Beat the early winter blues with a virtual trip to Italy's wine country

Here it is the eve of the end of another month and I am frantically writing my blog. I don't know how I got from once a week to sliding in one post a month. I have mused about too tight a focus; only writing about wines that are great value for money but reflection will be for the new year. Right now I will focus on the lead up to the holidays and crowd pleasing wines that won't break the bank.

Speaking of banks, I have had a lot of expenses and fear I will not be travelling for a while. I decided to armchair travel this winter through wine. This week to Italy; two different regions, styles of wine but both great values.

FRASCOLE CHIANTI RUFINA - 2009 - CHIANTI, ITALY - $16.95
Earthy nose of cherry, balsamic and herbs. Rich, mouthfilling and medium bodied palate, with dried cherry fruit, spice and black tea finish. Food friendly.

http://lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?itemNumber=085167
http://www.frascole.it/chianti-rufina-frascole.php

SELLA & MOSCA RISERVA CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA - 2008 - SARDINIA,  ITALY - $15.95
Cannonau known to most as Grenache. Medium bodied with baked plum, coffee and spice on the nose. There is cherry fruit and some dry herbs on the palate. Pleasing length.

http://lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=425488

Canadian Wine & Beer That Looks but Doesn't Taste Scary

As both the Frakenstorm and Halloween approach, I batten down the hatches and hold onto the decorations in the wind; my mind turns to spooky seasonal beverages that warm up the soul.

Mt. Begbie - Nasty Habit - IPA - Revelstoke, B.C. $5.60
Malt, citrus peel and grapefruit, intense fruity & floral hops, hint of resin; pleasant bitterness from hops.



Dieu du Ciel - Corne Du Diable - IPA - Quebec  - 6.5%
Dry hopped red ale with intense bitterness. A blend of American West Coast & British IPA styles.



Coffin Ridge - Back from the Dead Red - Marchal Foch - Owen Sound, ON  - $17.00
Lean and juicy; herbal, sour cherry and smoke.

Flat Rock Cellars - Twisted - White Blend - Niagara, ON - $16.95
Mineral, pear & grapefruit on nose & palate. Approachable, off-dry Riesling, Gewurtztraminer & Chardonnay blend. Crowd pleaser!

Not just the leaves grabbing the attention this fall; September Sparkles

Tyler at North of 9 Fine Wine asked me to do a Wine of the Weekend write up. I was honoured because I really like his website & blog (check it out http://www.northof9finewine.com/ ). 
The structure was a bit different for me, but I enjoyed doing it so much, I wanted to share with my readers.

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT RESERVA CAVA, SPAIN -$14.25

This wine has predominantly apple notes but the 15 months it spends in oak gives it some biscuit and nutty complexity. Then its crisp acid and allows it to stand up to some lovely creamy cheeses like Delice de Bourgogne or St. Andre. It also pairs wonderfully with salty olives, Parmigiano Reggiano and charcuterie. The beauty of sparkling wine is its versatility. When serving hors d'oeuvres, and not certain what to match, the different flavour profiles of the food are effortlessly covered with one beverage.

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=216960

http://www.seguraviudasusa.com/brut-reserva-sparkling-wine.html

BERNARD-MASSARD BRUT CUVÉE DE L'ÉCUSSON, LUXEMBOURG -$16.95

Cremant, often Cava's more elegant cousin, is still approachable in price - under $20.00. The recently released Bernard-Massard Brut Cuvee de L'Ecusson (Luxembourg) is especially impressive for $16.95  The blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir creates a lovely wine of reasonable complexity. Slightly off-dry, this wonderful wine has a lemon-lime, pear bouquet that follows through on the creamy palate. A moderate finish that ends with an enticing hint of nuttiness. This too would go beautifully with cheeses that have some strength, earthiness or nuttiness like Gouda, Brie de Meaux, Munster or Tomme de Savoie. Of course Cremant, Cava, Prosecco and most other sparklers pair nicely with the standard Champagne matches of oysters, shellfish and seafood. Sparkling wine is one of the few choices that will go with eggs and proof is in matching it with tasty cheese soufflés especially when the main ingredient is Emmantal or Gruyere – so think brunch!

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=970970

http://www.bernard-massard.lu/en/

My Niagara Escarpment Picks: Go-to QPR Wines

It has been a couple of weeks since I posted anything. Aside from life getting in the way, I just didn't feel I had tasted anything worth talking about. Perhaps that is because of the narrow focus I have given my blog or just bad luck. I always want to share wines that I feel have a price-quality relationship, and whatever the budget, I am recommending value. Sometimes this is a stretch and I go outside of my normal circles to find things the reader may like, but this week it is not about you, it is about me.

Now with that tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek comment aside, I do want to talk about a wine region I am passionate about - the Niagara Escarpment. With Ontario on the tips of LCBO shoppers tongues this week, it seemed only natural. It is true I have a bias to a region that I can easily drive and bike around, visiting wineries at will, but I also simply feel that many of the wines created there are quite spectacular.

