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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Who ordered summer in May?

Posted on May 21, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

I arrived home today to summer, what a glorious day here in Toronto. Back from another trip, on tap for the next few days are a 2004 Burrowing Owl Meritage, a Bordeaux and a bunch of beer at good friends tomorrow night (neat funky micro brews!).

I will get the Owl review up tomorrow, till then it is great to be home!!

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Lealtanza Crianza 2004

Posted on May 18, 2009 by John Galea

This wine was the wine of the month and got a good write up so I thought I would give it a go … Crianza (Tempranillo by another name). I always expect these to be big wines. I decanted this one for 1/2 hour (an oversight) and it really needed an hour min, likely more like 1.5 hours. First taste out of the bottle was a strong alcohol flavor with lots of tannins but not a lot of fruit. It softened as it breathed with some of the harshness going away. Fruits became more evident as well. This wine is still young for my tastes and would not be my choice. While I would not rush to take it back, I would not be rushing to buy more. Both of the tasting notes below quite raved about this wine so I can only surmise it’s just not to my palette.

From the LCBO Web site:
LEALTANZA CRIANZA 2004 VINTAGES 114835 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 19.95
Wine, Red Wine, 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: Rioja, Spain By: Bodegas Altanza
Release Date: Mar 28, 2009

Tasting Note
The 2004 Lealtanza Crianza was sourced from 30-year-old [Tempranillo] vines and aged for 12 months in French and American oak. Dark ruby-colored, it offers a complex bouquet of cedar, tobacco, blackberry, and black cherry. Smooth-textured, ripe, and sweetly-fruited, this nicely balanced wine has excellent depth and length. Drink it over the next 5-7 years. It is an excellent value in traditionally-styled Rioja. Score – 90. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Feb. 2008)

Winecurrent.com said:

Lealtanza Crianza 2004 DOCa Rioja
13.5% alcohol This is a great value wine the Vintages panel has chosen as Wine of the Month. The nose is big and fruity with significant notes of tobacco and cigar box alongside black plum cherry vanilla pepper and eucalyptus. The first impression in the mouth is somewhat soft with refreshing acidity. As the wine washes over the palate the tannins increase in impact. With its medium-bodied frame this wine is relatively well balanced today and will reward three to five years cellaring. At this price buy some for now and a whole lot more for down the road. Enjoy with any manner of roasted game. (MT) (114835) $19.95 Rating 4.5/5

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CAVE SPRING ESTATE RIESLING 2007

Posted on May 17, 2009 by John Galea

Ah dinner was planned for a spicy chipotle flavored pork tenderloin. A tough food/wine pairing. A Riesling will fit the bill! Ah it’s time to pull out one of our favorites! We always enjoy our trips to Cave Springs. Right in the heart of quaint Jordan there are two lovely Inns to choose from. The budget minded will find The Jordan House a lovely choice. It has a nice bar in the ground floor with live entertainment year round and is a few minute walk from the second choice Inn on the Twenty which is a little more up scale. Across the street from Inn on the Twenty is the Cave Spring tasting room and their lovely restaurant. Their estate Riesling is smack on varietal Niagara Riesling. Somewhat sweet but not to the point of say a Semi dry or a Spatlese. They do a lovely job of this wine. Mr and Mrs CWG I do believe also quite enjoy this one. The color is typical slightly pale. Nose has a bit of honey sweetness to it. The finish is reasonably long. All in all an excellent choice. If I had to give a number I would say a solid 89. The wine went well with our meal and quite surprisingly the bottle was gone in no time flat. Evaporation really is a force to be reckoned with 🙂

After our previous disappointing choice the Southbrook Sauv Blanc this wine was a delight!

Here’s more about one of our trips down to Niagara

From the LCBO web site:
CAVE SPRING ESTATE RIESLING VINTAGES 286377 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 17.95
Wine, White Wine, 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D This is a VQA wine

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Cave Spring Cellars Ltd
Release Date: May 23, 2009

Description
This local Riesling commands global respect. Evocative of the limestone clay soil its 20-year-old vines are grown in, its bouquet shows lovely peach, pink grapefruit, floral, and mineral aromas with a hint of pretty petrol. It’s dry and medium-bodied, featuring juicy fruit flavours and a very long, crisp finish. Great with spiced shrimp dishes or pan-fried freshwater fish.

