J. LOHR SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

Posted on June 17, 2009 by John Galea

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

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

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

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

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GABBIANO CHIANTI 2008

Posted on June 15, 2009 by John Galea

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wine, Red Wine, 12.7% Alcohol/Vol.

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

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

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Upcoming Toronto Events June

Posted on June 12, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend.

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Quails Gate Chardonnay 2006 VQA Okanagan Valley

Posted on June 11, 2009 by John Galea

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

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

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Bacchus Update

Posted on June 10, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

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

dsc01425

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2005 Hartford Court Lands Edge Pinot Noir

Posted on June 9, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

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

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

The CWG SR is 92 out of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

I hope we have another of these!

2005_lands-edge

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2006 Chateau de Davenay Montagny 1er Cru

Posted on June 8, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

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

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

The CWG Subjective Rating is 88 put of 100.

Mrs CWG & Bacchus say

woof woof woof (I enjoyed this)

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

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RODNEY STRONG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2003

Posted on June 7, 2009 by John Galea

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

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

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

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

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

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RICHARD HAMILTON LOT 148 MERLOT 2006

Posted on June 6, 2009 by John Galea

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

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

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

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Wolf Blass 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Yellow Label

Posted on June 5, 2009 by John Galea

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

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

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2007 J Lohr Chardonnay

Posted on June 4, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

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

CWG-SR: 88 out of 100

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NV Bethany Old Quarry Tawny Port

Posted on June 3, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

I thought I’d talk/write about a port today. We picked this up in the fall of 2008 during our trip through Australian wine country. Bethany is a small village in South Australia (SA), in the heart of the Barossa Valley. As part of our trek from winery to restaurant to winery (it was rough, trust me) we constantly asked the same question “In Barossa, can you give us a few smaller wineries to visit that produce top quality wines”. Without fail a few names kept coming up and one of those was Bethany Wines. The day we went there was a typical SA day, dry and hot, and by the time we rolled into the winery it was stop number four. Old, steeped in family tradition, Bethany reeked of small town, place next door. The lady at the tasting bar would probably have looked more at home at a quilting bee then a winery. We tried the whole range of Bethany wines that day and walked away with their Gr9 Shiraz, an Old Quarry Fronti white port and of course the non-vintage (NV) Old Quarry Tawny Port we are reviewing today.

Unlike most reviews this will not get a rating or detailed tasting notes, but more of an opinion. I love port and all sorts, deeper chewier ones, single vintage specialties, true tawnies and simply just interesting thrown together ones. Generally with a port you will get something that compliments nuts and stronger pungent cheeses and is sure to please the palate after a nice dinner and a few glasses of wine. This tawny is enjoyable, nutty with hints of raisins. With an even body and good flavour it is sure to please but will not overwhelm. We grabbed one of these as we enjoyed it at the tasting bar, and for the price it was hard to top (roughly $19aus if I remember correctly). Will this blow away a Madeira? No, but it will none the less satisfy any lover of fortified wine.

I am off traveling again tomorrow, I will probably be absent for the next few days, till I return, sip well!

bethany_tawny

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2002 Château des Charmes Equuleus (Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard)

Posted on June 2, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Equuleus is a constellation better known as ‘little horse’ or ‘foal’. Small and faint, this grouping of stars is no representation for the wine bearing it’s name. Paul Bosc and family at Château des Charmes might consider this their special child, only produced during quality fruit years it is most often the wine that will be presented when visiting as ‘special’. I have often times said that I admire and respect the Boscs for their attention to detail. Some dozen years ago I was blessed to have sat, talked and sipped with Madame Bosc one evening as she recounted the days of setting up the winery and the stories still remain with me. She is a wonderful storyteller and if you can ever get her alone for a few minutes she will surely educate and amuse you at the same time. It was during this one particular session that I truly understood how detail oriented and meticulous the family was and it is those qualities which have led them to be one of the foremost wine-makers in Canadian history. The Equuleus label is a Bordeaux style blend all sourced from the Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard. It is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in a 50/25/25 percent amounts. When I first tasted this a few years back I was not actually a fan, it was young and all over the place, but at the recommendation of several people I choose to buy two bottles none the less and put them away. Today it was deemed time to open the first, so on to the tasting!

