Winery: Rosedale
Vintage: 2007
Location: Australia
Alcohol: 14%
Blend: Shiraz - 100% from Barossa Valley
Tasting: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This wine had such a cool name, that it was hard to resist.  Cat Amongst the Pigeons.  You have to give it to the Aussies for coming up with the neatest names for wines.  You can almost picture a stealth like cat just waiting for a pigeon to make the wrong move.

The Rosedale Winery, located in the Barossa Valley in Australia has been lauded for a number of their wines.  In particular Nine Lives Shiraz for 2006 and 2007 was given a whopping 92 points and 91 points respectively by Robert Parker, Wine Advocate.  At the 2009 Sydney International Wine Competition the 2007 Nine Lives received the ‘Blue-Gold Award /Top 100.

The Barossa Valley and Shiraz.  They just go hand in hand.  Some of the top Shiraz out of Australia has come from this area.  The big spicy fruit forward shiraz that we have all associated with this beautiful country.  Barossa Valley is located just 1 hour north-east of Adelaide in South Australia.  The countryside is scattered with old vineyards, churches and stone cottages.  If you want to go there for a visit, there are many hotels and B&B’s that would welcome you with open arms.  This area is Australia’s most visited tourist designation.   At Rosedale Wines we believe that “Great Wines start in the Vineyard” and the Barossa Valley sets the stage for some of the best Shiraz grapes in the world. With its rich soils and Mediterranean style climate, the result is red wines with rich character and white wines with crisp and revitalizing finishes.”

With high ratings from the internationally acclaimed Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Jr, Rosedale Wines is attracting attention from all over the world and currently exports to the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, New Zealand and Asia.

“Rosedale Wines have allowed winemakers scope to experiment and develop new styles, tastes and blends. This has encouraged the development of approachable and affordable wine styles which have been instrumental in the growth of such brands like Cat Amongst the Pigeons.”

As mentioned, the Barossa Valley is best known for its Shiraz.  Due to strict quarantine restrictions in the 1800s, the vineyards did not suffer from phylloxera or the many other diseases that have caused horrendous damage.  There are vines in the Barossa Valley that are ancient and produce highly concentrated and full-bodied wines that are full a big juicy flavours.

The name was given to the area by explorer Colonel Light based on the supposed similarity of the Barossa Range to a similar range in Spain. The region is most notable for its red wines, particularly those made from Shiraz. But there are other grape varieties, both red and white that play an important role in the wine industry of Barossa.

The region generally about three hundred metres above sea level, but the altitude of many of the vineyards is much higher. In the lower and warmer areas, red wine predominates while on the cooler higher slopes Riesling is common. In fact the Barossa abuts the Eden Valley wine region which is regarded as one of the premier regions for Riesling.

The history of the region is linked to the influence of the German immigrants who were encouraged to settle in the region by local landowner George Angas. Many of these migrants were Lutherans from Silesia, who were suffering persecution in their homeland. By the 1850s viticulture was well established in the valley. Among these migrants were Johann Gramp who planted the first vineyard of the region at Jacobs Creek in 1847 and Joseph Seppelt, whose name lives on in a famous Australian wine brand name.

Now let’s open this wonderful wine.  The colour… dark rich purple/red.  I would positively decant this wine for at least 45 - 60 minutes and let that wonderful jam and spice come to the forefront.  What you will notice with this wine is how well is goes with so many types of food.  Not just beef and barbequed food, but also cheeses and lamb.

Food Pairing:

Beef (roasted, BBq’d, braised), strong cheeses; lamb; bison (roasted, BBQ’d)  bison/beef burgers.

CSPC:     58073
Price:

$23.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price subject to change without notice.  Price correct at time of printing.

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Winery: Osborne
Vintage: 2006
Location: Spain
Alcohol: 12.5%
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This winery was started over 200 years ago, and the Bodegas Montecillo in Rioja came to life 136 years ago, which makes it one of the oldest wineries in the Rioja region.  About 50% of the wine they produce goes to export markets in Europe and North America.  Their emblem, The Osborne Bull, is recognized all over.  The Bull was the idea of the winery’s advertising agency and was born in 1956.  You will see the bull not only on all of their products, but also on billboards and roadside signs.  The largest of the bulls weighs over 4,000 kg and is 14 meters high and is made of metal.  An imposing figure, for sure.  About 16 years ago there was a movement under foot to rid the landscape of various signs and images, one of which was the Osborne Bull.  The Osborne family went to court and the court found that the bull is not just a sign, but after over 50 years, it has also become part of the landscape and culture.

We want you to remember this name:  Maria Martinez-Sierra.  She is a wonderful lady.  When we tell people about her we always say that she is a passionate lady and has a personality a big as all outdoors.  Maria has been the winemaker at Bodegas Osborne for over 30 years.  She is one of Europes’ top winemakers and a huge ambassador for Spanish wines.  There is also a little flirting with what we call ‘the international varietals’, as well.  Grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Syrah are on the menu too.  Not in the wine we are tasting this week, however.  It is 100% Tempranillo from the Rioja region.

