Vintages Sat May 1/2010
THE LOW DOWN: Lacks the outstanding values of recent releases but there’s some good explorer wines. Such as a couple of heavy hitting Zinfandels, and a bargain priced red from the south of France. Guigal’s white Rhone and the Moulin-a-Vent would be a delightful French pairing for a summer dinner party. Prince [...]
London, England is one of the trendsetting cities for wine. A good place to launch a brand, or region. A few decades ago, London’s wine critics fell in love with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and the world followed.
Bill Redelmeir, owner of Southbrook Winery in Niagara, has a plan to sell Ontario Chardonnay to the Brits. [...]
Every day people tell me that they’ve stopped drinking Chardonnay. “Too rich, too oaky, too whatever.” Chardonnay has become the unfashionable white wine. Well, I don’t mind being out of fashion because I thoroughly enjoy glasses of some of Niagara’s finest. Try these and I bet you’ll NOT be doing the non-Chardonnay thing.
Chateau des Charmes [...]
THE LOW DOWN: Unfortunately, most of the Spanish reds offered in this release are super-rich/smooth – catering to the North American palate – but I did find some interesting and reasonable priced picks. France keeps giving us reasons to return to the motherland of wine: a white Burgundy, a red Bordeaux and a Côtes du [...]
Posted in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks | Also tagged Australia, Côtes du Rhône, France, Malivoire, red wine, Rioja, Southbrook, Spain, Sparkling, VQA, white wine |
THE LOW DOWN: My favourite wines from the previous two releases were Côtes du Rhône, and now this release features that region (the southern Rhône). Yippee!! My five picks this week are out-and-out charmers. So warm and cuddly you may not want the winter to end.
I’m also recommending a pair of New World rich reds [...]
Posted in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks | Also tagged Cava, Côtes du Rhône, Chile, Cono Sur, France, Peller, South Africa, Sparkling, syrah, Vineland, VQA |
THE LOW DOWN: Best Vintages release in a long time. Lots of great tasting and distinctive wines for only $12.95. But you must try the Rasteau for $15.
anytime sipper
wine style: fresh white
RAPAURA SPRINGS 08 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, N.Z. 142919 $14.95 New Zealand Sauv in a mellow mood. Well, almost. The usual exuberance is tempered with [...]
Posted in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks | Also tagged Argentina, Chile, Corbieres, France, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Rasteau, red wine, sauvignon blanc, Terra D'Aligi, Vinho Verde, viognier, white wine |
Let me tell you a little bit about Tawse winery. Moray Tawse is a lover of Burgundy and a few years ago he started a Niagara winery (in the Beamsville area) to create exciting Pinot and Chardonnay. The Pinot side is doing well, but the Chardonnay is really hitting the high spots. Not everyday priced [...]
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 [...]
My recent Recession Red tasting event seems to have opened peoples eyes and minds to the great buys to be had in the land of ten dollar wines. I’m seeing more acceptance, even respect, for ‘cheap’ wine. In the past low prices usually signified low quality – but not anymore.
Today some good wine producers are [...]
THE LOW DOWN: Tuscany is the feature but I found the wines to be too New World and expensive. Welcome to the modern era in Tuscany! Not for me.
My list is short but it contains a candidate for red wine value of the year in Santa Julia Cabernet from Argentina. The style is perfect for [...]
