All posts tagged French

Must Try Rhone

by Kato on July 29, 2011 in Vintages Picks with No comments

RHONEYOU GOTTA TRY THIS SOULFUL FRENCH RED

Recently I’ve been recommending lots of Cotes du Rhone in the very rich style but here’s my favourite.

A more everyday, traditional character. Very bistro-ish – no high alcohol, no heaviness. Just lots of vitality and refreshment to stimulate the palate and put you in the mood for a two hour supper. With a second bottle of course. Did I mention delicious spicy/peppery flavours and charm!

Read about the soulful winemaker here. http://louisdressner.com/Texier/

ERIC TEXIER 07 COTES DU RHONE-VILLAGES, France 226845 $13.95 (LCBO Vintages July 23/2011)

LCBO Vintages Saturday June 26

by Kato on June 24, 2010 in Vintages Picks with 2 Comments

THE LOW DOWN: In whites, I found two lightheared, value-priced wines for summer drinking , a seafood partner, and one of the world’s little gems – ARINTO from one of the oldest regions in Portugal. Pinot Noir and a Sangioveses Rosé would be perfect partners for summer meals or picnics. All my red picks are in the rich style. Buy for the BBQ or winter nourishment.

Slainte. and hope your team wins.
Billy
hiddenWHITES
wine style: fresh white
HIDDEN BENCH 08 Riesling, VQA Beamsville Bench 183491 $24.20
Classic Ontario Dry Riesling. Tart with pure flavours. A must buy for Riesling fans.

terrafwine style: fresh white
BODEGAS AGNUSDEI 08 Albarino ‘Terra Firme’, Galicia, Spain 166751 $13.95
Tart, fruity, ctrussy wine from the col northeast of Spain. Frank, fresh aperitif or seafood partner.

tariquetwine style: nice & easy white
DOMAINE DU TARIQUET 09 Ugni Blanc/Colomard, Côtes du Gascogne, France 175240 $11.95
Zesty, low alcohol white for alfresco lunches or warm day gulping. Lovely carefree feeling. Ultra modern wine from the Cognac region.

grecianowine style: nice & easy white
CASUSO & MININI ‘Terre di Giumara’ 08 Grecanico, Silicy 174961 $11.95
Another light white with spring day fragrance and freshness. Refreshment meets relaxation. The Grecanico grape is a Sicilian speciality.

PROVAwine style: rich white
PROVA REGIA 08 Arinto, Bucelas, Portugal 166587 $14.95
Semi-rich with mineral freshness. Arinto is Portugal’s answer to Chardonnay. It develops huge flavours as it ages…without the help of oak barrels! A natural charmer that’s a must buy for those with a cellar. Give it 3-5 years. But it’s also wonderful now. Could be the bargain of the year in white wine.

yumbalaROSÉ
wine style: dry rosé
YULUMBA 09 Sangiovese Rosé, Australia 169425 $15.95
Quite brisk and refreshing. Shades of a light Chianti. The perfect partner for a platter of salumi. Too tart for party time. Delightful label.

flatrosewine style: dry rosé
FLATROCK CELLARS 09 Pinot Noir Rosé, VQA Twenty Mile Bench 39974 $14.95
Another tart Rosé that’s best with food. The feel and flavours of a light PInot so think grilled salmon or chicken, or paella.

urbanRED
wine style: rich red
URBAN UCO 08 Malbec/Tempranillo, Mendoza, Argentina 166397 $12.95
Silky smooth, slightly sweet and super-rich. If you enjoy blockbusters, this is a great value.

bilaHwine style: rich red
M. CHAPOUTIER 08 ‘Bila-Haut’ Cotes de Roussillon-Villages, France 168716 $15.00
The wild tang of Spain, the silky texture of Grenache and the fruitiness of Corignan. Earthy and soulful – my kind of rich red for today’s BBQ or hearty winter meals.

salchetowine style: rich red
SALCHETO 07 Rosso di Montepulciano, Tuscany 165357 $14.95
Gutsy, vibrant and earthy – the feeling and flavours of Tuscany. Needs the beef or any hearty meal.

gravetwine style: rich red
CELLAR DE CAPCANES 06 ‘Costers del Gravet’, Montsant, Spain 707059 $16.95
Spain’s Montsant region delivers rich, modern reds that also have characteristics of traditional regions such as Bordeaux and the Rhone. This is a great all-rounder – as vibrant as it’s label.