We decanted this wine and it had quite a bit of sediment. The nose was intensely berry, cherry, black and raspberries grabbed the attention. The first few sips added to the berry sensation. Tannins were evident but not overwhelming. As we sank into it black cherry, strawberry, chocolate with hints of oak and cinnamon danced around our palate. This is a sophisticated red, well balanced, enjoyable fruit, slight oak, it really is a winner. While the tannins are still quite evident, I would not leave this cellared for any more then 2 to 4 more years, as I think anything longer then that will take away from this outstanding wine. Without a doubt this is one of the top three wines I have had this year.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 92 out of 100.

Mrs CWG and Bacchus say

Wow this is enjoyable, love this wine!

2002_equuleus

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Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2006

Posted on June 2, 2009 by John Galea

California Zinfandels are often field blends (in the vineyard a number of different types of grapes are grown) which means they can be inconsistent. Add to that they are heavily crafted and they can really vary. The best thing is to find one you like. If you ever want to try a pure Zinfandel, try an Italian Primitivo which is 100% Zinfandel. By the way, I am talking about Red Zinfandels, not the rose ones.

Ravenswood has a dizzying number of Zinfandels. This one out of the bottle is a deep burgundy color. The bouquet is rich and complex. On first taste the wine is dominated by spiciness. There is a whole lot of pepper going on here. There is a slight jammyness and some strawberry flavors. After a bit of breathing the spiciness dies down to allow you to taste some of the fruit in this wine but it is still largely masked. Oak is well under control. The finish is medium with it lingering nicely. I suspect this wine is still a little to young to appreciate it. The tannins are there but not overwhelming. Overall this is a good but not stellar Zinf. I would give it an 88 or so … I paired it with an italian sausage and it went well …

From winecurrent.com:
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2006 California. 13.5% alcohol (Previously reviewed in winecurrent) If it has been a couple of years since you have tasted this wine you will be happy to re-discover it. Strawberry pie and jam aromas leap out of the glass with cinnamon spice and a healthy dose of vanilla and milk chocolate. On the palate it has juicy before persistent lingering tannin provides plenty of structure. This is medium in body not nearly as heavy as some Californian Zinfandels which will make it more versatile at your table. Grilled lamb burgers would be great. (MT) (359257) $17.95 Featured 5/23/2009. 4.5/5 stars

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Malivoire Pinot Gris 2008

Posted on June 1, 2009 by John Galea

Malivoire have redone their label. Gone is the lady bug. Sigh … Dinner was a Chorizo sausage with a vegetable stir fry. A perfect companion for a white. So I dove into this one. The color is pale straw. The bouquet is a light citrus aroma. The wine has a nice refreshing taste to it, but not a lot going on. The wine is thin in flavor and light on finish. I always look for those peach flavors when I want a varietal Pinot Gris (I admit to being hung up on varietal flavors). This one did not have them at all. I could close my eyes and imagine this to be more of a sauv blanc. The wine is smooth and easy drinking. No harsh alcohol flavors, no bitterness, and is reasonably well made. This wine is by no means terrible, just not a lot going on. If your looking for a light summer sipper for the patio this one will fit the bill. This would be perfect to serve someone who doesn’t generally like wine. Personally I prefer a more complex longer wine. I would give it an 87-88.

