Red wine slump

With the fall weather rapidly rearing it's chilly head, I have been feeling like settling in with a delicious glass of red wine.  To this end, I have been tasting a variety of new wines in the hopes of finding a treasure.  I guess they say you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince, and I have been doing a whole lot of frog kissing.  None of the wines have been "bad" per sé, just generally underwhelming.

We recently had a friend over for dinner, and I was very excited to bring out what I thought were going to be big guns:  2  well-reputed and popular reds.

Irony Cabernet Sauvignon

I found it a little ironic that this wine is so popular, and so talked about, and so very, very underwhelming in my glass.  It's a nice wine, well balanced and bearing the traditional Napa Valley dark fruit flavours, but for all the talk, and the $20 price point, I was just expecting a little more complexity.

Perrin Les Cornuds Vinsobres 2009

This is Rhone blend of Syrah and Grenache also lacked the complexity that I have so adored in other $15-ish  blends from this region in France.  This particular offering just fell a little flat when I was expecting it to impress.

Masi Campofiorin

This is the wine my guest brought, and it was far and away the most interesting and enjoyable wine of the evening.  It has a complex structure featuring strong yet smooth tannins and a spicy, full fruit flavour.  It made me think of spicy fruit crumble... quite delightful.

Until we drink again... cheers!

Here's the skinny

Do you like margaritas?  I'm not talking about the syrupy, sickly sweet, slurpee-consistency concoctions typically offered, but good, old fashioned tequlia, Cointreau (Triple Sec) and lime juice?  Don't always have time to do the lime juice squeezing?  A totally reasonable pre-mixed margarita awaits.... Introducing Skinny Girl.

Brought to us by Bethenny Frankel of Real Housewives and Apprentice fame, Skinny Girl brings a delicious, authentic, and calorie conscious version of this favourite cocktail.  At 100 calories for a 4oz serving, this is probably the smartest pre-mix out there, and not sweet at all.  I recommend drinking this ice, ice cold, and since I like my margaritas quite strong, next time I will add a splash of tequila to my glass.

Until we drink again,
Cheers!

I'm back in the mood for red

I have found with the unbelievably scorching temperatures lately that I have been in the mood only for cold drinks, so I have really been exploring coolers and white wines, not to mention more than a few Cubatas (although I have been substituting the lime juice for lime vodka since I'm crazy like that).  The other day, however, I was really in the mood for that luxurious, soft feeling that only a nice red wine gives me.  I've been wanting to taste a Carmenère for a while now, and since I am apparently incapable of leaving work empty handed, I had a bottle just waiting for me to taste.

While originally a French varietal, your bottle of Carmenère is much more likely to come from Chile.  Often mistaken for Merlot, this grape thrives in the Chilean climate where the hot season allows for a full ripening.  It seems that for a long while what was thought to be Merlot in Chile was actually Carmenère... most likely since it wasn't a popular varietal that would sell.

I look forward to trying more examples of this fascinating fruit, but here is the one I tried:

PKNT Carmenère provided a great first impression.  Almost black in the glass, it boasted spicy notes of black pepper and a nice coffee essence with round, smooth cherry character.  We drank this with steak, however next time I would serve this with something spicy as the relative full body would really compliment some jalapeno heat.  I'm thinking a mixed grill with jalapeno chimi churri or spicy avacado salsa.  http://www.tasteofcuba.com/cubata.html

Peaceful Pelee

We were invited by some very kind friends to spend an overnight on Pelee Island.  It was an experience I will never forget, and I strongly suggest that everyone make a visit to both the winery on the mainland, and to the pavilion on the island itself.  The island is magical and I can't wait to go back.

 

I tasted a very large number of their wines.  For now, I'm only going to comment on the wines that are available for purchase at the LCBO since that's what most of us have access to, and to be honest, if you have the opportunity to visit the winery, I highly suggest you taste the wines that are only available there for yourself.

Pelee Island wines are simple, affordable and unpretentious.  I go back to them time and time again for their reliability and uncomplicated characteristics.  Having said that, I go back to the same ones time after time, so this opportunity allowed me to taste many wines I may not have otherwise tasted.

 

I commented in one of my first posts that Pelee Island's Gamay Noir Zweigelt (VQA) is one of my first recommendations to someone just entering the wonderful world of wine, someone who says they don't like red wine, or someone who gets headaches from tannic reds.  This is a very versatile wine that never disappoints.

