All posts in Wine Picks

LCBO Vintages Catch-Up

by Billy on January 20, 2012 in Vintages Picks with No comments

A FEW PICKS OF WINES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

I’m doing my best to keep you posted with good stuff from Vintages. Since moving to the country it’s more difficult to attend all the tasting but I hope to find ways to keep bringing you the most interesting offerings. Such as these.
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WHITES
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DUCA di CASTELMONTE 10 Inzola, Sicily 249573 $14.95
Steely dry, low flavoured, with the classy feeling of a fancy French wine such as Chablis. Really works your taste buds and appetite so think aperitif and seafood appetizer. Best on a hot summer evening. Inzola is a native Sicilian grape.

P.S. Italy is the current champion of alternative dry white wines. The place to turn to when you’re tired of Chard, Sauv, etc.
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MURPHY-GOODE 09 Sauvignon Blanc ‘The Fumé’, California 721092 $18.95
Speaking of alternative whites, here’s a novel Sauvignon from California. Mildly herbaceous but mainly it’s a hard to describe fresh ’n tasty wine. I brought a bottle to a party and couldn’t stop drinking it. Wonderful combination of yummy and elegance. Which totally suited the party. Maybe it will be perfect for yours too.
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BAVA 10 Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy 712547 $14.95
Super-light, low alcohol, semi sweet wine with delicious exotic flavours. One of those novel whites to have open in the fridge for ‘whenever’. Such as Sunday morning, or to get you through an hour with a boring neighbour or inlaw.

P.S. Excited about our BILLY TOUR to visit my buddy Roberto BAVA in October! Read about our tour HERE!
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REDS
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HUNTER’S 09 Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand 586115  $21.95
This is really solid, good, twenty-dollar Pinot. You get a combination of bright New World-style flavours and the drier, earthy feeling of the original from France. Sensual and appetizing. Wow! The perfect wine partner for just about all foods not in the steak camp. And romantic moments.
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COYOTE’S RUN 09 Pinot Noir, VQA Niagara 53090 $19.95
Pinot fans won’t go wild over this but it delivers a decent performance for the price. Freshness, flavour, charm and that uniquely Pinot personality. Shows best with a light chilling and the mood for a light red. Perhaps with a simple take-out BBQ chicken.
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McMANIS 10 Zinfandel, California 256735 $18.95
I like how this Zin combines blockbuster with some playfulness. And delicious bright berry flavours. And a Latino spirit. While you could have it with steak, I think it’s more in the ribs or burger family. More lighthearted. You gotta have a few Zin evenings – with or without food, to get through the winter.

 

P.S. I’ll be offering my picks from the Jan 21 release next week. Don’t worry, the wines will still be available.

Stylish Local White

by Billy on January 19, 2012 in Travel Notes, Wine Picks with No comments

One of the recent best-things-to-happen in local wine has been the creation of the ‘blend’. Especially in whites. We now have a range of really interesting, multipurpose whites at reasonable prices, that I’ve featured in my blogs. Ravine Winery has taken the concept to the next level with a blend that’s not just friendly but also special, and stylish.  The something different feeling. While it’s light ’n refreshing, it also creates the feeling of being at a seaside terrace in Italy or France. The good life! Naturally it will work best in the Summer for lunch/patio sipper/aperitif or whenever. But check it out now to get you in the mood.

Congrats to Ravine for developing a truly local, and stylish wine experience. While it’s not everyday priced I think you’ll see the value in the experience.

RAVINE 10 ‘Sand & Gravel’ York Road, VQA Niagara 260414  $16.95

Take a Chance on Barbabelle

by Billy on January 15, 2012 in Wine Picks with 1 Comment

Regular readers will know of my fondness for Rhone reds and some of you may remember a previous recommendation of one with the attractive name of Barbabelle. The current 09 vintage is the perfect winter warmer – rich, spicy, earthy and warmhearted. All the Rhone feelings. I really like the traditional red wine sense of the earth, and flavours that go beyond obvious fruits.

This is what’s called a ‘consignment’ wine that you order directly from the agent (by the case) to be shipped to your home, office or weekend condo. While it still will pass through the clutches of the LCBO I like the personal touch of ordering a wine directly from the importer. The guy or gal who selected it. Split the case with a friend if twelve bottles is too much.

MARC KREYDENWEISS 09 ‘Barbabelle’, Costieres de Nimes, Rhone, France  $14.95 Case of 12  $179.40

Order here by clicking on Ontario.
http://www.wineonline.ca/index.php/ci_id/1651/la_id/1/wine_color/red/tax_id/1310

Love This Rustic Local

by Billy on January 12, 2012 in Wine Picks with No comments

IF YOU LIKE RUSTIC YOU’LL LOVE THIS LOCAL

I’ve just had an amazing local red. Not anything that would score big with Mr Parker and followers, nor impress on steak night, nor make your weekend party friends giggle with pleasure. This was a wine of the earth, a soulful drink, an honest drink with the rustic qualities found in old-fashioned Bordeaux reds.

So often local (and elsewhere) winemakers feel the need to soften/sweeten/tame the wild character in Cabernet Franc, but not Charmes. This is the real thing. A wonderful true expression that’s at peak right now. Best with any simply roasted/grilled meat.

Unfortunately there isn’t much remaining of this Vintages release. Do the store search by clicking on the wine name at http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=453415&ITEM_NUMBER=453415&language=EN

CHATEAU DES CHARMES 07 Cabernet Franc ‘St. David’s Bench Vineyard’, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara
453415 $25.95

Winter Cabernet

by Billy on January 11, 2012 in Wine Picks with No comments

My first wine post of the New Year is in keeping with predictions from the previous one. Chile is the wine drinkers new best friend, and there’s lots of good wine to be had under $10. Kawin is crafted in the yummy, plummy, rich style of a Merlot and there’s the smoothness and slight sweetness found in most reds from Mr Lurton. Sure to please on a cold January night. Forgot to note the year on the bottle, but whatever you get will be what I tasted.

FRANCOIS LURTON Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Kawin’, Chile 219444 $9.95

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