KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2006

Posted on December 30, 2008 by John Galea

I enjoyed this one.  The shiraz is nicely balanced by the Grenache. There lots of flavors going on and the oak is well under control. The finish is medium but all in all quite good.  For the price it’s alright. No bargain but worth it …

KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN SHIRAZ/GRENACHE  2006
South Australia  

TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Shiraz-Grenache “Killerman’s Run” is composed of 60% Shiraz and 40% Grenache and was aged for 16 months in older French and American oak hogsheads before bottling without fining or filtration. Dark ruby-colored, it has an alluring perfume of cinnamon, cassis, kirsch, and blueberry. Velvety-textured, elegant, and intensely flavored, it has a long, pure finish. It will provide pleasure over the next 8-10 years. Score – 90. (Jay Miller,www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2007) 

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=009225     (D)            750 mL    $20.95   

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KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC 2006

Posted on December 25, 2008 by John Galea

This wine has a dominant taste and bouqet of vanilla. There is a fair bit of oak in the taste and there is a distinctive bouqet of earthy tones. There is little to no fruit flavors left. Some smokeyness as well. This wine is not bad, I’d say an 88. Quite pleasant to drink. A while back I read a book that talked about Parkerization. It referred to making wines explicitly for ratings. Parker seems to like big Oak. I would say this one was Parkerized … For my money I’m not sure I’d run out and buy more …

KAIKEN ULTRA MALBEC  2006
Mendoza  

The producer recommends decanting this wine 30 minutes before drinking.

TASTING NOTE: Inky hue with a fuchsia rim. Fresh aromas of plum and blueberry with a note of charcoal. Lively black cherry fruit with a smoky oak nuance threaded throughout. The close is youthful, tannic and acidic with plenty of peppery black fruit. Score – 91. (Tasting panel,www.thewinenews.com, Aug./Sept. 2008) 

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=50849     (D)            750 mL    $22.95   

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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2008 by CanadianWineGuy

From Mrs. CWG, John Galea and Myself, a Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year.

The Missus and I are off to Rome and Florence for a few days after Christmas, we will try to drink, talk about and buy wine for future blogs!

santa_job_eva

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D’ARENBERG THE FOOTBOLT SHIRAZ 2005

Posted on December 20, 2008 by John Galea

D’arenberg are always known for big bruisers and this one is no exception. In this case they have a pretty good varital Shiraz. Lots of Oak, (almost too much), reasonable pepper on the finish with a medium finish. This is by no means the best Shiraz I’ve ever had but quite good none the less. I won’t be rushing out to grab a wack of these, but then again I don’t tend to store Shiraz’s, they don’t improve, just keep … So why bother. So many wines, so little space to keep em … That’s why if you look at my inventory it’s biased by aging wines! http://jgalea.com/wine.htm

D’ARENBERG THE FOOTBOLT SHIRAZ  2005
McLaren Vale, South Australia  

TASTING NOTE: … The Footbolt shiraz is quite dense and tasty. Good expression on the nose with black cherry, plum, chocolate cream and spicy overtones. A full throttle combo of dark fruit and spice on the palate with enough acidity and balance to keep things moving. Good length. Best 2008-2013. Score – 89. (Jeff Davis, Wine Access ‘First In Line E-Report’, April 12, 2008) 

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=984021 (XD)            750 mL    $19.95 

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KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006

Posted on December 20, 2008 by John Galea

I’m on a roll for big bruisers! This is another big wine. Once again I’m not impressed. This wine is better than the TALTARNI I last went on about which was more like sucking on a peice of oak. This wine has a real bitter tanic taste on the finish that overwhelms everything. Gone are the subtle Cab flavors and what is left is carefully crafty over massaged wine. If I were you I’d skip this wine. Not worth the money. If you do go for it try a min of 2-3 hours breathing and drink it with food. So not impressed …

KILIKANOON KILLERMAN’S RUN CABERNET SAUVIGNON  2006
South Australia  http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=675223    (D)            750 mL    $20.95   

TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon “Killerman’s Run” was aged in seasoned French oak hogsheads for 15 months and was bottled without fining or filtration. Purple-colored, it offers enticing aromas of cedar, tar, black currant, and blackberry. Layered on the palate with spicy black fruit flavors and sweet tannins, it will offer solid drinking over the next decade. Score – 90. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2007) 

 

Winecurrent.com’s thoughts on this wine:

Complex, structured and intensely flavoured, this punches well above the price. There are dusty, earthy, mixed spice and mixed field berry fruit aromas on the nose before bathing the palate with spiced zesty red cherry, boysenberry and ripe black Damson plum flavours. It’s medium bodied with a plush mouth feel and a persistent well-balanced finish that layers on an interesting hint of minty chocolate. Drink now to 2016 alongside smoked and bar b cued back ribs slathered in spicy red sauce. (VH) 

