beautiful bit of dryness that builds nicely especially without food! The wine has integrating well as it ages and I look forward to trying another one in a year or two. There was a slight bit of bitterness but easily handled by 1/2 hour decanting. In no time flat the bottle disappeared. Damn evaporation again 🙂 I paired it with a meat ravioli with tomato sauce and it went well! Yumm. I would say easily a 91 or so … Interestingly we tried some of the Richard Hamilton Merlot I last blogged about right after this one, and we could really tell the difference in elegance this wine had over the Richard Hamilton. I really like aged cabs. And even 2 years makes a difference. Try it for yourself sometime. Buy one extra bottle and stick it in a cupboard (cool, but not too cool and dry) somewhere and forget about it for two years …

From the LCBO web site:
RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003 Sonoma County As one of the winemaking pioneers in Sonoma, the late great Rodney Strong would be proud of this stylish Cabernet. Try it with game meats, grilled lamb or roast beef. TASTING NOTE: Wine Style: fruity, medium-bodied. Appearance: ruby. Nose: red black berries, herbs. Taste: medium bodied, sweet, juicy, good tannin complexity finish. Score – **** (out of 5). (Tony Aspler, www.tonyaspler.com, May 18, 2006). 226944 (D) 750 mL $19.95

The 2005 is in the LCBO right now Check LCBO stock Not a whole lot around but some. Price is creeping up … and it seems the rating is heading down. Nice combination 🙂

For 2005 the LCBO web site says:
RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 VINTAGES 226944 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 22.95 Wine, Red Wine, 13.86% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Release Date: Nov 8, 2008

Tasting Note
Garnet color. Baked berries, singed herb, and barnyard aromas. A round, silky entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body of berry, clay, and forest floor flavors. Finishes with a tangy cocoa powder and dried berry fade with dusty tannin. A very Bordeaux-like offering. Pair with stews and game. Highly Recommended. , Score – 88. (www.tastings.com, Feb. 25, 2008)

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RICHARD HAMILTON LOT 148 MERLOT 2006

Posted on June 6, 2009 by John Galea

As usual my biases up front. I think a Merlot ought to taste like a Merlot (according to my definition). I know this is narrow. But this is just part of the somewhat exact being that is me. I believe in varietal wines. Sometimes I can turn that off. But especially with Merlots I have trouble with that. And the real trouble is there really aren’t many Merlots out there that taste like I think a Merlot ought to. If I want a spicy peppery shiraz, I will choose one. If I want to suck on a piece of Oak I can do that for a whole lot less than 19.95.

So with that up front I tried this one. I was a little skeptical to start off. Upon opening I was greeted with all the varietal bouqets I expect from a Merlot. The plums. Yum. The colors are a lovely deep purple color. All is well. Onto the tasting. On first taste on the front of the pallet there is not a lot going on, then the mid pallet shows some varietal Merlot flavors. Then onto the finish and on comes the spicy pepperyness. The spiciness is a little overpowering. The finish is medium or so. This is not a bad Merlot but as pure in flavors as I hope for. The label does not show that any other grape was blended in, in which case it can only come from terroir of the Aussie soil. The oak is well under control, the alcohol is well balanced. I would give this an 88-89. Not a bad wine at all. If I were a smart man I would give up on Merlots. Alas, I am not that bright 🙂

From the LCBO web site
RICHARD HAMILTON LOT 148 MERLOT 2006 McLaren Vale South Australia TASTING NOTE: Aromatic berry and olive aromas and similar flavours on the long palate perfectly judged tannins. Drink [until] 2014. Score – 90. (James Halliday www.winecompanion.com.au Nov. 2007) 39461 $19.95 Featured 5/2/2009

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Wolf Blass 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Yellow Label

Posted on June 5, 2009 by John Galea

I was out with a bunch of friends at the Keg last night and while my usual there is thePainter Bridge Zinfandel I felt like something different and I wasn’t sure if others would appreciate a Zinfandel. This is always a consistent wine that you can count on. The wine is dark ruby as usual. nice fruity bouquet. On the palette the wine is a mild cab. All the usual dark berry flavors are there but not all that strong. Oak is there but nicely integrated. The finish is on the milder side. The wine has no perpperyness at all. All in all a good wine and it paired well with the fillet mignon. I would say an 88 or so. If your looking for a wine to choose and have nothing else on the menu you will never go far wrong with this wine!

So being a cab, I asked for a decanter. No problem says the server who brings it over, pours a small amount for me to taste and then proceeds to turn the bottle upside down into the decanter. I almost cried. Unbelievable. Is it too much to ask to educate your staff on how to pour wine instead of behaving like a barbaric cretin? All the sediment that had fallen nicely out of the wine as it aged was promptly stirred up into the wine. Grrrr

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2007 J Lohr Chardonnay

Posted on June 4, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

I am sitting at the Shore Club in Vancouver having dinner at the bar. While I’d prefer to be at home with Mrs CWG & Bacchus, this is not a bad evening. I am sipping the ’07 J. Lohr Chardonnay which, while served initially too cold, is proving to be a very aromatic white. A very dark yellow wine, flowery and firm are two good adjectives to describe it. Hints of pear and honey open up as you progress through the tasting, with a subtle hint of oak. A nice balanced Californian Chard though not outstanding, especially for the price. This will compliment shellfish nicely.

CWG-SR: 88 out of 100

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