 

We were greeted at the winery with a glass of Secco sparkling wine, Pelee Island Winery's answer to the increasingly popular Italian Prosecco.  I loved that it was just slightly off dry with nice, full bubbles, and brimming with the lemony-apple notes one would expect from Pinot Blanc.  A definite winner, and with a $16-ish price point, my current bubbly of choice. 

 

Following a tour of the facility, we were treated to the winery's premium Alvar label's Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (VQA).  This was a very enjoyable beverage with supple citrus and tropical fruit flavours and a refreshing, light finish.  I sometimes don't enjoy the high acidity and minerality of Sauvignon Blanc, and the blend, in this case 80% Semillon and 20% Sauv. Blanc, really helped to round out the sharp edges making this very appealing to me.  This wine has officially made the list of a white summer sipper, something I have been struggling to find!

 

We sampled the award winning Lighthouse Riesling (VQA), which is just off-dry with a sugar code of 2.  In the land of off-dry Rieslings, this was a skilled competitor, unfortunately just not my speed.  I would absolutely recommend this to someone who prefers a rounder profile than is typically offered by a dry Riesling.  This would also be a good match, in my opinion, for lightly spiced seafood.

I will point out that there was a LOT of tasting going on, so my thoughts on the following wines are a little less eloquent and more of a general thumbs up or down.

Pelee Pink (VQA): The first rosé I can remember actually enjoying.  A very deep pink in colour, with luscious notes of strawberries and raspberries with just a hint of sweetness.  Another one I will enjoy by itself by the pool, or with salads of light greens, berries and soft cheese.

Pinot Noir (VQA): While inherently drinkable, this wine lacked most of the characteristics I expect from a typical Pinot Noir.  While bright and fruit-forward as one would expect, I was disappointed with the lack of herbaceous, peaty undertones that I associate with this grape. 

Blanc de Blanc (VQA): It was HOT the day we were on Pelee Island.  Crazy hot.  Even after the sun went down.  This was one of the most refreshing wines to grace my glass that evening.  It is super affordable ($9.95) and with a sugar code of 1, just a very slightly off-dry blend of Vidal (65%), Riesling (25%) and Geishenheim (10%).  I will keep this on hand to drink on its own, as well as to serve with light chicken and fish.

Eco Trail Red (VQA): If you think you don't like Baco Noir, I highly recommend you try this blend of Baco (40%), Chambourcin (40%) and Cabernet Franc (20%).  This wine introduces itself with light, jammy essences of cherries and plums, and finishes with smooth cranberry and smoky leather notes.  It paired spectacularly with the pork schnitzel we were served alfresco.  

Pinot Grigio (VQA):  This was not my fav.  I'm not sure exactly what it was that didn't strike my fancy about this particular offering, but in researching the wine I have learned that it is blended with 15% Chardonnay, which I think lent somewhat to my confusion.  

I am very excited to have found not only a couple whites that I really enjoy, but also a rosé!  I plan to continue my love affair with Pelee Island wines, and am confident that every wine drinker can be dazzled by at least one of their creations.

Until we drink again, cheers!

It's beginning to feel a lot like... SUMMER!

I can't seem to stop drinking coolers.  I'm concerned that my job at the LCBO is causing me to "sample" more than I normally would.  I see all the interesting products come across the counter and I just can't seem to resist.  I will say that I seem to strike out more often than I get on base when it comes to these sweet temptations, but it is fun to learn, and I feel it my duty to take one for the team now and then, just to be able to report my findings to you fine people.

Palm Bay

Pineapple-Mandarin-Orange Spritz

These coolers come 6 pack of pop-sized cans.  If you're concerned (like I was) that the sugar is going to blow your head off, you can typically find some singles in one of the baskets of loose coolers at your nearest LCBO.  These tend to be quite popular with the UWO set, and this particular flavour tastes quite a lot like Fresca, but with much more sugar.  Not my bag, I don't think I managed to finish the can.

Palm Bay

Strawberry Pineapple

I could smell the sugar as soon as I popped open the can.  While the flavour is one of natural strawberry, the sugar made my teeth instantly feel fuzzy, and I'm scared about what my dentist is going to say on my next visit.  This is another better left for those with much more of a sweet tooth than mine.

