CHATEAU PECH-REDON L’EPERVIER 2004

Posted on October 9, 2009 by John Galea

I hate to say this, but I actually agree with Parker again! Who knew. This wine is deep in color. exceptionally mild on the nose. But that’s where the mild stops. On the mid pallet are some lovely fruit flavors. A beautiful wine with lots of herbaceous notes. On the finish this wine is on the longer side of medium with quite a dry pucker on the mouth and tongue. This is a well done wine! It is not as complex for me as some but excellent none the less. And for the price it’s a good one. I would give it a 90 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
CHATEAU PECH-REDON L’EPERVIER 2004 AC Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape TASTING NOTE: Pech Redon’s 2004 Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape L’Epervier represents a blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah with 20% Carignan. A lovely nose of kirsch-macerated dried cherries black currants and walnuts leads to ripe yet beautifully-delineated and not at all superficially sweet black fruits wreathed with herbs tinged with nut oils and a pungent sweet note like buckwheat honey and underlain by chalk. Here is a good example of small barrels used to frame the fruit a slight firmness of tannin not being at all obtrusive. An outstanding value like its stable mate I would suggest holding this impeccably-balanced cuvee for another several years. Score – 90. (David Schildknecht www.erobertparker.com Oct. 2007) 129965 $19.95 Featured 9/12/2009

129965

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Chilean wine event

Posted on October 7, 2009 by John Galea

I attended the Chilean wine event in the distillery district on Toronto. This is my first time to the press event. I have been to the public event and found it over crowded to the point of fighting to get near the wines. The press event was much more manageable for me.

The event has a lot more general list wines in comparison to other events. This means there are a lot more simple wines which is a different but not bad thing. A lot more wines are below the $15 mark and only a few above $40. This sets the stage for expectations.

Event Summary

I started the event by focusing on whites. I don’t have a lot of experience with whites from Chile so this was a great opportunity. I discovered Chile make some lovely rich vibrant Sauvignon Blancs for very reasonable prices. I only found a few Chardonnays that were to my tastes. From a red point of view Chile have some Shirazs but they are much more a syrah than a Shiraz with little to no pepper on the finish. They really need to embrace the syrah. Chile also make a number of Cabernet Sauvignons. Their cabs are quite different than say a Napa cab and don’t have that distinctive deep cassis cherry flavor that Napa is famous for. There are lots of smooth well balanced cabs to enjoy. Chile is well known for there Carmenere. This is a grape well known to Chile and generally is a well balanced fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon like grape. I didn’t find one Merlot that I thought was good. There was food at the event but to be honest I was still full from lunch so I didn’t try any of it.

The event is fast and furious and it’s not possible to taste everything (at least not for me) and the reviews end up being mini reviews. I ended up tasting 44 wines. Some wines I have chosen would be be worthy of a follow up in which case I’d like to get a bottle and do a more thorough tasting.

Wines that stood out that are in the LCBO

Here are the wines that stood out for me that are currently available in the LCBO (that I could find listings for):
Cono Sur Viognier 2008 $9.95
– this was the biggest longest wine of the evening. For the price this wine is a bargain. Jump out and grab some of this and try it for yourself
– quite tart
– totally unexpected for a Viognier
– slightly vinegary on the finish
– worthy of a more detailed review

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

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

Errazuriz Estate Sauv Blanc 2008 $11.90
– very New Zealand like grassy smell and flavor
– reminded me a lot of Kim Carawford at half the price!
– nice fruit med length
– best of show sauv blanc!
Full review

From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 263574 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.40
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 11.90 Now: $ 10.40 Save: $ 1.50 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A.

Tasting Note
Pale straw in colour, this medium bodied white has fresh grassy aromas, with lots of citrus and green apple, the citrus carries through on the palate and the finish is dry and refreshing
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review

Errazuriz Max Reserva Shiraz 2007 $17.95
– mild on the nose
– no pepper more of a syrah than a shiraz. Some cab flavors
– quite dry
– worth a more detailed review
From the LCBO web site:
ERRAZURIZ MAX RESERVE SHIRAZ LCBO 614750 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.85
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Errazuriz S.A.

Tasting Note
Dark purple in colour; aromas of spice, wood & cigar; full-bodied with flavours of black cherry & spice; tannic finish.
Check LCBO stock

Tarapaca Sauv Blanc 2009 $10.99
– mild light easy drinking not bad at all for the price
From the LCBO web site:
VINA TARAPACA SAUVIGNON BLANC LCBO 414185 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 9.15
Limited Time Offer Was: $ 9.90 Now: $ 9.15 Save: $ 0.75 Until Nov 8, 2009
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tarapaca Ex Zavala

Tasting Note
Light yellow straw colour; aromas and flavours of gooseberry, herbs and green apples; dry, light- to medium-bodied with softer acidity; with a soft finish
Check LCBO stock
More detailed review

Santa Carolina Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009 $10.95
– mild bouquet
– slightly tart, nice finish worth a longer look especially based on the price
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA SAUV BLANC RSV LCBO 337535 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; fresh, green apple aromas with a hint of lime zest; dry, medium bodied with a lemony palate.
Check LCBO Stock
More detailed review

Santa Carolina Reserva Chardonnay 2008 $10.95
– med fruit slightly buttery and smooth, for the price this is well worth another look!
More detailed review of this wine
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA CAROLINA CHARDONNAY RSV LCBO 304022 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.85
Wine, White Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Santa Carolina

Tasting Note
Pale straw colour; light toasty notes with peach and apple fruit; medium-bodied with toasty, tropical fruit flavours
Check LCBO stock