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SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007

Posted on May 16, 2009 by John Galea

I had not heard of this winery before and with such a high score I thought let’s give it a try. It’s an unknown (to me) rater but heh … So with that in mind I dove in. This wine straight off is quite thin. The finish is very light. Oak is not evident at all. For me the tastes did not work together. I got some very tart flavors (I’m not fond of tart). The rater said pineapple. If it’s pineapple I would say more the green unripe pineapple. I got more grapefruit. Either way, this is not a good wine and I would not recommend it. If I had more, I would be returning it …

From the LCBO web site:
SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007 VQA Niagara Peninsula TASTING NOTE: Screw cap closure. Very clean pungent fresh and highly fruity with wonderfully aromatic passion fruit and green tropical fruit fresh apple pineapple highly inviting. Dry medium body with ripe fruit up front on the palate that yields quickly to tart green apple acidity that maintains great freshness and juiciness finishing on lemony notes. Gives great Sancerre or NZ a run for the money. Drink now. Score – 89. (John Szabo M.S. www.wineaccess.ca Undated) 117556 $18.95 Featured 5/2/2009

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Hola

Posted on May 14, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

It has been a bit since I posted, and I do have to thank John for picking up my slack. For those that are not aware I often travel for work, well in the past two months it has been a great deal more travel then has been expected. On top of that, there has been more work at home, between getting our amazing condo for sale (cry) and with a puppy on route (see below). With that said I am going to try and get back into a habit of jotting down tasting notes as I can. Currently I am having a 2005 Peter Lehmann (of Barossa) Shiraz that while may have a 91 rating from Wine Spectator Online, has me wishing I was drinking some of my friend’s basement wine. Despite a lackluster wine with below average fruit, below average structure and overall a below average experience, the view and weather is stunning, so I will leave you with a few things. First is a picture of the soon to come home Bacchus, an amazing blue Great Dane from Dantry Danes. Second is a picture of the skyline as I write this, almost enough to make you fall in love with Toronto! And lastly a link to our Condo listing, because if I cannot use this to self advertise, then what can I do??!!

dsc013341may142009

Our Condo

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MIKE WEIR ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT 2006

Posted on May 13, 2009 by John Galea

RANT WARNING:
Ok, I am going to digress for a moment. If you aren’t interested in reading the rant, page down, I don’t mind 🙂

Ok thanks for hanging with me. In the last 5 years or so there have been a slew of celebrity label wines in Niagara. Everything from ex hockey greats (love ya Wayne) to golf guys to a pro fishing guy (pro fishing? What is that?). These fellows come to Niagara, sometimes put there name on someone else’s wine, sometimes setup a winery but no grapes (who wants to deal with those pesky grapes. And growing grapes doesn’t matter anyway, it’s all in the wine “maker” … NOT) to some of them that actually do the whole deal. Back in the 70’s using celebrity names to endorse products was all the rage. Are we really still lemmings that follow the name? Do we really need that now?

With this bias in mind (and disclosed) I have stayed away from celebrity wineries in Niagara. Proudly driving past them with my nose in the air.
RANT DONE

I was out at a box at a Blue Jays game last night and they were serving this wine. So I thought, why not … let’s give it a try. I must say I was surprised. This is not a bad wine. It is quite dry. The tannins are firm but by no means out of control. Oak is quite prevalent but again not out of control. There are some distinct cassis flavors consistent with a cab. The wine is slightly sweet, slightly jammy. Color is deep and the bouquet is mild. The finish is medium. Not a bad sipping wine at all. It went quite well with food as well, a steak. If I had to give it a number I would say 87-88.

From the LCBO web site:
MIKE WEIR ESTATE CABERNET/MERLOT (V) VINTAGES 109 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 18.95 Wine, Red Wine, 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

Sugar Content : XD This is a VQA wine

Made in: Ontario, Canada By: Mike Weir Wine

Release Date: Feb 28, 2009

Description
This wine scores a hole-in-one with its penetrating aromas of blackberries, black cherry, roasted bell pepper, portobello mushroom, vanilla and hints of sweet herbs. Dry and medium-bodied, this lovely red blend features ripe, velvety smooth, cedar-laced, black fruit flavours that are nicely balanced by a lively acidity. A tasty partner for roast beef au jus, or gourmet burgers garnished with portobello mushrooms and gorgonzola.