Palm Bay

Key Lime Cherry 

Uh oh, we have a winner.  While it contains just as much sugar as the others, I found the predominant lime flavour in this beverage to be very refreshing.  This is a great poolside sipper, I just have to remember that it's not a can of pop when I have little ones to keep an eye on.  While I know we are having a hard time keeping this flavour on the shelves in my store, I definitely recommend this one!

Black Fly

Vodka Blueberry

Black Fly is becoming an old faithful of mine.  Another great, not unnecessarily sweet treat, that tastes a lot like real blueberries with a hint of pure vodka essence.  The only issue we've found is that because they are not too sweet and only just faintly carbonated, they go down like juice and could be dangerous.  Dangerously delicious, that is.

Mike's

Hard Blueberry Lemonade

I think I mentioned in my last blog post that I'm not really a fan of Mike's, and this particular offering is no exception.  The blueberry flavour was anything but natural, and while the acidity of the lemonade was far less abrasive that the other lemonade, I still would not choose to drink any more than the one ounce sample I tasted.

Mike's 

Hard Pink Lemonade

This is probably my favourite (call it the best of the worst) Mike's variety.  The lemon flavour seems to be a little on the mild side which I found refreshing.  Considering the other lemon coolers on the market I am unlikely to purchase this variety, but it didn't offend.  I enjoyed the somewhat creamy sensation the combination of the light pink lemonade flavour and the carbonation provided.

Bassano

Lemon Sanguinelli

These guys really know what they're doing.  The carbonation is perfectly crémant, with a very light and refreshing lemon/citrus flavour profile.  There is no other lemon flavoured beverage I can compare this to... it's in a class all it's own.  I have a new house cooler... now how to decide if my next drink should be the lemon or the raspberry!

Woody's

Refresher

I decided to buy a 4 pack of assorted Woody's coolers since there are a lot of flavours and they are pretty popular.  While I will describe each one, I can give a resounding thumbs down to all the Woody's beverages. With all the other choices available, I found these ones to be very abrasive in sugar and rather inaccurate in their flavour profiles.
The refresher is bright pink, and I was expecting a cream soda flavour, but it was more like Red Bull, which I don't care for in the slightest.  Granted, I have only tasted Red Bull once and it was quite a few years ago, but I can't think of anything else that tasted like this cooler.

Woody's

99 Raspberry

Not bad, but again the fruit flavour was unnatural... I would take a Bassano Raspberry over this any day.

Woody's

Sasparilla

Tastes like root beer with a bitter finish.  I actually really enjoyed the first few sips, but then it seemed to just taste more and more bitter.

Woody's

Mexican Lime

The best of the bunch, but once again, the Black Fly Tequila Margarita is so much more enjoyable with less sugar and a more authentic flavour that I wouldn't choose this again.

We have been tasting a lot of beer around here lately, so stay tuned for those reviews, along with some warm weather whites!

A change will do you good...

I have been having a hard time posting of late because I was keeping a secret.  It was hard to blog about one of my favourite subjects and keep my secret, so I stopped for a bit.  But due to some pretty big changes in my life, I don't have to keep my secret anymore.

I have recently started at job at the LCBO!!!

When I had my second baby I really wanted to be a stay at home mom, but it just wasn't in the cards for us.  I tried really hard to find a part time job that would lend to my household's finances and allow me to leave my full time job, but again, it wasn't meant to be.  Then, just as I'd essentially stopped the job search (and had returned to work full time at the end of my maternity leave), I stumbled upon an opening for a French speaking LCBO employee!  I have been hired at the largest store in town, with the largest, most beautiful Vintages section (I'll pause here to wipe the drool off my chin).

I'm actually getting paid to touch all those beautiful bottles, to learn about producers, and to recommend products to curious customers.  This is basically my Graceland.  I'm a happy camper.

I have been juggling my full time job with this new part time one, and my family... but no more.  My full time job is being moved to another city at the end of the summer, so as stressful as it is on our financial security, I am going to be able to be home with my kids and work in what is pretty much my dream job.

So... I have a lot of tasting notes to share and will do so right away.