We had the pleasure of meeting Maria a few years ago when she was visiting Edmonton.  (Actually she has come to Alberta a few times over the past few years.) We could have listened to this amazing lady for hours on end.  When she speaks about her wine, her true passion shows in her eyes.  She speaks about her wine like one would speak about their children. I swear I saw a twinkle in her eye as she was telling us about her wine.  She has a true love of the Spanish varietals, as you will see when you try this wine.

Maria is also very particular about the wood that the wine is aged in.  She picks the wood from a particular area in France, because the grain of the wood is woven much tighter and therefore adds subtle flavours to the wine, instead of overpowering it.  Osborne also employs their own cooper to make these wonderful barrels.  Not an inexpensive venture for sure.

We have a neat story to tell you.  When we attended the talk with Maria, she was telling us the she only keeps the barrels for a certain period of time and then they reach the end of their life with Osborne.  One of the lovely ladies who used to work with us asked what happened to the barrels once she was done with them (thinking that they would be used for planting and the like).  Maria spoke quite softly and said ‘we sell them to wineries who cannot afford new ones’.

The Rioja region is one of Spain’s most recognizable regions.  You can see on the map, that the area is not huge, by any means.  But man, they make some great wine there.  Tempranillo is king.  The wine we are tasting this week, as I said earlier is 100% Tempranillo.  Tempranillo is often referred to as Spain’s noble grape.  The name comes from the Spanish word ‘temprano’, which means ‘early’.  This is fitting, as the grape ripens earlier than most Spanish grape varieties.

The name Crianza that you see on the bottle is a term used to describe how long the wine has aged in wood and in the bottle before it is allowed to be released.  It is the second of a level of four terms used.  Sin Crianza (which we don’t see in Canada), Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva are the four steps.  As you go up the levels, the wine must be aged for a longer period of time in wood and in the bottle before it is released.  You cannot put any of these names on the bottle unless you adhere to certain regulations.

This wine is aged for a minimum of 1 year in the wood and matures in the winery until it is sold.  That is why you see all these wines from Montecillo that are from 2006 and earlier.

This wine is a cherry red in colour, with aromas and flavors of red berries, raspberry and cherry, red plum, a little vanilla.  It is a medium to full-bodied wine and has a nice finish.  This is a very versatile wine and goes great with many different foods.

Food Pairing:

Pork; beef (try either of these roasted or grilled);  pizza; grilled oily fish.

CSPC:     144493
Price: 

     $16.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing. Price subject to change without notice

Richard and I haven’t visited the Australian wines in a while, so I think we will just have to check them out. See you down under next week. Come by and visit with Diana and have a sip and a chat.

Winery: Layer Cake
Vintage: 2008
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 13.9%
Blend: 100% Malbec
Tasting: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

… and we are back in Argentina for a quick visit and then we are off to Italy.

First of all, let me ask you a quick question.  Who isn’t enticed by the name Layer Cake?  I mean that just says yummy on so many different levels.  (By the way, ‘yummy’ is one of those wine technical terms that we mentioned that we would throw around every now and then J.)  We first tried these wines at a wine tasting in February of this year.  The customers really enjoyed them and were quite taken with the fact that they had the same name, but were from different countries.

I love this quote from the Layer Cake website…

“My old grandfather told me the soils in which the vines lived were a layer cake. If properly made, the wine from these vines was like a delicious cake layered with fruit, mocha and chocolate, with hints of spice and rich, always rich. Never pass up a good Layer Cake.”

A. Orlando Tribute, Jayson Woodbridge

We have talked about the Malbec grape a few weeks ago.  This wine we are tasting this week is also from the Mendoza region in Argentina.  Mendoza, like Alberta, is known for its abundance of sunshine.  On average it has more than 300 sunny days a year.  Tourism in the region has increased dramatically, due to the interest in the wineries in the area.  Wine related tourism has become one of the largest sources of income for Mendoza.

This wine has a lot of flavour.  The winemaker’s notes say that they allowed to grapes to stay on the vine a full four to six weeks after most of the neighbouring vineyards.  They wanted to make sure that these grapes were picked at their peak so that all that extra flavour would come through in the wine that you and I enjoy.

It is amazing the flavours you get on your nose.  There is blackberry, cherry, plum with dark cocoa and even a touch of spice.  The taste is reminiscent of dark chocolate, dark cherries, jam and some spice.  This wine has so many flavours.  There is no wonder why Robert Parker rated this 2008 vintage a whopping 91 points!  Positively decant this wine and you will not be disappointed in the flavours that come out of your glass.

Food Pairing:

Grilled steak; Beef Stew; Barbequed Lamb; Sausage and mushroom pizza.

CSPC:     738090
Price:

$23.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing. Price subject to change without notice

- - - - - - -

Winery: Layer Cake
Vintage: 2007
Location: Puglia, Italy
Alcohol: 13.9%
Blend: 100% Primitivo
Tasting: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Puglia (also known as Apulia), is the famed ‘heel of the boot’ in Italy.  This region of Italy produces more wine than any other area of the country.  The place where these Primitivo grapes come from is called Manduria.  Now, like in most areas of Italy, there are regulations/laws surrounding making wine and having certain designations like “DOC” or “DOCG”.  For those of you who like cars (like me) it would be like having a Buick, Buick LS, or Buick LTD (sorry, I can’t translate into Ford and Chrysler language, as I grew up in a mostly GM family).

