Urban UCO Tempranillo

Location: El Cepillo, La Consulta, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Tasting: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Tempranillo is the main grape in Spain, but you wouldn’t know it by the wine labels.  Unlike the new world, the grape varieties are not usually on the labels in Spain, generally speaking.    The grape most probably originated in Spain, in particular, the Rioja region.  Although there is one story that says that the grape vine was brought to Spain by monks from Burgundy on their way to Santiago.  The story goes that they gave cuttings of the vine to other Spanish monasteries of their same order.[1]

Why are we talking about Spain when our wine comes from Argentina?  Well, we just wanted you to know a little about the background of this fabulous grape.  You will find Tempranillo in many parts of the world:  Portugal, Australia, South America, Mexico, France, Bulgaria, and the U.S.  Like so many other grape varieties Tempranillo goes by many different names:  Tinto Fino, Cencibel, Tinto Del Pais, Ull de Liebre (Eye of the Rabbit), Tinta Roriz and Aragonez to name a few.  In Argentina, where our wine comes from this week, it is sometimes called Tempranilla.

Bodegas y Viñedos O.Fournier Group was founded in 2000. Their plan is to produce wines in:  Argentina, Chile, Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Douro (Portugal).

This Tempranillo is brimming with red ripe berry fruits, and a touch of earthiness. It is medium bodied with smooth tannins, a refreshing palate of sweet ripe crunchy red fruit and a touch a spice

Food Pairing:

Spicy Lamb and Chorizo Chili; Grilled-Steak Salad with Worcestershire Vinaigrette

CSPC:                   726781
Winesday Price:

$15.29 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$16.99

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

Urban UCO Sauvignon Blanc

Location: Vista Flores, El Cepillo, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

In the year 2000, the Spanish family Ortega Gil-Fournier founded a small boutique winery at the foot of the Andes in the Mendoza region. Bodega y Viñedos O. Fournier owns three estates in Argentina some 15 km from the Andes Range, covering 286 hectares.  A total of 94 ha are currently planted with vines, some of which are over 30 years old. The region is approximately 3,950 feet above sea level, and the water that irrigates the estates flows from snow melt on the Andes.

The Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was recommended by the New York Times wine panel in July 2009, as the top Argentinian Sauvignon Blanc tasted.[2] That is mighty high praise.  Now, although we are tasting the 2010, we feel confident that you will add your lauds too!

Urban Uco Sauvignon Blanc is soft yellow-green in color with an aromatic nose of citrus, tropical fruits, apples, and floral notes. Light-medium in body with bright acidity and a rich mouthfeel, the wine offers flavors of grapefruit, passion fruit, green apples, and spice. Fermented for 10 days in stainless steel, with no barrel aging.

Food Pairing:

Crabby Crab Cakes; Soft Tacos with Fish and Spinach

CSPC:                   732948
Winesday Price:

$15.29 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$16.99

*Price correct at time of printing.  Price subject to change without notice
Cal-a-for-nigh-ay… here we come.

[2] Wine Gems

The Zuccardi family moved to the Mendoza region some years prior to 1950.  In 1963 Alberto Zuccardi planted his first vineyard in Maipú to show other regional farmers how the irrigation system he designed worked and how it would benefit the agricultural industry.  Little did he know what he would be starting!

In 1976 Alberto’s son, José Alberto, joined the family business.  Not too many years later the brand ‘Santa Julia‘ was born.  The brand was named after José’s only daughter, Julia.  Sebastián, José’s oldest son, and Miguel, his youngest son became involved in the Zuccardi family business in the past decade.  Each is responsible for different parts of the company.  Sebastián is in charge of the estates in the Uco Valley, which produces some of Zuccardi’s top wines.  Miguel has the responsibility of taking care of the Zuccardi family interest in high quality olive oil production.  (all pictured above right)

A visitor’s centre and restaurant was opened in 2001 with daughter Julia (pictured left) taking the reigns.

“From the very beginning, we focused on the achievement of four goals:  Producing the highest quality wines; keeping a constant innovation capacity; working in full harmony with the environment; and being useful to the community we live in”[1]

The Santa Julia vineyards produce Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay along with Viognier, Pinot Grigio and Tempranillo.  The man behind turning these grapes into vino is winemaker Rodolfo Montenegro.  2011 marks Rodolfo’s 30^th anniversary with the winery.  For 15 years he also taught at the Don Bosco Faculty of Enology.