I have been on a cooler kick lately.  I think it has to do with the warmer weather and the fact that I'm just not all that into cold wine as a stand alone beverage.  With all the uncertainty swirling around my head lately, and my general proximity to the booze, I have been consuming a fair bit more than normal lately.  I consider it job training, though, so no worries.  Here are my thoughts:

Bassano Hard Soda

Raspberry Pomelo

This was a delight to drink and I can't wait to go back for more.  4 330ml bottles retail for $9.95 and until the 18th you can earn 5 bonus airmiles, which I am using as my reason to stock up.  The clear beverage has a light and refreshing natural raspberry flavour, and it is not too sweet, at least on the scale of cooler sweetness.

Black Fly 

Tequila Margarita

Another winner.  This is the most authentic I think a bottled Margarita could be, far more tart than sweet.  I did find the liquid a little viscous and thus preferred it over ice.  4 400ml bottles usually retails for $10.95 and is currently on sale for $1 off.  Geesh, better add more of these to my shopping list.  I have enjoyed the cranberry-blueberry coolers but did find them a little too sweet, but I have a 4-pack of the new vodka blueberry coolers in my fridge tonight just waiting to be consumed during game seven.

Vex

Bananatini

I couldn't resist the electric yellow in the bottle and it tasted pretty much as I thought it would... like a sugar coated, carbonated banana popsicle.  I enjoyed it well enough, but don't think I can stand another sugar headache like that and will likely not be partaking again.  

Vex on the beach.

Not. Good.  I'm not sure what I was expecting, but all I can really convey is the blinding sugar content.  It claims to taste of orange, cranberry, peach and coconut.  I can not corroborate these allegations.  I suppose if you really enjoy brutally sweet, synthetic fruit-like flavours, this could be enjoyable.  I think there are still 4 of the original 6 in the back of my fridge if you'd like to find out.

Smirnoff 

Blueberry & Lemonade

I tend to avoid lemon-based coolers because I have found them to be way too sweet and to provide me with instant heartburn.  Smirnoff's Blueberry & Lemonade was a pleasant surprise, with no acid-related ill effects.  The light and relatively natural fruit flavours are quite refreshing and made me wish they came in quantities of more than 4.  I also sampled the cranberry lime flavour, and while it was only one ounce, was equally enjoyable.  

Bacardi

Classic Mojito

This isn't so much a cooler as a pre-mixed cocktail.  It tasted good, but not really like a mojito.  I would buy it again in the interest of not having to do all the muddling labour to make a real mojito, but would want to bump up the flavour a little with some fresh mint or a little real lime juice squeezed in.

Smirnoff

Lime Daiquiri

Not my speed.  It was quite sweet and I think it might have been more palatable served over crushed ice.  I found the combination of the sugar and the lime to almost irritate my throat.  

Jack Daniels & Lemonade / Jack Daniels & Cola / Bacardi Superior & Cola

Love these.  Pre-mixed and sold in 4 packs or individually.  Sometimes I just want a mixed drink, but I just don't have time to stop for booze AND mix, so this takes care of them both.  They taste exactly like I had mixed the drinks myself and are just SO convenient.

So there you have it.  It's not officially summer yet, and I have made some pretty good progress on the available coolers/pre-mixes.  I'm going to do my best to get through a few white wines over the coming week and do a little comparison.

Until we drink again, Cheers!

The moment of truth

You’ve been invited to a dinner party, or are having some friends over for some fun and you need the right wine (ok, let’s be honest, wineS) to make the event complete.  If this situation causes you to break out in a cold, overwhelmed sweat, have no fear, Amie and her purple teeth are here!

I spend a fair bit of time perusing wine shelves and in my travels I have witnessed many a furrowed brow as a poor unsuspecting person attempts to navigate the many countries, grapes, vintages and regions available.  Trying to decide which bottle to choose seems like an impossible task as all the descriptors swirl together into a complicated vortex of information that, without hours upon hours of study, makes little or no sense to the average beverage consumer. 

How does one select one, two or even a dozen bottles from the hundreds of choices on the shelves?  I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help you along your path to savoury enlightenment.