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Gorgonzola Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Posted on December 20, 2008 by CanadianWineGuy

This is a recipe I tossed together last night since I had decided to grab a nice tenderloin at my butcher and was stuck figuring out what I was going to do with it. This is simple and really can be done well with low amount of work. The ingredients are for 4 people

Ingredients:
2 – 1 lb pork tenderloins
5 – green onions
8oz gorgonzola (substitute Blue Cheese or Stilton if you desire)
fresh ground sea salt
fresh ground pepper
4 tablespoons good quality olive oil
twine/string

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven to 450 F (I use a convection oven so adjust accordingly). Fine chop all of the green onion except the trimmed edges. In a mixing bowl crumble all but 2 oz of the gorgonzola and mix in the onion till well blended. Butterfly both tenderloins then cover with suitable plastic/wax covering and with a mallet pound until flat. Remove the covering and lightly salt and pepper the inside of the pork, then evenly divide the cheese/onion mixture between the two tenderloins in the center. Leave about a half inch on the ends of each tenderloin (for tucking in once rolled to avoid too much seepage of the stuffing). Roll the tenderloins tucking in the ends, tie with sting to secure but not squeeze the pork. Place the tenderloins in a glass/porcelain baking dish that can “just” hold the two pieces. Drizzle with olive oil while turning them (the rolling process should leave no ‘insides’ visible so this should be easy), salt and pepper liberally. Place the dish into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove and test the temperature (meat thermometer, not fingers!) make sure it is above 160F internally. Place the remaining gorgonzola on top of the two pieces of pork, return to over and bake for 5 more minutes. Remove from the oven, slice up (remove the string) and drizzle the juice on top of it on the plates. Serve with side of choice and a nice Rhone or Burgundy. This meal will have a nice bold flavour and should not be paired with a soft wine. Avoid light whites or an overwhelming Bordeaux style as both extreme wines will take away from the flavour of the dish.

Enjoy!

-cwg

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Chateau des Charmes 2005 Cab/Merlot VQA

Posted on December 19, 2008 by John Galea

Mr and Mrs CWG served this wine at their annual Christmas event last night. CWG shared with me that this is one of his favorite Niagara Cab/Merlot blends and that 2005 was stellar. CWG shared that he thinks this is a fabulous Bordeaux Blend from Niagara.

It’s clear after all these years in Canada he has forgotten what a Bordeaux blend ought to taste like. Just kidding … 🙂

This really is probably one of the best Niagara Cab/Merlot blends I’ve tasted to date.  This wine has a deep inky color with a mild bouquet. On the palette it displays some lovely rich flavors with a medium finish. There’s a lovely bit of dryness on the finish that builds over time. The oak is nicely in control.  This is a big wine, make no mistake. Serve this with a mild food and there is not a chance you will be tasting anything other than the wine. Pair it with a steak or lamb and your good to go.

What’s worth noting is what is not there. There are none of the out of control tannins that can dominate Niagara reds. None of the earthy notes that can spoil the flavor.

This wine would compare favorably with the Ducla Bordeaux for roughly the same price I last wrote about.  Nice choice Mr and Mrs CWG!

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CH DES CHARMES CABERNET/MERLOT VQA
LCBO 454991 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 14.45
Bonus Reward Miles Offer
Earn 4 AIR MILES® reward miles Until Jan 3, 2009

Wine, Red Wine,
13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1

This is a VQA wine
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Chateau Des Charmes

Tasting Note
Deep garnet red colour; raspberry/cassis with bell pepper and tobacco notes; medium- to full- bodied with dark fruit flavours and medium tannins in finish.

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TALTARNI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2004

Posted on December 16, 2008 by John Galea

I had high hopes for this one, but they were dashed. This wine is massively over oaked Cab Sauv. So much so that the fruit is totally masked. Gone are any form of varietal flavors. It’s possible that with 2-5 years aging this will pass, but who really cares. What a disappointment, especially given the price. Skip this one folks and move on …

TALTARNI CABERNET SAUVIGNON  2004
Pyrenees, Victoria  http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?ITEM_NUMBER=940692     (D)            

TASTING NOTE: Dark blueberry and blackberry flavors last through the coffee-rich tannins of this wine. It’s earthy, with an herbal green edge. For roast lamb. Score – 90. (Wine & Spirits, Oct. 2008)

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New Zealand wine event

Posted on December 15, 2008 by John Galea

Karen and I attended a structured wine tasting event at Global wine tour hosted by Steven Thurlow from Wineaccess magazine. The event was held at the Fine Wine Reserve which is a wine storage facility for individuals.

 

The event was very well done with a group of 14 (a full house for this venue). They provided a few foods to show how certain foods can complement and soften certain wines. I would definitely recommend these guys and will go again.

