Tasting Notes – Nov 15, 2009

This week I didn’t really do any formal tastings but I did have some enjoyable wines, two of which happen to be wines that I’ve been meaning to try anyways. Lucky day!

St. Francis Chardonnay 2007 $19.95
I discovered this wine from Sonoma last year which would have been the 2006 vintage release. I loved it…people loved it. The cases were flying off the shelves at my local wine shop. This year, the wine is just as good. However, it does have a heavier oak flavour than last year. If you love that big, buttery, oaky California Chardonnay then you’ll enjoy this wine. The grapes were sourced mostly from the Russian River valley and the wine aged in both French and American oak. This wine is full-bodied, creamy and feels like golden butter going down. But don’t let the oak scare you. It’s not so full of oak that you can’t enjoy the fruit.

Pierre Amadieu La Grangeliere Vacqueyras 2007 $21.95
This wine is from the Southern region of France, specifically, the Rhone. I think this is one of my favourite wine regions. Vacqueyras is located not to far from the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape village. I find that wines from Vacqueyras and Gigondas are nice alternatives to the more expensive Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Although, Gignondas wines can be a bit on the expensive side nowadays. This wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. 50% of the wine was aged in new oak and you can really tell by the intense aroma.

Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir $23.95
A friend of mine opened this for us girls during a small house-warming get together. Let it sit for a few minutes just after opening and you’ll be delighted. It’s a nice Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Too bad I accidentally knocked over a glass. I hope the floor enjoyed it. This wine is medium-bodied with all those flavours typical of a Pinot Noir such as strawberry, cranberry and cinnamon spice. Oregon is known for their fabulous Pinot Noir. Next time you’re in your wine shop, see if you can find something from this region. I don’t think that you’ll be disappointed.

Organized Crime and the Foreign Affair

On a visit to the Twenty Valley, my favourite wine region of Ontario, I decided to try a new (well, new for me) winery called Organized Crime. I have to admit that I’ve driven past this winery a few times and have never bothered to go in. Well, that was certainly my loss and I will never make that mistake again. Lesson learned: never make a snap judgment because you could be missing out on something good. Organized Crime is a small boutique winery located what’s known as the “Beamsville Bench” of the Niagara Peninsula. The tasting/shop area is small but very cozy, with a nice display of the wines and various pieces of artwork on the wall. It was just my luck that the winemaker himself happened to be there! It was fate. The wine gods wanted me to continue my adventure of fine-wine drinking. It also happens to be that he’s Polish, as are the owners, of the winery. What a coincidence…that’s a part of my heritage! The wines were smooth, soft and delicious. Each variety of wine was labeled with a part of the Organized Crime story. The winemaker also makes wines for another winery called Foreign Affair. He took us there for some more tastings after our visit at Organized Crime.

The name of the winery is from local history. Sometime in the 1900s, there were two Mennonite churches who were in an argument with eachother over the acquisition of a pipe organ. When the one church acquired the musical instrument, the members of the other church stole it and tossed it down an embankment. Needless to say, the organ was destroyed. The winery has a very diverse portfolio with wines made from varieties such as Pinot Gris, Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Sryah just to name a few plus two blended reds that are just fantastic. Some of the wines have interesting names such as “The Download” which is their signature red.

http://www.organizedcrimewine.com

The consultant winemaker for Organized Crime, Andrzej Lipinski, also makes the wines at Foreign Affair. The wine labels of Foreign Affair are also like small pieces of artwork. Each label features an animal such as a moose or a polar bear. What’s interesting about both winery bottle labels is that the labels are textured and feel neat when running your fingers over them. An interesting fact with the production of these wines is that they are made in the Apassimento method (grapes that air-dried after harvest). This gives the wines body and lots of flavour. Shazam!

http://www.foreignaffairwine.com

Back in September, Andrzej was in Toronto pouring his wines at a tasting event at the Fine Wine Reserve on King Street. I think he brought almost every single wine in the Organized Crime portfolio! After spending some time with him over a couple of dinners and more than a few bottles of his wines, the passion that he has for his craft is inspiring. The way that he describes the wines and the various methods that went into their production, make me appreciate them even more. It’s interesting to hear him talk about his past and the path taken to where he is today. Having stumbled into winemaking has proven to be a treat for anyone who drinks his wines! I am a huge fan.