Valdi Vieso Reserva Chardonnay $17.95
– lovely smooth buttery california style chard. Quite good. Well worth another look!
– second best chard of the evening (there single vineyard was even more intense but not available)
From the LCBO web site:
VALDIVIESO RESERVA CHARDONNAY 2006 VINTAGES 981621 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.25
Wine, White Wine, 14.1% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Valdivieso S.A. Release Date: Dec 6, 2008

Description
A veritable fruit salad of flavours and aromas, this Chardonnay is packed with juicy pear, nectarine, banana and peach. Vibrant and inviting, it provides a flavourful counterpoint to chicken in cream-based sauces.
Check LCBO stock

Montgras Sauv Blanc Reserva 2008 $11.95
– mild bouquet
– nice fruit, lighter on the finish
From the LCBO web site:
MONTGRAS SAUVIGNON BLANC RESERVA LCBO 58362 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 11.95
Wine, Still Table Wine, White Still Table Wine 14.2% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Montgras

Tasting Note
Pale lemon yellow colour with hints of green; intense fresh scents of citrus, gooseberry, and cut grass; light bodied, racy acidity, displaying flavours of lemon zest, grass, and green apple.
Check LCBO stock
More detailed review

Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2008 $10.95
– varietal colors, bouquet and flavors
– light on the finish typical of a pinot
– bargain for the price!
From the LCBO web site:
CONO SUR PINOT NOIR LCBO 341602 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 10.95
Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : 1
Made in: Chile, Chile By: Vina Tocornal

Tasting Note
Ruby red colour; cherries, earth and berries with a touch of spice in both aroma and flavour; dry, light to medium-body, quite lively on the palate, with mild tannin and a rounded fruity finish.
Check LCBO stock

Other wines tasted

Anakena Single Vineyard Sauv Blanc 2008 $14.95 (not in the LCBO for now)
– smooth easy drinking varietal sauv blanc

Anakena Single Vineyard Carmenere 2007 $14.95
– quite nice not as fruit forward as some
– more cab like flavors
– worthy of a more detailed tasting when it comes out
– not available in LCBO for now

Anakena Single Vineyard Viognier $14.95
– quite good, tasty
– suppose to be coming out in January
– not available in LCBO for now

Anakena Single Vineyard Cab Sauv $14.95
– non descript light in flavor
– not available in LCBO for now

Carta Vieja G7 Reserva Carmenere 2008 $14.95
– not bad slightly tart on the finish
– some cab like fruit
– slightly oaky
– not available in LCBO for now

Carta Vieja G7 Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2007 $17.95
– this is a lovely California style chard. Slightly buttery, lovely chard bouquet.
– third best chard of the show!
– not available in LCBO for now

Vina Chocalan Malvilla Chardonnnay 2008 $23.45
– more Sauv blanc than chard, slightly tart not a great chard for the money
– suppose to be LCBO number 145524 but I could not find it

Concha Y Toro Trio 2008 Chard/Pinot Grigo/Pinot Blanc Blend $12.95
– got a 90 from Robert Parker
– slightly tart, more chablis in style than a california style
– suppose to be released in Feb

Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay $17.95
– Nov 7th release
– slight tart more chablis in style, no butteryness
– no secondary fermentation
– lots of fruit in the flavors!

Cono Sur Merlot 2008 $9.95
– a mild wine with some varietal Merlot flavors
– some mild mid pallet fruit flavors
Check LCBO stock

Cono Sur Organic Cab Sauv/Carmenere 2008 $13.95
– not available at the LCBO
– the carmenere was dominant in the flavors
– fruit forward, slightly sweet

Cousino Macul Sauvignon Gris 2008
– not available in the LCBO
– this is not a blend but a unique grape
– green grassy smell
– wood, light on the fruit

Cousino Macul Don Matias Sauv Blanc $12.95
– not available in the LCBO
– smooth light slightly fruity
– varietal bouquet

Errazuriz Max Reserva Cab Sauv 2007
– smooth lighter on the finish slightly dry not a bad Chilean cab
Check LCBO stock

Estampa Reserve Carmenere/Cab Sauv/Cab Franc $15.95
– not in the LCBO
– totally non descript with a blend like this I was expecting a whole lot more. A disappointment

Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Shiraz 2007 $16.95
– more of a syrah than a shiraz, nice and smooth no pepper quite reasonable
– not in the LCBO

Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva Camenere 2007 $16.95
– smooth non descript nothing special
– not in the LCBO

Luis Felipe Edwards Rosa Blanca Cab Sauv 2007 $13.95
– smooth easy drinking cab, lighter side
– not in the LCBO

Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Malbec 2008 $12.95
– 14% alcohol which is quite noticeable
– lots of dried fruit flavors
– totally nice for the price
– not in the LCBO

Vina Maipo Gran Devocion Carmerere/Syrah 2008 $19.95
– not in the LCBO
– smooth easy drinking wine

Vina Maipo Reserva Merlot 2008 $13.95
– not at all varietal Merlot
– smooth easy drinking wine
Check LCBO Stock

Montgras Intriga Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $19.95
– yummy smooth deep cab, deep on the finish
– supposedly LCBO number 57901 but I couldn’t find it

Nativa Gran Reserva Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
– Dec 5th release LCBO number 975359
– slightly bitter mild cab

Nativa Cabo de Hornos Cab/Syrah/Malbec $80
– smooth easy drinking wine but not worth the price

Nativa San Pedro 1865 Cab Sauv 2007 $24.99
– lovely and smooth worth another look, unfortunately not in the LCBO

Tarapaca Reserva Sauv Blanc 2009 $19.99
– not a whole lot better than the non reserve, not worth the extra money
– not in the LCBO

