Not the Cab you think of first...

When most of us think of Cabernet, we think of Cabernet Sauvignon. I like Cab Sauv a great deal but have become very fond of Cabernet Franc. It all started about a decade ago when I visited the Loire and attended Viti Loire. I had not really been exposed to all the wonderful wines of the Loire - most specifically the Cab Francs of Chinon and Saint-Nicolas de Bourgueil and now I was completely immersed. Years later I find myself attracted to the Cabernet Francs of Ontario - they do not have the identical profile but share many of the same attributes.

COULY-DUTHEIL LA BARONNIE MADELEINE 2010 - CHINON, LOIRE, FRANCE - $21.95  
Floral and berry nose with a dusty smokiness. Full-bodied, ripe blackberry and plum on the palate. Surprisingly rich wine with a toasty, dry finish and good tannin structure.
http://lcbo.com/lcboear/lcbo/product/searchResults.doITEM_NAME=COULYDUTHEIL+LA+BARONNIE+MADELEINE+CHINON+20&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN
http://coulydutheil-chinon.com/en/chinon-wine/

TAWSE LAUNDRY VINEYARD CABERNET FRANC 2010 - NIAGARA PENINSULA, CANADA - $31.95 
Very fragrant floral nose. Elegant wine with fresh raspberry and blackberry fruit. Lively acids that give long, clean finish. 
http://lcbo.com/lcboear/lcbo/product/searchResults.doITEM_NAME=TAWSE+LAUNDRY+VINEYARD+CABERNET+FRANC+2010&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN
http://www.tawsewinery.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=21

Marvels from the Midi: Minervois under $16

It has been many months since I posted. Why? A mixture of getting caught up in work and school - a heavy personal focus on craft beer, Ontario specific wines and lack of true QPR experiences. Time rethink? Perhaps... but year-end and an inspiration from the Midi (Languedoc, France) has me offer up some value favourites.

I bought a few wines from the midi lately - anything from Clos Bagatelle in St. Chinian usually pleases but this time my focus is Minervois and the sub-appellation of La Liviniere drew me. I have been there so I can picture this hilly countryside in the western part of southern France. It is beautiful, hosts many fine producers and makes blended wines that I appreciate - mostly because of the great quality for the price. The blends contain some or any of the following: Syrah, Mouvedre, Grenache and Carignan. This GSM (C) blend gives a medium to full-bodied wine with a good tanin structure and lots of dark fruit character.

There are many good producers including Domaine Borie de Maurel which I have featured before and will again because I have a number of bottles in hibernation in my cellar, but below are two wines that I picked up on a Vintages release a number of months back and was very pleased with the result. There were others but these two were the QPR standouts!

DOMAINE LA BORIE BLANCHE- TERROIRS D'ALTITUDE 2008- LA LIVINIERE, MINERVOIS- $15.75
Very fine wine for the price. Full-bodied blend of Syrah, Grenache & Mouvedre. Big nose of black plum, leather and a smokiness. Smoke, spice and dark black fruit on the palate.
LCBO product link
Winery Link

L'OR DES TEMPLIERS 2009 - MINERVOIS - $15.95
Mid-weight wine of good complexity. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. Blackberry, raspberry and wild herbs both on the nose and the palate. Ripe fruitiness throughout.
LCBO link

Ontario's Other Red Grape

There is much to be said about Pinot Noir finding a home in Ontario and there is no doubt that we can make premium Pinot Noir here and that it is a signature grape. Much less talked about is Cabernet Franc, which outside of the Loire (and now Ontario) is mostly used in Bordeaux-style blends rather than to make a varietal wine. Although not perfect every vintage, there have certainly been enough good years that some standout wines have been made.

A really good Ontario Cabernet Franc has an intense nose that to me almost seems perfumed, floral. The palate is of ripe berries, red fruit and a touch of herbaceousness.

I have certainly not tried them all but I have tried many and QPR standouts for me include:

FEATHERSTONE - CABERNET FRANC 2011, NIAGARA - $ 16.95   
http://www.featherstonewinery.ca/wines.html

https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=FEATHERSTONE+CABERNET+FRANC+2011&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

TAWSE - GROWERS BLEND - CABERNET FRANC 2011, NIAGARA - $ 26.95   
http://tawsewinery.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=241    

   

TAWSE-  LAUNDRY VINEYARD  - CABERNET FRANC 2010, NIAGARA - $31.95
https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=328096

SOUTHBROOK - WHIMSY!- CABERNET FRANC 2010, NIAGARA - $34.95
http://www.southbrook.com/2010_whimsy_cabernet_franc_101
 https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=SOUTHBROOK+WHIMSY%21+CABERNET+FRANC+2010&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

Once Again July Brought Hot Weather and Cool Chardonnay...

For the third summer in a row I found myself participating in i4C; the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration. It is a fabulous event that brings together international producers as well as local Ontario wineries. 60 wineries and 120 wines! This year I was on the trade side of the table but still managed to get exposed to dozens (and dozens) of wonderful wines - all Chardonnay, of course. As the T-Shirt reads '400,000 Acres Can't be Wrong'.

 I have listed below some wines that were real standouts for me and admit there is definitely an international focus as I am lucky enough to get regular exposure to Ontario wine and wanted to be sure I concentrated on the wines that I am not so familiar with.

