LCBO Vintages July 4, 2009

2nd
Jul. × ’09

VINTAGES JULY 4, 2009
THE LOW DOWN: Most of my selections are from the old wine world. Characterful wines at reasonable prices – the reason to shop at Vintages.
simonne

SPARKLING
SIMONNET-FEBVRE Brut, Cremant de Bourgogne, France
126318 $18.95
This Chablis producer has crafted a wine that’s terribly close to Champagne. Not a surprise really, as the two regions have identical soils, grapes and climate. This is the bargain of the century for Champagne lovers!
castoza

FRESH WHITE
ALBINO PIONA 08 Custoza, Veneto, Italy 119446 $14.95
Super-zesty with a refreshing lemony tang. Lots of pep, lots of fun – perfect for the hot weather.
strewnriesling

STREWN 06 Riesling ‘Terroir’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 467613 $16.95
Low-alcohol, dry Riesling that’s starting to develop the Fino Sherry tang. Heavenly stuff if you’re a fan. Aperitif and a great partner for BBQ’d shrimp.

muga

DRY ROSÉ
MUGA 08 Rosé, Rioja, Spain 603795 $12.95
Lots of pucker. And lots of flavour. But not too rich. A great refresher, alfresco lunch or aperitif wine.

suri

RED LIVELY
VILLA GIADA 07 Barbera D’Asti ‘Suri’, Piedmont, Italy 117168 $14.95
Here’s something to delight those who share my fondness for gutsy, tart, Italian reds. Explodes with cherry flavours and refreshment – makes you crave food. Wine’s original purpose.

carragosa


RICH RED
QUINTA da CARREGOSA 07 Douro, Portugal 115725 $16.95
Super-rich red produced from the Port grapes. If you like Shiraz, you’ll love this.
jau

CH. de JAU 06 Cotes du Roussillion-Villages, France 955070 $14.95
A great summer BBQ red – delicious fruity flavours, lively personality and not killer rich. There’s even a refreshing tang. Could be the red buy of the season.
bonnysyrah

BONNY DOON 05 Syrah ‘Le Pousseur’, California 732511 $21.95
Bonny Doon favours the Rhone style so this is quite gutsy and dry. Really good food wine for BBQ’d red meats.

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A Little Sweetness = Sales

2nd
Jul. × ’09

siblingrivalry1A little sweetness sells a lot of wine.

Niagara Wineries are finding great success with white wines that contain a little sweetness. And in many cases the spicy, exotic flavours of the Gewurztraminer. Flat Rock’s Twisted, Hillebrand’s Trius White and Inniskillin’s Brae Blanc have a big following and are likely to be joined by Henry of Pelham’s Sibling Rivalry 08 White (#4001353 $13.95).

This kid is very zesty, very pretty and very summery. A crowd-pleaser for sure, but there is a simplicity that may find you wanting something else after your first glass. Sibling Rivalry 07 Red is also crafted in the want-to-win-you-over style – with spicy/sweet flavours and softness we associate with Aussie reds.

Pelham is obviously going after the novice drinker with these wines and the question of the day is, does a winery with a reputation for quality and tradition risk damaging its reputation by introducing lighthearted brands?

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Ontario Wine Fair @ Cafe Taste

1st
Jul. × ’09

Fellow Toronto area winos might want to check out the ONTARIO WINE FAIR on Saturday JULY 11 at the charming Café Taste.  Taste samples from approximately 20 wineries from Ontario, alongside 30 Ontario cheeses. Cost is $50 advance, $60 at door. Space is limited so get on it.

Wineries: Flat Rock, Norman Hardie, Calamus, Angel’s Gate, Featherstone, Magnotta, Lailey, Tawse, Fielding, Kacaba, Peller, Inniskillin, Thirty-Bench, Ch. des Charmes, Twenty-Twenty Seven, Legends Estates, Black Prince, Rockway Glen, The Grange  and Rief.

