The theme of tomorrow’s release is “backyard globe-trotting” and pinot noirs from Oregon. Since I haven’t a clue what backyard globetrotting means (unless it has to do with running in circles around your pool), and I’m not a huge fan of Oregon pinots (especially at the prices they charge), I’m pretty much going to ignore the themes and just talk about the wines I liked.
SPARKLING WINES
For a warm weather sipper, the Simonnet-Febvre Brut Cremand de Bourgogne ($18.95) from Burgundy is very pleasant indeed. It opens with a dash of slightly off-dry citrus fruit, tempered with a little caramel, which gives way to a long finish of lemon-drop and mineral. This is a very refreshing wine, with lovely mouth feel. Don’t serve it too cold. A light chill will bring out the flavours best.
WHITE WINES
Let me just start this section by saying that all of the wines discussed in this section are, for me, just great. I never recommend wines I don’t like, but these wines are not only delicious, but represent really good value as well.
Chardonnay lovers would do well to buy a fair amount of the Hope Chardonnay 2007 ($15.95) from Australia. This is classic chardonnay, and the real deal, especially at this price. It’s toasty and creamy with vanilla, spice, pineapple, lemon and some green apple. Vintages suggests serving it with herbed chicken or sea scallops, and I agree, but it’s good on its own, and would work with virtually any whitefish.
But, if you’re a chardonnay lover, you have a choice in this release. The Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay 2007 from California is only $1 more at $16.95. This is a touch richer, with more tropical fruit and oak, than the Hope, but just as tasty. Once again, expect lots of vanilla and oak, some butterscotch and pear, and a long, well-integrated finish. Serve with chicken or shellfish, or on its own. This producer is normally known for its zinfandels, but it has done a very good job on this wine. My only complaint – the plastic cork.
As a producer, Villa Maria is a favourite of mine, but the Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Gris 2007 ($18.95) from New Zealand exceeded even my high expectations. This is just a lovely wine, with ripe pear, baked apple, and just enough acid to provide great balance and a long finish, satisfying finish. This is just a really well made wine, that you should not miss. It will go well with lots of different foods, but is great on its own.
From Alsace, the Pierre Sparr Reserve Riesling 2007 ($16.95) is back. This producer is known, deservedly so, for its rieslings, and always turns out a quality product. Expect a complex wine with pear, rose attar, spice and some signature petrol, which will complement spicy foods of virtually any kind. You won’t go wrong with this wine.
If you’d like to try a white that a little bit different, the Grandes Serres Les Portes du Castelas Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2007 ($14.95) from the Rhone is a good deal. The nose gives off a little in the way of white flowers and pineapple. On the palate, it starts slowly with some green apple but picks up on the mid-palate with some rich tropical fruit, and finishes with succulent peach and melon. This is also a refreshing wine. It’s not overly complex but, at this price, it’s hard to resist. It would go well with a green salad, or with pan fried whitefish.
RED WINES
I don’t have a lot of recommendations for red wines this month, but I’m really happy with any of the following.
The Z-52 Agnes’ Vineyard old Vines Zinfandel 2005 ($28.95) is the latest in a run of good zin’s after a long drought. It’s a little pricey, I agree, but this is a rich, well structured wine, with lots of blackberry and dark cherry, blueberry and raisins, with some pencil box and mushroom on the nose. This is rich, fruit forward, wine, which will complement virtually any red meat as long as it isn’t too lean.
The LAN Reserva 2004 ($23.95) from Spain is a beautifully complex wine for the money. It’s very soft and ready, but the tannins are going to be around for at least a couple of years if you want to cellar it instead of drinking immediately. Expect cassis, leather, spice and raspberry on a medium bodied wine which will be better with food, preferably red meat.
Regular readers of this missive will know that I’m a Bordeaux fan, especially in stellar vintage years like 2005. The Chateau L’Enclos Bonis 2005 ($26.95) is a really good example of the vintage at a reasonable price. Expect leather, cassis, black cherry and raspberry on this well crafted wine, which will work well with red meat or hard cheese. Don’t keep this wine too long (a year at most) and don't aerate for more than an hour before serving.
Finally, the Chateau de la Tuilerie Syrah/Grenache 2007 ($15.95) from the Rhone is a good buy for the price. Expect a fruit forward offering, with cherry, strawberry, blackberry and herbs de provence on a medium bodied wine with a long, mouth pleasing finish, which will show best with food. This is a burger wine, but a good burger wine.
ROSĒS
I’m not sure I’d pay $23.95 for a rosé, but if I did, it would be for the La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé 2008. This is a bone dry, flavourful offering, with tons of red fruit, rhubarb, strawberry and raspberry notes. Good on its own, or with green salads, chicken, pork or whitefish. This is what rosé should be, but about $7 less.