Santa Rita Medalla Real Chardonnay 2007 $18.95
– lighly oaked mild in flavor more of a chablis style
Check LCBO stock

Santa Rita Casa Real Cab Sauv 2005 $59.95
– smooth easy drinking but so not worth the money for my tastes
– not in the LCBO

Sena Arboleda Merlot 2007 $18.95
– not varietal non descript … yawn

Valdi Vieso Reserva Cab Sauv 2006 $17.95
– deep medium fruit
– dry not sweet at all, slightly bitter
Check LCBO stock

Valdi Vieso Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 $22.60
– even better than the one above, quite deep rich chard very yummy for the price. Unfortunately not in the LCBO
– best in show Chard

Vina Ventisquero Reserva Shiraz 2008 $13.95
– sweeter fruit forward wine not great

Vina Ventisquero Queulat Syrah 2007 $18.99
– lovely deep and rich syrah, shame it’s not in the LCBO

Vina Tabali Reserva Syrah 2007 $16.95
– slightly bitter not all that smooth definitely one of the more edgey syrah’s of the evening (but not in a good way)
Check LCBO stock

Vina Terra Noble Gran Reserve Carmere $16.95
– smooth easy drinking not fruit forward Carmenere
Check LCBO Stock

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Eight wine bar take two

Posted on October 7, 2009 by John Galea

We stopped on by Eight wine bar again. Here’s my review from the first time. They feature 20 wines by the glass every Friday for $3 for a 3 ounce tasting their recommended size.

Last time around we were totally spoiled by Jason who took lots of time to talk to us, discuss the wines and generally show a passion for what he/they were doing.

This time around, unfortunately, the restaurant was booked for a large birthday party and we were relegated to the bar area as well as rushed out. I had even called to check if they were still doing the wine tastings and was told they were with no mention of the large party. I was not impressed. It’s good this was the second time, because if this was the first there would not have been a second 🙂

We arrived around 5:30 or so and already they were down to about 10 wines and they went fast. When one bottle is drank dry they stop serving it. We ate dinner there and again the food was alright but nothing amazing, maybe 2.5/5 stars for me.

Being relegated to the bar meant we had only the bartender to serve us. And while she was pleasant enough, she was by no means chatty and seemed to have little wine knowledge. It seems Jason is the only one there (at least the two times we have been) that has in depth knowledge of the wines. A shame. I like the idea of what they are doing.

In this venue I took some brief notes as well as pics of the bottles. The place is dark and the iPhone camera sucks so the pics are only so so, but then your not here to look at pictures are you. So consider these mini reviews of the wines. Most are not in the LCBO unfortunately.

IMG_0222s
Terre di chieti Pinot grigio 2007
Slightly bitter finish, some oak flavor 87
might be this one, can’t be sure

IMG_0220s
Pescaja
Strong apple flavor, and reasonably long not bad at all! 88. Not in the LCBO unfortunately. I would consider this the second best wine of the evening.
Pescaja

Norman hardie Pinot noir
We tasted this one at the winery in our visit and really didn’t like it. This time we got some mild dill on mid pallet, reasonable finish 88. It tasted much better this time, perhaps at the winery it was too young. Still wouldn’t be jumping out to grab one. Not in the LCBO.

IMG_0223s
7deadly zin 2007 Check LCBO stock $24.95
Lovely varietal zin not Jammy at all. Quite nice 89

IMG_0225s
Mission Hill Merlot 2006
Quite reasonable, varietal merlot with a slighlty bitter finish typical of Okanagan finish 89. Not in the LCBO.

IMG_0226s
Prospect winery Shiraz 2006
Really good, nice finish, only a little pepper. More of a syrah than a shiraz in style. There are even some cab flavors yum! 91 This was the pick of the litter for the evening. Not in the LCBO

IMG_0227s
2006 Flor garanacha old vines
Strong oak flavor, med fruit. Quite dry builds, 88. Not in the LCBO
More about the wine

IMG_0228s
Villa pilo 2006
Strong oak med finish some fruit 88
Sangiovese cab merlot blend
The winery

IMG_0230s
Mastroleo Negroamaro 2005
Strong Raisin, dried fruit flavor. 87 (not my tastes)

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SUMAC RIDGE BLACK SAGE VINEYARD MERLOT 2006

Posted on October 6, 2009 by John Galea

Ah Merlot, the wine vilified in Sideways ! With my issues with having preconceived definitions of what a Merlot ought to taste like it’s to wonder why I bother … Onto the wine. It’s quite dark in color with a mild merlot bouquet, some plums. On the mid pallet there are some mild merlot like flavors. Not a boisterous one by any stretch but they are there. On the finish the wine has some firm tannins but not overwhelming. The wine has a long finish and as it starts to build in the mouth to it’s final bow there are some bitter tastes consistent with a lot of Okanagan wines. I would not say the bitterness is terrible, but it is there. Breathing helped a little but not a lot. I am not convinced aging would help much but it might. All in all Okanagan wines and terroir often end up with some distinctive bold tastes and this one is no exception. Not a bad wine at all.

Update: On the second day the bitterness on the finish is largely gone, however, so is the distinctive Merlot flavors … Now it’s tasting more like a cab.

