All posts tagged Chile

LCBO Vintages Saturday May 15

by Kato on May 13, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: Jazz up your white wine repetoire with Soave, Viognier, Torrontes, Macon and an Aussie Pinot Grigio. Locals are the stars in the Rosé feature. (Unfortunately I didn’t get to taste the MALIVOIRE 09 ‘Ladybug Rosé’, VQA Niagara 559088 $15.95. I’ll report on it later) I only found three reds to recommend – a pair of big heftys and the charming Cono Sur Pinot Noir. The French drink a lot of Ruby Port and the delicious Delaforce offering may temp us to take up the habit. Whiskey lovers should not miss the great value Inishowen.

Sláinte,
Billy
ROSÉ
wine style: Dry Rosé
SOUTHBROOK 09 Cabernet Rosé, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 168492 $18.95
Rosé in the Provence style – and colour. Refreshing but also substantial enough for food. Charcuterie, paella, Indian food.

wine style: Off-dry Rosé
FEATHERSTONE ESTATE 09 Rosé, VQA Niagara 117861 $14.95
Delicious, off-dry, fruity Rosé for summer sipping. Such as lunches, family gatherings and patio parties.

WHITES
wine style: Fresh white
CASA CAMBRAGO 08 Soave ‘Vigne Maiores’, Veneto, Italy 161679 $13.95
Soave makes a comeback! Interesting, savoury flavours and lots of refreshment. Summer aperitif, and a super partner for seafood. Give ‘nice’ a rest and excite your palate with this.

wine style: Fresh white
DOMAINE ROMANIN 08 Macon-Solutré-Pouilly, Burgundy 160218 $17.95
Macon is the original non-oaked Chardonnay – refreshment with savoury/earthy flavours. Jolting, refreshing, and good pucker fuel for the palate. Wonderful aperitif, or seafood partner.
wine style: Nice & easy white
ROBERT OATLEY 08 Pinot Grigio, South Australia 159806 $17.95
Not your typical Aussie – this is pure and refreshing. Medium-bodied and the perfect all-evening white.

wine style: Rich white
BISQUERTT 08 Viognier ‘La Joya’, Chile 168542 $13.95
Care to try the prettiest white wine in the world! Caresses and charmes. Delicate and delicious. Sip your cares away.

wine style: Nice & easy white
ALTA VISTA 08 Torrontés, Argentina 37127 $13.95
Here’s another pretty one. Torrontes is Argentina’s edition of Gewurztraminer – spicy, exotic flavours. And great drinkability.

REDS
wine style: Rich red
BOTALCURA 07 Reserve Syrah/Malbec, Chile 18630 $13.95
Solid, dense, he-man stuff. Yummy too. Sure to impress. And great value.

wine style: Rich red
CONO SUR 08 Pinot Noir ‘Vision’, Chile 689992 $15.95
One hell of a delicious drink. Combines traditional Pinot woodsy character with modern bright flavours. Spicy and seductive. One of the best under twenty dollar Pinots in the world.

wine style: Rich red
MANGA del BRUJO 07, Calatayud, Spain 15073 $15.95
Big impact red. Earthy, mysterious flavours add interest to the richness. Shades of Rhone with more heft. Should be wonderfully satisfying for at least three years.

SWEET WINE
Wine style: Port
DELAFORCE Fine Ruby Port, Douro, Portugal 164608 $12.95
Lovely, lovely Port at an everyday price. Nitecap with a chunk of chocolate!

WHISKEY
INISHOWEN Irish Whiskey, Cooley Distillery 656017 $37.95
Some peat but a lot of other stuff too. Earthy, spirited and exciting for the price. Aperitif whiskey perhaps!

Big Bottle of Party White

by Kato on April 11, 2010 in Wine Picks with No comments

Chile is number one for value these days (and doing well for quality too). My first impression of the Gato Negro was that it lacked Sauvignon character, but my understanding of the wine improved on the second gulp. “Hey, this has the friendly, easy drinking quality of a Pinot Grigio.” Maybe they got the label wrong! Who cares?! Save money and buy for summer parties.

SAN PEDRO ‘Gato Negro’ 08 Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 79129 (magnum) $14.95 (regular size $8.95)

LCBO Vintages Saturday March 6

by Kato on March 4, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: The feature wine country for the March 6th Vintages release is Chile – so it’s going to be a mixed feelings release due to the tragic earthquake. While there might not have been loss of life at the wineries, there is talk of substantial loss of wine stocks. This is an unfortunate set back for a country that is poised to become the most exciting New World producer. My five recommendations are all stars for charm and value. Once again, the south of France steals the show in reds and Germany invites you to experience one of its white wine treasures.