Santa Julia Viognier

For some, the big oaky Chardonnays of old were losing their shine and those people were looking for something with more body but they wanted to nix the 2×4.  Others who enjoyed the lovely Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc were looking for a wine that was a little more substantial but not Chardonnay (poor ol’ Chardonnay).    In came Viognier.  A number of years ago we heard many times that, in Australia, Viognier was going to be the big white like Shiraz was the big red.  It never really happened in Australia.  Viognier, however, can be found all around the world.  When talking about Viognier most think of the Rhône.  In particular, Condrieu.  However, Viognier may be found from the Cape in South Africa to Australia, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, U.S.A, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Japan and Canada.  The grape works well blending with other varieties and is quite capable of standing on its own. [2] Today the soil where our grapes have grown is in Argentina.

Winery: Familia Zuccardi / Santa Julia Winery
Location: Santa Rosa Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Viognier
Tasting: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

The grapes for this wine are from the Santa Rosa Vineyard in Mendoza.  The grapes were all hand-picked during the last two weeks of March 2010.

“Santa Julia is one of the most dynamic trademarks which best interpret the new trends in consumer′s preferences.  As a winemaker, I was able to begin this transformation having the support of this Winery′s strategic pillars: innovation and a constant search for product excellence”, says Rodolfo.[3]

Notes from the winemaker:

Colour: A greenish yellow of medium intensity with silver gleams.

Aroma: Very varietal character, fine, intense and complex. Notes of tropical fruits combined with flowers and ripe fruits: roses, peaches, green apples, pears and bananas.

Flavour:Rounded, balanced, fresh and wide in the mid palate. Touches of citrus - orange peel. A long and complete finish.

Food Pairing:

Thai Green Curry with Seafood ; Quick Roast Chicken and Root Vegetables

CSPC:     612317
Price:

$12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Familia Zuccardi / Santa Julia Winery
Vintage: 2009
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Malbec 10% Syrah
Tasting: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

“Familia Zuccardi really is all about family, first and foremost. It is not unusual to find a second or even a third generation member of the same family working at the Zuccardi estate. Many investments have been made to ensure that the people who live and work on our estate get the very best care, education and remuneration for their dedication.”[4]

The family states emphatically their commitment to organic production in their vineyards.  Just over 35% of their vineyards have been certified organic.  They believe in energy conservation.  Solar power is gradually rolling out throughout the entire operation.  When they do need to fertilize, they only use “green fertilizers”.  They make their own organic compost consisting of grape skins and pips (seeds) plus goat manure.  They plant vetch and barley to help bring nitrogen back into the soil.  The boxes used to ship their wine are made from recycled material.  The Zuccardi family is also involved with protecting “native birds and wildlife” to “maintain a balance with nature.”[5]

The grapes for this wine were sourced from three vineyards.  The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown in the La Consulta Vineyards.  The Malbec came from the Agrelo Vineyards.  The Syrah grapes were cultivated in the Santa Rosa Vineyards.  Each vineyard’s grapes bring unique qualities to the Santa Julia Magna Corte.

In the winemaker’s words:

Colour: Deep red violet with blue hues.

Aroma: Black and red fruits (moor, cherry and plum) mixed with aromas due to age in barrels such as vanilla, tobacco and chocolate.

Flavour: Silky entry with soft and balanced tannins well mixed with black fruit flavours.  Well balanced, great and long finish.

Food Pairing:

Roast Leg of Lamb with Red Wine Jus;  Braised Beef and Mushrooms

CSPC:     743212
Price:

$19.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Our next country has been on our list to visit for quite a while.  The wines of South Africa will be discovered on November 16^th.  Come join us.

[2] Grapes & Wines by Oz Clarke and  Margaret Rand

[3] www.familiazuccardi.com.ar

[4] www.santajulia.com.ar

[5] www.santajulia.com.ar

The fifth largest wine producing country in the world is Argentina.  Of the South American wine producing countries, Chile is probably the first country that we saw on the scene in Alberta.  Argentina, over the past decade, has been coming on fast and furious.  Ten years ago, we were lucky to see a few wines from the country.  Now when you wander into your local liquor store, Argentina is very prominent.

The Spanish were responsible for bringing a large number of the vines to this part of the world.  Through the years,it has also been presumed that the Italians were responsible for bringing many Italian varieties like Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo and others.  However, these days, one cannot say Argentina without thinking Malbec (sometimes written as Malbeck).  Argentina has the largest planting of Malbec vines in the world.  And although this grape variety has taken hold in this part of the world, it too used to call Bordeaux home.  It is still planted in France, most notably in Cahors, but there are still some outcroppings in Blaye, Bourg and Entre-Deux-Mers and some other regions including South-West France.

