Archive for March, 2009

LCBO Vintages March 14, 2009

by Kato on March 14, 2009 in Vintages Picks with No comments

VINTAGES March 14, 2009
THE LOW DOWN: Not a lot to recommend. But you can’t go wrong buying Colio Sauvignon Blanc and Cotes du Rhône for summer drinking. And crowd pleasing doesn’t get much better than with Bianchi Malbec.

Rant! The two wines from Reif have unpleasant musty, dusty flavours. A quality I’ve found in many of their wines. Can’t say for sure, but I think it’s a cellar problem.

WHITES Vintages March 14
COLIO 06 CEV Sauvignon Blanc, VQA Lake Erie North Shore, On
500462 $15.95
Style: FRESH WHITE
Context/Mood: Early evening, aperitif, or any summer day.
Comments: Good local expression of Sauvignon – mild on flavour but big on refreshment. Lip-smacking tarness suggest summer situations, and moderate alcohol allows for generous gulping.

DANIEL LENKO 06 Unoaked Chardonnay, VQA, Niagara 91173 $19.95
Style: FRESH/RICH WHITE
Context/Mood: Looking for something different.
Comments: I love this because it’s an odd ball. Expect some of the tart, green, mineral character of Chablis along with a distinct Ontario wildness. More challenging than yummy. Very old world and a very good contrasting partner for the sweetness in seafood or savoury white meat dishes.

HILLEBRAND 07 Trius White, VQA, Niagara 54957 $18.95
Style: NICE/EASY WHITE
Context/Mood: The mood for something new in refreshing whites.
Comments: An exciting mix of tart refreshment and pretty flavours. The ying yang thing. Riesling zest meets Chardonnay flesh, meets Traminer’s exotic flavours. Rock on. A wine with great fan and food appeal.

REDS Vintages March 14
CASTEL OUALOU 07 Côtes du Rhône, France 104893 $13.95
Style: LIVELY
Context/Mood: Red but not rich. Something upbeat and refreshing.
Comments: Lively, juicy red for everyday gulping. Refreshing and fun. Red wine for white meats and early evening drinking. Get a case.

BECKETT’S FLAT 07 Cabernet/Shiraz ‘Five Stones’, Margaret River, Western Australia 58693 $19.95 (Kosher)
Style: RUSTIC RED
Context/Mood: A red that’s solid but not serious nor weighty.
Comments: Cool climate Aussie red with the vitality and brightness of a Niagara Cab Franc. Food wine that can cover a lot of bases.

FAMIGLIA BIANCHI 06 Malbec Mendoza, Argentina 677559 $16.95
Style: RICH RED
Context/Mood: Seduction.
Comments: Here’s my crowd pleaser pick, and it could be one of the best of the year. Rich, with yummy, plummy flavours and lushness. But it’s also lively and upbeat. This doll can dance! Bianchi is one of my favourite new world wineries.

IRISH WHISKEY! Vintages March 14
A good thing happened to Irish whiskey two decades ago with the opening of Cooley distillery. Nearly all the business had fallen into the hands of conglomerates who were crafting for the mass market, but Cooley restored individuality to Irish Whiskey, and combined it with very clever marketing. Their whiskeys have place names that are steeped in Irish lore – the drinker feels a connection to a place and history.

Cooley’s ‘The Tyrconnell’ Single Malt has a lovely honey malt nose and a wholesome ‘juice of the barley’ taste and feeling. Flavourful and friendly in the style of Viognier wine. Tyrconnell was the last Gaelic sovereignty in Ireland ending around 1600. The name was later given to a racehorse – hence the label.

Cooley’s ‘Connemara’ Peated Single Malt has salty, seaweed flavours that create a sense of the ocean, along with smoky, sexy smells of peat. Shades of a peaty Scotch. Late night, contemplative whiskey. Connemara is a windswept outpost on the west coast of Ireland much celebrated for all things Gaelic, and rock star mansions.

COOLEY’S ‘The Tyrconnell’ Single Malt, Ireland 402396 $52.95 (Vintages)
COOLEY’S ‘Connemara’ Peated Single Malt, Ireland 27946 $63.95 (Vintages)

Newfoundland

by Kato on March 14, 2009 in Food & Restaurants, Travel Notes with No comments

newflartgalleryWe were fortunate to conduct at wine tasting on a boat in the harbour of St. John’s a few years back….but this info might still come in handy should you find the urge to visit our new favourite place.

The Friday party led to the Saturday party which led to the Sunday supper. Seamless, as they say. We conducted a client appreciation wine tasting in there somewhere for finance guy Jeff and that led to another party. I’ve always heard that Newfoundlanders were like the Irish and it’s true – sociability is their way of life. Conversation is their bread and butter. And we met lots of new friends! Hosts extraordinaire Jeff and buddy Brian shared tunes, tales and tips, Bern and Bev showed huge hearts and hospitality…

“DID YOU KNOW that when you retire in Newfoundland, you get a piece of art, not a watch?”

Did manage a little about-town research in St John’s and for what it’s worth:

• The new ART GALLERY called ‘The Rooms’ is a must visit. It’s also a museum, has a café, and great vistas of the harbour and neighbouring buildings.

• The HARBOUR-SIDE WALK up to Signal Hill is also a must. So intimate it takes you across someone’s front deck.

• AUNTIE CRAE’S, 272 Water St, is a charming, old world meets new world, high-quality food store and café. Excellent espresso counter at the back.

• The LIQUOR STORE on Water Street doesn’t look like much but go exploring and you’ll find one of the best wine offerings anywhere. Every great French or Italian wine you ever read about is not only on the shelf, but often in several vintages and, in different bottle sizes. And at reasonable prices. Excuse me Mr LCBO, your Summerhill flagship is a great building, but the wine selection cannot hold a candle to this. And it’s in a town of less than 100,000 people.

• Yes, it’s true that George Street does have more bars than anyone could visit. Including the just opened, YELLOW BELLY BREW PUB. Canada’a best brewer, LIAM McKENNA is back in action here after his Dublin experience where his beer was good that Guinness paid bar owners not to stock it.

BLUE ON WATER is a smart, modern boutique hotel, restaurant, bar right by the harbour.

• THE BAD AND THE UGLY: Hotels and office towers built in the past couple of decades are totally unsympathetic to St. John’s simple, colourful box, maritime architecture. When will North American cities learn that it’s style, not volume, that makes a place rich! Thankfully the new art gallery sets an example for future development.

“WHEN WE DRIVE TO MY BROTHER’S PLACE IN MANITOBA, WE JUST PUT THE FREEZER IN THE VAN AND WE’D BE ALL SET FOR FOOD.”

Worse Wine

by Kato on March 10, 2009 in Billy's World, Wine Picks with No comments

WORSE OF THE WORST

And the prize for worst wine of the year (change that to decade) goes to Kressmann ‘Winemaker’s Exclusive Bin’ Red and White, France (Tetra). Both wines have the dull, dirty character of something that had been left on the street for a week. And used as an ashtray. I haven’t tasted anything this bad in decades. Had to warn you.

“We have Bordeaux, Barbera, Chianti, Albarino, Gavi, Sauvignon Blanc, Non-Oaked Chardonnay, even Fino Sherry – what can I pour for you?”

“Shiraz please.”

overheard at a wine event

 

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