Cafe Taste is located at 1330 Queen St. West in the vibrant and historic Parkdale neighborhood of Toronto. 416.800.1833 Email cafetaste@rogers.com www.cafetaste.ca

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The Local Riesling Club

30th
Jun. × ’09

vinelandThe Local Riesling Club
There’s no such organization, but maybe I should form one! There are lots of fans of local Riesling because it can be so good. Except in the 2007 vintage when it lost its edge and went flat.  Flat or smooth are not a good thing in Riesling. The 08’s seem to be back on track and I’ll be reporting as they become available over the summer.

A must for lazy summer sloshing on the deck or dock is Vineland 08 Semi-Dry Riesling. Delicious fruitiness, tons of zest and a wonderful happy feeling. Guaranteed to make you glad you took the day off! So fresh, it feel drier than its labeling and only nine percent alcohol. One of the gems in local wine.

Vineland 08 Semi-Dry Riesling, VQA Niagara 232033 $13.95
If you’re a real keener for something exclusive, check out Twenty Twenty Seven Cellars 08 ‘Featherstone Vineyard’ Riesling. Only a 100 cases made and selling for $24.95. It’s razor sharp, pure as snow and low alcohol. Classic dry Riesling. Only flavours now are wet stone but give it a year or three. (A second wine ‘Falls Vineyard’ has less presence). 2027 is a virtual winery creation by a Niagara College graduate, Kevin Panagapka. He has worked at Creekside, Flat Rock, Hillebrand, Thirty Bench – the winery name is his grape grower registration number. Available at Featherstone Winery in Vineland or from Kevin at 2027cellars@gmail.com

Twenty Twenty Seven Cellars 08 ‘Featherstone Vineyard’ Riesling, VQA Twenty Mile Bench $24.95

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More Featherstone Wines

29th
Jun. × ’09

featherlogox240In addition to the previous recommended Featherstone 08 Riesling ‘Old Vines’ VQA Twenty Mile Bench $16.95, Featherstone also has an excellent dry Riesling ‘Old Vines’ of their own. Seriously tart and needs a year.

If you’re there check out the off-dry Rosé. Lots of zest for party sipping or alfresco meals. Featherstone is a genuine cottage winery and you’ll not meet nicer folks than owners David and Louise. Best newsletter in Niagara.

Featherstone 08 Riesling ‘Old Vines’ VQA Twenty Mile Bench $16.95

Featherstone 08 Rosé VQA Twenty Mile Bench $14.95

P.S. Another Niagara winery showing well with 08 Riesling is Fielding, $16.00. Lots of nervy energy, almost bone dry.

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Recession Reds Event at Grano

28th
Jun. × ’09

grano1CAN YOU HAVE A GREAT WINE LIFE FOR $10?
Billy’s Best Bottles presented a fun night of RECESSION REDS
April 14th, 2009 at Grano restaurant, Toronto.

Over one hundred people tasted 24 reds priced under $10 selected from Billy’s Best Bottles Wines for 2009. These wines were ‘brown bagged’, with no labels showing. Wines were from Italy, France, Portugal, South Africa, Australia, Canada, Chile and Argentina. Everyone voted for their two favourites in Old World and New World categories.

– every wine scored at least ten votes
– there was no runaway winner
– a $11 Ontario red was included and it scored well
– Portugal and South Africa were the winning countries

***Print off the complete list of Recession Reds here (great shopping list!)***

Thanks to all the wine importers who donated generously, and to Roberto and Lucia of Grano for giving over their restaurant for the evening. The spaghetti meatball supper was a hit with everyone.

THE RESULTS
OLD WORLD STYLE: Very dry reds that work best with food. Rustic and refreshing.

JOINT FIRST PLACE OLD WORLD STYLE
Quinta de Crasto 07 Douro ‘Flor de Crasto’ Portugal $9.95 89870
Spinelli 07 Sangiovese, Abruzzi, Italy $7.50 621961
JOINT SECOND OLD WORLD STYLE
Cesari 07 Merlot, Venezie, Italy $7.45 572453
Sogrape 05 Douro ‘Vila Regia’, Portugal $8.15 464388
Alianca 07 Douro ‘Foral’, Portugal $8.50 239046

NEW WORLD STYLE: Rich, spicy/sweet wines that win you over on the first sip. Food or party wines.