Mike Weir Winery

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CHÂTEAU LE BOURDIEU 2003

Posted on May 11, 2009 by John Galea

This is a classic bordeaux blend from a bouquet and flavor point of view. The wine has some lively tannins and some edgeyness to it. For the price it is not a bad wine 88-89 ish. Not a fabulous deal by any definition but quite good. I had no trouble at all drinking it. There are tasting notes below. Ok I have to admit, I had no idea what kirsch liqueur is or what it tastes like 🙂 until I used Wikipedia. I paired it with roast chichen with rice and brussel sprouts and it contributed nicely to the flavors.

From the LCBO web site:
CHÂTEAU LE BOURDIEU 2003
AC Médoc
(G. Bailly, Prop.)

TASTING NOTE: Toast, spice and red currant on the nose, the flavours – ripe black cherry and kirsch liqueur – are still a bit wound up in chunky tannin. It’s medium textured with good body weight and a persistent finish that shows fruity, spicy and black licorice flavours. Drink now to 2012 with a medium-rare grilled strip loin. Score – 4 Stars (out of 5). (Vic Harradine, www.winecurrent.com, Aug. 2, 2008)
85084 (XD) 750 mL $19.9

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SANTA JULIA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

Posted on May 9, 2009 by John Galea

I’ve had a couple of different Santa Julia wines so I thought I would give this one a try. This wine is a very light cab. This wine is not particularly deep or complex. Missing are the wonderful cassis flavors that are prevalent in a good cab. For the price this is a good wine. Oaks are well under control. For my tastes this is a mild cab. I would not return the wine, but by no means would I be rushing out to get more or rave about it. If I had to give it a number I would say 87-88 which for the price is an ok deal. Not a steal by any means … No decanting was required.

From the LCBO Web site:
SANTA JULIA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 Mendoza (Familia Zuccardi) From the always reliable Familia Zuccardi comes this perennial smart buy. Argentina continues to excite the wine world with its impressive interpretations of native and international varieties not to mention the incredible values it consistently offers wine lovers. This elegant Cab is a case in point. With its lovely blackcurrant fruit and notes of spice cedar and vanilla this wine will make a perfect match for grilled game or lamb chops. 93781 $13.95 Featured 5/2/2009

From Winecurrent.com
SANTA JULIA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 Mendoza (Familia Zuccardi) From the always reliable Familia Zuccardi comes this perennial smart buy. Argentina continues to excite the wine world with its impressive interpretations of native and international varieties not to mention the incredible values it consistently offers wine lovers. This elegant Cab is a case in point. With its lovely blackcurrant fruit and notes of spice cedar and vanilla this wine will make a perfect match for grilled game or lamb chops. 93781 $13.95 Featured 5/2/2009

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‘Pirate’ Niagara wine beats world’s best

Posted on May 8, 2009 by John Galea

In case you hadn’t heard, Jordanne’s Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2005 beat out a number of French and California wines in a blind taste test in Montreal. Read all about it!

NOTE: If you do run out to grab one of these puppies, be careful there are two with identical looking bottles with the same price. Also note, the store I went to had the 2006 not the 2005 that won the award.

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KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2006

Posted on May 7, 2009 by John Galea

I’ve had this one a number of times now and quite enjoy it. It is a spot on varietal California style Chard. Lovely yellow in color with a typical Chard bouquet. The wine has butteryness but not too over the top. The oaks are well under control. There is a bit of sweetness and lots of lovely fruit. This is an excellent wine. It should keep well and improve as well in spite of what Parker says below. Unfortunately there are very few left in Ontario … sigh. Sucks to be you 🙂

From the LCBO web site:
KENDALL-JACKSON VINTNER’S RESERVE CHARDONNAY 2006 California TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay is certainly one of the best Chardonnays for the money. This wine, which all comes from coastal vineyards owned by Jackson, is 90% barrel-fermented and put through 100% malolactic, which is remarkable given the quantity of wine made … Crisp orange marmalade and lemon oil notes as well as some tropical fruits always characterize this wine, which seems to show very little evidence of oak, with gorgeously lush fruit, and zesty acidity in a fresh, lively style. It’s a remarkable value … Drink 2007-2008. Score – 89. (Robert Parker Jr.,www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2007) (D) 750 mL $19.95 Featured 10/11/2008

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Wines of Germany

Posted on May 6, 2009 by John Galea

Last night we attended the Wines of Germany event here in Toronto. The event was held at Roy Thompson hall in downtown. The event was very well done with a nice assortment of wine as well as plenty of very well done food. The lineup to get the food was silly but they kept it flowing right through the night. Most of the wines are not available in Toronto except by consignment. Some day it would be nice if someone would take the C out of LCBO (control). What do they think, if alcohol was convenient we would all become alcoholics? Once again, I do digress …

I do not have a lot of experience with German wines so this was an excellent opportunity!