 

These guys are holding different country events as the year goes on. There next event is on Argentina. We were told they plan to do a BC wine event in the future. That would be awesome!

 

One of the things they did in this event was to taste items that are available (to some extent) at the LCBO. This is great! Means you can run right out and grab some!

 

I often get asked how did I find out about this event. Well I have a lot of different places I am subscribed to. But one of them is a newsletter called the The Juice.

 

Onto the wines. They tasted 4 whites and 4 reds. Steven guided us through a 3 hour long tour of New Zealand. His knowledge is extensive. I was in awe of how much detail he had about the country, the wines and vineyards. He had a formal power point presentation to guide us through the tasting. It was a sit down event. I was left wondering how many countries can this fellow possibly know in this much detail? Astonishing …

 

See the bottom for a complete list of everything you might ever want to know about New Zealand but were afraid to ask …

 

From a white wine point of view, right now, there are no single vineyard white wines coming out of New Zealand. They tend to blend grapes from many different vineyards to get the recipe they are looking for. Each area creating a distinctive flavor in the wines based on the terroir.

 

Cooper’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2008  $17.95

–          Steven intentionally did not choose the Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc which is considered the benchmark to show there are other (cheaper) Sauv Blancs from New Zealand

–          I found this wine quite crisp. Lots of classic NZ Sauv Blanc on the nose. Typical green apple flavors, some grassiness (which I often refer to as greenness) and some lemony flavors. This is quite a sharp wine with a long finish. Quite good for the price. I would probably give it an 88-89 and I would say was one of the best wines of the evening. This wine was not oaked at all. This wine is a vintages Essential. I will definitely buy this one.

–          Steven showed us using simple cheddar cheese how this wine would go well with anything fatty. The cheese improved the wine, softening it, and the wine improved the inexpensive cheese. He also told us he thought it would work well with something with a vinaigrette on it.

–          This wine is from Marlborough one of the largest growing areas in NZ. Steven informed us that Hawkes Bay make some of the best (in his opinion) Sauv Blancs.

 

Matakana Estate Pinot Gris 2007 $24.95

–          I found little bouquet to this wine. It was very light in color and taste. 20% of the wine was oaked and it imparted some subtle flavors to the wine. It also had a slight creamyness to it, likely also from the oak. It had a slight bit of acidity but all in all I found this to be a very light wine. I suspect part of the reason for this is the strong flavors from the Sauv Blanc above. Personally I think I might have appreciated this wine better if it had been served first. But then you can also pick away at an event and think of how it could have been better! For me this wine was missing the peachy flavors I look for in a good Pinot Gris. Overall I would not buy this wine. I would give it an 86-87 For me the benchmark in the Pinot Gris that had the peach in dominance was the Omaka also from NZ featured in the May 10th release.

 

Sherwood Estate Riesling 2007 $14.95

–          I have got into the habit of reading the label on wines, and in this case it was a bad idea. This wine has sulphites added (something I avoid like the plague) and was fined using milk products. I find the milk products can leave an unpleasant odor on the wine. This wine is from Waipara. I found this wine very mild in bouquet, color and flavors with a slight effervescent tingle on the tongue. This is a very mild Reisling and for my money I would far rather buy a Canadian Reisling. So for me this one was a pass …

 

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 1996 (This year is not available at LCBO) $37.95

–          This was truly the highlight of the evening. Steven shared with us a 1996 Chard that he has been aging for a long time. He told us that when he opened it the cork disintegrated so this wine likely got a lot of access to air that it shouldn’t have. Interestingly enough Steven is a propend in abandoning the cork. He also shared with us that this wine is likely already past it’s peak. That said, I quite enjoyed it. He says the wine originally is a big bruiser. On par with a Californian Chard. It received lots of Oak aging and went through Malolactic fermentation. The wine had a more rich honey yellow color to it. It was very smooth and well integrated. You could really taste the subtle flavors that are there in spades in a good Californian style Chard and likely were there when it was young. Everything was there but very subtly and well balanced. Slighlty buttery, slightly Oaky, slight bit of fruit and a long finish. I was thrilled to taste a well aged Californian style chard! Steven informed us that some of the best chards in NZ come from Gisborne.

 

Kim Crawford Pinot Noir 2007 $19.95

–          NZ is starting to get known secondly for their Pinot Noirs. This one is quite good and reminded me of some of the good Canadian Pinot Noirs like the Gravity Pinot from Flat Rock which is one of my favorites. This wine had a bit of oak, nice varietal flavors and a medium finish. I did not find this wine overly complex, but then again I don’t find Pinot’s complex. I found it had a slightly bitter (acidic) finish that would ease with some decanting. I would give this one an 87-88. I will likely buy one of these to give it a more thorough tasting.