Global Perspectives Tasting & Panel lead by Steven Spurrier

 

 

From the Global Perspectives blind tasting, two wines stood out both winemakers produce in Ontario and elsewhere internationally:

BACHELDER SAUNDERS VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2011, BEAMSVILLE BENCH, NIAGARA, ONTARIO  $ 44.95    

An elegant, well-balanced wine with a lovely, lingering minerality in the finish.   

http://thomasbachelder.com/

  

PEARL MORISSETTE OCCIDENTAL CHARDONNAY 2011, SONOMA COAST, CALIFORNIA $N/A   

Tropical notes but restrained and complex. Wonderful long finish.  

 

Excellent wines from i4C World Tour:

 

NAUTILUS CHARDONNAY 2010, MARBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND $24.95                                            
The fact that I was sitting with Nautilus' winemaker, Clive Jones, at lunch in no way influenced that this wine was my pick of the i4C. I just felt it was a true QPR wine - great quality delivered at an excellent price. The nose on this wine is enticing and wonderfully complex - the palate does not disappoint!

 

NAUTILUS CHARDONNAY 2011, MARBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND $24.95

Slightly rounder (warmer vintage) and more fruit forward than the '10 but still beautifully integrated fabulous quality for the price.

http://www.nautilusestate.com/cms__Main?name=marlborough-chardonnay-2010                                                                                                                                                                            
https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=NAUTILUS+CHARDONNAY+2011&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

 

 

 

ADELSHEIM VINEYARD - CAITLIN'S RESERVE, WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON  $45.00    

Beautiful harmony between oak and fruit. Rich with long finish.  

http://www.adelsheim.com/wines/wine-profile/wine-category/white-rose-wines

  

HAMILTON RUSSELL CHARDONNAY 2011, HEMEL-EN-AARDE, SOUTH AFRICA      

$ 32.95  

Very fresh wine, with a lemon palate and certain steeliness. Excellent balance.

https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=HAMILTON+RUSSELL+CHARDONNAY+2011&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

http://www.hamiltonrussellvineyards.co.za/

 

 

CHÂTEAU GENOT-BOULANGER CLOS DU CROMIN 2010 , MEURSAULT, BURGUNDY $49.95

Quiet nose but beautifully vibrant nuanced wine.

https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=chateau+genot+boulanger&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN    

http://www.genot-boulanger.com/                                    

POPLAR GROVE CHARDONNAY 2011, OKANAGEN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA $27.95

Fresh wine, with judicious use of oak. Great balance.

https://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=POPLAR+GROVE+CHARDONNAY+2011&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

http://www.poplargrove.ca/                                        

STAETE LANDT JOSEPHINE CHARDONNAY 2010, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND $N/A   

At this point in the evening my notes merely said beautiful! I guess that is enough to go on.  

http://www.staetelandt.co.nz/wine/tasting-note.asp?WiID=85

 

VENTISQUERO GREY SINGLE BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2011, MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE
Very fresh, lively vibrant wine. Good length.

http://www.ventisquero.com/nosotros/

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/ventisquero+grey+glacier+single+block+casablanca+valley+chardonnay/2011

i4C Set Up - Before the crowds

 

Syrah vs. Shiraz - which one is for you?

We all know they are the same grape but it expresses itself differently in different climates in different regions. Winemakers also choose to name their wine based on the style of Syrah they have made. Even here in Ontario where we definitely do not have the climate of Australia you will see the odd Shiraz because the winemaker sees it as a bigger more fruit-forward wine that is the Shiraz style. (Or as a jaded marketing person's point of view, a great marketing strategy since Shiraz is so popular)

If you read my blog at all, you will notice that my taste, in general, is more old world/cool climate but that is not to say I haven't had a Shiraz that I love. I prefer the less jammy versions that have a strong pepper backbone and are a little leaner. I have had some fabulous ones, but some are very expensive so I went in search of some QPR Shiraz to my taste that I could happily recommend.

WITS END LUNA SHIRAZ 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia - $ 16.95   
        
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=WITS+END+LUNA+SHIRAZ+2011&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

http://www.chalkhill.com.au/our-story/our-vineyards/wits-end-vineyard



PENFOLDS THOMAS HYLAND SHIRAZ, South Australia - $ 21.95   

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=611210   

http://www.penfolds.com/en/Age-Check.aspx?u=%2fen%2fWines%2fThomas-Hyland.aspx

   
Very good example of Ontario Shiraz:

CREEKSIDE CABERNET SHIRAZ VQA, Niagara Peninsula - $ 15.95
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=305300    

http://creeksidewine.com/wines/estate-reds/shiraz 

    


And now for some well-priced, Syrah just to contrast compare if you so choose:

CHÂTEAU MARIS LA TOUGE MINERVOIS LA LIVINIÈRE SYRAH 2009, France - $ 19.95

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=325084

http://www.mariswine.com/en/mrc1/5-la-touge-syrah.html



JEAN-LUC COLOMBO LES FÉES BRUNES CROZES HERMITAGE SYRAH 2009, France - $ 24.95

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=286351 

http://www.vinscolombo.fr/uk/