All posts tagged chardonnay

LCBO Vintages May 1, 2010

by Kato on April 29, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

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 Edward County wines are not values but offer good local expression. I hope to be featuring lots of local from the next few Vintages releases.
Enjoy!

WHITES
Wine style: fresh white
BLACK PRINCE 08 Riesling, VQA Prince Edward County 164236 $18.95
Classic dry Riesling – super refreshing, tart and low in alcohol. Perfect summer patio aperitif. Riesling fans should age this for a year or three.

Wine style: nice & easy white
GUIGAL 08 Côtes du Rhône Blanc, France 290296 $16.95
A lovely glass of wine. Mid-range everything and understated with delightful hints of this and that. Lots of charm from the Viognier grape. Enjoy with grilled white meats.
Wine style: nice & easy white
SHEPHERDS RIDGE ‘Kapuka’ 09 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand 163576 $14.95
Mild mannered for a New Zealand Sauvignon, but a wonderful general-purpose summer drink. Think high octane Pinot Grigio. Refreshment and crowd appeal. Pretty package too.
Wine style: rich white
CLOSSON CHASE 07 Chardonnay, VQA Prince Edward County 148866 $29.95
Deborah Paskus makes very seductive wines. Such as this silky smooth, exotic, tropical fruit flavoured Chardonnay. Lush, lovely and almost too nice to partner with food.

REDS
Wine style: rustic red
THE GRANGE ‘Trumpour’s Mill’ 07 Cabernet Franc, VQA Prince Edward County 173187 $17.95
Those with a European palate will understand and enjoy this wine. Feels light, tart and refreshing. Inviting food. On the second glass, woodsy Fall-day flavours unfold. Very suggestive of something you once enjoyed at a county café in France. Or maybe it was Italy.

Wine style: lively red
DOMAINE de GRAND GARANT 08 Moulin-a-Vent ‘Les Thorins’, Beaujolais, France 160168 $16.95
Moulin-a-Vent is usually the big daddy of the Beaujolais-Villages clan but this is mainly about refreshment. Along with charm – along with some of the sexy nature of Pinot Noir. I can’t imagine a better partner for BBQ’d salmon. Or any summer patio meal. Lightly chilled, of course.
Wine style: rich red
DOMAINE PUIG-PARAHY 07 ‘Georges’, Cotes du Roussillon, France 171025 $13.95
Shiraz fans will love this smooth, jammy-sweet wine. All things nice at a reasonable price.

Wine style: rich red
TRUCHARD 07 Zinfandel, Carneros/Napa, California 54858 $21.95
Solid, earthy Zin. Very concentrated, very manly and not unlike a Californian Cabernet. Needs the beef.

Wine style: rich red
EDMEADS 07 Zinfandel, Mendocino, California 105924 $24.95
Super rich, Port-like and mighty seductive. Heft meets charm. Could be likened to a fifty dollar Amarone. After dinner sipping for sure.

Ontario Chardonnay Heads to England

by Kato on April 24, 2010 in Travel Notes, Wine Picks with No comments

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. And thereafter, to the world. (And back home too, of course)

At the end of May, in conjunction with the London Wine Fair, twenty of Ontario’s best Chardonnays will be poured for the English press. Bill believes that Chardonnay is Ontario’s ace card. Something we do well, and different. Because it’s an internationally recognized wine the world is interested in up-and-coming stars. Success with Chardonnay could make us a player on the world stage.

Last week I had the opportunity to the taste the Chards going to London and I think we can make an impression. Hopefully a WOW, but at least an impression. We have quality for sure, but I think it’s the diversity that makes Ontario unique. Or confusing.

I’ll report on how the London event goes, but meanwhile here’s my list of favourite local Chardonnays going to London. Most of which are available at the wineries. Prices range from $25 to $35.

COLIO ESTATE 07 Musque . . . herbaceous, citrussy, refresher
HUFF ESTATE 07 South Bay . . . solid, mid-range
CLOSSON CHASE 07 Kocis Vineyard . . . lush, very sexy
LAILEY VINEYARD 08 Old Vines . . . pretty, charming
PELLER ESTATES 07 Signature Series . . . big, bold, down ‘n dirty, very Burgundian
RAVINE VINEYARD 07 Rowan Vineyard . . . pure, lots of mineral, Chablis-style
HILLEBRAND 07 Showcase Wild Ferment . . . lean, tart, novel
SOUTHBROOK VINEYARDS 07 Triomphe . . . earthy, Burgundian-style
LE CLOS JORDANNE 07 Talon Ridge . . . big, bold, manly
TAWSE WINERY 07 Quarry Road Vineyard . . . power combined with charm
HIDDEN BENCH 07 Estate . . . tight now but very concentrated
PENINSULA RIDGE 07 Reserve . . . solid, earthy

Damn Good Local Chards

by Kato on April 19, 2010 in Wine Picks with No comments

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 07 Chardonnay is a lovely mix of charm (honest) and refreshment. No heavy perfume, tiring richness or posing. Instead expect a composed and polite wine. Canadian excellence.

