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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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), [...]

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 [...]