One of the first wines we encountered was something I had not had before Silvaner. This grape use to be the most planted grape in Germany and is similar to a Riesling. They are rated the same way as a Riesling Kabinett (least ripe, least sweet), Spatlese, Auslese (see below for more). In this event I was able to taste the various levels and get a mental handle on the various sweetness. As expected most of the wines were white but the Germans are also making some Pinot Noirs. So for me, here were the standouts:

  • Weingut Jean Busher 2007 Silvaner Edition “S”. This wine had a very long finish for a white. Nice and complex with a bit of sweetness and strong minerality. Very good. I would give it easily a 90 or so.
  • Binz and Bratt 2007 Pinot Noir/Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was spot on what I envision for a Pinot Noir. It had the usual earthy tones, light in bouquet and color easily a food friendly wine. I would give it an 88-89. We were told it was worth around $22.

Some of the Pinot Noirs exhibited the classic poor quality dill flavor. I’ve found this in the past in some Niagara wines (Peninsula Ridge for one). Some refer to this as “weedy”.

So all in all it was a great time, for a VERY reasonable price!.

From my web page summary of Karen McNeil’s Wine Bible
In Germany wines rarely fully mature. As such German wines are very different from most countries. They are made to hit precision and finesse. If you want big and powerful do not buy German wines.

Germans do nothing to mold or shape wine and seek to highlight the natural flavours of the grape. They never use commercial yeast and do not age in new oak. They do not fine or clarify there wines.

  • Reds account for only 18%. rarely blend
  • Reisling is the best and most common grape
  • red wines are most loved by Germans
  • produces 3% of worlds production
  • Wine legislation
    • QBA (Lowest quality)
    • QMP highest class. Chaptalization not allowed.
  • there are 6 levels of ripeness for German wines (sweeter as they go up):
    • Kabinett (least ripe, least sweet)
    • Spatlese
    • Auslese
    • Beerenauslese
    • trockenbeerenauslese (made only in exceptional years)
    • eiswein (ice wine)
  • some other useful terms: trocken (bone dry) and halbtrocken (dry 1.8% sugar)
  • German wines live on the edge of ripeness so vintage charts are quite important. Far more important than other countries
  • almost all of the 90’s were good years for German wines
  • the high acidity of German wines mean they age well
  • best wines come from Mosel Saar Ruwer
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MANGA DEL BRUJO 2006

Posted on May 5, 2009 by John Galea

Sometimes a blend just goes awry … This is what this one does for me. The blend does not work well together and the flavors fight. The wine has a jammyness almost like a petite syrah with some strong Blueberry flavors. Mixed in with this is a pepperyness coming from the Syrah. The Garanacha grape it turns out is simply the Spanish name for Grenache. Grenache on Wikipedia. The oaks are well under control. I would say the finish is on the lighter side of medium. I did decant this one for an hour as I found on opening it was a touch bitter and alcoholic. Overall for me this is not a stellar wine. I would not be rushing out to get more. It just is not to my tastes.

From the LCBO Web site:
MANGA DEL BRUJO 2006 DO Calatayud (San Gregorio) TASTING NOTE: The 2006 Manga del Brujo is composed of 65% old-vine Garnacha 15% Syrah 15% Tempranillo and 5% Monastrell and Mazuelo aged for 5 months in French and American oak. Purple-colored it exhibits an expressive bouquet of cedar tobacco earth vanilla black cherry and blueberry. This is followed by a full-bodied ripe intensely flavored wine with excellent depth balance and length. Another 2-3 years in the cellar should yield additional complexity. Drink this tasty effort through 2020. Score – 90+. (Jay Miller www.erobertparker.com Aug. 2008) 15073 $17.95 Featured 5/2/2009
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ALKOOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

Posted on May 4, 2009 by John Galea

This one came on my radar as a pretty good deal. A 90 rated wine below $20. This is a lovely cab. Slightly different than a California cab. Plenty of deep rich black berry flavors. The finish on the wine is on the lighter side of medium. Oaks are well under control. Out of the bottle, the wine had a slight bit of harshness. This is a 14% wine so it is no mild wine by any standards. 1 hour in my trusty decanter took care of it and left a lovely wine. I paired this with a pork tender loin and it went well. Before we knew it the bottle was gone! You could sip this wine, but it is a bigger wine. Not the kind you would sit on the patio sipping. There is no pepperyness on the finish as Aussie’s can sometimes have in their cabs. If had to give it a number I would say it is an 89 or so. I have not idea how well this would age. It’s missing the bold tannins that I associate with an aging wine. I would say this is more of a “drink now” kind of wine. And why not!