Showing posts with label wine Vintages winedomaine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine Vintages winedomaine. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Vintages Release - June 20, 2009
Hello Everyone
Tomorrow’s Vintages release focuses on Malbec – specifically Argentine Malbec.
This grape originated, at least in modern times, in France, where it was used as one of the six varietals used in Bordeaux, although it is not much used nowadays. It is still quite extensively used as a blending grape in the Cahors region of south-western France, where it is known as Auxerrois, and is called Pressac in other areas of southern France.
Malbec has become the signature grape of Argentina, perhaps because it goes so well with beef. It is a thin-skinned grape, which ripens relatively quickly but needs lots of sun and heat. Malbec grapes generally produce a dark coloured, rich, plum flavoured wine with lots of tannin. It tends to be be approachable early, and lacks the complexity of cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir, but often sports chocolate and earthy notes, that does complement barbecued beef very well.
Best recent years for Argentine Malbecs: 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
WHITE WINES
My favourite white from this release is the La Chablisienne Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($15.95) from Burgundy. This producer, a co-operative, is better known for its quality chablis, but it has produced a very nice sauvignon blanc. Expect lively citrus flavours (mostly lime) and some minerality on a medium bodied, refreshing wine, with good, but not obtrusive acid, and a medium long finish. Not at all grassy. Highly recommended, and a great complement for a garden salad, whitefish or chicken, but it’s just fine on its own.
If you’re looking for an aromatic, as a complement for slightly stronger tasting, or more spicy, food, go for the Marquee Artisan Wines Classic Riesling 2007 ($19.95) from Western Australia. There’s lemon/lime here as well, with medium acidity, some peach and a little bit of riesling’s characteristic diesel on the finish. A great match for Thai or Szechuan food.
This is not my month for the conventional. Sauvignon blancs are supposed to come from New Zealand or the Loire – not burgundy. Rieslings are supposed to come from Alsace, Austria or even Niagara – not Australia. And chardonnay’s are supposed to be chardonnay’s whether they come from California or Australia, right? Well, maybe. But chardonnay lovers who want a slightly different version of the grape, might want to try the Cockfighter’s Ghost Verdelho 2007 ($18.95) from Australia. This wine does have the weight and mouth feel of a chardonnay, but with riper fruit. What it lacks in crispness and creaminess, it makes up for in flavour, with red grapefruit on the nose, and a mélange of grapefruit, melon and kiwi on the palate. This wine would go well with a salad, or on its own.
SPARKLING WINE
For a nice, crisp sparkling wine, try the Astoria Val de BrunExtra Dry Proseco ($16.95) from Italy. There’s nothing like sipping a sparkling wine on a hot day, and this one has plenty of flavours to keep you interested. Expect some brioche, with ripe pear, green apple, and white flowers on a crisp, refreshing wine with a medium finish. It will go well on its own, or as an aperitif.
RED WINES
If you’re going to try a malbec, and if you’re planning a steak in the near future, you should try a malbec, go for the Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2006 ($15.95). There are quite a few good malbecs in this release, but this was the best value I found. Expect a big, tannic wine, bursting with ripe plum and black cherry, with some quite assertive vanilla on the long finish. A very nice wine which is drinking well now, but will keep for at least a year.
The Chateau Beaumont 2005 ($25.00) from Bordeaux would also go well with a steak. This is a lovely, complex wine, with raspberry, mocha and blackberry on the nose, and all of that plus spice, blackcurrent and vanilla on the palate. Vintages suggests laying this wine down for a couple of years, but I think it’s drinking very well now – although a little decanting (for an hour or so) wouldn’t hurt. This is one of those wines that, when you open it, you’ll wish you had more than one bottle.
At first blush, the Evans and Tate Shiraz 2004 ($19.95) is a fruit bomb, but there are complexities to this wine that only become apparent as it opens. The nose is pure blueberry, and there are notes of ripe strawberry, blueberry and spice on the palate. This is still a fruit forward wine, but it’s soft, well balanced and very pleasant, especially for anyone who like a bit of jam on their wine.
For zinfandel lovers, the Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Zinfandel 2006 ($22.95) is well worth trying. Good zins, in my mind, should have lots of ripe fruit and some chocolate, and this one passes both tests with flying colours. The chocolate is more like cocoa, and the fruit is black cherry, with vanilla and spice added in, but they all go together well, and the finish goes on and on. It would be great with ribs, or with grilled sausages.
Finally, for a few more ducats, you can get the Segla 2004 ($58.95). This is the second wine of one of my favourite Bordeaux houses, Chateau Rauzan-Segla, a second-growth chouse in the heart of the Margaux district, which, year after year, produces some of the best wines in the world. This is a collector’s wine – approachable now, but it’ll get better for a least five years. Expect a big, rich, chewy wine, with black fruit, smoky oak, cedar and tobacco, which is perfectly integrated and finishes as strongly as it starts. This is an impressive wine to be shared with people who will appreciate it.