There’s some richness in Henry’s wine but it’s also understated. Shades of the delicious everyday Chardonnays of the Macon region in France. A delightful anytime drink.

CHATEAU des CHARMES 07 Chardonnay ‘Estate’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 81653 $13.95 (shown)

HENRY of PELHAM 07 Chardonnay ‘Reserve’, VQA Niagara 252833 $14.95

LCBO Vintages Saturday April 3

by Kato on April 1, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

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 Rhône are the star offerings in this release. Malivoire, Lailey and Southbrook deliver good reasons to buy local.

SPARKLING
Wine style: Fresh
CODORNIU Pinot Noir Rosé Brut, Spain 665372 $16.95
Fruity, fun, friendly sparkling. Refreshing, but not austere. Sunday brunch.

WHITES
Wine style: fresh white
VINA VILANO 08 Verdejo, Rueda, Spain 162719 $12.95
The Verdejo grape is Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc. Zesty, herbaceous and perfect for the Summer season. This one is a very good allrounder – for food or just for fun.

Wine style: fresh white
CVNE 08 ‘Monopole’, Rioja, Spain 66951 $13.95
Traditional very dry, tart, low-alcohol white. Good tangy refresher or seafood partner.
P.S. Wouldn’t this be the perfect flagship white for the LCBO ‘monopoly’.

Wine style: nice ‘n easy white
ABAD DOM BUENO 08 ‘Godello’, Bierzo, Spain 154303 $14.95
Freshness combined with fruity flavours and a lighthearted feeling. Good everyday gulper.

wine style: nice ‘n easy white

HUGH HAMILTON 08 Unoaked Chardonnay ‘Jim Jim’, Australia 58537 $15.95
It doesn’t get much more crowdpleasing than this semi-rich, delicious gulper. A teasing mix of zest and slight sweetness.

wine style: rich white
SOUTHBROOK 08 Chardonnay ‘Triomphe’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 172338 $21.95
Tart, earthy Chardonnay in the Burgundian style. Feels rich but the alcohol is moderate. A wonderful partner for herb roasted/BBQ white meats. Should be even more characterful in a year or two.

wine style: rich white
MAISON FRANCOIS MARTENOT 07 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 159095 $16.95
Speaking of Burgundy, here’s a classic. Chardonnay the old way – tons of flavour but not heavy on alcohol. More earthy than fruity. A fab food wine. And an amazing value. Get some.

REDS
Wine style: lively red
MALIVOIRE 08 GAMAY, VQA Niagara 591313 $17.95
Juicy, fruity and refreshing. Most local Gamays are earthy but this delivers the fun, gulp me character of Beaujolais. A bit pricy but guaranteed to delight at any Summer event. Lightly chilled of course.

Wine style: rustic red
MALIVOIRE OLD VINES 08 Foch, VQA Ontario 551036 $24.95
Bitter, earthy and challenging. That’s the Foch way. But there’s something exciting about drinking a local red from 34 year old vines. Perhaps with old cheddar, old Lightfoot and late night by the campfire. Expensive but original.

Wine style: rustic red
CHATEAU FONGABAN 05 Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux 165720 $17.95
Classic French bistro red. Rustic and a bit challenging. But wonderful with food because it invigorates and stimulates the palate. Red meats.

Wine style: rustic red
BODEGAS y VINEDOS NEO 07 ‘Vivir,Vivir’, Ribera del Duero, Spain 162693 $12.95
Rustic, gutsy and full of vigour. Heartwarming, old-style wine in the fashion of Tuscan or Abruzzi reds. Not anything like the description in the catalog.

wine style: rich red
LAILEY VINEYARD 07 Merlot, VQA Niagara River 591396 $25.00
The plummy character of Merlot along with some woodsy flavours. Good dinner partner because of the gutsy, refreshing edge. Lailey winery prices their premium wines lower than most.

Wine style: rich red
VINEDOS ARTAZU 08 Garnacha ‘Artazuri’, Navarra, Spain 80812 $13.95
The strawberry-sweet character of Pinot Noir, along with a tangy bite. Charm meets earthiness. A wonderful drink. Lightly chill and let the evening unfold.

Wine style: rich red
GABA do XIL 08 Mencia, Valdeorras, Spain 166199 $15.95
A delicious gulper. Lively, fruity and fun. Shades of Valpolicella. Lighly chill and let the party begin. BBQed burgers would keep the vibe going.

Wine style: rich red
BODEGAS LAN 2004 Rioja Reserva, Spain 42929 $19.95
Classic Rioja Reserva – sweet/spicy flavours combined with a faded, old-world feeling. Light lots of candles.