 

Sileni The Triangle Merlot 2006 $18.95

–          This had a deep ruby color in keeping with a Merlot. The bouquet was quite mild. This wine has some nice tannins but for me this wine is more indicative of a Cab than a Merlot. I enjoyed the flavors but this was not varietal to my taste. Missing was the strong plum flavors that ought to be there dominant in a good Merlot. Don’t get me wrong, this was not a bad wine, just not a merlot. I would give this a 87-88. This is another one I will likely buy to do a more detailed tasting.

 

Gunn Estate Silistria Syrah 2004 $29.70

–          While the Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape the difference is in the style of wine making. The Shiraz being the peppery in spades finish while the Syrah is a smoother more integrated wine. This one is a Syrah for sure. There is some pepperyness, with a nice finish. Slight oakyness. A nice wine, but this one for me is really creaping up there in price. I (like a lot of people) have this magic $20 figure. And to be honest, once I get into this price range I prefer to experience more complexity which this wine did not have. So all in all I would give tis one an 88 but won’t be rushing out to buy it.

 

Matua Valley Matheson Vineyard Cabernet/Merlot 2002 (the only wine not available at the LCBO tasted)

–          This one had a deep color and slight bouquet. I tasted a very slight hint of dill which I have experience in spades (my word for the day it seems) at Peninsula Ridge. I did not really care for this one and would give it an 86-87

 

So all in all I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. There were a few other foods they gave us like a honey ham, and a salami but my notes failed me, might have had something to do with the imbibing. That and maybe having some fun distracting my note taking J

 

Here are some facts about NZ and their wines:

–          2008 was a good year for NZ

–          As mentioned above almost all of the whites and some of the reds are blends from vineyards from different parts of NZ. This lets them create exactly the flavors they are looking for and insures consistency. Each area of NZ has very particular flavors coming from the terroir

–          There are over 500 wineries in NZ today. They too went through a prohibition period but it was much longer than NA.

–          NZ has one of the highest average bottle price of any country (seem hard to believe when you consider some of the wines of France’s stratospherical prices!!). Either way their wines are not cheap. It is not an inexpensive place to grow wines. They have to irrigate otherwise nothing other than scrub would grow!

–          There is little to no local consumption of wine and most of it is exported. This is very different than most places which end up having some of the best stuff consumed locally!

–          From a white point of view 53% are Sauv Blanc and 15% are Chards

–          From a red point of view 12% Pinot Noir, 6% Merlot, 1.5% Cab Sauv

–          Did you know Pinot Noirs turn from green to red in about 3 days! And the grape is very vulnerable to bad conditions. This is often called the bad boy of grapes and is very temperamental.

–          Gewurztraminer is a difficult grape to grow and some years will yield little to no grapes at all!

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ESTAMPA GOLD ASSEMBLAGE 2004

Posted on December 8, 2008 by John Galea

This truely is a kitchen sink blend as the description refers to it. Heavy blends are nothing new, France does it, Canada does, Austalia does it lots of places do it. This one is an odd blend at best. 53% Carmenere, 30% Cab Sauv, 14% Cab Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. On the palette the dominant taste is Cab Franc. Close your eyes, don’t read the label and what you have here is a smooth Cab Franc. Bizarre given the blend. Also missing is much Oak. Surprising given that the wine is aged 14 months in Oak. So all in all the wine is good if put in the proper presepective. That being, don’t read the label 🙂

ESTAMPA GOLD ASSEMBLAGE 2004 Colchagua Valley Estate Bottled The Estampa philosophy is based on achieving the perfect blend. They make no single varietal wines and the Gold Assemblage is their top tier. This wine is 53% Carménere 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Enjoy with rich pasta dishes. 47522 $18.95
Featured 12/6/2008 Check LCBO Stock

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ARGIOLAS COSTERA 2006

Posted on December 7, 2008 by John Galea

Every now and then you come across a wine that makes you go, wow I so need to go out and buy a case of it. This wine would not be that for me 🙂 I must say the dominant tastes in this wine were not pleasant. This was not an aweful wine by any means, but not enjoyable. The flavor that came out the strongest is a strong smokey taste like cigar. Funny how I have read a descrition that included a cigar taste and so could not imagine it. I can now. And it was not pleasant. Even with breathing this wine was not something I enjoyed at all. If I had more than one of these, I would have taken it back. Which would be the first in a while … I paired this with Roast Rabbit which was also likely a bad choice. I suspect rabbit would go better with a white wine, but it’s my first time for making rabbit on my own so I can be forgiven for my transgression …

ARGIOLAS COSTERA  2006
DOC Cannonau di Sardegna  

“Argiolas is a reference-point producer of Sardinian whites, reds and dessert wines.” (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, May 2008)
TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Costera Isola dei Nuraghi (100% Cannonau) is another knock-out effort from Argiolas. It reveals masses of super-ripe fruit bacon fat and licorice flavors. Today the fruit remains enshrouded in a wall of tannins so a year or two of further bottle age is called for, but this is a magnificent wine especially at this level. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2014. 
Score – 90. (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, May 2008) 
Check LCBO Stock      (XD)            750 mL    $20.95  

