All posts tagged Côtes du Rhône

When a Dog is Not a Dog!

by Kato on August 18, 2011 in Wine Picks with 2 Comments

LongueDogFrance has produced its share of ‘dog’ wines over the years but here’s a pair that are anything but dogs. The white is a cool dude strutting frank refreshment with style. A Colombard/Chardonnay blend that may remind you of Muscadet, and a lovely lunch somewhere in the French countryside.

The red is in the Cotes du Rhone style – peppery earthy flavours along with refreshing vitality. Very gulpable, very good.

LONGUE-DOG 10 WHITE, VDP d’Oc, France 210161 $11.95

LONGUE-DOG 09 RED, VDP d’Oc, France 210153 $12.95

Summer Red

by Kato on August 10, 2011 in Wine Picks with 2 Comments

LabetAlixMy most delicious light red experience this summer has been Labet’s CdR.

Behind that traditional label is a wine bursting with bright, fresh fruitiness and vitality. Lip-smacking stuff. Love how it feels both lighthearted but also ‘winey’. Lightly chill of course, and decant into clear glass to enjoy the cherry red colour. With a crusty baguette and wedge of brie you’ll almost be in France.

FRANCOIS LABET 10 Cotes du Rhone, France 630657 $11.45

(I posted this previously with the wrong picture and product number. Thanks Peter!)

Rhone Valley Voted Tops

by Kato on April 2, 2011 in Wine Picks with 4 Comments

RHONESA leading wine publication recently gave their ‘Wine Region of the Year’ award to the Rhone Valley. This will not come as a surprise to my readers as I’ve had Rhone wines at the top of my list for over twenty years. But it’s encouraging to see an American magazine recognizing one of the older wine sites.

In case you’ve somehow missed the Rhone let me offer a couple of reds to try. Expect warmhearted but not overbearing wines. Cave La Romaine has the delicate, sensual feeling of a Pinot Noir. Great anytime and with a wide range of foods. Chapoutier’s wine is richer with the peppery quality of Rhone reds. Evolves slowly with moments of charm as well as warm, earthy feelings.

CAVE LA ROMAINE 09 Cotes du Rhone, France 28779 11.75 ….delisted! what a shame!!! Try this guy: LOUIS BERNARD 09 Cotes du Rhone, France (581645 $11.95)
CHAPOUTIER 08 Rasteau, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France 321539 $17.80

LCBO Vintages Saturday April 2, 2011

by Kato on April 1, 2011 in Vintages Picks with No comments

THE LOW DOWN: There’s something for everyone in my whites – spicy sippers, keen refreshers and blockbusters. The South African wines offer new experiences in rich whites, and Torrontes is worth exploring for the summer season. Not a lot of action in the reds but you cannot go wrong with the Rhone. And Pelham’s Gamay is a classic light red.

Burgundy is the feature but I couldn’t find either a value or a treat.

Slainte.
Billy

lucasWHITES
Wine style: fresh white
ST. LUCAS 10 Torrontes, Mendoza, Argentina 694513 $11.95
Torrontes is a the Argentinian edition of Muscat. This one is big on refreshment and would be a good intro to the grape. Not to mention a popular house wine.

salmonWine style: fresh white
SALMON-UNDHOF 10 Gruner Veltliner, Austria 669606 $12.95
Seriously, dry, tart and refreshing. Shades of dry Riesling with a little spice. Something different to start the evening.

Wine style: fresh white
PALACIO DE OTAZU 08 Chardonnay, Navarra, Spain 211003 $14.95
Refreshing, non-oaked Chardonnay that explodes with energy. Five star aperitif or partner for seafood.

dartingWine style: nice & easy white
DARTING 08 Riesling Kabinett, Pfalz, Germany 950212 $15.95
Delish, delish, off-dry sipper. Typical spicy flavours of the Pfalz region. Low alcohol, summer in the garden wine. Darting has been sending us delish Riesling for at least two decades.

catailWine style: nice & easy white
CATTAIL CREEK Chardonnay Musque, VQA Four Mile Creek
222257 $17.50
Forget the Chardonnay word and thing dry white wine with a hit of lime and a dash of Muscat spicy sweetness. Off-dry but quite refreshing. Hard to imagine a better summer drink. Cattail are doing really well with their whites.

lammershoekbellinghamwhiteWine style: rich whites
LAMMERSHOEK 08 ‘Roulette Blanc’, South Africa 225458 $16.95
BELLINGHAM 08 ‘Fair Maiden’, South Africa 220020 $17.95
These are blockbuster, Rhone-style whites. Broad, lush – would be palate killers if it were not for their vitality. Hulks with moves.  Certainly an experience. I suggest late evening drinking.

SPARKLING

oysterBWine style: dry sparkling
OYSTER BAY Sparkling Brut, New Zealand 163634 $21.95
A Chard sparkler with a delicious tease of delicate flavours. Very classy, very Champagne-ish but not too austere. To refresh, to celebrate, to live-it-up. Big time bargain.