Wine style: rich red
LATRIA 2006, Montsant, Spain 155424 $18.95
Here’s the bite and vitality often lacking in Spanish reds. Charming, Merlot-style wine to partner with beef or lamb dishes.

wine style/rich red
DOMAINE de la CROISETTE 07 Côtes du Rhône, France 155465 $13.95
Almost New World in richness but has the vitality of Cotes du Rhone. A wonderful combination of substance, charm and playfulness. And value. Get lots of this for summer BBQs.

LCBO Vintages Saturday Feb 20

by Kato on February 20, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

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 that are crafted with the northern Rhône Grape, the Syrah. From the Kosher feature there’s a lovely, mid-range, South African Chardonnay, and a superb Cava from Spain.

WHITES
wine style: fresh, sparkling white
ELVI WINES Cava ‘Adar’, Spain 156737 $17.95
Classic Champagne-style sparkling at a bargain price. Yeasty and super refreshing. A super wine to kick-off any event. Kosher.

wine style: fresh white
MASSERIA ALTEMURA 08 Fiano, Puglia, Italy 159475 $13.95
Lovely mineral freshness, pure, delicate flavours and gulpability. The Fiano grape is an Italian original. Ideal summer house wine.

wine style: fresh white
PLANALTO 08 Douro, Portugal
586420 $13.95
Here’s a crisp refresher to bring out on a summer’s evening. Shades of Sauvignon Blanc, but different.

wine style: nice ‘n easy white
VINELAND ESTATES 07 Riesling ‘St. Urban’, VQA Twenty Mile Bench 38117 $20.00
Dry Riesling that feels a touch sweet because the flavours are honeyed and delicious. Spring-like purity and a carefree feeling. Low alcohol. An afternoon, or anytime sipper.

wine style: fresh/nice n’easy white
BACKSBERG 09 Chardonnay, Paarl, South Africa 156661 $16.95
This non-oaked Chardonnay delivers freshness, fruitiness and friendliness. Feels classy too. Just a lovely glass of wine. Kosher.

wine style: rich white
CHRISTOBAL 09 Chardonnay ‘1492’ Mendoza, Argentina 144402 $11.95
A real crowdpleaser. Fruity, spicy and slightly sweet – yummy. Partygoers delight.

wine style: rich white
MARGAN 08 Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, Australia 141986 $15.95
Aussie Chard with a down to earth feeling. Refreshing too. A good drink and, a good food partner. Very bistro.

wine style: rich white
PELLER ESTATES 07 Chardonnay ‘Private Reserve’, VQA Okanagan Valley 618298 $17.95
Super, super rich Chard for a lot less than twenty dollars. Huge concentrated, vanilla sweet flavours – the Jack Daniels of white wine. A sipper.

REDS
wine style: rustic red
ASCHERI 08 Barbera d’Alba ‘Fontanelle’, Piedmont, Italy 982462 $17.95
The vigour and vitality of Italy. Gutsy, up-and-at-them wine. To start your evening and to partner with traditional tomato sauced foods.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE de DIEUMERCY 07 Côtes du Rhône, France 155507 $12.95
Warm feelings combined with spicy, peppery, earthy flavours. Very nourishing. A lot of wine character for the price. Any food, anytime.

wine style: rich red
LES VIGNERONS de ROAIX 07 Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 156000 $13.95
Rich, lush and concentrated. A best friend on Winter nights. Luxury at an everyday price.

wine style: rich red
TERRES d’AVIGNON 07 Côtes du Rhône ‘Les Cardinalices’, France 155473 $14.95
All the lovely Rhone features with a lively, gutsy feeling. Dangerously gulpable. Get two bottles, cook dinner and live the bistro life.

wine style: rich red
DOMAINE SAINT-PIERRE 06 Vacqueyras, Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 130013 $25.95
A whopper of richness, spicy flavours and charm. Deep, dark and mysterious. Be prepared to be seduced. A Middle Eastern style lamb dish would be heavenly. Or just hit the couch.

wine style: rich red
CAVE de RASTEAU 07 Gigondas ‘Ortas’, Côtes du Rhône Villages, France 155440 $23.95
Here’s another couch red. Smooth, super rich and yummy. Fireside in a glass.

wine style: rich red
CONO SUR 07 Syrah ‘Vision’, Chile
24661 $15.95
Rich meets rustic. Chile meets France. Big wine with an earthy tang. Rich wine that’s good with food. Cono Sur scores again.

wine style: rich red
LOMOND ESTATE 08 Syrah, Cape Agulhas, South Africa 146464 $19.95
Another New World red with a French feeling. There’s vitality to partner the dark, earthy flavours. Could be aged a year or two.

All posts tagged chardonnay

LCBO Vintages May 1, 2010

Ontario Chardonnay Heads to England

Damn Good Local Chards

LCBO Vintages Saturday April 3

LCBO Vintages Saturday Feb 20

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