 

 

 

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CHÂTEAU DUCLA 2005

Posted on December 7, 2008 by John Galea

Had this one this weekend, another Bordeux. This one is not quite as complex. I would say has a medium finish. The wine is quite good and has some lovely flavors. I suspect this wine will improve with some additional aging. I found the wine had a bitterness (acidity) on the finish that easied with breathing. I would recommend decanting. Again try some of this on it’s own to appreciate all of the subtle nuances of the wine. Not as good as the chateau-la-couronne I last rambled on about …

 

CHÂTEAU DUCLA 2005 VINTAGES 162461 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.00 Wine, Red Wine, 11.7% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D Made in: Bordeaux, France By: Domaines Mau Release Date: Nov 8, 2008 Description Hidden away within Bordeaux are many little gems. While the Latours and the Margaux of the world get all the hype, wineries such as Château Ducla will, vintage after vintage, create fine wines that can satisfy on so many levels: cost, drinkability and a great match with food. Beppi Crosariol of The Globe & Mail called this 2005 a ‘light red Bordeaux worthy of roast beef or lamb.’ (November 28, 2007) Tasting Note Medium deep ruby colour leads to aromas of dried wild flowers, plum, earth and chocolate raisin. Dry with good fruit and exceptional fruit replays upfront balanced by fine tannins and a bit of acid crispness on the mid-palate. A great value from the superb 2005 vintage in a drink-now style. It will also reward 2-3 years in a cellar. (VINTAGES panel, Sept. 2008)
Featured 11/8/2008 Check LCBO Stock

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CHÂTEAU LA COURONNE 2005

Posted on December 2, 2008 by John Galea

I’ve not had a lot of Bordeux’s before so this is a new area for me to explore. I expect a certain complexity from a $29.95 bottle of wine and this one did not disappoint! There’s lots going on at different levels. There plenty of up front fruit, well balanced Oak, great mid palette flavor and a long finish. This wine needs a bit of breathing (say 1/2 hour, but not much more) and this will improve nicely with age although it is very approachable right now. To best appreciate all the layers of this wine try it on it’s own without food. You will appreciate the subtle long finish much better without food. It pairs well with food as well, I’m just saying you will miss some subtleties. If you’ve got a special occasion this would be an excellent choice. Like say a Monday. Did you know they only come once a week? Who knew 🙂 Brighten your next Monday!!

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CHÂTEAU LA COURONNE 2005
AC St-Émilion
(Mähler-Besse)

TASTING NOTE: Crushed blackberry notes, with hints of dark chocolate and mineral, follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a long finish of fruit and vanilla. There’s very bright acidity in this. Still needs to come together in the bottle. Best after 2012. Score – 90. (James Suckling, winespectator.com, Web Only, 2008)
606640 (XD) 750 mL $29.95

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Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Posted on December 1, 2008 by John Galea

I tried this one last week. The description from Winecurrent.com is pretty accurate. The Bouquet is spot on a classic New Zealand Sauv Blanc. On the pallatte the wine has terrif flavors although it has some slight “greenness” and acidity on the finish. For the price this wine is a bargain. This is not a Kim Crawford (which I consider the benchmark Sauv Blanc) but neither is the price, this one is half!

I recommend you grab a few of these for sure.

Caliterra Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Casablanca $10.95 (Check LCBO stock )
Close your eyes and this might be a high-quality SB from Marlborough delivering aromas of nettles, gooseberry and grassy notes. The flavours attack the palate with gusto; there’s ripe sweet tropical fruit—pineapple, melon and mango—that’s deftly balanced with a steady stream of bracing citrus acidity. This single-vineyard gem finishes racy and ready to be served alongside salt and pepper calamari rings or spicy prawn kebabs. This is very good value, indeed. (VH) winecurrent.com

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De Loach Vineyards Zinfandel 2006

Posted on November 28, 2008 by John Galea

For the price this is a very good Zinf. Quite a bargain. This is an absolutely middle of the road Zinf. It has a bit of everything going on. It has the jammyness that comes from the Petite Syrah, a bit of complexity, a nice bit of oak (but well under control) and a medium finish. I highly recommend this one if you like Zinfs. Little to not like!

De Loach Vineyards Zinfandel 2006
California $15.95 (Check LCBO stock )
The abundant and delectable aromas and flavours include sweet black raspberry compote, black currant jam and cassis. It’s full flavoured, fully textured and weighty. The tannin adds structure while the balance is maintained through a healthy dollop of Montmorency cherry flavour on the lingering finish. This is a great food wine with spicy pasta arrabbiata a perfect pairing. (VH) Winecurrent.com 4.5/5

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2004 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Posted on November 26, 2008 by CanadianWineGuy

Long time since I reviewed a wine, not that we have not drank any, it has simply been hectic these past few months. Between travel, renovations and work it seems by the time nightime rolls around sleep and attention to Mrs. CWG takes precedence over telling people about what lovely wine we had that night.