A great article about Andrzej Lipinski:
http://www.snooth.com/articles/commentary/canadian-wine-people-o-andrzej-lipinski

Twenty Valley consists of the areas of Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan. There are some fantastic wineries in this area that are definitely worth visiting. The area is before Niagara-on-the-Lake and only about an hour from Toronto. For more information on the Twenty Valley:
http://www.twentyvalley.ca

I love the NightLife

Last week, I attended a wine event (I know, shocking!) brought to you by the iYellow Wine Club (a free wine social club in Toronto so sign up!). This event featured wines from Napa, California. The night started off with a bang as I acquired a head injury even before entering the event. My head made friends with a large metal door. A perfect way to soothe a head bump is wine of course and I certainly was on my way to the right place. The event took place in the historic Great Hall, on Queen Street West. I love this area of Queen Street. There are so many galleries and interesting stores…not to mention good restaurants.

http://www.thegreathall.ca

I love the way the Great Hall was decorated for the evening. Dj Dinamo and Dj Sam EfSharp Flemming were playing some good tunes (as usual, I busted a move on the dancefloor after a few…um…samples). There were 20 wineries sampling their wines at this event. I have to say that the wines that stood out for me this night were the Syrahs and the Sauvignon Blancs. Of course, there was plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon to go around! No California wine show would be complete without the great King Cabernet Sauvignon.

The setup for the evening was one which had all the wineries along the perimeter of the hall, allowing people to freely mix and mingle. There were tables in the center, along with tasty bites to eat. Angela, the lovely lady behind the iYellow Wine Club was sporting some great boots. I love her sense of style. Great taste in wine and fashion go a long way in my books.

The picture to the left is one of Angela and myself showing off our boots at the end of the event. Below is yours truly taking a break from dancing. This time I had some fellow wine tasters join me!

For myself, the wines that stood out were:

Chimney Rock Elevage Bordeaux Blend
This wine is made in the tradition of wines from the right-bank of the Bordeaux region.
www.chimneyrock.com

Peju Sauvignon Blanc Persephone Vineyard 2008
Interesting fact about this wine is that the grapes are harvested in three stages of ripeness to create a complex blended wine.

Peju Cabernet Sauvignon Persephone Vineyard 2005
www.peju.com

Cuvaison Pinot Noir 2007 Los Carneros
One of the only few Pinot Noirs of the night, but always a pleaser.
www.cuvaison.com

Frias Syrah 2006
I have a bottle of the 2005 in my wine rack. I can’t wait to drink it. The 2006 was also super.
www.friasfamilyvineyard.com

John Anthony Syrah 2006
The winemaker himself was pouring the wines and I enjoyed tasting each of them!
www.javwine.com

Toronto is fortunate to have dedicated organizations like the iYellow Wine Club to bring these types of events to the city. I love California wines and the NightLife event provided a way to showcase the region.

For more information on Napa Valley:
www.napavitners.com

Maybe one day I’ll be blogging from Napa! I can’t wait.

Event Alert!
The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is coming up in a few weeks here in Toronto. It’s always a lot of fun. Sadly, I won’t be pouring wines this year. I’ll be on the floor tasting! 🙂
For more information: http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca

Purchase VIP tickets with the iYellow Wine Club and save money on the VIP evening:
http://www.iyellowwineclub.com/2009/10/gfwe-iyellow-vip-green-room.html

This year, the wines of Portugal will be featured. See you there!

Tasting Notes – Nov. 4, 2009

I’ve finally recovered from Hallowe’en. You know what’s not spooky – wine! Well, depends on what kind of wine we’re talking about. There have been some wines that made me want to scream in fright. Maybe next year I’ll celebrate October 31st dressed up as a grape. Or better yet, a French oak barrel. 🙂

Here are some nice picks that I’ve recently had. Hopefully they’ll provide you with a ghoulish delight!

Beronia Reserva 2005 $17.95
From Rioja, Spain, this wine will warm you up in these cooler months. This is a great quality wine for the money. It has all those typical flavours and aromas that are associated with Rioja wines like black fruit, vanilla, mocha and spice. Made from the Tempranillo grape (a native grape variety of Spain), this wine has seen some extra aging (the word Reserva indicates that the wine has seen a specific amount of aging).
Enjoy this wine for a few more years! It’s got a lot of life and love to give.

Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir 2007 $27.95
Wow! This is my favourite wine of the week. It’s just delicious. This is a Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast, California. It’s like drinking silk…if silk were a liquid. It has wonderful aromas of red berries and spice. The flavour is full with that great earthy taste that is often associated with fine wines from Burgundy. This wine is simply easy to drink (could be a dangerous thing!) and has a very nice finish. It is a bit on the high side for price, but it’s well worth the money. Normally I find a lot of California Pinots to be too fruity. This one is more my style. It’s a great balance between earth and fruit.

Domaine De Nerleux Brut Crémant de Loire $18.95
I just love Crémants. They’re sparkling wines from France made in the Champagne style (which is also known as the traditional method). Because this wine isn’t from Champagne, it can’t be called Champagne. This one comes from the Loire region of France. This wine is great as an aperitif. It’s quite dry (the word Brut means dry) with good fruit and very bubbly. Champagne taste on a Crémant budget! Great value.

Simi Chardonnay 2008 $19.95
This wine comes from the Sonoma region of California. It’s an easy going wine that’s ready to drink now. It’s a nice California Chardonnay for just under $20.

Purchase VIP tickets with the iYellow Wine Club and save money on the VIP evening:
http://www.iyellowwineclub.com/2009/10/gfwe-iyellow-vip-green-room.html

This year, the wines of Portugal will be featured. See you there!

Tasting Notes – Oct.19, 2009

Tenuta Di Capraia Chianti Classico 2006 $19.95
Not too much going in terms of complexity but it is enjoyable. A nice Chianti for just under $20. This wine is simple yet tasty and may be further aged for another 2-4 years. Some earth, cedar and fruit aromas and on the palate it is dry and full-bodied. What is Chianti you ask? Chianti is the classic wine of Tuscany. Chianti Classico is a region of Tuscany, Italy (you’ll also find other regions such as Chianti Rufina, Chianti Colli Senesi). Other classic wines of Italy that you may have heard of are Barolo and Amarone. The main grape variety to make a Chianti is Sangiovese although small percentages of other grape varieties may be blended into the wine (Sangiovese must remain the dominant grape variety in the final wine). This wine is 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. Drink this with roast leg of lamb, steak, beef stews or rich pasta sauces. Mmm! Mama Mia!

Thorn-Clarke Terra Barossa Single Vineyard Riesling 2008 $14.95
This wine is from the Eden Valley located in South-Eastern Australia. The Eden Valley is a cooler region and is known for Riesling. This wine is crisp and refreshing. It has lots of fruit with citrus and lime flavour with some floral aromas. I enjoyed this Riesling and for the money, it’s a good value.

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 08

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! (gobble gobble)
I am very thankful for all the great wines out there. I’m also thankful to all the hardworking people that work so hard with dedication and passion to make these wines that we enjoy so much. This will be a very short post as I’m working off the effects of tryptophan. I recently tried a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Sauvingnon Blanc and New Zealand go together like Shiraz and Australia…or Chardonnay and California…or like turkey and gravy (to keep in the spirit of the holiday).

Dog Point Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $19.95

What a nice wine for $20. It has that aromatic grass smell, typical of a Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a nice citrus flavour with some hints of tropical fruits. It’s fresh and fruity. Good acidity and length on the finish. A wonderful example of how delicious Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand can be. Drink this wine while young (the wine, not you) in order to catch that youthful fruitiness. This wine comes from the Marlborough region in New Zealand where Sauvignon Blanc is king.

http://www.dogpoint.co.nz
http://www.wine-marlborough.co.nz

Tasting Notes – Sept. 24, 2009

It’s a quiet Thursday evening. It’s nice to have those once in a while. Now, if it were an exciting TV night, I wouldn’t be typing this. I’ve tried some interesting wines this week. The following wines are from Ontario, except for the last, with it being from Spain.

Oak Heights 2007 Chardonnay $14.95
I’ve never heard of this winery before so I was curious. I was pleasantly surprised! The picture here is of the 2006 vintage. I tried the 2007. This is a small boutique winery called Oak Heights Estate Winery located in Northumberland County in Ontario (approx. 1 hour East of Toronto). This wine had subtle oak flavour and the fruit is actually sourced from the Niagara region. Interestingly enough, this winery uses Canadian oak only for their oak-aged wines. For the money, this is a nice wine.