From the LCBO web site:
SUMAC RIDGE BLACK SAGE VINEYARD MERLOT 2006 VQA Okanagan Valley This supple Merlot comes from the Black Sage vineyard and shows why wines from this property are so desirable. Aged in a combo of French and American oak for 18 months this latest Merlot is brimming with ripe black fruit licorice smoke mocha and savoury herbs. Dry medium full-bodied with a round texture and enough tannins to balance the soft fruit flavours it should be enjoyed with grilled lamb chops or roasted pork tenderloin. 593053 $19.95 Featured 9/26/2009

Check LCBO stock

593053

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Marmorelle Bianco 2008

Posted on October 5, 2009 by John Galea

I had this wine at Terroni’s . As usual it is not available in the LCBO which is a shame. This is quite common with their wine list. I find restaurants do that so you have no idea how much you are being overcharged for a glass/bottle of wine 🙂 The wine is pale in color with a medium bouquet. The chard smells come through but not strong. The wine is a little sweet with some nice crispness to it. Medium in finish the wine is very food friendly. Easily an 89 or so. I quite enjoyed it as well as the restaurant.

write up on the wine

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MONTES LIMITED SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008

Posted on October 4, 2009 by John Galea

I have really come to enjoy Sauv Blancs. I think they are very food friendly, generally not sweet and reasonably complex/long for a white. A lot of countries make good Suav Blancs. New Zealand is well known for them but they are getting pricey. I don’t think I have had a lot of Chilean Sauv Blancs so this one caught my eye. The price seems reasonable and it got a good rating so I dove in. The wine is pale in color and on the nose is the typical citrus and grass smells one expects from a varietal Sauv Blanc, albeit a mild one. On the mid pallet there they are. All the typical flavors to match the smell. Lemon, grass, yum. On the finish the wine is on the milder side of medium, a little on the light side. Not aweful, just not as full as some. This is a wine that is well done. Alcohol and oaks are under control, and no bitterness. Not a bad wine at all. I would give it an 88-89.

From the LCBO Web site:
MONTES LIMITED SELECTION SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
VINTAGES 32060 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 14.95
Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: Chile, Chile By: Montes S.A.

Release Date: Sep 26, 2009

Description
‘Aurelio Montes remains one of Chile’s great innovators and quality leaders.’ (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, June 2009)
Tasting Note
The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Limited Selection is from cool-climate Leyda. Grass, fresh herbs, gooseberry, and grapefruit make up the enticing aromatics. With greater depth and concentration than its less expensive cousin, it is worth the extra premium in price. Score – 90. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, June 2009)

32060

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ST. FRANCIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

Posted on October 3, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped on by the Keg and thought I would try something different. The price on this one is stupid $14.95 for a 6 ounce glass. But I thought I would give it a whirl. I made a mistake and did not ask to have it brought out in advance so it would breath. I should of known better. The wine is deep crimson in color. Mild on the nose. On the mid pallet are some cherry/red fruit, cassis flavors consistent with a cab, but not as big as I would expect from a wine in this price range. On the finish the Oaks are out of whack (the description below says spicey oak and I can get that) and there is a bitter flavor that I also found on their Merlot. The wine may still be too young. Overall I was quite disappointed in this wine. The tannins are pretty big and if you can get past the bitterness there are some nice fruit flavors, but quite subdued (or overwhelmed). I wouldn’t order this one again. I would give it an 87-88.

From the LCBO Web site:
ST. FRANCIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 VINTAGES 671164 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 29.95
Wine, Red Wine, 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Kobrand Corporation

Release Date: Dec 6, 2008

Description
Established in 1971, St. Francis Winery is located in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. This rich, full-bodied Cab offers a parade of flavours, including blackcurrant, plum, blueberry and spicy oak, owing to the 20-23 months it spends in new American and French oak barrels. Try pairing it with a steak medium rare or rich, meat-sauce pasta dishes.

Check LCBO Stock

671164

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Long dog (Winery visit in Prince Edward County)

Posted on October 2, 2009 by John Galea

This write up is from our trip this summer to the Prince Edward County area. See the entire article at my Prince Edward County trip blog

For now Long Dog are not in the LCBO.

Long Dog Winery

2007 Pinot Gris
The wine was left in contact with the skins so has an almost rose color although the lighting was not great. Slightly tart crisp flavor with medium length. The wine has some almost chard like flavors. The gentleman behind the counter said he got peach off it, I didn’t 87 ish

2006 Bella chard $30
More of a French Chablis style than a Californian chard. Little earthy/foosty on the nose. Not a lot of fruit flavors. Also an 87

2007 Bella chard $34
Much longer than the 06. It was a better growing year according to the staff. Good minerality slightly chaulky, an 88 or so.

2007 Pinot noir/gamay Tumbling stone $22
This was the pick of the litter! A darker color with lots going on in the mid pallet and slightly peppery. If you focus you could pick out both the gamay and the Pinot. For the price a good wine with a medium finish. Some mild tannins but well under control. The fellow behind the counter did not think it would last more than a year. We bought 3 of these. 88 -89 or so

2006 Pinot noir $36
Classic light Pinot color, mild and light in flavor. Not a lot going on with slight bitterness on the finish, I would give it an 87.

2007 Pinot noir $50
Much darker in color than the 2006 with more going on in the nose. A bigger larger wine with classic Pinot flavors. This was apparently one of their best growing seasons. A good wine but too expensive for me. 89 – 90 May improve as well.

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BALTHASAR RESS RIESLING KABINETT 2007 QmP

Posted on October 1, 2009 by John Galea

A while back I did a Riesling event in my home where we compared some well aged Rieslings (1986 was the oldest!) and it was a lot of fun. What I learned back then is that Canada make some lovely Rieslings (two my Favs are the Cave Springs Estate Bottled Riesling and the Stratus Wildass Riesling) and from a German point of view I prefer Kabinett’s. In case your not aware German Wine legislation have two quality levels QBA (Lowest quality) and QMP highest class. Chaptalization not allowed. German wines vary significantly year to year so vintage charts come in handy.

