Louis Banyard's "Signature Wines" recently introduced me to two new white wines----one, called "Mythique" from France's Languedoc region and the other "Ridgepoint Monticello Bianco VQA" the Niagara Peninsula. The Granache/Marsanne blend of Mythique is a pleasant dry wine with peach apricot on the nose and a medium bodied very fresh taste on the palate. Great with grilled fish, white meat and as an aperitif! At $10.95 a nice bargain (LCBO #259655)! The Monticello Bianco $13.95 ( LCBO #218651)is a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer and Riesling---all grown in the Niagara Peninusla. It IS a white blend! Remember it is the skin of the grape that determines the colour of the wine and if removed, the juice comes out as white. The wine is a refreshing blend of aromas and flavours of citrus, lychee, melon and apple. Nice acidity on the finish make it a worthwhile accompaniment to light meat, seafood and even on its own. Both wines are worth a try. The Mythique really impressed those who tried it at a recent tasting. The Monticello is well worth the try even for its unique red/white grape blend.
I recently tasted the G.Marquis series of wine from the Niagara Peninsula and found it quite excellent an excellent group. While I enjoyed the wines in the group, the wine that impressed me the most was the G.Marquis VQA Silver Line Single Vineyard "Niagara Stone Road"! The wine had smoke, black fruit and voilets on the nose with a so smooth mouthfeel with a finish that remained for quite awhile. Friends that I shared the wine with guess the bottle at $28. to $35 and where surprised at the $19.95 price tag. The wine is available via Vintages #258673. I would purchase more than one and cellar them from five to ten years. However, the wine is so delicious, I would probably drink it right away. Just no control!!!!.
The recently released "G. Marquis VQA Chardonnay Single Vineyard Niagara Stone Road" offers excellent Chardonnay value with lots of melon, apple and pear notes along with butter and vanilla spice. A nice wine for seafood, light meat and pasta with cream sauce. Vintages #258681 $16.95. Keep your eye out for other products in both Silver and Red Line Series.
Two Wines From Inniskillin Still Going Strong
Bruce Nicolson keeps on doing great things at Inniskillin, he is not only an amazing innovator but he makes good stuff! Take for example the Inniskillin Winemaker's series "Select Vineyards P3"---the P3 being Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. The wine is excellently crafted with special selection and separate fermentation of each vineyard. Like its sister wine the "Winemaker's Series Select Vineyards Cabernet/Shiraz" the wine has an excellent price point of $19.95 and is available at the winery or Vintages. By the way, i had a chance to have one of Bruce's Legacy Cab Franc 2007 the other night and while it could have done with a bit more aging, it was super wine with the roast!!!!!!!
The other wine that impressed me recently is the Chadonnay 2010 from the "East/West Series" which matches/blends the best from both worlds---meaning Ontario Niagara/British Columbia Okanagan. This Chardonnay has luscious white fruit on the nose with a citrus/apple/pear/vanila on the palate. Nice Finish. I would ask for this wine at the local Wine Rack outlet.
Great New Wine From Portugal!
Yesterday I met with Alexandre Relvas Junior who is the son of Alexandre Relvas, the owner of Herade de Sao Miquel in Alentejo Province, an area so well adapted to the making of wine. Alexandre is spearheading the winery and has introduced a new product from another family owned company called "Logowines" and is named "AYA" Charming. I was so busy talking to Alexandre, Louis Banyard of Signature Wine, AYA's agent in Ontario and Sales Marketing Director of Logowines, Don Hynes that I instinctively reached for the glass and took a sip. "Charming!!!!" was a misnomer----the wine should have been called "The Greatest!" I was stopped in my tracks and did not flinch when Don said it was a $19.95 wine. In actual fact it was $11.95. The wine, which is made from a blend of Casteloa, Trincadeira, Aragones and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is fresh, lively with berry (Cherry, Raspberry, Cranberry and Red Currant) yet with a fine complexity. Well integrated it is a must to try with a wide variety of foods (I/Alex had it with steak) and Louis/Don had it with Roast Beef.) The wine is available at the LCBO via LCBO # 254359. The bottle is very attractively designed but one thing, look for the work AYA at the top of the bottle since the Charming is sometimes difficult to see---especially if you wear contacts. A definite must for the Christmas Turkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*********************************************************
Inniskillin's New Brand Entry!!!!