Let me start by saying that I put zero stock in the cute labels that some marketing masterminds use to lure consumers into a false sense of security.  While it may be nice to look at a brightly coloured label with some catchy pun, I often find these highly commercialized wines to blend into the crowd and offer very little to wow my palate.  I should say though, that I have found a few very entertaining wines in these amusing packages, so I don’t allow a cute label to completely turn me away.  I guess I’m trying to say that just like in books, we shouldn’t judge a wine by its label.  Aside from cute graphics, bright colours or trendy names, labels can offer quite a wealth of information that might help you determine if a particular wine meets your needs.  Many countries list the type of grape, so if you are looking for a dry white wine to serve with delicate fish, you might look for a dry Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, whereas if you’re serving roast beef, you might be more inclined to reach for a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.  Labels often cite vintage, region, alcohol content, sweetness, and more often than not the back label notes flavour characteristics and potential food matches. 

I highly suggest you make use of the expertise of the staff at your local store.  I don’t know what kind of training the staff at smaller retailers undergo, but the LCBO staff are at minimum educated about general wine information and have the opportunity to taste many of the products sold, making them a great resource.  Even as someone who spends more time reading about wine than about anything else, I still enjoy trying a bottle recommended by an LCBO employee as a way of trying to branch out of my comfort zone and I have yet to be disappointed.

There are many resources if you want to read up on wines to decide ahead of walking into a store.  I’d like to think that this blog could serve such a purpose, as does the LCBO website, Vintages magazine, Vines Magazine, Food & Drink Magazine, and any number of wine books and guides available for sale or at your local library.  Always ask around as well... see what your friends are drinking and give it a try!

Onto my review...

This past weekend I needed to grab a bottle of wine to take over to my Mom & Dad’s place to go with my Mom’s homemade pizza, and I happened to be in Metro so I stopped at the wine rack there.  I tend to get a little frustrated with the limited offerings in the little kiosks, but I was short on time, so I went with a bottle of Naked Grape Shiraz Malbec.  This is a highly commercial wine that I would compare more to Welches grape juice than to the wines I usually choose... it was very light and fruity, lacking any real varietal character but was a very easy drinker with a smooth finish.  I guess mediocre wine is better than no wine at all, but next time I’ll pass on the Naked Grape.  For less than the $10 I spent on that bottle, I would prefer a more satisfying beverage, such as my reliable Astica Malbec/Merlot.

House wines part II - Whites

I rambled on for so long in my last post about the reds I drink on a regular basis that I didn’t leave time to talk about whites.  I don’t tend to open whites “just for the heck of it” as often as I do with reds, but that’s not to say I don’t have a few that I go back to.

Pelee Island Monarch Vidal (VQA Niagara)

Vidal is such a versatile hybrid grape, I really love it.  This is less sweet than most, rates a 2 on the scale, and has just the lightest floral aroma.  One wine characteristic that I have a really hard time with is floral... if I can describe a wine as “tasting like flowers”, I’m not likely to enjoy it.  This Vidal does not taste like flowers, thank goodness, but rather like honeyed citrus.  This is a lovely sipper and I also like to serve this with salads topped with fruit, nuts and cheese.

Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay (VQA Niagara)

Flat Rock is one of the coolest wineries I have had the pleasure of visiting.  They were among the first to use a gravity flow system to limit grape handling and reduce the energy consumption while the grapes take their delicious journey from vine to glass.

Their Chardonnay is smoky and sultry with a nice autumn feel to it.  I don’t subscribe to the snobbery that often surrounds Chardonnay, and this example fits that nicely.  Serve on its own or with chicken and root vegetable stew.

Vineland Estates Dry Riesling (VQA Niagara)

Vineland Estates is my favourite local Riesling maker.  I had the opportunity to taste what’s called a vertical flight at the estate back in 2006.  A vertical flight showcases several different vintages (years) of the same grape from the same winery.  While there were substantial differences across the vintages relating to the growing seasons and winemaking techniques, each one was a very quality beverage and I know that regardless of the vintage, Vineland Riesling doesn’t disappoint.  I particularly enjoy this selection as a pre-dinner drink, or served with spicy chili shrimp.

Well my friends, it appears that I only have 3 commercial white wines to write about today, a situation I will be working hard to remedy over the next few weeks.  I see that true to my usual form, I have stayed rather close to home with my routine selections.  I guess I prefer to patronize the wineries I've had a chance to visit since I feel like I know a little bit more about them, but as I've written previously, I risk missing out on greatness (I almost typed grapeness, but that's to cheesy, even for me) from other regions.  I've been doing a great deal of reading lately about some mouth watering Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand that I believe will be the next to reach my glass, and I must also sample the LCBO Vintages' more popular selection, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio.

