All posts tagged Sparkling

Wine for the Non-Drinker

by Billy on December 29, 2011 in Wine Picks with No comments

No, I don’t need to remind you to stock up on Perrier for teetotalers and DDs, but you may also want to consider the almost non-drinker with offerings of low-alcohol drinks. These will be slightly, to semi-sweet which usually pleases the casual drinker. Who knows, you might join ’em in a glass! Chill well and considering including some of these for all your daytime entertaining.
 
HOST TIP: Give non-drinkers the same glass as your other guests. Let them look and feel part of the party.

LOW ALCOHOL: SPARKLING
 
BOTTEGA Moscato ‘Petalo Il Vino Del Amore’, Italy 588780 $12.35
…super light and semi sweet. Delicious morning drink.

BAREFOOT BUBBLY Moscato, California 215061 $12.95
…exotic, sweet flavours, but also refreshing. Playful.

VINA CASAL DE GORCHS ‘Fresita’, Chile 56697 $13.95
…semi-sweet, strawberry flavoured. Perfect.
 

LOW ALCOHOL: STILL
 
BOTTER N/V Moscato, Puglia, Italy 239517 $9.95
…frothy/sweet/musky and sure to please.

HILLEBRAND 10 Gewurztraminer ‘Artist Series’, VQA Ontario 554378 $11.45
…off-dry, mild-mannered and big on niceness.

McWILLIAM’S 09 Moscato ‘Hanwood Estate’, Australia 212696 $13.95
…semi-sweet and a big charmer.

LANGGUTH 08 Riesling ‘Black Slate’, Mosel, Germany 176917 $10.95
…off-dry. Lovely delicate feeling and flavours.

LCBO Vintages Saturday December 10

by Billy on December 9, 2011 in Vintages Picks with No comments

LCBO VINTAGES Saturday December 10/2011
This release is mainly about deluxe stuff for the Holidays, but I did find a few values. However, I’m including some of the fancy bottles too. ‘Tis the season.
P.S. Keep reading this blog for more Holiday drink ideas.

Sláinte.
Billy

 

WHITES
Sparkling
13th STREET ‘Cuvee 13’, Sparkling Brut Rosé, VQA Niagara
147504 $24.95
Classy dry sparkling in pretty pink. What’s not to like! Stylish package too. Parties, aperitif and gift giving.

 

ROEDERER ESTATE BRUT SPARKLING, California
294181 $28.95
Very Champagne-ish. Roederer makes the most elegant Californian bubbly. Great value.

CHARLES HEIDSIECK BRUT RESERVE Champagne, France
36962 $54.95
Always the most toasty, sensual Champagne. For loved ones.
 
WHITES
PETER ZEMMER 10 Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, Italy
95802 $15.95
Gourmet Grigio. Delicate flavours and bags of charm. Refreshing too. Lovely opening act for the Holidays.

 

CHATEAU DES CHARMES 08 Riesling ‘Old Vines’, VQA Niagara–on-the-Lake
277228 $16.95
Off-dry Riesling that’s starting to deliver mature/exotic flavours. Zesty, spicy and delicious. Sip anytime. You’ll be hugely popular pouring this over the Holidays.
 
G. MARQUIS 08 Chardonnay, ‘Silver Line’, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake
258681 $16.95
Chard for the seasoned drinker. Earthy, savoury and really good with food. Crafted in the very dry, traditional style. Dinner party wine.
P. S. G. Marquis is a new brand by Magnotta winery.

 

REDS
CLOSSON CHASE 09 Pinot Noir, VQA Prince Edward County
145888 $39.95
Here’s the deal. This is classic County wine that should appeal to the Pinot fan. Crafted in the pure, Burgundian style – feels tight/austere right now, but with a year or two of cellaring it should be a wonderful partner for grilled or roasted meats.
 
OSOYOOS LAROSE 07 RED, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC
662759 1500ml/$99.95
Don’t flip out – this is a big bottle. And a candidate for gifting or cellaring, rather than a bash this month. Osoyoos is a Canadian/French project set in the desert-like climate of Southern British Columbia. It’s crafted from the five Bordeaux grape varieties by French winemaker Pascal Madevon, and guess what? It’s very similar to Bordeaux. With a hint of the mountainside herbal flavours you find in Rhone wines. Elegance with some earthiness – my favourite combination.
 
SWEET
QUADY Orange Muscat ‘Essensia’, California
299552 375ml/$13.95
Muscat is the hot new white in the US and here’s a delicious sweet edition by a winery that’s been playing the Muscat tune for as long as I’ve been reporting. Gorgeous orange flavours. And value. Chill well and enjoy with your favourite tart. Food, or other.

LCBO Vintages Saturday Nov 12

by Billy on November 12, 2011 in Vintages Picks with No comments

Billy Munnelly’s recommendations for LCBO Vintages, Saturday November 12, 2011
I’m entertaining more expensive and classic wines as we head into the holiday season. Treats for yourself, to share, or give as gifts. This is a good time of the year to use Vintages.

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Asparagus Season

by Kato on May 31, 2011 in Food & Restaurants, Wine Picks with No comments

asparagusHELLO ASPARAGUS!

The first asparagus of the season is always special and this year I had one of those experiences you read about in cook books. From ground to table in twenty minutes – thanks to Ed and Sandy Taylor who operate a roadside stand on Sandy Hook Road here in Prince Edward County. Ed picked a bunch for me right from his organic farm, and they were sizzling under the grill, into a frittata pan, and on the lunch table in next to no time. Along with a very good baguette from Metro and open bottle of Aussie Semillon. Brilliant sunshine made it all quite wonderful. Ed and Sandy have organic produce all season long and they’re just one minute south of one of the County’s best watering holes, The Waring House.

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LCBO Vintages Saturday May 28

by Kato on May 25, 2011 in Vintages Picks with 1 Comment

THE LOW DOWN: Didn’t plan it but I ended up selecting an excellent Variety 6-Pack of white wines. Gruner, Verdejo, Riesling, Chenin, Chardonnay and Muscadet. And a Sparkling – so I guess it’s a 7-Pack. Should get you through the weekend. But you’ll also need some Rosé – primo local or a Chilean bargain.

Carmenere and Ripasso are the best bets in red but you must have at least one summer supper with Moulin-a-Vent, the queen of Beaujolais.

SPARKLING
naparosewine style: dry sparkling
MUMM NAPA Rosé Sparkling, Napa Valley, California 205641 $29.95
Champagne-style wine and quality at half the price. Elegant and exciting way to start an event. Best sparkling I’ve tasted in a long time.

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