Always the innovator, Bruce Nicholson has come out with several wines that are excellent price/quality ratio plus have that edge in producing brand loyalty. What do I mean? Well, the name is easy to remember and easy to talk about and it is-----well-------tenacious. Tenacity White VQA (LCBO #265264) is a nice blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscato and Gwurztraminer. It's floral nose is immediately evident and on the palate the harmony of flavours of citrus, apple and apricot. The Tenacity Red (LCBO #264788) is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir. The wine is very fruit forward on the nose with a wide range or red fruit, coffee, vanilla wood on the palate. The Inniskillin P3 (winery/Wine Rack $17.95) is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The wine has a wide range of flavours and is rich and concentrated with tropical fruit, citrus, vanilla and wood. A truly nice wine and wel worth the money. The above wines (especially P3) were selected strictly by quality and health of vine. Nicholson has another group of winners!!!!!!!
*********************************************************
Checkout These New Wines!!!!!
Doing a television show does have its merits since one is introduced to new wines. Today (October 7th) I went down to pick up several wines for an appearance that I was making on Rogers Community Television Channel 10. The theme was of course Thanksgiving and the wines I picked up were wines conducive to the mark. My choices: Sattlerhof Sterische Klassik Morillon Vintages 241992 $22.95 which is actually a Chardonnay from the southern part of Austria called Styria. An amazing wine that is a great match with turkey and cream sauce. Malivoire Old Vines Foch Vintages 551036 $16.45 an ideal fruity dry wine for plain roast turkey, Compagnia De Volpaia Citto Vintages 134817 $11.70 one terrific turkey or pasta wine especially roast turkey with a butter crust, Fess Parker "Big Easy" Syrah Vintages 83212 $34.95 though more expensive, worth every bit of it and rated 91 by Robert Parker. Muscular, powerful, great with turkey and can withstand the challenge of cranberry sauce or gravey. i love Fess Parker producrts and this one is only eclipsed by the great FParker Rodney's Vineyard Syrah which is very hard to get. The choice for opening up was a sparkling Mumm Napa Rose Vintages 205641 $29.05 The wine was extra dry but had so much fruit to it that it tasted like a 2 on the sugar scale. We had this wine last since it went well with the dessert as well as the whole meal served by Chef Vito from Liason College.
******************************************************
I attended a wine tasting held by the Essential Wine Group at Fazio's Restaurant on October 6th and found some great new reds that showed some excellent promise. Here are the wines and in the order that I enjoyed them. 1) Without question the Cornerstone Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena, Napa Valley came out on top. This wine is a muscular bodybuilder but not the bulky kind with just muscle. It is "cut", crafted, and elegant------a Mr. Universe as compared to the a gym club contender. IThe 2003 has the ability to go on for some time but delicious now. After a bit of deliberation, I awarded second place to Farmers Leap 2004 Shiraz from South Australia. Ripe black fruit with mouth filling pleasure, this wine with its plum, cherry and chocolate was utterly amazing in a class of amazing wines. It edged out the Azienda Agricola Paitin Barbera 2008 it had an intense nose of blackberries, cherries and a touch of vanilla spice. I loved the bouquet. Number four on the list was the Salvano Barolo 2006 was an amazine delight of violets on the nose and velvet on the palate. This is a big wine from a big year and will develop further as time marches on. Close to it was the Le Presi Brunello di Montalcino, Brunello is regarded by many as the Premier Cru of Italian Wines though in recent years has been suplanted by Amarone and to an extent by Barolo depending on what the "palate of the day" is. This wine was quite herbacious in addition to the wild cherries, tobacco, smoke that were on nose and palate. Of the wines tasted I felt that this wine would definitely develop well into the 15th if not 20th year. There was great integrity in the wine and it definitely one to watch. A Cotes du Rhone, Domaine Alain Jaume Cotes du Rhone 2009 had great fruit (raspberry, blackberry, currant) with pepper and anise spice. it was number 6 on the list. The seventh wine on my list of favourites was no slouch the Robert Reynolds Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi California is an excellent value per price ratio with ripe black and red fruit and pepper spice. Fruit forward it was immediately pleasing. Also very pleasing was the Podere San Cristoforo Petit Verdot with its nose and palate of ripe red fruit and anise/liquorice finish. The remaining two red wines, Podere Carandella and Podere Amaronte were nice examples of young Tuscan wines that are great for sipping and having with food. Both were nicely made and well balanced. Nice wines. You can contact The Essential Wine Group by calling 905-767-5200.