There are 6 levels of ripeness for German wines: Kabinett (least ripe), Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, trockenbeerenauslese (made only in exceptional years) and eiswein (ice wine). As you go up the scale they become sweeter and more syrupy. For me I prefer Kabinetts. These notes and more can be found on my Wine bible Summary.

This wine is quite pale in color as expected of a Riesling. On the nose there are typical varietal Riesling flavors. On the mid pallet this wine is sweeter than I would expect from a Kabinett. The LCBO says it is MD (medium dry) so I guess I should have expected it. This wine is closer to the bottom end of a Spatlese for my tastes. On the finish the wine is on the lighter side of medium. I would give it an 88 or so. Not bad at all. But for the money you could support local wineries like Cave Springs!

From the LCBO web site:
BALTHASAR RESS RIESLING KABINETT 2007 QmP Hattenheimer Schutzenhaus Estate Btld. Balthasar Ress is blessed with access to some of the finest vineyards in the Rheingau like the Schutzenhaus vineyard near the village of Hattenheim. The 2007 vintage is yet another dynamic flavourful beautifully balanced Riesling that is made with laser beam precision. A fantastic value enjoy this wine with a variety of seafoods asparagus cloved ham vegetarian curries or just chill and sip on its own. 735241 $18.95

Check LCBO Stock

735241

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Tin Roof Chardonnay

Posted on September 30, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped by Rodney’s Oyster Bar for the first time and chose this wine. I am new to Oysters and was overwhelmed by the number of different types of Oysters. Wow, who knew. I was really hoping for a nice Sauv Blanc because I thought it would go better with the Oysters but chose this one instead. The bartender described this well and knew the wine. Always helpful. This wine is lighter in color. No where near as dark as some chards. Bouquet is also a little on the milder side. On the mid pallet there are some buttery flavors but not overwhelming at all. The wine is on the lighter side of medium for finish with oaks/alcohol well under control. There’s a bit of sweetness and some lovely fruit. Overall a nice wine, easily an 88 or so. It went ok with the Oysters but I still think a Sauv Blanc or Riesling would have been better. Unfortunately not in the LCBO, and it is quite inexpensive. Unfortunately I did not take notice of the year.

Tin Roof Chardonnay

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RODNEY STRONG KNOTTY VINES ZINFANDEL 2006

Posted on September 29, 2009 by John Galea

I last reviewed the 2005 release of this wine and quite enjoyed it. The 2006 vintage is yet another hit. Very consistent. Last time I wish I had bought more and it kept well so I have bought a few more for the cellar this time! The wine is dark in color, and mild on the nose. The wine has some lovely fruit flavors more like a cab, some cherry, some casssis flavors. The wine has a lovely dry finish and is medium in length. Overall this is a well structured wine with alcohol and oak well under control. With the tannins present this should age well too. I could not find anything out about the blend used here. There is absoloutley no jammyness so I would suspect there is little to no petite sirah. This might even be 100% Zinf although that is rare in California. The description on the web site indicates there are old vines which would contribute to the lovely complex flavors present in this wine. I would give this an easy 90-91ish. Price is creeping up a bit from $24.95.

From the LCBO web site:
RODNEY STRONG KNOTTY VINES ZINFANDEL 2006 VINTAGES 363358 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 26.95 Wine, Red Wine, 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: Rodney Strong Vineyards
Release Date: May 2, 2009

Description
Tony Aspler also gave this wine 4 stars (out of 5). (www.tonyaspler.com, Sept. 1, 2008)

Tasting Note
This is a delicious Zinfandel in a modern and food-friendly style, a style I can imagine fitting well into bistro cuisine. The fruit is forward and generous but restrained and complex, while the refreshing texture is soft with some tanginess. You can drink it with the predictable grilled red meats, but it also goes nicely with chicken or pork. Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). (Rod Phillips, Vines, Jan./Feb. 2009)

Here’s what Wine Current had to say about the wine:
14.8% alcohol Knotty Vines refers to the appearance of aged grape vines which can become gnarled over time. The vines that produce this Zinfandel are about 100 years old and the result is very intense pure fruit flavour. Aromas of blueberry strawberry jam black pepper and milk chocolate are quite expressive. This wine is high in alcohol and acidity creating a juicy feel in the mouth. Soft ripe tannin make this easy drinking and this is just the thing for grilled back ribs in a sweet barbeque glaze. 4/5 stars.

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Sandbanks Winery (Winery visit in Prince Edward County)

Posted on September 28, 2009 by John Galea

This write up is from our trip this summer to the Prince Edward County area. See the entire article at my Prince Edward County trip blog

Sandbanks winery at the LCBO

Sanbanks winery

2007 Waves Red $14.95
This is a blend of a Merlot and a Baco. Merlot is another of those grapes I really like to be varietal. You can actually taste Merlot flavors in this wine! It is quite dark in color, mild on the nose, typical plummy flavors on the mid pallet and slightly tart on the finish. All in all quite nice for the price. We bought 1 of these.

2008 Baco Noir $14.95 Check LCBO Stock

This has the typical sweet cassis flavors I came to expect from County Bacos. Quite fruit forward. Flavors remind me of a concord grape juice. We bought 1 of these.

2007 Baco Noir Reserve $24.95
This wine is quite a bit darker in color. It has spent more time in oak than the non-reserve (I forgot how long). The wine is noticeably drier, smoorther with a nicer bouquet.