Please stay tuned for some exciting news in the next few weeks as my journey from glass to keyboard continues.

House wine

I'm often asked "what is your favourite wine?"   What a loaded question! 

Everyone has a wine profile: their list of likes and dislikes when it comes to wine.  Some I've heard are either dislikes or strict adherence to particular wine regions ("I hate French wine" or "I only drink Australian Shiraz"), loyalty to only one varietal, etc.  Some poor, misguided souls even think that they don’t like wine at all.  

My suggestion for you if you seek to really learn and enjoy all that the wonderful world of wine has to offer is to open your mind and your wine profile.  Like I said in my last post, I tend to gravitate towards big, chewy reds, but that's not to say I can't enjoy the intricacies of a delicate Riesling or a light, fruity Gamay. 
I started this blog talking about Baco Noir, a relatively unpopular grape among the average drinker.  I suggest never, ever saying things like "I don't like Baco" or "White wine is only for the summer".  If you taste with an open mind, you never know what you might find.  I started my grape loving journey rather certain that I didn't like white wine at all.  Period.  What a crazy statement!  I have tasted so many fabulously crafted, delicious wines that I never would have tried if I stuck with my decision that white wasn't right.  I also temporarily boycotted Merlot following the release of the movie Sideways, agreeing with Paul Giamatti's character that Merlot was perhaps a lower class wine not to be enjoyed by those of us who "know something" about wine.  I cringe to think of what I may have missed out on during that sad, misguided time.

I can't say I have a favourite wine... reality is that I have a new favourite wine every time I taste something that perks up my taste buds and warms my mouth with that juicy, smooth, velvety deliciousness that a great wine provides.  I can, however, give you a few of my go-to wines and when I like to use them.  These are bottles I buy when I need to know what I'm getting myself into and am not particularly interested in a sensory adventure.  Let's start with the reds.

Jackson-Triggs Proprietor's Reserve Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon (VQA Niagara Peninsula)

This is a great "house wine".  It has bold flavour without overpowering your senses, and I like the interest the Franc brings to the nose and finish.  I serve this wine in the summer when we have BBQs because it is crowd pleasing and goes incredibly well with smoky BBQ fare.  This bottle typically retails for about $12.95, making it an affordable delight.

D'Arenberg D'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache (Australia)

 This is a big red that I like to give as a gift to anyone who I know enjoys a spicy, slightly peppery wine with the most delightful ripe fruit flavour.  I also like to pull this wine out when cooking anything in the Greek, Moroccan or Middle Eastern vein.   

Trapiche Astica Merlot / Malbec (Argentina)

Especially considering the rising popularity (and the resulting rise in price) of Malbec, this is a really fantastic wine with a bargain price tag.  A 750ml bottle retails for $7.45, but this beauty is best enjoyed in its 1500ml form.  I like to buy this wine when I'm entertaining or when I know we're going to consume a quantity of wine and want to keep the price in check.  You can expect a fresh summer fruit and chlorophyll on the nose and a blast of jammy dark chocolate in your mouth.   

Pelee Island Gamay Noir / Zweigelt (VQA)

This lovely bottle (last time I purchased it, there was a picture of a flying squirrel on the label) is one of my favourite wines to offer to someone who says they don't like red wine.  The Gamay grape is reliable as a young, fresh fruit that often reminds me more of something I'd give my kids than booze.  It has a light body but the Zweigelt provides a little bit more structure than a standard Gamay.  I find this wine to have a mild smoky character, perfect for pairing with bacon wrapped scallops or herbed pancetta chicken.  It's also amazingly affordable at about $11... that's cheap enough to stagger back for another! 

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages (France)

This is a very reliable Beaujolais (the Gamay grape grown in the Beaujolais region in France) that is vibrant and light, with high notes of strawberry and blueberry.  I would suggest chilling this wine for about 20 minutes, and I love serving this with typical “white wine food” like salmon or tuna steaks. 