************************************************
New wines from a new wine agency, Essential Wine Group is importing some very exciting wines from various parts of the new as well as old world. It's latest additions are the famous wines of Podere San Cristoforo of Tuscany Italy. Podere San Cristoforo follows a strict biodynamic approach to winemaking which takes in to account not only organic agriculture and moving life into the soil. Included in this approach is the inclusion of the lunar calendar in conjunction with all vineyard and cellar operations with the belief that all life on earth is affected by the lunar movements. The wines are excellent and very reasonably priced. The Podere San Cristoforo Luminoso $26.95 is a fine wine made with the Vermentino/Trebbiano grapes. With a floral nose, mineral spice on the palate and a round integrated finish this wine lends itself to a super wine/food match of game fowl, pork tenderloin dishes and white meat. The Podere San Cristoforo Carandelle 2009 $28.95 is made from 100% Sangiovese with a nose of dark fruit, spice and a palate that is integrated, round and with a great length. Super wine with a variety of foods as well as game and beef dishes. The Podere San Christoforo Amaranto $24.95 not as powerful as the previous wine but a wine that is made from the same Sagiovese grape albeit a different vineyard. On the nose it is light and fruit filled with a delicious spice. On the palate is red fruit with almonds and vanilla spice. Nice finish. A nice easy drinking wine with a great sense of food. The Podere San Cristoforo San Cristoforo 2009 $43.95 is a blockbuster wine with loads of fruit layers on the nose and one that develops as the wine "airs" in the glass. The palate is a rich expression of the Petit Verdot grape and a red wine for game, dark meat, beef. The Podere San Christoforo Luminoso Dolce very rare and very sweet wine made from the Vermentino and Trebbiano grapes. It is very limited and made from air dried grapes. Dessert wine for sure!!!! Robert Parker has given these wine very high ratings of between 89 and 95 points and the Wine Spectator a 93. The prices reflect a bargain. Give them a call at the Essential Wine Group 905-767-5200.
**************************************************
The new Greenlane Estate Winery in the 20 Valley wine region of Niagara is off to a rapid start with three phenomenal wines at reasonable prices. The Greenlane Estate 2010 Pinot Gris/Riesling $16.95 has a lovely floral/citrus nose with a honeymelon, citrus and pear palate and nice pleasant finish. Perfect summer sipping wine. The Greenlane Estate Riesling $21.95 has a fresh nose, citrus and notes of white fruit with a palate that was very fresh, mineral with citrus/melon. A crisp refreshing finish caps it all off. Greenlane Estate Riesling Old Vines $29.95 from 22 year old vines shows citrus, pineapple, peach notes on the nose with citrus and tropical flavours on the palate. Long and lovely finish. This is the first time I tried these wines and must admit-----I'm going back for more!!!!! Wines available at the winery and on line. Watch for Vintages Releases in September. Podere San Christoforo Luminoso 2010 $26.95 cellent
Jackson Triggs' Entourage is the new sparkler at the LCBO and it is a winner with roasty toasty aromas and a palate of vanilla, spice, cirtus and apple/pear, this method classique or traditionally made wine has fine, tiny bubbles and a refreshing finish. Great with sea food, spicy foods and on its own. A great summer drink or celebration wine. Vintages #234161 $22.95
Inniskillin's Riesling/Pinot Gris is another Vincor wine that pleases as a food wine and/or refreshing summer drink. The wine has a nice floral nose with accomanying citrus, apple and pear notes. On the palate it is light to medium bodied with citrus, mineral apple and a nice crisp acidic finish. Refreshing for those Summer nights. LCBO # 145458 $13.95
The House of Philippe Dandurand has upgraded some of its French Selection Series with two new varietals. The Selection Chardonnay LCBO 243352 is a well made white wine with a fresh citrus lemmon and apple nose and a pleasant medium palate. The Selection Merlot LCBO 243378 exhibits a red cherries and raspberries with a pleasantly full palate. Nice tannins lead to a smooth, fresh finish. Both wines are $8.45.
Another wine from Philippe Dandurand is Trapiche Reserve Syrah 2008 from Argentina. This is an amazing wine with good price/quality ratio with lovely nose of anise, tobacco, smoke and chocolate. The palate has a mixture of black fruit such as blackberry, plum and currant with vanilla spice and cedar. The finish is long and pleasant. LCBO # 222281 $11.95
Mike Weir Riesling is what makes fun all about. This wine with its peach, pear, melon and sweet apple nose leads to a medium dry palate with a sweet citrus/lychee, peach flavour. The integration between acid and sugar is excellent. Very nice finish. Seafood for sure with Pork roast as a second choice. Vintages # 229286
Craig de Blois of the Lifford Wine Agency dropped in and introduced me to several new wines that are now available via the LCBO. These Aussie wines had typical Aussie names and they were quite good. Very approachable now and super with food. In addition to that the price is just right---definitely not one that will break the bank.