From Winecurrent.com
Malivoire Pinot Gris 2008 VQA Niagara Escarpment. 12.5% alcohol This flavourful and aroma-laden organic Gris delivers very good value. The perfumed nose offers up spice lychee and Muscat-like aromas while the palate is drenched with flavours of ripe yellow peach succulent apricot and an explosion of lemony citrus. Medium bodied and generously textured it finishes dry refreshing and mouth-watering delicious. Pair with pan-seared scallops over arugula lightly sprinkled with verjus. (VH) (591305) $18.95 Featured 5/23/2009. 4.5/5 stars

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Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2007

Posted on June 1, 2009 by John Galea

Niagara reds are always working hard to tame the harsh tannins and strong terroir flavors that dominate the reds. Pinot Noirs, Burgurndies for example are generally smooth, elegant wines. So Niagara has challenges when it comes to Pinot Noirs. Top that off with the fact that Pinot Noir is known as the bad boy of red grapes because it is so hard to grow well. That said there are a few that are quite good. My favorite is (and still is) the Flat Rock gravity Pinot Noir (which you can get at the LCBO as well as at the winery).

Back to this wine. I opened it early just to be sure there was enough time to breath it if needed (the reputation of Niagara reds needing lots of breathing time precedes this wine!). On initial opening I see typical garnet shades. Bouquet is a little light but seems pretty Pinotish. So far so good. On first taste I definitely get the typical varietal Pinot Noir flavors but I also get a slight bit of bitterness, an iron taste and some taste I couldn’t place that interfered with the wine. I let it bottle breath for a bit and then decanted it 1/2 hour before. This helped a little but the iron flavor was still there for me. My dinner mate said she tasted grassy weedyness. Not sure I got that but we were both struggling to place a taste that did not belong. The finish on the wine was on the lighter side of medium. This wine is good, but not excellent. If had to give it a number I would give it an 88-89. Quite well done! I did not find it anywhere near as complex or long on the finish as winecurrent did … We paired it with a striploin steak and it went well!

From Winecurrent.com:
Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir 2007 VQA Niagara Peninsula. 13% alcohol Rich and elegant this top drawer Pinot from the fabulous a07 vintage opens with complex aromas of wild berry exotic spice and earthy tones. The palate is treated to wave after wave of well-balanced fruit flavour with ripe pomegranate tangy cranberry and juicy black raspberry to the fore. Medium bodied and silky smooth the finish is lengthy and luxurious. Gorgeous sipped on its own it pairs perfectly with marinated grilled flank steak. (VH) (13904) $16.95 Featured 5/23/2009. 4.5/5 stars

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Bacchus Comes Home

Posted on May 30, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Busy things at CWG household, and if you look at the pictures below you will know why, introducing Dantry Danes Boozin’ Bacchus:

this_will changei_am_cute
what_is_this_leash_thingnom_nom_nom

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CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA MERLOT 2006

Posted on May 28, 2009 by John Galea

As usual I like to put my biases right up front. So to date, I have not had what I would call a great Merlot from Chile. And to jump to the end … I still haven’t 🙂 So with that in mind I saw in the raters notes the word plum. Which as I may have mentioned, to me, means this is going to be a varietal Merlot. And low and behold on first tasting there actually is Merlot flavors to the wine! The nose is very mild, I couldn’t really say it smelled like a Merlot. I don’t generally find a need to decant (or age) Merlots. So I tasted this one out of the bottle (an hour early so I could decant if I needed to). The initial mid palette tastes are definitely Merlot. The plums. The finish revealed some spiciness with a bit of pepper. Oak is well under control and not prominent. I would say the finish was medium. This is a moderately complex wine with some nice flavors to it. This by no means is one of the best (or worst) Merlots I have had. I would not be running out to grab a case either. I would say for my tastes the Winespectator number below is high. Personally I would give it an 88. The bottle went quickly and paired ok with a meat Lasagna, but to be honest, the wine did not have enough for it to overcome the lasagna. I appreciated the wine better on it’s own.

