All posts tagged Australia

LCBO Vintages Saturday Feb.4, 2012

by Billy on February 7, 2012 in Vintages Picks with No comments

Last year I offered a lot of Italian whites with the suggestion that they may be the ‘style’ of the future. While Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are likely to remain the pillars of white wine I’ll be surprised if we don’t see a strong third player emerging. A dry white wine with a ‘less obvious’ flavour profile. And a light, pure feeling – something along the lines of Pinot Grigio, but more interesting. It might be a blend of grapes and it might be a return to a regional personality over a grape one.

Winemakers all over the world are tired of producing Chard & Co and are excited by the potential of grapes that have been ignored and almost forgotten. All it takes now is for us to get involved by purchasing and drinking. This Vintages release offers six really good examples of this third style, from Italy, France, Austria, Greece and Argentina. I’ve included a sparkling as it fits the fresh, frank style of the other wines. All best suited to summer, so stock up.

In reds I’m also hoping for a bit of swing back to something lighter and less showy – bistro wines. My Bordeaux and Rhone picks are very bistro, as is the new-style Aussie Shiraz. There’s a coffee theme to my final two reds. And I don’t mean Tim’s.

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LCBO Vintages Saturday Nov 26

by Billy on November 25, 2011 in Vintages Picks with 2 Comments

THE LOW DOWN: This release is loaded with big name, hundred dollar-plus wines. I tasted most of them – felt like being in a boardroom. Lots of power. But there’s wasn’t a wine I’d want to splurge on, or invite to dinner.

My picks include some fabulous Holiday wines and a few others for Winter drinking.

Enjoy.

WHITES
Crowd-pleasing bubbly
BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI N/V Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
53215 $17.95
Delicious fruitiness and drinkability. Off-dry and perfect for any Holiday moment.

Oysters or any seafood
GROTTA DEL SOLE 09 Falanghina, Campania, Italy
247940 $15.95
Crisp, pure and refreshing. Not unlike a $25 Chablis. Perfect seafood partner. Falanghina is an underrated native Italian white grape.

Gorgeous sipper
KURT DARTING 08 Riesling Spatlese, Pfalz, Germany
963207 $19.95
Honeyed flavours combined with lemony freshness. Super light with a suggestion of sweetness. Semi sweet but also feels dry. Exotic/sexy but also pure as snow. Welcome to the German Spatlese  (late harvest) experience. Gorgeous anytime sipper. Or partner for the big bird.

 

REDS
Light red for cold nights
REICHSRAT VON BUHL 08 Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany
249649 $19.95
Light Pinot with mature flavours. Woodsy and cuddly. Yes, Germany does Pinot.

Raunchy
ERRAZURIZ 10 Pinot Noir ‘Wild Ferment’, Chile
510396 $19.95
Gamey, raunchy Pinot – strictly for the fan. Drier and more real than most New World Pinots. Needs well seasoned meats, and company. Fermented with natural yeasts – the old fashioned way.

Almost rich red – for almost any situation.
LA FERME DU MONT 09 Cotes du Rhone ‘Le Ponnant’ France
171371 $17.95
Tasty fruit/spice/earthy flavours. And great vitality. Lovely  combination of wine character and sense of fun. Guaranteed to please.

Bistro-style
DUCA DI SALAPARUTA 08 Nero d’Avola, ‘Passo delle Mule’, Sicily
250928 $19.95
If the French grew Nero d’Avola it would be poured at every Bistro in that country. A gutsy red with bright flavours and a drink-lots feeling. Works with just about any food.

Winter nourishment
FATTORIA VALIANO 06 Chianti Classico ‘Poggio Teo’ Tuscany, Italy
250563 $17.95
Mature Chianti with a warmhearted, fireside feeling. Soulful too. Best with grilled meats. Sure to appeal to your Italian spirit.

Really wild
FLAGSTONE 09 Pinotage ‘Writer’s Block’, South Africa
243337 $19.95
Think Baco on steroids. Red wine with intense gamey, backwoods character. Wild and really good at it. A novel experience for a winter night.

Formal local
STRATUS 07 Merlot, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake
131003 $42.20
Not the usual flamboyant Merlot, but one crafted the very dry, Bordeaux style. Concentrated and earthy with a traditional/formal dinner party feeling. Deep at first, becoming delicious later. Needs big glassware and a primo roast of beef or lamb. Impressive gift.

 

SWEET
Exotic Aussie Port
GRANT BURGE 10-Year-Old Tawny, Barossa, Australia
58388 $30.95
Feels warm, exotic and powerful. Somewhere between Tawny Port and a liqueur. Lots of Pow! Sip after dinner, or with all the Christmas candy!

Great mixer
ST-GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur ‘Delice de Sureau’, France
180695 $49.95
The delicate and hard-to-describe flavours in this liqueur put a lovely spin on just about any cocktail. Shake it up with vodka/gin or add to sparkling wine. Stylish Art Nouveau bottle.

Tales of Yellow Tail

by Billy on November 18, 2011 in Wine Picks with No comments

When I met the creator of Yellow Tail, John Casella, he struck me as being more down to earth than his brand. His Italian roots were still strong. On tasting the newly arrived Yellow Tail Reserve wines I see a lot of Italian styling – naturally layered on Aussie ripeness. The best of both worlds.

The Chardonnay delivers lemony freshness with a lovely Summer day feeling. Feels like an Italian white with an extra shot of sunshine. Special but also everyday. No cloying sweetness – just great drinkability, and winemaking. I know of a million people who would love this wine. You must try it.

The simplest way to explain the Shiraz is to liken it to Italian Ripasso. But with riper, richer flavours. Very nourishing.

John Casella is part of the movement that’s reinventing Aussie wines. Crafting for personality as opposed to sameness. Something worth exploring.

YELLOW TAIL 10 Reserve Chardonnay, Australia 234591 $14.95
YELLOW TAIL 10 Reserve Shiraz, Australia 234609 $15.95

2 Terrific Pinots

by Kato on July 19, 2011 in Wine Picks with No comments

PINOTSThe life of a Pinot drinker keeps getting better. New Zealand and Ontario have recently made the ‘heartbreak grape’ more available and affordable – compared to Burgundy. I’ve just tasted two under $20 Pinots that are huge cause for celebration.

They’re from Australia, a climate previously considered too warm for Pinot. (Once again, a reminder to NEVER believe anything you read about wine. Unless it’s the truth, which you’ll only find here!)

Barwick is out to seduce with sweet/spicy flavours but it’s also lively and playful. Refreshes and charms. My favourite combo. Have with BBQ-sauced foods – and your loved ones.

Pikes is one of my favourite Aussie wineries and the Lenswood Hills Pinot is tangy/rustic in the Burgundian style. You’ll also meet lovely berry flavours and refreshment. A great summer red for lightly chilling and having with anything other than red meat.

BARWICK 09 Pinot Noir, Pemberton, Western Australia 215194 $15.95

PIKES VINTNERS 10 Pinot Noir, Lenswood Hills, Australia 215095 $17.00

The New Aussie White

by Kato on May 17, 2011 in Wine Picks with No comments

Yering-Chardonnay-2008Australia wowed the world with easy-drinking (slightly sweet) wines that everyone could enjoy. And there was an industry similarity and consistency so that the drinker was never disappointed. Aussie wines were a ‘brand’ that people came to rely on and were loyal to.

As with all successful brands there comes an imitator, or two. Chile and Argentina are now producing Aussie-style, easy drinking and consistent wines. And under-cutting the price. They have also upped- the-quality offering a shade more character and individually. Thereby appealing to both the novice and more fussy drinker. Australia are in trouble. Continue reading →

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