The Shingleback "Haycutters /SauvignonSemillon" is the perfect combination of fresh acidity and lovely tropical fruit. Not mouth puckering dry but with an ever so small amount of sweetness, this is a great drink on its own or with fish or other seafood. I loved every last drop. LCBO 207365 $17.95
"Red Knot Cabernet Sauvignon" by Shingleback is a great accompaniment to lamb, beef and even game. It is high in alcohol (14%) and chock full of black fruit, firm tannins with a super long finsh. Another Aussie win!!! LCBO 91702 $17.95
"Junior" from Mitolo is another "down under" wine that impresses both in the alcohol (14.5%) and the colour (deep purple). The flavour is dark fruit and eucalyptus with coffee and anise spice. Another lamb and beef wine but more on the lamb side. Sugar 1 LCBO 183947 $14.90----if you go now you may get it at $1. off the price!!!!
Shingleback Haycutters Shiraz/Viognier is a unique combination of a white (viognier) and red (shiraz) grape. The result is a very supple wine for now drinking and trust me! It is very tasty-----made for summer fun at the barby. Like the rest it is high in alcohol (14.5%) Vintages l66132 $18.95
Vincor International introduced me to the following two wines which are a "steal" for summer entertainment
"Flourish Merlot/Pinot Noir" is a new entry from Vincor that is made for pleasant drinking and sipping either at a picnic or quaffing dinner. The wine is dark in colour with cherry/plum flavours and a touch of vanilla/pepper spice. Serve cool and have with cold cuts and/or roast beef. LCBO 192500 $10.95
"Flourish Vidal Icewine" finally an Icewine that one can drink without feeling guilty of having spent an arm and a leg. This wine comes in a 250 ml bottle and is decadent in its honey, mangoe and peach/apricot flavours. The vanilla/nutmeg spice is evident in a subtle way. A delicious start to summer. Vintages 222356 $18.95
Two New Must Read Books!
Totally Scallops: Judy Eberspaecher with Introduction By Alex Eberspaecher
Any who do not know about or read the food, wine and travel writings of Alex Eberspaecher must have been stashed away in a cubby some distant place in the universe. Alex is one of the most respected and formost writers on these subjects anywhere. His wife, Judy, is also a well known photographer/writer and has just come out with one of the best books of its type that I have enjoyed. Totally Scallops is a superbly photographed, highly informative and exceptionally well written work about ways to enjoy scallops. It is the culmination of a "26 year" journey that takes you from Alaska to Australia. Easy recipes with supportive photos allow one to see what the dish will look like once the instructions are followed. Background shots of locales where these dishes occur wet the appetite for more and produce an atmosphere of "being there!" An introduction to the legends and history surrounding this tasty shellfish and, of course, a lesson in what wines to match with the dishes by the master himself make the journey complete.
This is not only excellent book to use as an entertainment tool but also one to flip through while spending a quiet moment either with a glass of wine or some tea. The book is a marvel and a great value at under $40. Published by KiMagic. Check www.totallyscallops.com where it is available and constantly changing.
Good Better Best Wines--- A No-Nonsense Guide to Popular Wines: Carolyn Evans Hammond
Have you ever wanted to entertain and been in a quandry as to what to serve with that special meal? Now add to that: "---and didn't want to spend an "arm and a leg doing it!?" Wine writer/Sommelier, Carol Evans has just produced the answer. It is called Good, Better, Best Wines and it is a no-nonsense guide to some of the most popular brands in the United States (many of which are available in Canada). The book comes complete with such items as storing wine, food and wine matches, wine cellars etc. but the crux of the book is about good, better and the best wines that can be purchased at reasonable prices up to about $15 dollars. The work is done in an easy to read and understandable (none of this wine jargon that can confuse) manner which plainly states the wines and why they are chosen. Many favourites are included as are some suprises but what is life without qualified surprises. I have already worn my copy out with my flipping and flapping through its 238 pages. Well worth the price which I believe should be around the $20 mark. An Alpha Book published by Penguin.
Strut is "Strutting Her Stuff"!
When I heard the name "Strut" and then saw the label, a set of shapley female leggs in "Strut", I said to myself, "No way this will make it!" Maybe that's why some writers such as I should stick to writing and stay out of marketing! I made several trips to the local Wine Rack (Vincor Outlets) and watched from afar as visitors looked at the "Strut" display. In the time it took me to walk up to the display to pick up the bottles for a closer look, about six people came, looked, picked up and bought! Also, according to the Wine Rack staff, the bottles are selling very well. So the label, which is a cross between "Sex and the City" meets the "O.C.", did its work and I'm busy eating my hat!