Manduria Denominazione di Origine Controllata, labeling requires 14% alcohol. The people at Layer Cake found that they liked this wine below 14%; therefore it falls into ‘IGT’ Puglia for area designation.  I always like to say that the ‘IGT is for the rebels… and that is a good.  Where would we be today if people always followed the rules?  No one would want to explore new avenues of anything.  As usual, I digress.

Primitivo (Pree-mih-TEE-vo).  You may think you don’t know this grape, but I bet you do.  The University of California at Davis discovered that Primitivo is not just related to the Zinfandel grape from California, but it is the same grape variety.  Until that happened, Primitivo lived basically in obscurity.  Since that time, it has enjoyed the trappings of the spotlight.  And well it should.  Like with all grape varieties, when they are grown in different parts of the world, they are going to taste a little different in each place.  They take on the characteristics of the soils in that particular area and of course the weather (rain, sunshine etc.) will play a big part in what the wine tastes like.

Enough about all that, let’s get on with the wine.  As always, get it out of the bottle and let it sit for a while.  All the nice flavours will come out.  When you pour this wine it is a rich colour of dark ruby and purple.  It has some nice zippy spice balanced with lots of black fruit.  It warms you up as it slips down your throat.

Robert Parker gave this vintage of the Layer Cake Primitivo 89 Points!

Food Pairing:

Pizza; Barbequed beef, pork or chicken; Hamburgers;  Lasagna; Duck.

CSPC:     738091
Price:

$23.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing. Price subject to change without notice

Let’s head off to Spain next week. The lady who makes this next wine is a real dynamo. Richard and I just loved her when we met her. Come by and visit Diana from 4 – 7 on May 19th.

Winery: Emiliana - Adobe Carmenere
Vintage: 2008
Location: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Alcohol: 14%
Blend: 100% Carménère
Tasting: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

I think there is some kind of rule that you cannot leave Chile without sampling some Carménère wine.  If there isn’t a rule, then I think there should be a rule.  This is not only a Carménère wine, but it is also organic.  The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce had their Spring Wine and Food night on April 20, 2010 at the Jubilee Auditorium.  Why in heaven’s name am I telling you this after the fact?  Well, that is the first place that I had tried this wine.  Now I am a big Carménère fan.  I have been for a long time.  They are available in all different price ranges and therefore the body is going to be a bit different on each of them.  I have to tell you, though, for this price, I was pleasantly surprised at the flavour this little wine has.  Check out the Emiliana website (that is the parent company of Adobe).  They have not only information on the Adobe wines (Sherbrooke carries a number of them), but also their other wines like Coyam, which we just sampled on April 22 and 23^rd for our Earth Day Weekend tasting.

Rafael and José Guilisasti of Emiliana Winery saw changes starting in how people were looking at their food and the land and they wanted to be a part of this change.  People all around the world were starting to be more conscious of what they were eating and drinking and how they were treating Mother Earth.  It was at that time that they started on the road to make the change to Organic and Biodynamic wines.

“Life is full of opportunities, and Emiliana is one of them… United by a common passion, we have been able to produce high quality wines with their own identity, and thereby achieve the authentic expression of their terroir through organic and biodynamic agriculture and respecting the true value of the company, which is in caring for its people and the environment.”  “We do what we are”

Jose Guilisasti Gana

When we were presenting our Earth Day tastings I had more than a couple of people ask what the heck ‘Biodynamic’ meant.  I told them, tongue planted firmly in cheek, that it was ‘organic on steriods’.  One fellow said ‘but steroids aren’t org…oh… I get what you mean.”  Basically it is Organic farming bumped up a few notches.  It truly is fascinating reading about the biodynamic agriculture and the background on how it came to be.  Basically, the stewards of the land not only farm organically, but they take it many steps further.  They plant certain trees and plants in the vineyards to bring in particular nutrients into the soil and to protect the vines.  The vines are planted and harvested during certain lunar cycles to bring out the best in the vines and the fruit being harvested from it.  And so on…  Now that is the Reader’s Digest version.

I was speaking to a gentleman just a few months ago he was telling me how his father used to work the land in Europe.  His father did his own tests by planting and harvesting his crops in the traditional method and doing it in the (what we now call) biodynamic way.  He found consistently that planting and harvesting using this method of biodynamics was well worth it.  Not only was his land/soil in great shape, but his crops were better for it.  His son has carried on the tradition.  I figure, where can we go wrong taking good care of Mother Earth?

The Carménère grape was originally from the Bordeaux Region in France.  When the explorers were travelling hither and yon through the world they took vines from their home country, to plant in the ‘New World’.  Carménère was one of those grapes that were brought to Chile in the mid 16^th century.  It is almost impossible to find in France today.  Chile has the largest planting of this grape in the world today.  It has almost become their signature grape in the same way that Malbec has become the signature grape of Argentina.  The Chilean wine growers actually thought this Carménère was merlot or a clone of merlot for many years.  It wasn’t until 1994 that it was discovered that this was the ‘lost grape’ Carménère.  It was recognized as a distinct grape variety by the Chilean Department of Agriculture in 1998.  It is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, but we see it on its own quite frequently now.