What better way to start then this brilliant Châteauneuf-du-Pape. I am not sure when I picked this beauty up in 2007 but it was after reading the reviews on this from a few sources. Basically the reviews all said the same thing, a great wine from a good vintage. Like most better wines from this southern Rhône region it had a good level of complexity without being overwhelming. Solid fruit on the nose with a bit of blackberry and strawberry. The palate started with berries (strawberry and black cherry) and ended with more of a raisiny prune-like finish. Without a doubt it is ready to drink now and I cannot see it changing drastically with cellaring.

I am very glad that we bought two as this is one of those wines, at $45 (lcbo) is well priced. It will compliment most meals as the wines medium body is light enough for a more delicate meal but still complex and tasty enough for some a bit meatier. An excellent price/value wine for sure. I give this a definitive 90!

Mrs. CWG thinks “I could have one of these every night”

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LA POSTA ANGEL PAULUCCI VINEYARD MALBEC 2006

Posted on November 26, 2008 by John Galea

This is more of a fruit forward Malbec with some classic black current and cassis flavor. Medium finish with some bitterness. A little breathing is a good thing. Not a bad Malbec. This was part of the Nov 8th release.
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LA POSTA ANGEL PAULUCCI VINEYARD MALBEC 2006
VINTAGES 75515 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 15.95
Wine, Red Wine,
13.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : D

Made in: Argentina, Argentina
By: Puerto Ancona S.A.

Release Date: Nov 8, 2008

Tasting Note
The 2006 Malbec ‘Paulucci Vineyard’ was aged for 10 months in 100% French oak, 20% new. Purple-colored, it offers a lovely bouquet of violets, smoke, black cherry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied and elegant, it has excellent depth, a smooth texture, and excellent balance. It will evolve for 2-3 years but can be enjoyed now. Score – 90. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2007)

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STERLING VINTNER’S MERLOT review

Posted on November 24, 2008 by John Galea

Check stock

Checked out this one on the weekend that we had at the Food and Wine show. The wine is a varietal merlot on the mid palette, with a hint of pepperyness (more reminiscent of a Shiraz) and a slight bitterness when tasted out of the bottle with a bit of creamyness to the texture. After a bit of breathing the pepper goes away and the bitterness softens. It pairs well with food but the bitterness on the finish continues. Not one of my favorites merlots, but quite good none the less. With so many other Merlots bearing no resemblence to what a merlot ought to taste like it’s not bad at all. Their description says integrated tannins which I don’t agree with …

 

STERLING VINTNER’S MERLOT 
LCBO 622837 | 750 mL bottle  

Price: $ 16.05 
Wine, Red Wine, 
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1

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

Tasting Note
Deep ruby colour; ripe blackberry fruit aromas; medium-full bodied with supple fruit and integrated tannins. Well balanced. Ample fruit throughout
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Review from the Gourmet Wine and Food show

Posted on November 21, 2008 by John Galea

I went to the Gourmet Food and Wine Show last night which is running for the rest of the weekend. As in the past this is a great event. Plenty of different wines to tastes, a little bit of beer and a little bit of food. I recommend you eat before you go, and I recommend you plan to take public transit. This is a pay as you go event with the cost of tastings usually being related to the cost of the wine. We went through about $30 each worth of tasting tickets. Last night was the VIP event and the crowds were quite reasonable. Not all tables have tasting cards so make sure you take something along to write on and with. I spent way too much time in the French booth. If they were pouring anything stellar, I missed it  Not for lack of looking I must add …

Here are a list of the wines that stuck out for me:

A lovely Merlot all though not totally varietal.
BERINGER FOUNDERS ESTATE MERLOT
LCBO 534255 | 750 mL bottle Check Stock

Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Tasting Note
Ruby garnet colour; red berry aromas with light oak notes; dry, medium-bodied palate with fine tannins on the finish

A lovely slightly buttery classic California Chard. Yummy.
BERINGER FOUNDERS ESTATE CHARDONNAY
LCBO 534230 | 750 mL bottle Check Stock

Price: $ 18.95
Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Tasting Note
Bright gold colour; spicy, toasty vanilla and tropical notes on the nose; full-bodied on the palate with forward apple citrus fruit and vanilla notes; well-balanced with a long finish.