FIRST PLACE NEW WORLD STYLE
Familia Zuccardi ‘Fuzion’ 08 Shiraz/Malbec, Argentina $7.45 83188
SECOND PLACE NEW WORLD STYLE
Obikwa 07 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa $8.95 665323
JOINT THIRD NEW WORLD STYLE
Ubunto 06 Shiraz, South Africa $9.95 66528
Trapiche ‘Astica’ 08 Merlot/Malbec, Argentina $7.45 359075

ALSO scored well
KWV 07 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa $9.95 220004
Long Flat 07 Cabernet/Merlot, Australia $12.85/1 Litre Tetra 24802

P.S. Peller Estates 07 Cabernet/Merlot, VQA Niagara ($10.95 58628), was inserted as a ringer and it finished between the first and second places. Impressive.

grano31

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Back to Basics – Cab & Merlot

28th
Jun. × ’09

medocCabernet and Merlot originated in France, and they’re still going strong in the Bordeaux region. A cool climate and French wine culture produces a somewhat light and lean edition of these grapes – very different from the Aussie or Chilean efforts. The Bordeaux expression refreshes and invigorates the palate – what’s known as the bistro style. Great with food, but not a lot of fun for party gulping. Especially if you have a low tolerance for dryness.

I enjoy Bordeaux (most are a blend of Cabernet and Merlot) in the summer for the refreshing nature and moderate alcohol levels. The rustic bite also appeals to me – gives the wine a sense of place. Try the following.

CALVET 06 Medoc, Bordeaux  38208 $13.95
Gutsy, invigorating, traditional French wine. Modest alcohol. An elbows on the table, let’s-get-eating feeling. And bring on the second bottle. Offers a refreshing break from today’s world of super smooth rich reds.

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Southbrook’s Dry Rosé

27th
Jun. × ’09

southbrookroseSOUTHBROOK 08 Cabernet Rosé, VQA Niagara on the Lake
(Winery/Vintages in the Fall) $17.95
Hits a lot of wine spots – refreshing, kinda rich and pleasant. Good for lunch, afternoon or supper. An organic/biodynamic wine that shows the potential of Ontario dry rosé. Premium priced but delivers quality.

P.S. Malivoire’s delicious ‘Ladybug’ Rosé (previous recommendation) will be back in stock on Vintages shelves in a few weeks.

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We’re Coming to Wakefield!

25th
Jun. × ’09

wakefieldwebAttention Ottawa & Area Fans!
Billy’s Best Bottles is coming to Wakefield!

Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27

TWO EVENTS!
1. Wine Tasting at SOLSTICE livres musique books music, 721 ch Riverside Wakefield, PQ J0X 3G0
FRIDAY JUNE 26
7:30 - 10 pm
‘Wine by Mood’: See, feel and taste the connection between wine and mood. Be transformed into a super-confident wine shopper and drinker. Discover a simplicity and clarity you never thought was possible in the puzzling world of wine. Guaranteed
FUN wine ‘edu-tainment’!
Tickets $50: includes sparkling wine reception, a tasting of 8 wines from around the world, and a copy of Canada’s best selling wine book – Billy’s Best Bottles Wines for 2009!

2. Wine Tasting & Dinner at CHEZ ERIC (www.cafechezeric.ca) 28 Valley Drive, Wakefield
SATURDAY JUNE 27
‘Wine by Mood’ tasting at 4:30 pm, followed by dinner
Tickets $85: includes wine tasting (see above), dinner, and a copy of Billy’s Best
Bottles Wines for 2009!

Get your tickets NOW at Solstice! Space is limited!
(819) 459-2797
info@solsticewakefield.ca

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Proud Chardonnay

25th
Jun. × ’09

pridelabel

Niagara’s  Daniel Lenko winery has released a special edition ‘Rainbow’ label of his 07 Unoaked Chardonnay $19.95 (called Chardonngay). A great everyday white that spans the refreshment and easy sipping categories. A dollar from each bottle goes to AIDS research.

The Lenko family were one of the first to plant vinifera grapes in Beamsville so all of their wines are full of character. And premium priced. Old Vines 06 Merlot $29.95 is rustic, earthy and very French Bistro. Two stunning whites are the exotic, powerfully flavoured 07 Gewurztraminer  $29.95, and the rich and charming 07 Viognier $39.95.

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