Taste Test: I have tasted four Strut wines. Well-Heeled White (Riesling/Gewurztraminer), Chardonista (Chardonnay), Cab Couture Cab-Merlot), Red Over Heels (Merlot). The wines are well suited to their target group of young to "middlin" female drinkers but men seem to like it too! The Chardonnista is very presentable with a touch of grapefruit, a bit of oak and apple. The Well Heeled White was a wife pleaser who loved the tropical flavours which incidentally improved over night in an unfinished bottle. The reds with their ripe red fruit flavours (they're 2007s need I say more) should please men with their foreward power but women should find the same wines elegant and "sip worthy". As I eat my hat, enjoy the wines and---er---pass the salt please! (all wines available at Wine Rack and LCBO for $11.95)
Wines Of Nova Scotia Are Amazing!
While you are at it, check out my blog regarding the Wines Of Nova Scotia. How about a white Eagle Tree Muscat from Jost Vineyards or a white L'Acadie Reserve from Domaine de Grand Pre? Why not try a picture perfect Petite Riviere Cotes de Lahaye Terres Rocheux, a Taurus from Benjamin Bridge or a Baco Noir from Blomidon Ridge (all red). Then there is the Castel from Gaspereau Vineyards or a Black Fly Pinot Noir from Bear River (reds) and yet, even more come our way such as the Method Champenoise or Traditional Method sparkling wine from L'Acadie Vineyards. Then there are the phenomenal Icewines and a new wine that is sweeping the Maritimes called Nova 7! These are food wines as well as sipping wines and if you get a chance to taste, do so! Contact me for more information or do a search for Wines of Nova Scotia in your computer!
New Wine/Food Match Service!
Are you having that special meal? Not sure about what to serve? Are you having a special group over and want to impress them with your wine/food matching prowess? For $10 you will get a wine to match the food or a food to match the wine, party suggestions and even where you can get that special wine. Email Chuck Byers and get details!
New Innovation To Hit LCBO Shelves This June!
Hardy's will be introducing a Bottle and Glass Unit in a Single Serve Shuttle! The "shuttle" features a single-serve 250 ml acrylic wine bottle securely sealed by its own acrylic wine glass. A gentle twist of the glass opens up the wine for serving. The famous "Stamp of Australia" blends of Chardonnay/Semillon and ShirazCabernet Sauvignon will be available via Chuchill Cellars the wines will be priced at $4.25 each in Ontario. In Western Canada they are represented by Vincor Canada. Great for the upcoming picnic season!
Daniel Lenko Estate Winery Displays Its New White Wines
The winery which features the oldest vinifera vines in Canada has introduced its 2007 white wines. The word to describe them is "Impressive" and "Concentrated"! Now mind you, I would be hard pressed to find a well made 2007 wine lacking in concentration but Lenko's wines are quite that and more. The Reserve Riesling from 25 year old vines has that touch of sweetness and is full of the honey, citrus and spice notes ($19.95).
The Gewurztraminer comes with floral, apple, lychee and spice on the nose and palate it is a soft and welcoming wine with an excellent balance ($29.95).
At $39.95, The Viognier, made from 15 year old vines, may seem a bit expensive but the compex levels of tropical fruit and exceedingly long finish make this wine a must to try!
An interesting addition is the White Cabernet made with 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon! Strawberry, blackberry and apple/pear intermingle making this a very special Rose! ($19.95)!
A new unoked Chardonnay (Charconnaygay) comes from a very young block of vines and is full of tropical fruit and citrus and a clean pebble/mineral finsh! In some ways it reminded me of a very good Grand Cru Chablis ($19.95)!
All wines available via the winery!
Inniskillin Introduces New Brae Blanc
Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Riesling comprise the three grapes of this new addition to the Reserve Series. The wine (LCBO 109975 $14.95) has peach, apricot and honey flavours with a tinge of sweetness to make it very approachable. Definitely a picnic wine.
Colio Releases "Girls' Night Out!"
"Girls' Night Out" is the latest brand effort made by Colio Estates Winery. The red Cabernet/Shiraz and white Riesling both carry the V.Q.A. banner. The Cab/Shiraz went well with piza (both veggie and meat) though I had a distinct preference for the Riesling. The newest pair should be at the LCBO soon retailing about $12.95. The Merlot and Chardonnay at the LCBO now are quite good. The wines are obviously aimed at the female sector but should also be a hit with the males.
Spoiler Alert
My -----sources tell me that there's a new group of V.Q.A.'s coming out called "OPEN"! They are being bottle as we speak---er! Read! However, the LCBO plans to launch these blends in June! You heard it here first!!!! I will let you know more as time goes on!