HOPgamayREDS
Wine style: fresh red
HENRY of PELHAM 09 Gamay, VQA Short Hills Bench 291112 $14.95
Bright, light and gulpable – just how Gamay should be. Great vitality, great refreshment. Sure to put you in the mood for summer. Lightly chill.

rasteauWine style: rich red
CAVE de RASTEAU 09 Cotes du Rhone-Villages, ‘Ortas’, France 998716 $15.00
A shade more lush and Merlot-ish than most Rhones so be prepared for instant seduction. Could be the crowdpleaser of the year.

bellinghamredWine style: rich red
BELLINGHAM 06 ‘Dragon’s Lair’, South Africa 68692 $19.95
A Rhone grape blend combining richness and spicy flavours with an earthy, rustic feeling. Lots of character and the something different quality of South African reds. Needs a hearty supper.

LCBO Vintages Saturday February 19

by Kato on February 16, 2011 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with No comments

LCBO VINTAGES SATURDAY FEB 19

Cabernet is the feature with lots of high priced, highly polished offerings. But as ever, the values are in the regular section of the catalogue.

MY 6 HIGHLIGHTS

rosebubbly#1. ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST VALUE SPARKLING WINES
Codorniu’s Pink bubbly is back in town. Refreshing with a tease of strawberry flavour, and something earthy. Good fun naturally, but good with food too. Especially anything spicy/hot.
Wine style: Sparkling Dry Rosé
CODORNIU BRUT ROSÉ CAVA, Spain 665372 $16.95


B#2. THE MEDITERRANEAN FEELING FOR ONLY $12.95
Try something different in white wine. Light ‘n refreshing but loaded with bold flavours. Herbs, olives – the Mediterranean feeling. Perfect with a seafood platter. Organic.
Wine-style: Fresh White
PARES BALTA 09 Blanc de Pacs, Penedes, Spain 190603 $12.95

13#3.  A PAIR of LOCAL HEROES – GOOD GAMAY and DELISH SWEET RIESLING
(a) 13th Street is one of the few wineries to take Gamay seriously. This vintage is Italian in spirit. Vibrant, gutsy and big on pucker. Not for the timid, but the perfect partner for a greasy burger or lamb chop. A bit expensive but an exciting local experience.
P.S. 13th Street has moved to beautiful new digs – bright and colourful with an art gallery feeling. The barn next door has been converted into a café with delicious local offerings to eat-in, or take for a picnic. A five star Niagara experience.
Wine style: Rustic Red
13th STREET 08 Gamay, VQA Niagara 177824 $17.95

charmes(b) Late Harvest Riesling is one of the wines that Ontario does best. Hugely concentrated flavours with equal amounts of sweetness and zest are the features in Chateau des Charmes wine. A delicious anytime sipper. Heavenly after an alfresco lunch.
Wine style: Medium-sweet White
CHATEAU DES CHARMES 07 Late Harvest Riesling, VQA Niagara-on-the -Lake 432930 375ml/$21.95

rhone

#4. ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST VALUES IN RED WINE
What more can I say about Cotes-du-Rhone! This one is delicious and  warmhearted without feeling heavy, and the traditional label suggests a far more expensive wine. A-bottle-a-day drinkers will welcome the handy screw cap. Certain to be one of the buys of the year.
Wine style: Rich Red
LOUIS BERNARD 09 Cotes du Rhone ‘Reserve de Bonpas’, France 194969 $13.95

giorioso

#5. THE SEXY RIOJA THING
A few weeks ago I recommended an everyday Rioja from this winery and now here’s their Saturday night offering. Richer, with more spicy/sweetness and pouring on the charm and seduction. Sip slowly from a big glass.
Wine style: Rich Red
PALACIO GLORIOSO 05 Rioja Reserva, Spain 930164 $19.95

patache#6. WINE SCHOOL – A LESSON IN CABERNET
Meet Cabernet in the raw. The original – unadorned by the sweetness of oak. Lots of vigour, pucker and refreshment. Wine for any Bistro food or mood.

P.S. The catalogue notes by James Suckling (Wine Spectator) are very misleading – he always is.

Wine style: Rustic Red
DOMAINES LAPALU 09 Medoc ‘La Patache’, Bordeaux, France 217307 $14.95

grunerAND A FEW OTHERS…
Leth’s Gruner is a wonderful combination of zest and Spring-like flavours. Imagine a dry Riesling with a little spice and richness. Stock-up for patio lunches.
Wine style: Fresh White
LETH 09 Gruner Veltliner, Austria 207282 $16.95

porcupineGive Chardonnay a rest and explore another style of rich white. A spicy, manly white with a whiskey personality. Cannot wait to have this with summer BBQ’d chicken or pork. A mouthful of a name for a mouthful of a wine.
Wine style: Rich White
BOEKENHOUTSKLOOF 09 Viognier/Grenache Blanc ‘Porcupine Ridge’, South Africa 203893 $16.95

rasteauCotes du Rhone with an extra shot of richness and seduction.
Wine style: Rich Red
CHATEAU GOUDRAY 09 Rasteau, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France 195032 $15.95

luigiRich and plummy in the Merlot style. But not overdone.
Wine style: Rich Red
LUIGI BOSCA 08 Malbec Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina 79293 $17.95

wakefieldWakefield always offers more than Aussie bigness. There’s character too.
Wine style: Rich Red
WAKEFIELD ESTATE 08 Shiraz, Clare Valley, Australia 943787 $17.95

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