LCBO Vintages Saturday March 20

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

THE LOW DOWN: What a great selection of wines! Everything from white to red to rosé to sparkling. A full bar! Whites cover the spectrum from delicate Riesling to exotic Muscat to rich Chardonnay. And a few styles in between. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience two of Italy’s great everyday reds – Barbera and Valpolicella. And a bargain red from South Africa.
P.S. My dull wine award goes to FRANCIS COPPOLA. The three wines in this release are dreary and over priced. As have been all the previous wines I’ve tasted from this winery.

13bubblySPARKLING
Wine style/fresh white
13 STREET ‘Cuvee 13′ 06 Rosé, VQA Niagara 147504 $24.95
Very dry and tart with just a tease of fruity flavour. Classy aperitif and very Champagneish. Gorgeous salmon/bronze colour.
JTbubblyWine style/rich white
JACKSON-TRIGGS ‘Grand Reserve’ 04 Brut, VQA Niagara 587691 $22.95
Quite rich and golden for sparkling. Big, toasty flavours. Niagara’s answer to Bollinger! Would be a great partner for a seafood appetizer or main dish. Or a fancy lunch. A value for sure.

petitBourgWHITES
Wine style/fresh white
HENRI BOURGEOIS 08 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Petit Bourgeois’, VDP Val du Loire, France 672345 $14.95
Razor sharp and oozing Spring Freshness. Lipsmacking good. A mini Sancerre. The Loire was doing Sauvignon Blanc long before the Kiwis got into the game.

calmusWine style/nice ‘n easy white
CALAMUS ESTATE 07 Riesling, VQA Niagara 158642 $16.95
Off-dry sipper with lovely fruitiness and citrus tang. A nice hit of Summer, and sure to be a fast bottle.

alamosWine style/nice ‘n easy white
CATENA ‘ALAMOS’ 08 Viognier, Mendoza, Argentina 507830 $13.95
Really pretty and out to please. Feels like a Pinot Grigio that’s been to charm school. Or house wine at Club Med!  Lovely, lovely.
muscatWine style/nice ‘n easy white
DOMAINE ALLIMANT-LAUGNER 08 Muscat, Alsace, France 930362 $17.95
Muscat is the most exotic dry white wine on the planet and once in a while we get a very good sample from Alsace. Buy a few bottles, wait for a Summer moment that calls for ‘something different’, and have a Hallelujah moment. Too special to be shared with food.

ubyWine style/nice ‘n easy white
UBY 09 Colombard/Ugni Blanc, Cotes de Gascogne, France 151019 $11.95
Delightful, off-dry anytime sipper produced from the grapes used to produce Cognac. Quite fruity and low in alcohol. Bring on summer parties.
ironstoneWine style/rich white
IRONSTONE 07 RESERVE CHARDONNAY, Sierra Foothills, California 158774 $26.95
Blockbuster Chardonnay with the flavour concentration of whiskey. Earthy and manly for sure. BBQ or late evening sipping.

bressadesnewROSE
Wine style/rich rosé
MAS des BRESSADES 09 Rosé ‘Tradition’, Costieres de Nimes, France 950576 $13.95
My favourite French rosé arrives early this year. As ever it has the perfect combination of refreshment, richness and sexy south of France flavours. Classic food Rosé. And as ever the label is dead boring so get out the decanter, and get an early start on summer.

cesariValREDS
Wine style/lively red
CESARI 08 Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy 159434 $13.95
Cesari Ripasso (Mara) has been a favourite in LCBOs for decades and now it’s time to meet the lighter cousin. Delicious fruitiness, lots of vitality and dangerous drinkability. Will work for pizza, pasta, the chalet, or the party.

goodhopeWine style/lively red
THE WINERY of GOOD HOPE 09 Pinot Noir, South Africa 146415 $14.95
Slightly odd at first till you notice the bright flavours, great refreshment and ‘have fun’ feeling. The Beaujolais spirit with an extra shot or flavour and richness. I’ll be buying lots for Summer – with BBQed whites meats or salmon. And just drinking. Lightly chilled of course.

barberaWine style/rustic red
GIORDANO 07 Barbera d’Asti, Piedmont. Italy 159491 $13.95
Rustic, invigorating red with a down to earth feeling. Love the contrast of tangy bite and bright flavours. Gets the taste buds humming. See why Italians drink millions of bottles daily. With Italian food of course.
grandvillageWine style/rustic red
CHATEAU GRAND VILLAGE 06 Bordeaux, France 565317 $17.00
Today most Bordeaux are crafted in the popular smooth, rich, commercial style but not this guy. Meet the traditional. Very dry with pure flavours and lots of gusto.  Classic bistro red. Bring on the food.
zucarddiWine style/rich red
ZUCCARDI 08 SYRAH ‘Serie A’, Mendoza, Argentina 141317 $16.95
Tastes a lot like Crozes Hermitage from the Rhone Valley. Feels both rich and refreshing. Very dry with earthy, and peppery flavours. Think lamb dishes. Could be cellared for two or three years.
P.S. A lot of the Zuccardi wines (makers of Fuzion) have traditional European styling.