This is such a neat little wine and we are looking forward to you trying it.  A small portion of it (20%) was aged for 6 months in French and American oak barrels.  The colour is ruby red and you can smell wonderful dark cherries, with a tiny bit of spice (black pepper).  When you taste it you notice the tannins are medium-firm and are balanced nicely with the acidity and you sure can taste that wonderful cherry and notes of that great spice.  This is just a nice fresh wine to sip on.  Now if you to like food like we do, then you will be pleasantly surprised at how well this wine pairs with some great dishes.

Food Pairing:

Chorizo Sausages in a tomato sauce; Barbequed beef, pork; aged cheeses; venison; chili.

CSPC:     733158
Price:  

    $12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

We will see you on Wednesday.  Next week we are travelling to Spain.

We have some exciting news for you!  Richard and I will be travelling to Italy and France over the next five weeks (not virtually).  We will be returning June 15^th to Sherbrooke.  Our very good friend Diana (Dee - Anna) is going to see you on Wednesday afternoons.  Diana, Richard and I are in class together studying to be Sommeliers.   She is an awesome person and you will just love meeting her!  She knows her stuff.  The weekly wine blogs will still be posted for you to read and you can come by and taste all the wines with Diana and have a good chat.

Winery: Viña Maipo
Vintage: 2008
Location: Maipo Valley, Chile
Alcohol: 14%
Blend: 85% Syrah, 15% Carménère
Tasting: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

You know, I can remember back to 1988/89 when people were just starting to hear about wines coming from Chile.  They were amazed that wine grapes could be grown there.  What they didn’t realize is that for most of the country the climate is actually considered to be a Mediterranean climate.  It features the warm, dry summers and cold, rainy winters that vines love. With the breezes from the sea and the effect of the Andes Mountains, Chile has bright sunny days and cool nights.  The dip in temperature at night helps the grapes to develop fresh fruit flavors, crisp acidity in the white wines.   This helps the red wines as well.  They develop ripe tannins, deep color, and high levels of antioxidants and flavonols.

Viña Maipo, which was founded in 1948, gets its name from the valley in which it sits - the Maipo Valley.  The Maipo Valley is considered to be the oldest and most important wine growing valley in the country of Chile.   Its history dates back centuries prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16^th century.  The Jesuits arrived and settled in the valley until they were expelled by the Spanish crown.  The Town of Maipo was founded during this time to defend the area against native attacks.

The Jesuits returned in the 19^th century, around the same time that the first great wineries appeared.  The merger of different religions and beliefs took place at this time and gave rise to the unique devotion and religiousness that is still felt in this region today.

Viña Maipo is located just 38 kilometers south of Santiago.  Just a minute down the road from the vineyard is the lovely town of Maipo.

In 1968, Viña Maipo became part of Viña Concha y Toro.  Over the next 42 years the winery has grown to become the 4th largest Chilean wine exporter.  Quite an accomplishment since only a decade ago they exported to small number of countries.  Now their wines are found in over 60 countries and they send over 2 million bottles of wine to those countries each year.

The Viña Maipo vineyards are located in Chile’s main valleys:  Casablanca, Maipo, Rapel, Curico and Maule.  The last four of these is known as the Central Valley.  This valley extends more than 310 miles from north to south and lies between the Maipo and Maule Rivers.  The clash of the cold Pacific breezes and the hot inland air masses give this area a pleasant Mediterranean climate with warm days, cold nights and well defined seasons.  Casablanca is known for its fresh whites; Rapel for its fruity reds; Curico for its very intense Sauvignon Blanc; Maule for its powerful and concentrated reds; Maipo for its elegant and classic styles.

This wine is the first in a series of Syrah from Viña Maipo.  The second is called Reserva and the third is Limited Edition.  They each are different and lovely in their own way.  April 28^th we have chosen the Syrah for our Winesday wine.  April 30^th and May 1 we will be doing a two day sampling with the Reserva Syrah and the Grand Devotion Sauvignon Blanc.  You will have to try each and find your favourite ones.

The grapes for this wine were both hand-picked and mechanically harvested in April 2008.  30% of it was aged in American oak barrels for three months and 70% of it was aged in stainless steel for 5 months.  The colour is an intense ruby red with violet hues.  It has some nice fruit with raspberry and blackberry leading the way.  There is a little black pepper spice and toasted notes to boot.  It has a softer body, but is nicely balanced with a medium finish.

Food Pairing:

  Grilled meats (beef, venison, lamb); a pesto based pizza; gouda cheese; braised beef.

CSPC:     735791
Price:

      $10.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

Come by and try this Syrah and then come back on Friday or Saturday to try the Viña Maipo Syrah Reserva and the Viña Maipo Gran Devocion Sauvignon Blanc.