A lovely Classic Californian Cab Sauv! A little on the price side. I am starting to sound like a sales person for Beringer!
BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON (V) Check stock
VINTAGES 352583 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 36.95
Limited Time Offer
Was: $ 39.95 Now: $ 36.95 Save: $ 3.00 Until Nov 30, 2008

Wine, Red Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Release Date: Oct 11, 2008

Description
Grown in Sonoma County’s Knights Valley appellation, the concentrated grapes have produced sensual aromas of black plum purée, cocoa, blackcurrant, sweet cherry and cedar. Silky textured, the palate is loaded with sweet fruit and toasted oak flavours that are nicely offset by a lively acidity. It is medium full-bodied with a long, fruity and firm finish. An excellent companion to roasted leg of lamb with roasted figs or beef carpaccio.

This one is from just outside Prince Edward County. It is an inexpensive wine with a slightly tart flavour. I quite enjoyed it. A bargain for the price!
OAK HEIGHTS COVERT HILL WHITE VQA>
LCBO 104885 | 750 mL bottle Check stock

Price: $ 9.95
Wine, 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Oak Heights Estate Winery

This one was a lovely crisp very Pinot Grigio like wine for my tastes. For the price it is a bargain. It is apparently the number one Spanish White in Ontario.
RENE BARBIER CLASSIC WHITE Check stock
LCBO 332767 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 9.75
Wine, White Wine, 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1

Made in: Penedes, Spain By: Rene Barbier S.A.

Tasting Note
Pale straw yellow with a green tin; floral with citrus aroma; light body, crisp acidity, medium length finish, good quality wine

I don’t think this is the exact wine we tasted, but it was one of our favourites of the evening. This one is the reserve, the one we tasted was not. A lovely wine:
FALCOARIA RESERVA 2005
VINTAGES 80390 | 750 mL bottle Check stock

Price: $ 23.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.6% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Ribatejo, Portugal By: Casal Branco

Release Date: Sep 27, 2008

Tasting Note
Soft and rich, this is powerful stuff. The texture is velvety smooth, the dark tannins very much second fiddle to the superripe fruit. Raisins and red fruits bring in some acidity, but even this fruit flavor is almost sweet in its richness. Drink now. Score – 89. (Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, April 1, 2008)

This one was also good but frankly the one above was better, more complex, longer finish.
ESPORÃO RESERVE RED (V) Check stock
VINTAGES 606590 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 24.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Alentejo, Portugal By: Finagra

Release Date: Oct 11, 2008

Description
Since 1973 Herdade do Esporão has made several major investments in its winery and vineyards to become one of the the most infuential estates in the region. Made from a blend of Aragonês (a.k.a. Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and Trincadeira, this dense, fruity, and charmingly rustic red is a great companion to any stewed, braised or roasted red meat dishes.

My most expensive wine of the evening was a Franco Conterno 2004 Barolo that was lovely. Deep, rich, classic Barolo. A lovely wine for $54.95. I didn’t get an LCBO number and can’t find it.

This one was lovely, but I wouldn’t pay the price:
SIGALAS SANTORINI 2006 Check stock
VINTAGES 74781 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 21.95
Wine, White Wine,
14.4% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Is. Of Santorini, Greece
Release Date: Oct 11, 2008

Tasting Note
Paris Sigalas’s wines could be compared to Corton for their intensity and structure, and, like great Corton, need lots of air. Give this several hours in a decanter and it begins to reveal hints of orange and chamomile, gentle notes on a powerful base of chalky minerality. If you open it now, pair it with rich foods, like monkfish with brown butter; better yet, put it in the cellar for a decade. Score – 91. (www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com, Aug. 2007)

Karen quite liked this one.
STERLING VINTNER’S MERLOT
LCBO 622837 | 750 mL bottle Check stock

Price: $ 16.05
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

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

Tasting Note
Deep ruby colour; ripe blackberry fruit aromas; medium-full bodied with supple fruit and integrated tannins. Well balanced. Ample fruit throughout

For the price this one was quite good, but don’t expect it to taste like a Merlot:
CATALANS RAFALE MERLOT VDP Check stock
LCBO 526897 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 8.90
Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Roussillon, France By: Vignerons Catalans

Tasting Note
Deep ruby; black berries, sweet red peppers and spice aromas; red berry flavours, soft tannins, long finish

This one is featured this month. Parker gave it a 91, I would say more like an 89 but it was good. Had more of a fruit forward slightly raisin favor.
JUAN GIL MONASTRELL 2006 Check stock
VINTAGES 13656 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 16.95
Wine, Red Wine,
14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Jumilla, Spain By: Hijos De Juan Gil

Release Date: Nov 22, 2008

Tasting Note
The 2006 Juan Gil is also 100% Monastrell but aged for 12 months in French and American oak. It was sourced from an estate vineyard with 45 years of age. This purple-colored wine offers superb aromatics of wood smoke, damp earth, violets, and blueberry pie. Layered, succulent, and long, it will evolve for another 2-3 years and be at its best from 2010 to 2018. Score – 91. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Aug. 2008)

That’s about it for today!

