A New Start and Great QPRs in 2013

Rather than just focusing on individual QPR wines in 2013, I plan to highlight stylistic or regional QPRs. This will help broaden the blog and exposure to styles and regions.

The South-west of France and the Languedoc-Rousillion is full of QPR wines. I have visited the Midi a number of times and although there are many standard table wines there are some wonderfully made value wines from Saint Chinian, Corbieres, Minervois etc.

Many of these wines are GSM blends - Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre and sometimes Cinsault. This makes for a lovely, spicy full-bodied wine.

My example above - Lurton Ministre - is just such blend from Saint Chinian. I enjoyed the when I purchased it but must say this 2005 was still drinking beautiful so when well made there is some holding power.

This $16 bottle still had lovelyplum and black cherry fruit with a slight earthiness on the nose and a hint of wild herb that followed through to the palate. The wine had a pleasant med+ finish.

http://www.saq.com/page/en/saqcom/vin-rouge/francois-lurton-domaine-du-ministre-2008/913178

http://www.winealign.com/wines/2631-Domaine-Du-Ministre-Rouge-2005

http://90pluswines.com/Wine/5047KPQ6/St.-Chinian-Domaine-du-Ministre/.aspx

http://www.domainesfrancoislurton.com/category.php?id_category=5

http://www.cellartracker.com/list.asp?fInStock=0&Table=List&iUserOverride=0&szSearch=J%2E+%26+F%2E+Lurton+Saint%2DChinian+Domaine+du+Ministre#selected%3DW1504187_1_K6e9ae5d600e0db7352c191f732613be9

As you can see from my LCBO St. Chinian product search below this tasting note and price-point is typical of the region so there is lots of choice. Play around with Faugeres, Corbieres and Minervois too. Enjoy!

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=St.+Chinian&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

"Wine-ding down 2012"

Happy Holidays and now, New Year's. Time flies and suddenly it is the end of the month/year and I am scrambling to make a theme of what I have been drinking and what I think is a particular value and worth sharing...

Two sparklers speak to holiday festivities and the reds are affordable dinner party companions. Tenuous themes but true, so I will stick with it!

 Niagara bubbles:

JACKSON-TRIGGS - ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE BRUT, 2008 -$22.95
Good complexity for price. Brioche, pear and apple on nose and palate. Creamy mousse.

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=entourage&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

http://on.jacksontriggswinery.com/product/2007-Silver-Series-ENTOURAGE-Sparkling-Methode-Classique

FLAT ROCK CELLARS - BRUT RESERVE, 2007 -$35.00
Complex layers of citrus and apples, with biscuit to round out nose and palate. Lingering finish.

http://www.flatrockcellars.com/products/category/sparkling-wine

 

Great value red:

BROTTE - LA FIOLE - COTE DU RHONE (GRENACHE/SYRAH) FRANCE - $13.95

Simple but pleasing wine. Good value for money with spicy and floral nose. Blackcurrant, plum and a slight herbaceous quality.

 

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=293498

Classic Chianti:

TOMMASO BOJOLA - LA CASTELLINA,  CHIANTI CLASSICO, ITALY - $21.95

Fruity and savoury nose - wild herbs and blackcurrant. Lengthy herbal, dried fruit palate with a hint of black tea.

http://www.winealign.com/wines/23520-La-Castellina-Tommaso-Bojola-Chianti-Classico-2007

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/