From the LCBO web site:
CONCHA Y TORO MARQUES DE CASA CONCHA MERLOT 2006 Peumo Rapel Valley TASTING NOTE: Ripe and polished offering a dark core of plum and black currant fruit layered with warm fig sauce loam and cocoa powder notes with a solid fleshy finish. Drink now through 2010. Score – 90. (James Molesworth www.winespectator.com Nov. 30 2008) 939827 $19.95 Featured 5/23/2009
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A Hello to 57 Countries

Posted on May 27, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Tonight has been a night of beer and EUFA Champions League (Congrats to Barcelona!), and in the spirit of multi-nationalism, hello to all the people from 57 countries that visited CanadianWineGuy.com over the past few days. More reviews of wine, food and life to follow in the days ahead.

barca

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2003 Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz

Posted on May 26, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

This wine, given to us a gift, falls into the class of wines I’d simply not buy in a store or restaurant. Wolf Blass to me is synonymous with LARGE producer and some of the wines are to be kind, plonkish! That said, the Gold Label seems to be well received by many reviewers and normal drinkers alike. This wine hails from Barossa, land of the Shiraz, and having visited the region just recently I can truly say I am much more of a fan now then I was some five years back. The dry hot climate, the vineyards, the love of wine showed through on our visit. Amazing harmony exudes from the valley where behemoth vintners mingle with small boutique style wineries. If you are ever looking for a wine vacation I highly recommend the Adelaide area which gives you access to Adelaide Hills (Chardonnays), Coonawarra (Cabernet Sauvignon), Clare Valley (Cab Sauv/Shiraz) and of course Barossa (I only listed the predominate grapes grown). While Wolf Blass may have flooded foreign countries with it’s famous ‘Yellow Label’ it has done some great things as a vintner and for Australian Wines. Marketing, quality and resilience have made this one of the world’s most recognizable vineyards and for that it deserves props. Anyways, enough blabber, on to the tasting!

We decided to decant this wine and give it some air as I figure this could cellar for at least 5 to 10 more just from the knowledge of Barossa reds. It is a good thing we did as it had considerable sediment and our filtration funnel caught some odds and ends. The ruby red colour led to a very good fruit nose with predominately strawberries making themselves known. A few swirls and initial sips brought the strawberry forward even more, that plus some vanilla and cherry licorice. What a great many Australian Shiraz bring to the table is high alcohol content and this one is no different ringing in at a hefty 15% though it does not adversely affect the wine. The balance and finish are both pleasant and overall this wine is quite a treat. I am not sure I’d lay it down much more as it truly is ready to drink now, and while a good wine I am afraid it may start to fade the longer it stays in the bottle. Like all Gold Label wines, this one has a twist top (which continues to grow on me). For mid to high twenties (link is for 2005 vintage, closest I could get sorry) this is well priced for the quality you will get and I have no issues recommending it.

The CWG Subjective rating is 89 out of 100.

Mrs CWG says

I would not be embarrassed showing up with this, it was very enjoyable.

2003_gold_label_shiraz

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GREG NORMAN CABERNET/MERLOT 2005

Posted on May 25, 2009 by John Galea

Back in Engineering (surely by now you have figured out I am an Engineer by how I write :)) school we were taught “don’t let what you know get in the way of what you don’t know”. I find myself in continuous need of a reminder of this adage. This wine has smacked me in the head yet again. My personal bias says why bother with a Cab/Merlot. The Merlot will just be overwhelmed by the cab and the only purpose to the Merlot will be to soften an edgy cab. Well, was I wrong. This wine is deep purple in color with a pleasant bouquet. This is not a California style cab with the sweet deep cassis flavors. Instead what you have here is a classic Aussie, slightly peppery, slightly oakey cab. Some nice fruit flavors with traditional cab as well as Merlot flavors being present. Yes you can actually taste Merlot. In fact, the taster’s notes from the LCBO web site actually mention plum, that tell tale flavor that tells me this is a varietal Merlot. This is actually not a bad wine at all. Quite enjoyable especially with a bit of breathing (I would recommend 1/2 hour decanting). With the breathing the pepperyness dies down so you can appreciate the fruits better. The alcohol is pretty well integrated as well. The finish is on the lighter side of medium. I would give this a solid 88/89 which for $24.95 is no bargain but I did appreciate the wine anyway …

Welcome back Brett!