2007 Foch $19.95
This is a Marechal Foch . This is a light easy drinking, slightly fruit wine. They refer to it as rustic. I guess it has those qualities. We bought 1 of these.

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CHATEAU FONGABAN 2005

Posted on September 27, 2009 by John Galea

2005 is said to be a fabulous year for Bordeaux. I jumped at this one and was rewarded. I will likely grab some more. The wine is deep in color with a simple nose to it. On the mid pallet the wine has some lovely cassis (sublte) flavors. Hard to believe this is 90% Merlot. On the finish the wine is big with a long dry finish with firm tannins. The description below uses the phrase “teeth coating tannins” and I can relate to that experience. For the price this wine is a bargain. I would give it a 90. Lovely wine. We paired it with a Striploin steak and chocolate brownies and it held up fabulously.

From the LCBO Web site:
CHATEAU FONGABAN 2005 AC Cotes de Castillon TASTING NOTE: Deep dark red reasonably youthful with a complex ripe-fruited smoky savoury earthy aroma with a hint of vanilla and cassis. Savoury to the taste with a richness to the palate cigar box and subtle chocolate concentrated brambly fruit and fine-textured teeth-coating tannins. A robust wine that seems reasonably tight with its underlying acidity but with its juicy lingering full-bodied aftertaste it shows excellent potential. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and at the price it’s a very good introduction to Bordeaux. (Sue Courtney www.wineoftheweek.com July 25 2007) 138735 $17.95 Featured 9/26/2009

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138735

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TANGLEY OAKS MERLOT 2005 Napa Valley Lot #10

Posted on September 26, 2009 by John Galea

California and Napa specifically make some of my favorite Merlots. I have in the past copped to my bias to having a particular idea in my head going into any Merlot tasting of what it is I am looking for. I picked this one up on spec. It had plum listed on the back of the bottle, a tell tale sign that I look for in a varietal Merlot. The wine is quite dark in color. On the nose the wine has a very slight Merlot bouquet. On the mid pallet it has a slight bit of Merlot flavors. I got some blueberry and maybe some cherry. On the finish the wine especially right out of the bottle is slightly bitter and peppery. Not overly Merlotish. The finish is medium I would say. Not a fabulous Merlot but not bad either. I let it bottle breath for about 1/2 hour and that helped. I don’t really decant Merlot’s I find they will loose that subtle flavor quickly. The oak and alcohol are relatively under control and this is a reasonably well balanced wine. If I had to put a number on it I would give it an 88 or so.

From the LCBO web site:
TANGLEY OAKS MERLOT 2005 Napa Valley Lot #10 A Merlot from Napa that bountifully displays the virtues of this misunderstood grape. Filled with cherry espresso spice and toast aromas and flavours this wonderfully balanced wine will cellar 2-4 years or enjoy it now with grilled lamb or gourmet sausages. 68155 $21.95 Featured 4/11/2009

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68155

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Inniskillin 2008 Pinot Grigio (mini review)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by John Galea

This was being served in a box at Rogers center at a Jays game. It’s pale in color, medium in bouquet and lovely varietal Pinot Grigio in flavor. All in all it is quite refreshing, slightly sweet with a finish on the lighter side of medium. This wine would be quite food friendly and would go well on a patio. I would give it an 88 or so. Quite nice. There is one on the LCBO web site but I can’t be sure it’s this one, they have a few.

IMG_0151

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TTC Wage Hike Again?

Posted on September 24, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

This is definitely OFF-TOPIC, but I just got wind with this article that the TTC is going to raise fares again, which led one of our fellow readers to send me this little summary of the TTC Business plan, I felt I’d share:

TTC Business Model:
1) beg the government for money
2) make sure we get our yearly wage increase & bonuses
3) bleed the riders dry
4) if all else fails, go on strike & hold the riders hostage until the government forks over more money.

Figure it may make a few people smile.

Cheers

CWG

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MAS ESTELA QUINDALS 2005

Posted on September 24, 2009 by John Galea

Sometimes I read reviews and tasting notes of wines and think … huh? I find this comes from a variety of different places. I’ve never been trained as a sommelier and there are things I have just never tasted. So when I read it tastes like passion fruit and I have never had a passion fruit I can’t relate. I bet you are thinking I am digressing, but actually … I am going somewhere with this … I am not a smoker. So sometimes when I read a description and it says it tastes like tobacco or cigar I have no idea what they are talking about. A while back I tried a cigar just to get the flavor. I wonder if at some point I need to sit down with a cornucopia of different flavors and aquaint myself with some of the things the reviewers mention.

Ok onto the tasting, the wine is deep in color. On the nose there are some of that Italian like, dried fruit flavors. On the mid pallet they are there again, some raisin like flavor and then on the finish, there it is … some tobacco/cigar flavors! Woohoo I actually made a connection! There are some tannins and some nice dryness to the wine. It is on the higher side of medium on the finish. If I had to give it a number I would say 88 or so.

From the LCBO Web site:
MAS ESTELA QUINDALS 2005 DO Emporda Our Quality Assurance Laboratory has determined that this wine contains 6 mg/L of free sulphur. TASTING NOTE: The 2005 Quindals is 90% Garnacha 5% Syrah and 5% Carinena aged for 12 months in French oak. Deep crimson-colored it presents an alluring perfume of toasty oak pencil lead mineral violets black cherry and blueberry. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with layers of sweet fruit excellent depth and concentration spicy flavors and a pure finish. It will unfold for another 2-3 years and drink well through 2020. Score – 90+. (Jay Miller www.erobertparker.com Feb. 2008) 133033 $19.95

Here’s an interesting point, did you know that only organic wines get tested for sulfur? Sulfur can be naturally occurring in the wine and it can also be added to the wine. Some wine makers add sulfur dioxide to keep the wine from browning (an anti oxidant).