From the LCBO web site:
ALKOOMI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 Frankland River Western Australia TASTING NOTE: Ruby-red. Vibrant red- and blackcurrant aromas are complicated by musky tobacco cedar and underbrush very cabernet. Bitter cherry and licorice add firmness to the sweet berry flavors with dusty tannins contributing grip. The tannins gain strength on the finish but the wine maintains freshness and a sweetly seductive personality. Score – 90. (Josh Raynolds International Wine Cellar July/Aug. 2008) 904227 $17.95 Featured 5/2/2009
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HESS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

Posted on May 1, 2009 by John Galea

We had the pleasure of trying this wine as part of a night out for Charity for Canadian Care an organization bringing better lives to those in Guatemala. The wine was a special being offered by Queen’s Pasta . If your out in High Park and looking for a reasonably priced, good food place to eat, this one will fit the bill. I do digress 🙂

This is a spot on California cab. Lovely cassis notes. The oak is well under control. I would say the description below from the LCBO web site is spot on. On first opening this wine had a touch of pepperyness but this passed quickly. The blending grapes they have used have done a lovely job of adding complexity and finesse. This wine is appreciated best at first anyway, on it’s own. I paired it with a red sauce pasta and it went well. I would given this wine an 89-90 so it’s a pretty darn good deal!
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From the LCBO web site:
HESS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 VINTAGES 25080 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 25.95 Wine, Red Wine, 13.5% Alcohol/Vol. Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States By: The Hess Collection
Release Date: Jan 10, 2009

Description
Winemaker Dave Guffy sources the fruit for this Cab mainly from vineyards in the North Coast region. He also includes small amounts of Merlot and Syrah for added complexity. Full and generous, this wine is packed with black cherry, cassis, vanilla and spice aromas and flavours with medium tannins balancing out the ripe fruit flavours. It all adds up to tremendous value that you can enjoy today with grilled beef or lamb chops.

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CHATEAU ST. GERMAIN 2006

Posted on April 30, 2009 by John Galea

I had this wine as the table wine at Moxxies so I bought a bottle. For the price, why not. It is not a bad wine with reasonable depth and complexity for a wine of this price. Not a fabulous wine but quite reasonable. If I had to give it a number I would say 86-87. The finish is medium to long. I did decant it to remove some bitterness on the finish out of the bottle. All in all not bad. Finished the bottle without an issue. Paired it with rack of lamb!

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From the LCBO web site:
CALVET CHATEAU ST. GERMAIN LCBO 152587 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 13.95 Wine, Red Wine, 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Made in: Bordeaux, France By: J. Calvet & Cie – Bordeaux

Tasting Note
Deep ruby red colour; black cherry, cranberry, mineral and dried herb aromas; dry, medium bodied with a flavourful finish.

Serving Suggestion
Herbed crusted lamb, grilled veal or poultry

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Vintages April 29th Release (Online)

Posted on April 29, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

Today’s online Vintages release contains very few low to mid range priced wines (sub $100) but of the choices here are the two I’d take a stab at:

2005 Hartford Court Four Hearts Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, $52
2004 Schiavenza Broglio Barolo, DOCG, Italy – Piedmont $59

happy sipping!

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MISSION HILL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006

Posted on April 27, 2009 by John Galea

I’ve blogged about this one before. We tasted it at the BC wine event a while back. So based on how much I liked it at the tasting I bought one. I was not disappointed. This wine is perfect right out of the bottle. No breathing/decanting needed. The flavor is varietal cab, although I would not say this is a lively cab. Oaks are well under control. This is a well styled smooth easy drinking cab. You could sip this easily. We paired it with a Octoberfest sausage and it went ok with it. Dynamite with the chocolate brownie that accompanies any good meal! I would rate this an 89-90. Fortunately this one is a vintages essential. And given how few Okanagan wines we get in Ontario I recommend you give this one a try!