Tomorrow’s Vintages release focuses on Malbec – specifically Argentine Malbec.
This grape originated, at least in modern times, in France, where it was used as one of the six varietals used in Bordeaux, although it is not much used nowadays. It is still quite extensively used as a blending grape in the Cahors region of south-western France, where it is known as Auxerrois, and is called Pressac in other areas of southern France.
Malbec has become the signature grape of Argentina, perhaps because it goes so well with beef. It is a thin-skinned grape, which ripens relatively quickly but needs lots of sun and heat. Malbec grapes generally produce a dark coloured, rich, plum flavoured wine with lots of tannin. It tends to be be approachable early, and lacks the complexity of cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir, but often sports chocolate and earthy notes, that does complement barbecued beef very well.
Best recent years for Argentine Malbecs: 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
WHITE WINES
My favourite white from this release is the La Chablisienne Saint-Bris Sauvignon Blanc 2007 ($15.95) from Burgundy. This producer, a co-operative, is better known for its quality chablis, but it has produced a very nice sauvignon blanc. Expect lively citrus flavours (mostly lime) and some minerality on a medium bodied, refreshing wine, with good, but not obtrusive acid, and a medium long finish. Not at all grassy. Highly recommended, and a great complement for a garden salad, whitefish or chicken, but it’s just fine on its own.
If you’re looking for an aromatic, as a complement for slightly stronger tasting, or more spicy, food, go for the Marquee Artisan Wines Classic Riesling 2007 ($19.95) from Western Australia. There’s lemon/lime here as well, with medium acidity, some peach and a little bit of riesling’s characteristic diesel on the finish. A great match for Thai or Szechuan food.
This is not my month for the conventional. Sauvignon blancs are supposed to come from New Zealand or the Loire – not burgundy. Rieslings are supposed to come from Alsace, Austria or even Niagara – not Australia. And chardonnay’s are supposed to be chardonnay’s whether they come from California or Australia, right? Well, maybe. But chardonnay lovers who want a slightly different version of the grape, might want to try the Cockfighter’s Ghost Verdelho 2007 ($18.95) from Australia. This wine does have the weight and mouth feel of a chardonnay, but with riper fruit. What it lacks in crispness and creaminess, it makes up for in flavour, with red grapefruit on the nose, and a mélange of grapefruit, melon and kiwi on the palate. This wine would go well with a salad, or on its own.
SPARKLING WINE
For a nice, crisp sparkling wine, try the Astoria Val de BrunExtra Dry Proseco ($16.95) from Italy. There’s nothing like sipping a sparkling wine on a hot day, and this one has plenty of flavours to keep you interested. Expect some brioche, with ripe pear, green apple, and white flowers on a crisp, refreshing wine with a medium finish. It will go well on its own, or as an aperitif.
RED WINES
If you’re going to try a malbec, and if you’re planning a steak in the near future, you should try a malbec, go for the Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2006 ($15.95). There are quite a few good malbecs in this release, but this was the best value I found. Expect a big, tannic wine, bursting with ripe plum and black cherry, with some quite assertive vanilla on the long finish. A very nice wine which is drinking well now, but will keep for at least a year.
The Chateau Beaumont 2005 ($25.00) from Bordeaux would also go well with a steak. This is a lovely, complex wine, with raspberry, mocha and blackberry on the nose, and all of that plus spice, blackcurrent and vanilla on the palate. Vintages suggests laying this wine down for a couple of years, but I think it’s drinking very well now – although a little decanting (for an hour or so) wouldn’t hurt. This is one of those wines that, when you open it, you’ll wish you had more than one bottle.
At first blush, the Evans and Tate Shiraz 2004 ($19.95) is a fruit bomb, but there are complexities to this wine that only become apparent as it opens. The nose is pure blueberry, and there are notes of ripe strawberry, blueberry and spice on the palate. This is still a fruit forward wine, but it’s soft, well balanced and very pleasant, especially for anyone who like a bit of jam on their wine.
For zinfandel lovers, the Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Zinfandel 2006 ($22.95) is well worth trying. Good zins, in my mind, should have lots of ripe fruit and some chocolate, and this one passes both tests with flying colours. The chocolate is more like cocoa, and the fruit is black cherry, with vanilla and spice added in, but they all go together well, and the finish goes on and on. It would be great with ribs, or with grilled sausages.
Finally, for a few more ducats, you can get the Segla 2004 ($58.95). This is the second wine of one of my favourite Bordeaux houses, Chateau Rauzan-Segla, a second-growth chouse in the heart of the Margaux district, which, year after year, produces some of the best wines in the world. This is a collector’s wine – approachable now, but it’ll get better for a least five years. Expect a big, rich, chewy wine, with black fruit, smoky oak, cedar and tobacco, which is perfectly integrated and finishes as strongly as it starts. This is an impressive wine to be shared with people who will appreciate it.
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