From the LCBO web site:

GREG NORMAN CABERNET/MERLOT (V) VINTAGES 552075 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 24.95 Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: South Australia, Australia By: Mildara Blass Limited
Release Date: May 23, 2009

Description
Always an exceptional value, this Cab/Merlot is also a critic’s pick. This standout has made the cut–not once but twice–for Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 list! Expect more sweet swings with this version. Aromas of blackcurrants, mint and toasty oak lead to lovely currant and plum flavours with hints of cedar and toast. Serve it with grilled steak or lamb burgers and you’ve got yourself a hole-in-one.

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2007 Peller Estates Private Reserve Gewürztraminer

Posted on May 24, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Two Gewürztraminers in two days, oh the horror! Or maybe not! I figured since yesterdays wine was fresh in my mind it would be good to compare a similarly priced one from the same vintage year. The Niagara Peninsula has similar climatic conditions to the Alsace region so it is not overly surprising to find plenty of cool climate whites available from vintners from the region. Peller Estates remains one of the larger winemakers from Niagara so in many ways it is not far off comparing their 17$ bottle with Sparr’s $16 bottle. For this wine the winemaker fermented in stainless steel using ‘premium’ free run juice. Since Peller does not make a top range Andrew Peller one must assume that what you are getting in this wine is the best that Peller grows/buys in terms of Gewürztraminer grapes. With a quick stop to the fermentation process the crafter gives it an off-dry style sweetness in the 1 range. Like a great many vineyards around the world, this wine went from steel to glass. With all the technical jargon out of the way, on to the tasting!

The pale straw like colour (lighter then lemons) led to a citrusy nose on the first sniff. Swirling it around and giving it another go, you can start to pick out green apple and peach. The first sip introduces a solid fruit forward wine with good acidity. Peach gives way to pear while the green apple remains. Hints of pineapple and banana come forward the longer it lingers and the finish while soft at first is nice and compliments the balanced acidity. I was pleasantly surprised as I honestly was not expecting much. A side by side with Pierre Sparr would actually end up in the Niagara beating the Alsace with better balance and fruit while not disappearing as it warmed up.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 86 out of 100.

Mrs CWG says

Enjoyable, but I’d stick to my off-dry Rieslings before re-buying the past two Gewürztraminers

gewurzt_pe

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2007 Pierre Sparr Gewürztraminer (Alsace)

Posted on May 23, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Wines do not have to be expensive, well marketed or reviewed to be enjoyable. So many times a snooty wine reviewer will pass over the low priced mass produced wine because they simply will not lower themselves. More so you find this in the blogsphere then anywhere else. One of the nicest things that John Galea has brought to this site is his willingness to try and review anything which means he covers up a great deal of slack that I leave. If you have a chance to go back and read many of his reviews you will see some great bottles of wine and then you will get to see some schlock that you may have thought about but were afraid to try. Tonight I will be reviewing one of those wines that I often have avoided. The region of Alsace is a wine region that grows and produces mostly white wines from Germanic descent grape varieties. The area hugs the Rhine river and is most often known for it’s dry Rieslings and of course it’s Gewürztraminers. La Maison Pierre Sparr is one of the largest producers in the region and this wine is one their pedestrian releases. Without going to much more into the wines from the region, as this is to be a shorter post, if you like good quality whites and enjoy Rhine varietals then dive into Alsace with both feet, you will most often then not be tickled with your choice. As for this wine, on to the tasting!

This is a stainless steel fermented to bottle Gewürztraminer. It has been made to allow for just a bit of sweetness and would be either a 1 or 2 on the sweetness scale (vintner says 2, I say 1, so let it be your call). The wine has a nice clean straw yellow colour to it. On the nose you will get flowers and citrus (as it warms up these will decrease and you will actually get more of an acid sense to your nostrils). The first sip will bring a sharp bite with good fruit. The acid is pronounced and despite some good marketing attempt by Pierre Sparr this wine is not overly balanced. The citrus remains throughout the tasting with grapefruit being most pronounced while a hint of lemon works it’s way through. The flowery nature to the nose is subtle during drinking though I get a bit of spring flowers. Overall, despite the acidity, this is a pleasant wine, easily drinkable on a warm summers day. I’d advise not allowing the temperature to rise much above 12 degrees celsius as the wine starts to disapear. For $16 dollars this is neither overpriced nor cheap (if that makes any sense) and if you are looking for a drier Gewürztraminer then give it a try.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 85 out of 100.