From the LCBO Web site:
VINTAGES Essentials Collection
MISSION HILL RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON (V)
VQA Okanagan Valley
This outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon displays concentrated aromas of ripe blackberry and cassis mingling with notes of cedar, mocha, mint, and smoke. This focused, medium full-bodied wine shows excellent balance, and a long, firm and spicy finish. Enjoy now with T-bone steak, aged Cheddar, or cellar for up to 3 years.
553321 (XD) 750 mL $22.95

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2004 Vignerons du Mont Ventoux Elite

Posted on April 26, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

When I bought this Rhône, I did so for a few reasons, the most prevalant was my sure belief that no Rhône worth it’s weight could be priced sub $20 in Ontario. If we see a red from France in the 15 to 20 range, odds are it is 5 to 9 euros if you can find it in Europe (which of course makes me die a little inside) and while in small shops overseas that price range can allow for a nice find or two, here, that is seldom the case. Still, with $20 to burn and some time on my hands I went forth and purchased this syrah-grenache blend and hoped for the best. Côtes du Ventoux AOC is a southern Rhône region and the Vignerons du Mont Ventoux is one of the larger producers here. I think I have, in the past blogged enough about my fondness of the southern Rhône reds so instead of linking to more information I will refer you back to the side bar where there are some wines already review there. So, instead, I will say let’s move on to the tasting!

With a severe shortage of space (well to be honest, no space at all) I decided that this was one of our wines of the week. What made me decide this was a belief (despite the LCBO’s blurb) that a Grenache-Syrah of mid to lower tier was simply not designed to be cellared, so why take up valuable space? I am not sure many wine-makers aim a wine of this range to be pulled 20 years down the road with an ambitious grin, with that belief the cork was withdrawn and Mrs CWG decanted through the strainer funnel (you never know, do you). The crimson red had a slight hint of that rust colour I love so much. The nose gave raspberry and spice and actually seemed dull. It did not help that the previous night’s wine was literally one of the best wines of the year for us, thus raising the bar. None the less, we dove in with the passion that only a wine lover can exhibit. The tannins are larger than expected yet the wine is still balanced, simply large from start to finish. As we got deeper into the wine we noticed more of a red licorice/ candied flavour, not unexpected as the raspberry turned to more of a jam-like taste. The spice remained and evolved to more of a black pepper. Overall we found the wine grew on us. First impressions were not accurate, this is actually a well balanced and well crafted bottle. Pleasantly we ended up thinking this was of good value and will end up recommending it accordingly. Not a ‘Pape but then again, half the price, enjoy accordingly!

The CWG Subjective Rating (CSR?) is 87 out of 100.

Mrs CWG says

this grows on you, quite enjoyable, just do not put it side by side with a great Burgundy!

vmv_elite_2004

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2005 Gevrey-Chambertin en Billard (Alain Burguet)

Posted on April 25, 2009 by CanadianWineGuy

It is rare that we bring back a bottle from some trip and open a bottle right away, but on this occasion we were concerned about a potential corked situation and we were in the mood for a good bottle of wine. Thus this wine was opened probably 5 years in advance of what we expected. This Côte-d’Or, Burgundy was highly recommended from the Caves Augé local guru. Augé is one of the oldest wine shops in Paris, located in the 8ieme on blvd. Haussmann this shop will delight the senses immediately upon entering (see picture below to see what I mean). Once inside do not be shy to ask for help. Name a region and a price range and watch the shopkeep work his magic. In this case we wanted something in the 35 to 50 euro range for our Bourgogne choice. Part of our requirements beyond price were the ability to cellar and something he would drink himself. Not difficult requirements, and pleasantly we were rewarded with a fine wine. Before I go on to the tasting it should be noted we did buy two of these, but I doubt we will open the second for many a year as the below will indicate. But when we do, I will blog about it here. Another note should be that the Gevrey-Chambertin region is the closest region to the famous city of Dijon and therefore the most northern part of Burgundy. On to the tasting!

This wine decanted showed it’s youth with a vibrant purple-red colour and heavy nose of cherry and spice. Once inside our pinot glasses we swirled out more of the same fruit and hints of casis. First sip gave a quick view of what was in store, big bold and beautiful. Good solid tannins with heavy fruit make this wine jump at you in such a way as to want to more and more. This beauty will benefit from significant cellaring time, in the range of 7 to 15 years. It is stellar Burg’ and represents the vintage well. If you happen to come across this in any capacity pick some up, you will be well rewarded. We ended up paying under $60 Canadian after exchange which makes this one ‘helluva’ a steal. Online auctions have this in the $65 US range if they have stock, so keep your eyes peeled.

The CWG Subjective Rating is a 91 out of 100.

Mrs CWG believes

we made a good choice getting two of these!

2005_gevrey_chambertincaveauge

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