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133033

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Counry Cider Company and Fool on the Hill wines (Winery visit in Prince Edward County)

Posted on September 23, 2009 by John Galea

This write up is from our trip this summer to the Prince Edward County area. See the entire article at my Prince Edward County trip blog

County Cider and Fool on the Hill

We stopped on by the County Cider Company. They are doing lots of interesting things with cider from a light bubbly cider to infusing some Niagara grown peahces to adding wild raspberry and cranberries. One the more interesting things is an iced cider where they let the apples freeze on the tree just like ice wine and then make ice cider out of it. They end up with a 24% dessert wine that is not as sweet or thick as ice wine. Quite interesting. A number of their ciders are available at the LCBO.

They also make wine here under the new name Fool on the Hill. None of these are available at the LCBO.
Seems no one was lining up to buy wines under the name County Cider company. Who knew? I asked who the fool
was, the declined to answer 🙂 Maybe it was me!

2008 Pinot gris $14.95
Lots of pink grapefruit flavors typical of County Pinot Gris’s with medium lenghth 87-88.

2007 oaked chard $19.95
this wine like the closson has some varietal chard flavors mixed in with some terroir tartness. I paired it with pizza on their lovely patio! When paired with food the tartness awakens he tastebuds and make the food taste better while the cheese took the edge off the tartness We bought 2 of these. 88

2008 Riesling $14.95
Slightly sweet light easy drinking wine, but nothing amazing either. 87

2006 Pinot noir $24.95
Typical Pinot bouquet, Light flavor typical of County Pinots with some oak and a mild finish. 87

2007 Cab franc $34.95
Medium bodied cab franc one of the better ones in the county. No where near as big as a Niagara ca franc.
Some nice varietal flavors with a medium length and some oak. We bought 1 of these. 88

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BERINGER FOUNDERS ESTATE CHARDONNAY

Posted on September 22, 2009 by John Galea

I first tasted this wine at the Gourmet Food and wine show here in Toronto and was impressed. Last night I had it with my meal at Milestones . The wine is quite yellow in color. On the nose it is typical chard, very nice. On the mid pallet there are all the varietal flavors one expected from a California style chard with some nice butteryness but not too over the top, with just a hint of sweetness. Lovely fruit flavors! The finish is medium and rewarding with some oak present. This is a very good California style chard. I would give it 90-91. It seems to be consistent year over year too! Yummy. Spot on my tastes … I paired it with a piece of Seabass and frankly either the Seabass was bland or this overpowered it, not sure which.

From the LCBO web site:
BERINGER FOUNDERS ESTATE CHARD
LCBO 534230 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 18.90 Wine, White Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : 1

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.

Serving Suggestion
Roast pork loin, grilled salmon, roasted poultry, or cornish hen stuffed with wild rice.

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CONO SUR VISION VIOGNIER 2008

Posted on September 21, 2009 by John Galea

Viognier is more commonly a blending grape. It is often used to add bouquet to wine. This particular bottle is a great opportunity to learn exactly what Viognier brings to the party when you see it in a blend. The wine is quite pale, straw like in color. On the nose the wine has a lovely floral bouquet to it. This is why it’s used in a blend. On the mid pallet the wine has some citrus flavors but nothing my taste buds could get a hold of and name. On the finish the wine is quite thin, very light. This is a perfect summer sipper for the patio and is quite food friendly. If you are looking for a wine that is unlikely to offend anyone this is not a bad choice. For me, I prefer wines with more complexity, something more going on. We paired it with pork tenderloin on the BBQ and it went fine, but in my mind did not really complement the food. Alcohol is well under control, smooth easy drinking. I would say an 88 or so.

From LCBO web site:
CONO SUR VISION VIOGNIER 2008 Colchagua Valley TASTING NOTE: Pale yellow. Fresh lemon and peach aromas are pleasantly straightforward and complemented by subtle floral and mineral qualities. Light-bodied fresh citrus flavors deliver good punch and are given depth by hints of melon and peach. Juicy clean and easy to drink with very good finishing cut. Score – 89. (Josh Raynolds International Wine Cellar March/April 2009) 671131 $14.95 Featured 8/29/2009

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671131

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The Grange/Trumpour Mills (Winery visit in Prince Edward County)

Posted on September 20, 2009 by John Galea

See the entire article at my Prince Edward County trip blog

Trumpour Mills at the LCBO

The Grange Winery

We first tasted the wines from the Grange last time we were down and were impressed. We tried them at the Inn we were staying at but didn’t make it to the winery. This time we did make it to the winery so we were able to taste more of their wines.

One of the things that crossed my mind was that why don’t they do a Sauv Blanc in “The County”? It seems to me that they would do a good one. The Grange does one, but they were sold out so I was not able to try it. I spoke to a Sommellier in one of the Inns we were at and she said all attempts at Sauv Blanc in “The County” have resulted in wines with a parafin wax almost gasoline flavor.

2007 Pinot Gris $14.75 Check LCBO stock.
A lovely crisp, refreshing wine with a bit of tartness and a bit of sweetness. I quite enjoyed this one. We bought 2 of these. 88 ish.

2006 Barrel Fermented Chard $19.80
Not a whole lot of varietal Chard flavors. Slight weet apple flavors 87-88 or so. When it comes to Chards I have difficulty with non-varietals Chards.

2007 Riesling (Niagara) $11.75
Pale color, with sulfur smells on the nose. Lighter tasting wine with a light finish. Slightly varietal. 86-87. I really don’t like that sulfur match smell.