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Blue Cheese Risotto Recipe

Posted on November 20, 2008 by CanadianWineGuy

Here is a nice risotto recipe that pairs well with burgundy style red or a nice dry chardonnay. The key to any risotto is really patience and attention to the moisture levels as you add the stock.

Ingredients (will keep things imperial on this):

2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup of butter (unsalted)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped fine)
3 shallots (chopped fine)
1 cup of white wine (chardonnay or sauvignon blanc)
5 cups of chicken stock
6-8 slices of thick bacon, cooked and shredded
4 oz of blue cheese (crumbled)
1/4 cup of walnuts (roasted and chopped)
1/2 cup of spinach leaves
1.5 cups of Carnaroli or Arborio rice
*optional* cherry tomatoes if in season, halved

Heat up the chicken stock and put aside. In a large saucepan combine butter and oil over medium heat. Once hot, add garlic and shallots and cook until the shallots are near translucent. Add the rice and mix well with shallots and oils, when mixed well add wine. At this point stirring consistently is a must, nice consistent stirs will even out the moisture distribution and make the risotto nice and creamy. As the liquid is absorbed start adding the hot stock about a half cup at a time, do this consistently until all but the last half cup of stock is absorbed. As you put in the last half a cup of chicken stock and it is half absorbed add in the spinach, blue cheese, bacon and walnuts (and cherry tomatoes if you have decided on adding them) mixing them in well. Serve immediately.

Blue Cheese Risotto near the serving point!

Blue Cheese Risotto near the serving point!

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Gourmet Food and Wine show

Posted on November 19, 2008 by John Galea

It’s that time again, Gourmet Food and Wine show.

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KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2006

Posted on November 19, 2008 by John Galea

(John Galea) Just finished off one of these. Yummy. It is a classic slightly buttery Californian Chard. Not too over the top. I had this one with a lovely peice of Sea Bass with a Chocolate Brownie (one of my favorites) for dessert. It paired well with the dish. This was featured on the Oct 11th release. A little pricey but worth it!

 

KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2006
California  

TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay is certainly one of the best Chardonnays for the money. This wine, which all comes from coastal vineyards owned by Jackson, is 90% barrel-fermented and put through 100% malolactic, which is remarkable given the quantity of wine made … Crisp orange marmalade and lemon oil notes as well as some tropical fruits always characterize this wine, which seems to show very little evidence of oak, with gorgeously lush fruit, and zesty acidity in a fresh, lively style. It’s a remarkable value … Drink 2007-2008. Score – 89. (Robert Parker Jr.,www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2007) 

  http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController?&ITEM_NUMBER=369686   (D)            750 mL    $19.95

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CAVE SPRING CELLARS ESTATE CABERNET FRANC 2005

Posted on November 19, 2008 by John Galea

I (John Galea) tried this wine the other night. Out of the bottle without breathing it was a big wine, but the tannins are under control. This wine is approachable now with lots of deep layers and flavors. There was no bitterness at all even out of the bottle. It will benefit from some additional aging/breathing. A great first attempt by Cave Springs who are doing wonderful things. I love their Reisling and thoroughly enjoyed my time in their tasting room that included a trip down to the cellar and a free seminar! A little pricey but heh, Niagara ain’t a cheap place to make wine. 

CAVE SPRING CELLARS ESTATE CABERNET FRANC 2005 
VINTAGES 72751 | 750 mL bottle   

Price: $ 29.95 
Wine, Red Wine, 
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD
This is a VQA wine

Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Cave Spring Cellars Ltd

Release Date: Nov 8, 2008 

Tasting Note
Cave Spring’s first cabernet franc joins the growing number of Niagara cab francs with elegance, nuance and lovely raspberry ripeness, a welcome evolution from the region’s tendency to produce overly green, alcoholic and oaked examples. Cellar until 2010, then enjoy with herbed roast poultry or pork. Score – 89. (David Lawrason, www.torontolife.com, 2007)
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Trius Dry Reisling 2007

Posted on November 19, 2008 by John Galea

I enjoyed the Trius Dry Reisling  2007 at Fazooli’s before the Society for American wine Zin in the city event. It was a lovely crisp Resiling with a lovely bit of complexity. A bargain for $13.95. It went well with a Alfredo Linguine with Seafood.

I will be sending out a detailed review of the Zin event which was awesome to my distribution list. For those of you that don’t know I have a biweekly wine distribution list of the latest Vintage releases. Let me know if you would like to be added to the list: Mail me John Galea

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Contributor on the way

Posted on November 18, 2008 by CanadianWineGuy

Just a fast note to say that CWG will get a new contributor to the site. John Galea will be adding his thoughts/views/tastings when he can.

Welcome aboards John!

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