Next week Richard and I are going to stay in Chile and have a bit of a road trip.  Come join us.  I’ll bring a few treats that we can nibble on while we travel.

Winery: Silvertop
Vintage: 2008
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 13.5%
Blend: 100% Malbec
Tasting: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Map courtesy of mendosaholidays.com

We will be heading to Chile next week.  Our flight landed in Mendoza on the way and we noticed some vineyards nearby the airport, so we thought we would stop and take a look.

Okay… raise your hands… who hasn’t heard of Argentinean Malbec?  It certainly has come on our wine scene with great vigor over the past couple of years.  Now there are a lot of wineries from Argentina, but the vast majority of wines come from the Mendoza region.  I believe the number is about 75 - 80%, actually.

The history of the country is fascinating.  Of course its connection with Spain goes back many hundreds of years.  The Monks started developing the vineyards in Argentina back in the 1500’s.  This year, Argentina will be celebrating their 200^th Anniversary of Independence from Spain.  Now the Spanish culture still plays a large part in this country.  You will notice, for instance, that a lot of winery names being with ‘Bodegas’, which is ‘winery’ or ‘house of’.  Today some of the red wines being produced in Argentina include:  Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Bonarda and Sangiovese.  White wines include:  Torrontes, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, Semillon, Riesling, Viognier and Gewürztraminer.

Let’s get on to this wine.  What the heck is Malbec anyway?  Well, the Malbec grape came from France originally, but there is not a lot left to be found in the country.  There are some areas where it can still be found.  The most notable area is located in the south west of France.  The region is called Cahors.   Recently there have been some wines from this region that have come back into the spotlight.  Why?  Well, because Malbec has been getting a lot of press from Argentina and Malbec is big in Cahors.  It follows that Cahors will be garnering a bit of the limelight, as well.  And as Martha says… that is a good thing.

Now at $10.99, you know that this is not going to be a big powerhouse Malbec, but what you will notice are the great red berry flavours, red plum, cherry and even a little bit of tobacco that you get on this wine.  In your mouth there are those red fruits like raspberry and cherry with that touch of the red plum again.  It has a nice bit of fruit, but not in a sweet way, just some nice fruit.  When I tried this wine for the first time about 1½ to 2 years ago, I was surprised that there was so much flavour for the price.  It was a nice surprise indeed.  This makes a great ‘sit back, put your feet up and relax kind of wine’.  Argentinean wines are such a good value.  They are so worth trying.

Food Pairing:

Beef… Beef… and more beef!  Did I say ‘beef’?  Barbequed lamb; pizza with chorizo sausages; chili.

CSPC:     734702
Price:

$10.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

Winery: Silvertop
Vintage: 2009
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 13%
Blend: 100% Torrontes
Tasting: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Torrontes grapes make the quintessential white wine from Argentina.  Although it makes up about 10% of white grapes planted in Argentina, it accounts for about 20% of the sales.  Interesting!  Now until recently, it was thought this grape variety was indigenous to Argentina, but recent DNA testing has found that, in fact, the grape has roots in the Eastern Mediterrean region.  Which, when you think about it makes sense.  Most of the grape vines in the New World regions were most likely brought over by explorers from the ‘Old World’ during their travels.  Simplistically, they wanted to bring a little bit of home with them so that they could make their own wine for celebrations and the like.

This wine has such flavourful aromas.  You get anything from orange/citrus and some flowers to peaches/peach pit.  Now although you get all these notes, the wine is dry.  It kind of fools you when you get all those wonderful aromas.  This is a wine to enjoy when it is young.

Food Pairing:

Asian food, especially Thai and Vietnamese; guacamole; Mexican food; clam chowder with a wee touch of spice.

CSPC:     734704
Price:

$11.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

I have some very exciting news for you!!!  We will be doing an ‘Earth Day’ weekend tasting this weekend.  Friday, April 23^rd from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 24^th from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.  We will be tasting Organic and Biodynamic Wines.  Come by and join us.

Next week Richard and I are going to hop on that flight and head over the Andes Mountains to Chile.  See you there!

Winery: Bodegas Ateca
Vintage: 2008
Location: Calatayud, Spain
Alcohol: 14%
Blend: Old Vines Garnacha (Grenache)
Tasting: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Map courtesy of vinisimo.com

When people think of exports from Spain, they think of Hollywood actors like Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz to name just a couple.  Well, let me tell you Spain has some incredible wine.   Let’s step back a little in time…

As with the history in many Mediterranean countries, the cultivation of wine grapes in Spain began with the Greeks and Phoenicians.  After the conquest of Spain by the Moors in 711 A.D. the wine industry took a huge hit.  The Moors forbid the drinking of alcohol, so land that was previously under vine was used for other crops.  In some areas, the Christians were allowed to keep some land under vine for their own use.  When the reconquest of Spain took place the wine industry came alive again due in part to the monasteries, as they needed sacramental wine for Communion.  In the 19^th Century Phylloxera hit a lot of Europe before it hit Spain.  When it devastated France, a number of French winemakers moved to Spain to not only work their art, but they also gave the Spanish priceless information on grape growing, and they also imparted their wisdom of more modern winemaking techniques, the effects of which are still felt in the country today.  When Phylloxera did come to Spain, the Spanish were better equipped to handle it.  They had learned that grafting the vines on root stock that was resistant to Phylloxera was going to be their saving grace.  The damage was not felt as hard as it was in a lot of Europe.  Fast forward to the 20^th Century…  many people around the world associate Spain with Sherry.  Yes, Sherry is made in Spain, but there is a wide range of wonderful wines from this country.  I hope this is the first of a number of articles we get to write on Spanish wine.

