I am not an expert, just a discerning wine lover or amateur de vin (as the French say), but everyone has a different palate, likes and dislikes so it must be understood that any of my recommendations are personal. I just hope that you find them useful or at the very least - interesting. I also hope you enjoy my photos. It is more fun sharing then keeping them backed up on a hard drive.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Vintages Essential, no wonder

I am admittedly not the biggest Shiraz fan (although I love a Rhone or Californian Syrah) because I often find them pillowy or jammy. I have had some absolutely brilliant ones with pepper and backbone but they are often quite pricey. Then someone hipped me to this Vintages essential gem:

PENFOLDS - THOMAS HYLAND SHIRAZ, AUSTRALIA - $ 19.95

Nose of black cherry and chocolate with a hint of white pepper. Ripe fruit on the palate, silky tannins and well-balanced acid.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

High-quality Languedoc at attractive prices...

Attended a wonderful L/R tasting last week with many beautiful wines. the challenge for this blog is that many were from friend's cellars or special reserves that are hard to find. Below are the highlights of the accessible wines:

GÉRARD BERTRAND RÉSERVE SPÉCIALE VIOGNIER 2008 - $16.95
Peach, toast, good balancing streak of acid

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=147975

http://www.gerard-bertrand.com/rubriquesgb,gerardbertrand,en.html


CHÂTEAU DE NAGES RÉSERVE BLANC 2009 - $ 14.95
Grenache/Roussanne blend - floral and baked peach, tastes like it smells (wonderful)

http://www.michelgassier.com/en/our-wines/chateau-de-nages-reserve/blanc-2009.html

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=427609


CHÂTEAU DE FONTENELLES CUVÉE NOTRE DAME 2008 - $ 16.95
Syrah/Grenache blend- smokey, red fruit, cedary (garrigue), velvety tannins

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=106518

http://www.fontenelles.com/english/vinsrouge.html


CHÂTEAU LA ROQUE EN GARDE - PIC SAINT LOUP 2007 - $ 29.95
Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre blend - smokey, spice, garrigue, cherry, fresh wine

http://www.lcbo.ca/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=195206

http://www.chateau-laroque.fr/Gamme_des_vins_GB.asp

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

You can have a glass but not the bottle, at least not to take home with you...

Each week I work carefully plan to find something worthy of my post. Sometimes it is a struggle. I am told by blogger friends that my mandate of QPR is too narrow, but rather than just going on about how I love wine, I wanted to provide a service, as meagre as it may be, to friends and followers.

This week was a real challenge as snow cancelled a promising wine tasting and everything else I tried seemed bland or over-priced. Then last night, out at dinner, there it was, my saviour - Tollgate - a white assemblage from Stratus!

Unfortunately I was dealt a cruel trick of fate. This lovely wine is only available to restaurants. Doh! (My inner Homer comes out). What to do? Write about it, I guess, as a good choice in a restaurant ($9 - $11 a glass about $40 - 50 for the bottle) and hope that Stratus decides that it is too good to keep from the general public. I have read that the red blend is very good too, but here is my review of the white:

2007 STRATUS TOLLGATE WHITE (Semillon,Chardonnay,Viognier,Sauvignon,Riesling) – Niagara

Yummy, toasty, complex, Bordeaux-like white with some surprises because of the unusual blend of varieties including a fleshy peachiness thanks to the Viognier.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Super-sipper deals on fantastic whites from Ontario

Happy New Year! All my blog "homework" over the holidays took place in the Twenty Valley where I came upon two wonderful deals you can proudly share with friends:

MEGALOMANIAC: HOMEGROWN RIESLING VQA 2007
LCBO 183061 | 750 mL bottle  $ 12.95
Peach and apricot aromas with a touch of lemon. Dry, delicate and well-balanced . Would be beautiful with grilled seafood.

http://www.megalomaniacwine.com/main.php

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=183061



CALAMUS: SEMI-SWEET RIESLING VQA 2008
LCBO 183061 | 750 mL bottle  $ 13.20
Grapefruit and apricot aromas with some minerally, wet stone. Aromas follow through on palate with the addition of honey. Serve with thai or a gently spiced curry.

http://www.calamuswines.com/Wines/