Mrs CWG says

Enjoyable, crisp, refreshing!

gewurztraminer_1

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2004 Burrowing Owl Meritage

Posted on May 22, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

A few years back a colleague of mine bought six of these and shared them with myself and his brother. Having heard many great things about the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery and knowing that the 2002 Meritage had produced some decent medals, it was with great pleasure to shell out the ninety dollars for two bottles. This winery is located in the heart of the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. With just over ten years of history behind them they have managed to build one of the more prestigious reputations for the region and as such anything they produce is often sold out or limited quickly. It is a good idea to sign up for email alerts to get a shot at new releases and they do ship outside of B.C. This wine is actually blended with all five traditional grapes in a ‘Bordeaux’ style wine, the two Cabernets (Sauvignon and Franc), Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, making it extremely unique for a Canadian Meritage. Merlot is the predominate grape though at around 65% of the mixture. The tasting notes of the winemaker are as follows below with my tasting notes below it.

The 2004 growing season at Burrownig Owl Estate was characterized by generous early spring rains, leading to an early bud-break and excellent fruit set. The season was typified by consistent sunshine and stable, warm temperatures throughout the critical summer months. Early autumn showers helped to slow the ripening process, which enhanced the development of complex flavours and the near optimal expression of the unique terroir of the Burrowing Owl vineyards.

Decanting this wine led to a dark, deep purple colour with a dull nose at first. As the wine swished and our noses inhaled plums and oak came at us. The first sip exposed more of the plum and some black berries. The oak faded and more berries came out as the wine opened up and our palates relaxed. The wine is still young and the tannins very firm making this a chewy wine. My view of this vintage changed as the glass emptied, instead of the initial roughness it seemed to enjoy the air and soften enough to be considered evenly balanced with a long finish. At $45 dollars this is very much overpriced, not uncommon for Canadian wines. This wine compares well in style, structure and quality to a good many Bordeaux in the $20 to $40 range. Overall I was slightly disapointed, but mostly because I expected great things while being delivered ‘only’ a good wine.

The CWG Subjective Rating is 88 out of 100.

Mrs CWG says:

Not worth the $45 but I enjoyed it none the less

burrowing-owl-meritage-04

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KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008

Posted on May 22, 2009 by John Galea

This wine has always been considered by me to be the benchmark New Zealand Sauv blanc and the wine that I compare other Sauv blancs to. The 2006 and 2007 vintages have been showing a little more grassy flavors that I am not fond of. So with some reservation I dove into this one and I was not disappointed! The color is pale yellow. The bouquet is spot on. This wine has none of green grassyness I don’t like. I would say however, that this one is not as powerful as some previous years have been The finish is mild to medium. I paired this wine with a smoked salmon salad with balsamic vinagrette and it went well. The LCBO description refers to nettles. If you’ve ever been stung by a nettle there is not a chance your getting your nose anywhere near one of these bushes … If I had to give this wine a number I would say an 87-88 with the lower number reflected the lack of intensity I have come to expect from this wine. I would say consistency is an issue with this wine in the long term.

From the LCBO web site:
KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC (V) VINTAGES 35386 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 19.95 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Made in: New Zealand, New Zealand By: Constellation Wines Nz Description Vintage after vintage, the world-renowned Kim Crawford displays his winemaking prowess with Sauvignon Blanc. This version exhibits aromas such as gooseberry, asparagus, nettle, tomato leaf and citrus. Tantalizing with monkfish with tomato and fresh herbs, or steamed mussels. Featured 12/25/2008

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