The wine we are sampling today, Atteca Old Vines 2008,  is from Northeastern Spain in an area called Calatayud.  This probably is not one of the best known regions of Spain.  Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Priorat are probably much better known on this side of the water.  Calatayud is an area of 5,600 hectacres of land in the Province of Zaragoza in Northeastern Spain.  The wine region is made up of 15 vineyards (Bodegas) which produce about 14 million liters of wine each year.

There are many different grape varieties grown in the Calatayud region including for the reds:  Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Mazuela, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.   For the whites:  Macabeo, Malvasia, Moscatel de Alejandria, Garnacha Blanca and Chardonnay.   Unlike Germany and some other countries, Spain doesn’t usually have a problem with grapes not fully ripening due to cool temperatures.  The climate in Calatayud is mainly continental with warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters.  Most of the rain that falls comes between April and July.  The later part of the summer is very dry with only a scattered thunderstorm to leave a little rain for the vineyards.

This particular wine is made from 100% Old Vines Garnacha (otherwise known at Grenache).  The vines used to make this wine are between 80 to 120 years old.  Now when the vines get that old, they don’t produce a lot of fruit, but the fruit that you do get is amazing.  It is full of flavour and something just out of this world.   The vines were selected from hillside vineyards at 3000 feet above sea level.  These vineyards were planted in the last few decades of the 19^th Century and the first decade of the 20^th Century.

Richard and I sat down on Friday night to enjoy this wine with our dinner.  I had decanted it about 90 minutes prior.  Richard was enjoying a barbequed steak with various veggies and the like.  Being the rebel that I am, I had some chicken with a balsamic reduction and of course like a good girl, I had lots of veggies. The wine is a very deep ruby colour.  The aromas were awash with blackberries, black cherries and even some raspberries and a little vanilla.  In the mouth you could taste those berries along with some good acidity with a medium body feel.  On the finish, that is when you notice a wee bit of pepper spiciness.  We found it was about a medium finish.  The tannins are very noticeable, but not overbearing by any means.

Food Pairing:

Grilled/roasted beef and lamb; chorizo sausages (grilled or fried); veal; pork; Moroccan stew.  Or try grilled chicken with a balsamic reduction.

CSPC:     1025227
Price:

$23.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice

Atteca photos courtesy of corksandcaftans

Richard and I are heading back across the pond to Chile next week.  As usual, I am running behind, so I better get my suitcase packed.  See you Wednesday!

Winery: Stoneleigh
Vintage: 2008
Location: Marlborough, New Zealand
Alcohol: 13%
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

New Zealand is located in the picturesque South Pacific.  New Zealand wine has been on the Canadian radar for a number of years.   Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough has been a perennial favourite.  However, we are seeing much more coming from these beautiful islands:  Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio, Viognier. Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah.  That is quite a selection to quench our thirst!

“In Rapaura, Marlborough there lies a vineyard studded with precious stones. Once the bed of an ancient river, today they form the bed of our vineyard.”  That is the beginning of the Stoneleigh Winery history.  As we were reading the story of Stoneleigh, the first thing we thought was that it sounded almost magical.  Lo and behold at the bottom of the page didn’t it say “Stoneleigh - Made with the Magic of Sunstones.”  The Rapaura region of New Zealand is slightly warmer than other regions of Marloborough, so the fruit will ripen a little earlier.

We usually think of harvest time as the fall - September to October.  Well these grapes were harvested between March 23 and April 15, which is their fall down under.  Jamie Marfell, Senior Winemaker for Stoneleigh Winery said “The 2008 vintage was a fantastic grape growing year for the wines of Stoneleigh. Periodic rainfall events throughout summer gave strong vine health, boosting what is needed on our stony, gravelly vineyards. Starting harvest in late March, the fruit was in premium condition with intense flavours and balanced acidity.  Making picking decisions based on flavour, I was able to target passionfruit and grapefruit flavours, minimizing the greener notes.  The resultant wine is a true expression of the Rapaura region with strong aromatics, an intense palate and clean, fresh acidity.” Now if that doesn’t make your mouth water, I don’t know what would!

Stoneleigh began winemaking at the Marlborough Estate in the 1980’s so its history is relatively short.  However, a number of their wines have won awards.  The Stoneleigh Marlborough Chardonnay 1996 was named White Wine of the Year at the 1998 International Wine Challenge in London.  This was followed by two successive vintages of the Sauvignon Blanc receiving Best Buy recommendations from Wine Spectator Magazine.  Now awards are great, but what is most important is what you think of the wine.