WHITES
wine style: fresh white
WYNNS 08 Riesling, Coonawarra, Australia
528216 $16.95
Aussie Riesling is one of the most exciting Summer whites on the planet. Exhilarating, lemon fresh and thirstquenching. A great upper.

wine style: fresh white
BURGERSPITAL 07 Silvaner, Wurzburger Pfaffenberg, Franken, Germany
944504 $19.95
Here’s something different to buy for the Summer season. German wine with the rasping dryness of NZ Sauvignon. But you’ll enjoy lovely delicate honey and lime flavours too. The Boecksbeutel (Mateus-shaped bottle) is fun to behold and hold. Overpriced but worth the splurge.

wine style: rich white
EMILIANA NOVAS 07 Chardonnay/Viognier/Marsanne, Chile
63909 $18.95
Meet the Amarone of white wine. Big, exotic flavours, super rich and high alcohol. Mind and palate blowing stuff to sip long after the kids go to bed. Organic wine.

REDS
wine style: rich red
CHATEAU FABRE 07 Corbieres, France
148783 $13.95
Rich, earthy red with a lively spirit. All my favourite characteristics, and nice price tag too. Just add Herbs de Provence to whatever you’re cooking and enjoy the bistro experience. (Vintages ‘Wine of the Month’ Corbieres #148692 $19.95 is solemn, serious, expensive and not very bistro).

wine style: rich red
TABALI 08 Pinot Noir Reserva, Limari, Chile
47514 $19.95
Lively with delicious bright flavours. Refreshing and charming. My favourite, gulp me style Pinot. A not-to-be-missed wine by Pinot fans.

wine style: rich red
MONTES ALPHA 07 Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley, Chile
143214 $19.95
X-Rated Pinot. Lush, rich ‘n lovely. Your Hollywood idol in a bottle. Could be the most seductive $20 red on the planet.

wine style: rich red
CASA LAPOSTOLLE 08 Merlot, Rapel Valley, Chile
405712 $16.95
New World richness in Old World clothing. Crowdpleaser meets classic. Beefeaters dream wine. Most would charge $50 for this.

wine style: rich red
MONTES ALPHA 07 Carmenere, Colchagua Valley, Chile
143230 $19.95
The ultimate hefty, manly red. Feels like a perfect combination of Cabernet and Shiraz

IRISH WHISKEY
GREEN SPOT, Mitchell & Son, Ireland
699827 $89.95
The four Irish whiskeys offered are good drinks but Green Spot is the most interesting. Very pure, Sauvignon Blanc-style flavours combined with a honeyed richness. I love the elusive character. A sippers delight. Only 6000 bottles produced annually, under contract for the wine merchants, Mitchell. Read more on Wikipedia.

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.

LCBO Vintages Saturday January 9, 2010

by Kato on January 8, 2010 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

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 fruitiness and a little richness. Gentle refreshment. An anytime sipper.

yummy white
wine style: nice & easy white
ANAKENA 09 Viognier, Chile 45138 $12.95 Zesty, fruity and pleasant. All in moderation. The nice guy/girl. The perfect party pleaser. Yummy champion for the month.

great value Chard
wine style: rich white
DONA PAULA 08 Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina 93898 $12.95 Rich, exotic flavoured Chard. Manages to feel both citrussy dry and seductively rich – with charm to burn. Go get it.

rich Chardonnay alternative
wine style: rich white
MICHEL GASSIER 08 Viognier ‘Les Piliers’, VDP d’Oc, France 669531 $16.95 A whopper! Super rich white wine in the Chardonnay style. Warming, spicy and quite seductive. White meats or fish with lots of herbs.

seafood partner
wine style: fresh white
DOM de la SEIGNEURIE des TOURNELLES 08 Saumur Blanc, Loire, France 141879 $12.95 Wow! Takes your breath away – seriously tart and dry along with an earthy sense of place. A great example of cool climate wine. Challenging, a bit raunchy and in need of a platter of seafood. Produced from the Chenin Blanc grape.

buy for summer
wine style: fresh white
QUINTA de AZEVEDO 08 Vinho Verde, Portugal 727115 $11.95 White wine doesn’t get more refreshing and exuberant. Low alcohol, lighthearted and dying for seafood on a hot summer evening. Worth the wait.

buy for summer
wine style: fresh white
PACO de TEIXEIRO 08, Minho, Portugal 21469 $12.95 Vinho Verde style – light and tart with the herbaceous flavours of Sauvignon Blanc. Another wine to buy for summer guzzling.

winter warmer
wine style: rich red
TERRA d’ALIGI 06 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo ‘Tatone’, Abruzzo, Italy 994616 $15.95 A blockbuster. Deep and hearty with an old world, rustic feeling.

bistro red
wine style: rich red
Ch. de VAUGELAS 07 Corbieres ‘Le Prieuré’, France 154617 $12.95 Lots of warmth and richness, backed up with a rustic tang. Bistro wine. Enjoy with hearty winter foods.

vive la France!
wine style: rich red
CAVE de RASTEAU 08 Rasteau ‘Ortas’, Cotes du Rhône-Villages’, France 998716 $15.00 Plush and lush. Lots of comfort, peppery flavours and a warmhearted feeling. Chateauneuf-style wine at a THIRD of the price. Wonderful stuff. You may never buy another Aussie Shiraz. (**Kato’s favourite pick!)

All posts tagged Chile

LCBO Vintages Saturday May 15

Big Bottle of Party White

LCBO Vintages Saturday March 6

LCBO Vintages Saturday Feb 20

LCBO Vintages Saturday January 9, 2010

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