2006 Pinot Noir $16.50
Classic Pinot color and bouqet. Slightly bitter/tannic on the finish. As usual “County” Pinots are always on the milder side compared with Niagara or France. 88 ish but as I’ve mentioned Pinots are relaly to my liking.

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ETIM SELECCION 2006 DO Montsant

Posted on September 19, 2009 by John Galea

I’m always skeptical when I see high rating from Parker and buy with caution. A $15 if it were a 91 would be the bargain of the century. However … past experiences say my tastes and Parkers differ widely. A while back I read a book called How I saved the world from Parkerization . Yes I do read from time to time 🙂 This book focuses on how winemakers are starting to craft wines explicitly for Parker scores and the effects this is having on decades old techniques. I do digress …

This is deep in color with a mild nose similar to some cabs. On the mid pallet there are some lovely fruit flavors reminiscent of some cabs as well. On the finish this is quite a dry wine on the longer side of medium. There some oak present and tannins are well under control. There even is a quite a nice bit of complexity to the wine. This is a lovely blend. Right out of the bottle without breathing this is accessible now. I have no idea how well this will keep. I hesitate to say that Parker and I might actually agree on a wine. I would give this a 90-91. You will be rewarded for trying this one! Run out and grab some.

From the LCBO web site:
ETIM SELECCION 2006 DO Montsant (Falset-Mar&ccedila) TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Etim Seleccion is a blend of 60% Garnacha 30% Carinena [Carignan] and 10% Syrah aged for 6 months in seasoned French and American oak. Opaque purple-colored it exhibits a brooding bouquet of minerals black cherry and blueberry. Layered on the palate with hints of dried herbs and an amalgam of blue and black fruits the wine has excellent grip and depth followed by a lengthy finish. If you want to experience Priorat without paying the price this is the way to go. Score – 91. (Jay Miller www.erobertparker.com Aug. 2008) 681346 $15 Featured 8/29/2009

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PENMARA FIVE FAMILIES SHIRAZ

Posted on September 18, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped by Spice route for dinner last night and my dinner guest had this one. The wine is typical inky dark, very mild on the nose. On the mid pallet there is the usual fruit flavors and on the long finish is lots of typical Aussie pepper. No mistaking this wine. Some alcohol is prevalent, some breathing would help. For the price this wine is a good deal. I would give the wine an 88-89.

I had the J Lohr Riverstone Chard that I previously reviewed and was impressed again. A lovely chard.

From the LCBO web site:
PENMARA FIVE FAMILIES SHIRAZ LCBO 565929 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 13.65 Wine, Red Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: New South Wales, Australia By: Penmara Wines Pty Ltd

Tasting Note
Medium to deep ruby colour; aromas of bramble, cherry, vanilla with a hint of tar and spearmint; dry, medium to full bodied, approachable tannins, with spicy jammy fruit flavours and a warm lingering finish.

Serving Suggestion
Barbeque back ribs, roast beef, Portugese roasted chicken, lamb, hard cheese.

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SANTA JULIA RESERVA SYRAH 2007

Posted on September 16, 2009 by John Galea

Every now and then a wine rises above it’s humble price and shows itself to be a diamond in the rough. As a bargain hunter that is one of my pursuits. This wine as well as a number of the previous Santa Julia wines fall into this category. While not the bargain of the century they are reasonably priced wines that are quite good albeit not stellar. This one is quite dark in color. On the nose there are some mild fruit flavors typical of a Syrah. As always keep in mind that the difference between a Syrah and a Shiraz is style, the grape is the same. The Shiraz typically has a whole lot more pepper on the finish, Aussie’s trademark! On the mid pallet especially after some breathing are some varietal Syrah flavors. Not bad at all. The finish is on the milder side of medium. Some breathing in the order of 1 hour or so is in order. The lack of firm tannins on the finish tell me this wine will likely not age overly well. The description below calls this a complex wine. I guess we all have different definitions of what that means but for me this is not a complex wine. I would give this an 88-89 or so. Maybe after some aging say a year it might creep into the 90 range! Definitely give it a go, but I wouldn’t be buying a case and keeping it for 10 years 🙂

From the LCBO web site:
SANTA JULIA RESERVA SYRAH 2007 Mendoza (Familia Zuccardi) Familia Zuccardi is on quite a roll right now producing wines adored by consumers and critics alike. This 2007 Syrah is complex and balanced with aromas of blackberry aromatic herbs and black pepper. With just the right amount of tannin for short-term ageing (2-3 years) this wine will also be very popular at your next backyard barbecue soiree. 127613 $13.95
Featured 8/15/2009

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127613

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DOM HATZIMICHALIS CAB SAV

Posted on September 15, 2009 by John Galea

Stopped by Penelope’s last night for a greek meal before TIFF. When in a Greek restaurant, drink Greek. So this time we chose this wine. It’s dark in the glass and mild on the nose. On the mid pallet there are some mild varietal cab fruit flavors with a finish on the lighter side of medium. Some tannins and Oak are present. Alcohol is well under control. This is not a bad wine at all and went well with the roast leg of lamb I had. I would give it an 87-88. Sorry not sure which year they served.

From the LCBO web site:
DOM HATZIMICHALIS CAB SAV
LCBO 538074 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 17.00 Wine, Red Wine, 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Attica, Greece By: Farma Atalantis Agr S.A.

Tasting Note
Ruby red colour; fruity cassis nose with berry fruit flavours; full bodied with ripe cassis flavours and good acidity with light tannins in the earthy finish.

Serving Suggestion
Souvlaki, gyros or roast beef

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