M alivoire 2007 Gamay $17.95
I always enjoy the Gamay from Malivoire. The winemaker’s name is Shiraz (yes, that’s his real name). He’s a nice guy (with good taste in music, well, likes my kind of music) and his wines are delicious. This Gamay won’t disappoint. Serve it slightly chilled for maximum enjoyment. If I’m ever out on the town and see this wine on the menu, I order it.

Hidden Bench 2007 Chardonnay $35.20
A bit on the pricer side of the scale, this Chardonnay packs a big oak y punch. If you like your Chardonnays in a more California style, with big oak flavour, then you’ll enjoy this wine.

Mas Estela Quindals 2005 $19.95
Sorry for the small picture! This is one of the “Wines of the Month” at the LCBO. It comes from the Empordà region of Spain. This wine is a blend of 90% Grenache (Garnacha in Spanish), 5% Syrah and 5% Carignan (Carinena in Spanish). Aged in French oak for a year, this wine has good fruit and body with spicy flavours. It says in the tasting notes that the wine will still open up for another 2-3 years and drink well into 2020! Now that $20 will go a long way.

I try not to get hung up on scores because what may be one person’s 90, may be another person’s 80. I find myself sometimes saying “Wow, 90+…should be great”, only to be disapointed because my palate is different than the person who scored the wine. We can all agree upon which wines have fault or which wines may have more fruit or even perhaps complexity but when it comes to something you like or don’t like – each person is different. Things would get pretty boring if we all loved and disliked the same wines. Before getting caught up in the hype, try one bottle and see if you like it. If you have the chance to try before you buy (for example, Summerhill LCBO Tasting Tour), even better. That’s my little rant for the evening. Time for Seinfeld.

Back to Wine School!

Looking to take a small wine class that’s informative and affordable? Check out the iYellow Wine School located at Reds Bistro & Wine Bar (77 Adelaide Street West) in downtown Toronto. I’m going to sign up for some classes myself because they look fun. The classes are taught by Taylor Thompson, one of Toronto’s Top Sommeliers. They are about 1.5 hours and the topics are different each class. With our busy schedules, this kind of class structure works perfectly. Learning about wine should be a “hands on” experience don’t you think? 🙂

http://iyellowwineschool.blogspot.com/

Tasting Notes – Sept. 20, 2009

So much for updating on a regular basis. Ok, this week I vow to update more!! I’m still having too much fun. 😛 I have some posts to upload of some fantastic things I’ve been doing lately (wine-related of course). I’m sitting at Starbucks in my home town as I write this, thinking about all the interest my family has in the future would-be squatters of my uterus. The thought of giving up wine for so long to have children makes me want to shed a tear. But I’m not there yet so let’s begin.

Here are some wines that I’ve had recently and enjoyed:

Ferraton Père & Fils “La Matinière” Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 2007 $21.95
This wine is made from 100% Marsanne grapes. This wine is from the Northen part of the Rhone, in France. Crozes-Hermitage is a largest region in the Northern Rhone. Most of the wine in this region is red made from the Syrah grape. This is a white wine which is fruity with good minerality and stone fruit on the palate. Serve it just slightly chilled and you have yourself a nice sipper!

Babich Pinot Noir 2007 $19.95
Not my favourite Pinot Noir from New Zealand but this one was enjoyable and the price is good for the quality. This wine is from the Marlborough region of New Zealand which is located on the North-East part of the south island. This Pinot Noir is fruity with some lovely spice both on the nose and on the palate. I did enjoy this wine and isn’t that the final verdict that we’re all looking for?

If you’re looking for a special bottle to pick up that’s more on the expensive side (you deserve it right?) :

Delas Haute Pierre Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2007 $35.95
Loved it. Loved it more and more as I continued to drink it. Of course, this is one of my favourite regions in the world for both beauty and wine production. This wine hails from the Southern Rhone region of France, in a town called Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. In the Southern Rhone, the wines are almost always blends. This wine is very smooth, with a wonderful aftertaste. The tannins are present but not over powering. There’s delicious black fruit with licorice and spice on the palate. It’s full bodied and jam-packed with flavour. 2007 was a great year because it was so hot. This wine will also keep for over a decade. I bought two bottles – both for me and I’m not sharing. 🙂

Ironstone Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $37.95
This is a typical good California Cabernet Sauvignon. Big, bold and beautiful. This Cab is full bodied with dark fruit, cassis and vanilla. It was smooth going down and left a really nice aftertaste. I did indeed help myself to more than one glass of this pleasant wine.