Drink Beaujolais Now!

by Kato on August 13, 2009 in Wine Picks with No comments

mommessinbeaujBeaujolais’ liveliness, fun nature and low alcohol makes it perfect for summer gulping. Red wine to have on picnics, early in the evening and anytime when the mood is lighthearted.  And, it’s the only red wines that is thirst-quenching – providing you know to lightly chill it. Too bad the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau in November gets people thinking it’s a winter drink. It’s not. Drink it NOW!

The good news is the quality is excellent in both the 07 and 08 vintages. And prices have barely increased in a decade – Beaujolais is one of today’s wine bargains. Try the following recommendations. But please don’t write and tell me you served Beaujolais at your steak BBQ and nobody enjoyed it. I’m NOT telling you to serve it with steak.

BOUCHARD AINE & FILS 08 Beaujolais, France 9431 $12.45
Brisk and brimming with summer berry flavours. A come alive, energetic red for summer refreshment and socializing. Save the Shiraz till later and start the party with Beaujolais. Lightly chilled of course.

MOMMESSIN 08 Beaujolais, France 313734 $11.95
Exuberant with Beaujolais’ great mix of fruitiness and tartness – white wine in a red wine cloak. Delicious summer refreshment. Alfresco lunches, early evening, or to partner with grilled salmon.
P.S. Mommessin is much improved from the old days.

CHAUVENET 07 BEAUJOLAIS, France 6114 $11.75
Fruity, fresh and very gulpable. The classic Beaujolais combination of berry fruits and lip-smacking tartness. A rustic, county feeling adds to the appeal. I have a fondness for this wine because in my Stratford days, a former local restaurant used sell it after hours in a tea pot. Did it taste good with a 2am greasy burger? You bet.

LCBO Vintages July 4, 2009

by Kato on July 2, 2009 in Vintages Picks, Wine Picks with 1 Comment

VINTAGES JULY 4, 2009
THE LOW DOWN: Most of my selections are from the old wine world. Characterful wines at reasonable prices – the reason to shop at Vintages.
simonne

SPARKLING
SIMONNET-FEBVRE Brut, Cremant de Bourgogne, France
126318 $18.95
This Chablis producer has crafted a wine that’s terribly close to Champagne. Not a surprise really, as the two regions have identical soils, grapes and climate. This is the bargain of the century for Champagne lovers!
castoza

FRESH WHITE
ALBINO PIONA 08 Custoza, Veneto, Italy 119446 $14.95
Super-zesty with a refreshing lemony tang. Lots of pep, lots of fun – perfect for the hot weather.
strewnriesling

STREWN 06 Riesling ‘Terroir’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake 467613 $16.95
Low-alcohol, dry Riesling that’s starting to develop the Fino Sherry tang. Heavenly stuff if you’re a fan. Aperitif and a great partner for BBQ’d shrimp.

muga

DRY ROSÉ
MUGA 08 Rosé, Rioja, Spain 603795 $12.95
Lots of pucker. And lots of flavour. But not too rich. A great refresher, alfresco lunch or aperitif wine.

suri

RED LIVELY
VILLA GIADA 07 Barbera D’Asti ‘Suri’, Piedmont, Italy 117168 $14.95
Here’s something to delight those who share my fondness for gutsy, tart, Italian reds. Explodes with cherry flavours and refreshment – makes you crave food. Wine’s original purpose.

carragosa


RICH RED
QUINTA da CARREGOSA 07 Douro, Portugal 115725 $16.95
Super-rich red produced from the Port grapes. If you like Shiraz, you’ll love this.
jau

CH. de JAU 06 Cotes du Roussillion-Villages, France 955070 $14.95
A great summer BBQ red – delicious fruity flavours, lively personality and not killer rich. There’s even a refreshing tang. Could be the red buy of the season.
bonnysyrah

BONNY DOON 05 Syrah ‘Le Pousseur’, California 732511 $21.95
Bonny Doon favours the Rhone style so this is quite gutsy and dry. Really good food wine for BBQ’d red meats.

← Older Entries
 

Site protected by VNetPublishing.Com Web Security Tools