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Whites to Make Everyone Happy
WHITES TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY
Time to think about a little stash of whites to delight everyone over the Holidays. Wines that combine with easy drinkability with just enough specialness. A variety of countries and possible new experiences.
CHATEAU des CHARMES 09 ‘Generation Seven’ White, VQA Niagara 197988 $13.95
. . . a multi grape blend with delicious flavours and a feeling of freshness and fun.
MISSION HILL 08 Pinot Blanc ‘Five Vineyards’, VQA Okanagan Valley 145094 $14.95
. . . niceness that feels real.
GRAHAM BECK 09 Chardonnay/Viognier, South Africa 140648 $11.95
. . tropical fruit flavours and zesty vitality. Yummy.
LAURENT MIQUEL 09 Chardonnay, VDP d’Oc, France 157909 $11.95
. . . classy, charming non-oaked wine at a bargain price.
ERRAZURIZ 10 Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 263574 $10.95
. . . the exuberance of Sauvignon with comfort and joy.
GALLO 08 Pinot Grigio, California 82594 $7.95
. . . easy drinking, party gulper at a wonderful price. Thanks Gallo.
December Drinking Tip No.7
December Drinking Tip #4: DOING BUBBLY WITHOUT GOING BROKE
Sparkling is the most important wine purchase of the Holidays for reasons that I hope need no explaining. Get lots – it won’t go bad, I promise. Nothing spreads good cheer like glasses of bubbly. And it doesn’t cost a fortune.
Buy of the year is Jacob’s Creek Brut. Champagne alternative never tasted better. Zesty, toasty and sure to please. Get a case.
Bottega, one of my favourite Prosecco producers, has sent the pink version in a gold covered bottle. Check this picture out. How festive! How can you resist?
Go local with Chateau des Charmes who have been making great sparkling for longer than I care to remember.
It’s hard to distinguish between a good Loire region sparkling and a Champagne. Except in price. Start the evening with Chateau des Montgueret and the rest will be easy sailing.
Mumm Napa is the perfect choice if you need an up-scale name. The wine is damn good too.
B
UBBLY SHOPPING LIST
JACOB’S CREEK BRUT, Australia 562991 $13.95
BOTTEGA Sparkling Rosé Prosecco (gold covered bottles), Italy 621458 $21.95
CHATEAU DES CHARMES SPARKLING BRUT, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 145409 $20.95
CHATEAU DE MONTGUERET BRUT, Cremant de Loire, France 621896 $18.95
MUMM NAPA BRUT ‘Prestige’, California 256678 $27.75
Bonnet is Back!
After two decades of popularity, Chateau Bonnet was canned by the LCBO in 2009. But now they’re brought it back which is sure to please all the folks who wrote asking me “what happen to my favourite white”.
Chateau Bonnet is one of the friendliest, easy-drinking Sauvignons in the world. Pretty Muscadelle and Semillon grapes are blended with the wild Sauvignon guy for a tune that all your friends can enjoy. To start the evening and sip with appetizers. Or house wine.
Wine style: nice ‘n easy white
Chateau Bonnet 08 Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France 83709 $13.95
Union – The Allan and Andrew Show
There has been a lot of new wine brands coming out of Niagara this year (Fresh, Unity, Guilty Men, Flourish) – an attempt to compete with popular brands from elsewhere. More safe wines for safe shoppers.
But there’s one new brand that you should explore. Union white and red. This ‘virtual’ winery was created by Allan Jackson (former Jackson-Triggs) and Andrew von Teichman (former Pelee Island) and their first pair of multiple grape blends are both good drinks and a good attempt at making local wine more accessible and affordable.
Unity White tastes and feels like a mild edition of Sauvignon. Zesty but also lighthearted and crowdpleasing. Excellent house wine. The red reminds me of café wine in Europe. Light, gutsy, refreshing and a good set-up for food. The original purpose of wine. Also a house wine candidate – unless you’re addicted to the richness in Shiraz and Malbec.
UNION 09 WHITE, Riesling/Sauvignon/Gewurztraminer/Chardonnay, VQA Ontario 197145 $13.95
UNION 07 RED, Pinot Noir/Cabernet/Merlot/Gamay, VQA Ontario 197152 $13.95
Billy: Yikes! Clearly I didn't drink ENOUGH.
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