In North America we are used to mega filtering of everything.  Well, if you over filter the wine, you will lose some of its character and flavour… and that would not be a good thing.  At Stoneleigh the winemaker takes a minimalist approach when making the wine and only subtly intervenes to add some complexity and to enhance the fruit’s unique characteristics.  The wines are fined very lightly, so that they maintain all the qualities of the fruit.

It has been a few years since we last tasted this wine, so we thought it was well time to do it again.

When you taste this wine you will notice the citrus, ripe grapefruit and passionfruit right off the bat.  There are also some mineral notes as well.  The acidity is nicely balanced with the nice fruit on the palate.

Food Pairing:

  Asparagus, chicken (fried, roasted, or sautéed), goat cheese, white fish (poached or sautéed), oysters, pasta with a cream sauce, light salad, turkey.

CSPC:     293043
Price:

      $17.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

Come join myself and Richard in Spain next week.  Our frequent flyer miles are adding up!!

Pelee Island Winery is located on the Southerly most point in Canada.  It is on the same latitude as Northern California.  The climate is one of the mildest in Canada.  In fact, winemaking is not new to the area.  There is a history of winemaking there since the 1860’s.  Sadly the industry died out in the early 1900’s, but it came to life again in the 1980’s.  Thank goodness for that, otherwise we would have missed out on some very spiffy wine (technical terminology J). Map is courtesy of Norman Einstein

You know, in this industry we learn something new every day.  Although we have tried many of the Pelee Island wines, we did not know that the vineyards 550 acres make up Canada’s largest private estate.

One thing you will notice about the labels of Pelee Island wine is that there are various plants and animals on them.  The winery promotes the diversity of life on the island.  It is home to many rare insects, snails, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians as well. But still many more stop off at Pelee Island on their travels south.  It is the meeting place of two different migration routes.  The island is a major stopover point for many groups of birds and insects on their way to their winter homes down south.

Take for instance the Monarch Butterfly, which is featured on Pelee Island’s Monarch Vidal.  The butterfly stops at Pelee Island on its long journey to Mexico.  Isn’t that truly amazing how that tiny winged being takes that long journey!  The Egret is featured on the Umbrella Gewürztraminer-Riesling.  The islands are home to one of the largest populations of nesting Egrets in Canada.  These are just two small examples of the diversity of these islands… not just in the winemaking.  The viticulturist at Pelee Island works hand in hand with the World Wildlife Fund with regard to their pest management.  This gives you just a small glimpse into how Pelee Island Winery takes care of everything on the island from the ground up.

Pinot Noir Reserve VQA

Winery: Pelee Island Winery
Vintage: 2008
Location: Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada
Alcohol: 13%
Blend: Pinot Noir
Tasting: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

They call the Pinot Noir grape the heartbreak grape.  It is a  very tough grape to grow.  As an example:  If the grapes don’t get enough heat, the wines can be very light and thin tasting.  If is gets too much heat the wines can taste more like cooked fruit.   When all goes right, however, it can make some of the most incredible wine and Champagne you have ever had the pleasure to try.  The price can vary from the teens to ad infinitum (infinity). Associated mostly with the region of Burgundy in France, the grape now grows in a number of countries around the world including our wonderful country of Canada.

This wine was matured for about eight to twelve months in European-style French Oak barrels with about 25 to 30% of the wine experiencing a malolactic fermentation (also known as MLF).   Why is that good and how does it change the wine?  The winemakers want to reduce the amount of the harsher acidity in the wine.  In order to do that, they will change some of the Malic Acid into the softer Lactic Acid.  This MLF takes place after the primary fermentation (during which the grape juice sugar is converted into alcohol).  The wine undergoes a secondary fermentation to change the Malic Acid into the Lactic Acid.  This not only reduces some of the acidity, but it makes the wine a little more balanced and palatable.  They also want to maintain the lovely fruit characteristics of the wine, so in this case only 25 to 30% of the wine goes through this MLF.

This is an easy drinking Pinot Noir and if people are just starting to drink red wine, Pinot Noir is a lovely place to start.  This wine is not overpowering, it is just simply pleasant.  You get some of the strawberry and other red berries, plus there is a wee bit of earth aromas in there too, and can be quite typical of Pinot Noir.

Food Pairing:

Turkey; salmon (broiled, roasted, grilled, or poached); grilled or roasted red meat; mushrooms (eg: grilled Portobello) and mushroom sauces; pork.

CSPC:     458521
Price:

$16.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

Umbrella
GewÜrztraminer-Rielsing

Winery: Pelee Island Winery
Vintage: 2008
Location: Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada
Alcohol: 12.5%
Blend: Gewürztraminer 50%, Riesling 50%
Tasting: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Okay, you have the best of both worlds here.  You have the Gewürztraminer and the Riesling.  Now I know that everyone thinks that there are basically two different colours of grapes, well there are other colours, as well.  The Gewürztraminer can actually be a pinkish colour. This grape ripens a bit on the earlier side.  The Riesling, on the other hand, is green in colour and it ripens rather late.  These two grapes make great wine all on their own, so bringing them together would bring out all the great qualities of each of them.