While discussing this same subject last night, it was pointed out to me that you couldn't ask for much better than limestone and clay-loam soil and that if we stick to varieties that our soil and climate favours, like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling there is a huge opportunity to make our mark in the world of wine.

Below are some of my go-to wines. These not only present a good QPR but are generally quite affordable to the average consumer:

CAVE SPRINGS
Dolomite Riesling $16.95
http://cavespring.ca/wines/wine-details?wine=Riesling+Dolomite&vintage=2010&type=Niagara+Escarpment

Chenin Blanc '09 - $14.95
http://cavespring.ca/wines/wine-details?wine=Chenin+Blanc+Estate&vintage=2009&type=Estate+Bottled
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=627315



Gamay '09 (Niagara Peninsula) - $14.95
http://cavespring.ca/wines/wine-details?wine=Gamay&vintage=2009&type=Niagara+Peninsula
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=228569

FEATHERSTONE
Black Sheep Riesling '11 - $16.95
http://www.featherstonewinery.ca/wines.html
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=80234

Cabernet Franc '10 - $16.95
http://www.featherstonewinery.ca/wines.html
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=64618



FLAT ROCK CELLARS
Twisted '10 (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay blend)- $16.95
http://www.flatrockcellars.com/products/view/51
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=1578



Nadja's Vineyard - $19.95
http://www.flatrockcellars.com/products/view/55
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=578625

Pinot Noir '10 - $19.95
http://www.flatrockcellars.com/products/view/63
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=1545

HIDDEN BENCH
Estate Riesling '10 - $24.00
http://www.hiddenbench.com/images/pdf/Current%20and%20Fall%20release%202012.pdf
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=HIDDEN+BENCH+ESTATE+RIESLING+2010&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN



KACABA
Cabernet Franc '08 - $18.95
http://www.kacaba.com/index2.html
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=272146



Syrah '08 - $29.95
http://www.kacaba.com/index2.html

TAWSE
Skteches of Niagara Riesling (Niagara Peninsula) - $17.95
http://www.tawsewinery.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.display&product_id=143
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=TAWSE+SKETCHES+OF+NIAGARA+RIESLING&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN



Grower's Blend Cabernet Franc - $26.95
http://tawsewinery.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=175

This part of Ontario is also a lovely region to visit, here is how to find out more:
http://winecountryontario.ca/niagara-escarpment-twenty-valley

http://www.twentyvalley.ca/

Yes Virginia there is something other than Malbec from Argentina

The amount of wine study I am doing is inverely proportionate to the amount of tasting and writing I am doing. Balancing work, school and social opportunities has been a challenge. But this week - even though it was exam time - I accepted an invitation because I did not want to miss the unique experience of lunch and a tasting with Gonzalo Bertelsen of Finca el Origen.

Any chance to meet a winemaker and to talk about and taste their wines is a priviledge. In this case it was even more appealling because I feel I have had very little exposure to Argentina as compared to other regions. I was interested to have a chance to learn about the Uco Valley.

We talked about weather, hazards like hail and the unique terrior in the shadow of the Andes. It is always a pleasure taste well-crafted wines and learn about their provenence. The added benefit was aside from having lovely, well-made wines, the price point was so approachable it seemed ashame not to share.

FINCA EL ORIGEN CHARDONNAY - 2010 - MENDOZA, ARGENTINA - $ 10.95

I don't even know where to start with this wine - it is sensational for the price.

On the nose - melon, white blossom with citrus notes and a slightly flinty minerality. The palate citrus-crisp with a very clean finish, but not entirely unoaked, so there is a gentle spice that lingers.

Various batches were blended and some of those saw time in oak. There was also a blend of Malolactic fermentation vs. non. This rounded the wine a little and added complexity. This single vineyard - Las Pintadas, has three blocks with distinct soils which also added to the complexity of the wine.

It is very hard to beat this cool-climate chardonnay for the price.

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=FINCA+EL+ORIGEN+CHARDONNAY&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

FINCA EL ORIGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - GRAND RESERVA, 2009 - $ 21.95 - 23.95

Also well worth the price but not available to those of us in Ontario, this wine has received accolades from many sources scoring high marks.

This wine was highly extracted in many ways; its deep red-purple hues, its intense nose of blackcurrant and clove and its spicy, full round mouth-feel with ripe tannins and just enough acid to give it great length.

The "Grand Reserva" had a little brother, "Reserva" that was an incredible QPR, and may even be available at the LCBO soon...

FINCA EL ORIGEN CABERNET SAUVIGNON - RESERVA - 2011 - $15.95

Quite a complex wine with black cherries and blackberries, tobacco, spice box and cedar on the nose. Rich, spicy dark fruit on the palate. Lovely balance - well integrated tannin and acid; velvety wine.

http://www.fincaelorigen.com/en/our-wines