Trius Red (Hillebrand Estates, Niagara VQA)

Trius Red is my go-to hostess gift.  At about $22 a bottle it is reasonably affordable, and I just love the long, smooth, sexy shape of the bottle.  But as pretty as it is on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.  The Trius line was created by a genius winemaker by the name of J. L. Groux, who now runs the show at Stratus (much, much more on this later).  This is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot (the percentages of each vary vintage to vintage) and is bold, complex and clean with great smoky cedar, vanilla and cherry notes.  While it pairs wonderfully with grilled meats and veggies, I prefer to enjoy with beauty on its own, or with a variety of sharp cheeses. 

It has become apparent to me that I have a lot of “favourite” wines, so I will follow up with my go-to white wine recommendations in my next post.

Until we drink again, cheers!

Hello and welcome!

Purple teeth, ever had 'em?  If you haven't, this blog may not be your cup of Cabernet.

It is for those of you who have experienced this particular phenomenon, brought on by the delightful consumption of a particular burgundy beverage, that I write this blog.  If your thirst for knowledge is second only to your thirst for Merlot, I encourage you to follow this blog and enjoy the ride.

I believe my first true experience with purple teeth came the weekend of my 25th birthday.  It was at a wine tasting event that I will get more into down the road, but it involved tasting a LOT of wine.  Again, I will go into more detail later, but you may be familiar with proper wine tasting technique and how one slurps, swishes and sucks on wine to get the full experience of the grape.  The result?  Purple teeth.  A temporary, hilarious ending to what I'm sure was a great time.  Or so I'm told.

My goal with this blog is to taste, educate, taste, share, taste and.... well, taste.  I have enjoyed wine for pretty much as long as I can remember.  I come from a long line of winemakers, so my wine loving tendencies come naturally, and really, who doesn't want to carry on family traditions?  It's my cross to bear, and bear it I shall.

Having been pregnant or breastfeeding for the better part of the last 5 years, I haven't been tasting as much as I would like, and that simply has to change.  So I'm turning a corner and making a commitment to taste something new and different at least every 2 weeks.  Much, much more if I have anything to say about it.
I will let everyone know that I am a lover of big, chewy red wines, so that is what I tend to gravitate towards, but I also love to try new and different wines and will write about everything I try.  Please feel free to comment if there is anything in particular you would like reviewed and I will do my best to accommodate.

Let's talk Baco Noir.
Baco Noir is not for everyone.  Baco is a hybrid grape that stands up to the harsher elements of cool climate growing regions, such as those we have here in Ontario, and other similar wine regions, like New York.  Baco is a strong tasting, fruit forward red, that often carries such discriptors as black fruit, tar, earth, even barnyard (think mud, straw).  It does not carry the tannic feel of other big reds like Cabernets or Merlots (tannins are what give that dry mouth sort of feeling) and is often blended with other hybrids, my favourite of which is Marechal Foch.
My dad and I often say that we judge a winemaker by his or her Baco.  It can tell you a lot about what a winemaker is trying to achieve.  If their Baco is light and fruity, they are likely attempting to achieve mass appeal, which for me is a total turn off.  Usually, the more "barnyard" qualities the Baco has, the better it suits me.  In terms of commercial offerings, I will suggest that Henry of Pelham is a good place to start (I suggest you go right now to get some because it's on sale until the 27th of February and I can't promise that I won't clear the shelf).  Their Baco is a little more commercial than others, but is true to the grape.  I enjoy pairing it with high flavour foods such as spicy BBQ steak or salad with blue cheese.  Lakeview Cellars make a stellar Baco, and I will be reviewing a few of their different vintages (same grape made in different years) soon.

My dad gave me a bottle of 2009 Baco Noir from Sandbanks Estate (VQA) in Prince Edward County.  This is a bit of an up-and-coming wine region here in Ontario (the Niagara Region and Lake Erie North Shore being the 2 commonly known regions in the province) and a really great one if you like delicious and affordable wine (you may want to close your browser window now if you don't).  This Baco has a whole lot of life in it, and I am likely going to invest in a number of bottles to taste over the next few years, as I think its best is yet to come.  It is very fruit forward with smoky black cherry notes and is fairly acidic.  I didn't pair this particular wine with food (it was used to combat some feelings of rage, and I must say, it worked quite well for this purpose) but would consider it with beef cooked in an Argentinian style with a chimi chiri sauce.  There is actually half a bottle left (I know, lightweight, I know) that will in all probability be used tonight as relaxation after a long day with the kids.

Until we drink again, cheers!