The history of Gewürztraminer  (guh-VOORTS-truh-MEE-nur)can be dated back to Italy near the village of Termino (Tramin) in Alto Adige.  It is considered to be an aromatic grape variety.  Now I know you are thinking that the name certainly doesn’t sound Italian, and you would be correct… it is German.  Gewürz in German is translated to mean ‘spicy’.  The grape is quite well known in the Region of Alsace in France, but can be found in California, Oregon, Washington, Germany (of course), Canada and recently New Zealand.

People think of Riesling and they think of Germany.  Though its history is a bit mysterious it can be said that Riesling goes back to the Rhine in Germany.  It too is considered an aromatic grape variety and brings a lot to the table when you get a whiff of the wine.  It grows quite well in cooler climates.  In Canada it is one of the grape varieties that we use for making Ice Wine… that yummy delicacy.

This Gewürztraminer-Riesling is considered off-dry, but it has a nice bit of acidity to it, so it isn’t going to taste as sweet as you would think.  There are some floral notes to the wine with a little honeysuckle and lychee and even a wee bit of rose.  The aromas of tropical fruit like mango are noticeable with some lovely peach, as well.   You will have fun pairing this wine with food.

Food Pairing:

  Baked ham; turkey; Thai, Chinese or Indian food; fresh fruit (especially tropical fruit); fish; pork.

CSPC:     738935
Price:

      $12.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

Next week Richard and I are heading off to Marlborough, New Zealand.  Come join us.

Winery: Wayne Thomas
Vintage: 2002
Location: McLaren Vale, Australia
Alcohol: 14%
Blend: Shiraz
Tasting: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Now I know you are looking at this and thinking ‘what the heck?’  I thought she said she was going to Germany.  Well as luck would have it, when I got to the airport and passed through security didn’t I go to the wrong gate and end up on a flight to Australia!!  You don’t believe me?  Well, I don’t blame you.  It sounds a little far fetched even for me!  We had planned to sample a German wine, as you know, but something came up at the last minute and we had to make a change.  Hence this blog is being posted so late.  We will visit Germany soon.  To make up for it, we have a special treat for you…Wayne Thomas American Oak Shiraz 2002.  I was speaking with the wine agency this morning and they told me that the Wayne Thomas wines are only available in Alberta, so this truly is a treat.

Richard and I had the opportunity to try this wine just after we were engaged in October 2007.  We were given a bottle as a congratulations present by Jim at Sherbrooke Liquor.  When Jim first told us about this wine, we were completely intrigued.  Of course, I immediately went to Google Wayne Thomas.  There was not a lot of information to be found at the time

Wayne Thomas was a veteran in South Eastern Australia.  He started his winemaking career in 1961.  He studied at the Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia.  (In 1991, Roseworthy became a part of the University of Adelaide).

In years to come, Wayne worked for Stonyfell Winery just outside Adelaide, Ryecroft Winery in McLaren Vale and Saltram Winery in Barossa Valley before establishing Fern Hill Winery in 1975 with his wife Pat.  Wayne and Pat sold Fern Hill in April 1994.  They were not leaving the wine industry, however.  They started a new label called, you guessed it, Wayne Thomas Wines.   The winery itself was located in the old Maxwell Winery in McLaren Vale.  Their approach this time was to use contract-grown grapes sourced from vineyards throughout the McLaren Vale region.  They had amazing success with their wines.  Sherbrooke carries both the Shiraz and the Petit Verdot in the store.  You shouldn’t miss the Petit Verdot, either.

Wayne’s wife passed away in 2001 and she did not get to see him win the “Bushing King” title in 2004 and 2006.  This is a time honoured title that goes back to days of old in Great Britain.  Vines/bushes were hung on doorways to announce the arrival of the new vintages of wine.  The McLaren Vale Bushing Festival started in 1973. The winemaker who wins the best wine of the year is bestowed the title of “Bushing King/Queen”.  In April 2007, Cancer took Wayne’s life.  He had just finished supervising the harvest and crushing of the 2007 vintage.  Wayne’s talented son Andrew agreed to finish the 2007 vintage in honour of his dad.  Like so many… Wayne was gone too soon.

The wine is a bright ruby colour.  There are the wonderful notes of the blackberry, black raspberry and that wonderful Shiraz peppery spice is on the nose too.  If you dig a little deeper, there is even a wee touch of vanilla from the 432 days that this wine spent in the oak barrels.

There is a very special offer for our customers today.  If you buy a single bottle of the Wayne Thomas Shiraz you will for sure get your ‘Winesday 10% discount’.  If, however, you buy 6 bottles of the Wayne Thomas Shiraz today, you will get a whopping 20% off the price.  This is the first time that this has been offered, so it is a great time to take advantage.

Come by and enjoy this wine with us.

Food Pairing:

BBQ beef, BBQ chicken, BBQ Salmon, Duck, Osso Bucco

CSPC:     711825
Price: 

$34.99 (Minus Winesday discount.  See the extra special noted above.)

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice.

We are going to be back on Canadian soil next week.  In particular… Ontario.  See you there!