Argentina is also known for having the largest concentration of high-altitude vineyards.  In Europe you will see the upper limit for planting vineyards to be approximately 1,600 feet.  Argentina, on the other hand, has a number of vineyards planted at 5,000 feet and one vineyard planted at 9,000 feet.  While the vast majority of vineyards are not at the nosebleed level, it is quite amazing to think of vineyards planted at that height.  While vines are grown in many regions of Argentina, the vast majority of the vineyards and wineries are located in the province of Mendoza.  This region is said to account for about two-thirds of wine production in the country.

Foreign investment and partnerships has also played a role in the wine industry over the past couple of decades.  From Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (Bordeaux), Moët, Mumm, and Piper-Heidsieck (Champagne), Martini & Rossi (Italy), Concha Y Toro and Montes (Chile), GernotLanges-Swarovski (Austria) and many more.  These people from far and wide bring not only their investment, but their expertise.[1]

Flying winemakers have also had an impact on the wine industry in Argentina, as well.  Especially insofar as the export market is concerned.  It is not prevalent, but it is evident.  A ‘flying winemaker’ is basically a winemaker/consultant who may have customers not just in his/her local market, but literally all around the world.  It is a term created by an English wine merchant, Tony Laithwaite.[2] One of the most famous flying winemakers is Michel Rolland of France.

We are just going to touch on the flying winemaker subject, because it is an article all unto itself.  Basically, the expertise of winemakers from various regions around the world is imported to assist a winery in making their particular brand of wine.  Just in the same way an expert in the oil industry or tech industry is sent halfway around the world to help their particular industry in China or Russia or wherever.  Now there is an argument whether this globalization, or as some refer to as the ‘homogenization’ of the wine industry is a good thing.  We won’t get into that right now, but let’s just say it is part of the wine world today.

As we see it, Argentina has had a big impact on wine drinkers.  Invariably when Richard and I are doing an event or tasting, 30+ percent of people will say that they drink Argentinean Malbec.  It used to be ‘Australian Shiraz’.  My how things change.  Hey, and that is a good thing.  Change is good.  Trying new wines?  How can you go wrong with that?  What a great segway into our winery this week.  Norton Winery of Argentina.  They have brought two new wines into our Alberta marketplace.  To introduce them to us, we have Norton Winery’s Eduardo Swinnen joining us for Winesday June 1.

Norton Winery got its start over 115 years ago when an English engineer, Mr. Edmund James Palmer Norton, fell in love with this region.  He imported vines from France and started the first winery south of the Mendoza River.

In 1989 an Austrian businessman, GernotLanges-Swarovski was “convinced of the high potential of Argentina as well as of its international prospects”.  He purchased the winery and since that time, Norton has received “international awards and honorable mentions in recognition of its quality”[3]

Everything about this place seems top notch.  “The concept of “precision viticulture” applied on the farm consists in using state-of-the-art technology to analyze each vineyard in detail. That is why satellite and air images are used in order to analyze the reality and potential of each area, so as to adjust work to suit its needs.”

The red grape varieties grown at Norton include:  Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah and Pinot Noir.   The white varieties: Torrontés, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillón, Chenin Blanc and Riesling.

The lifespan of the vines run about 80 to 100 years of age.  The Norton vineyards have a good proportion of “aged” vines.  This enables them to make some of their high end wines.

Now here is another huge investment.  “Our winery features more than 4,000 French and American oak barrels, where the wine matures and evolves in touch with wood under the attentive eye of the enologist until reaching its optimum ripeness. One third of those barrels are replaced on a yearly basis.”  That is a ton of money in barrels.

The wine is bottled and stored underground where the temperature ranges from 10c to 15c.  The cellar currently holds 500,000 bottles, but it has a capacity of twice that amount.

There is what Bodega Norton calls a “Historical Cellar”.  This is where wines dating back to 1935 are stored.  Of course they are kept under lock and key.

The environmental aspect of the company is front and centre, as well.  “All actions adopted at Bodega Norton are in line with our philosophy whereby we recognize ourselves as part of nature and return what it gives us through its fruits, which allows us to produce higher quality wines year after year.

Our strong commitment to Environmental care translates into the actions adopted at our Winery every day.”  This includes:  use of ecological bottles, solid waste recycling, efficient use of water, carbon emission reduction, energy conservation and more.

So that gives you a bit of an idea about the company.  Let’s try these new wines.

Norton Barrel Select Sauvignon Blanc

Winery: Bodega Norton
Vintage: 2010
Location: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

As we head into summer (yes it really is coming), here is a nice light easy sipping wine to have on your deck. Although 90% of this Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in stainless steel 10% was in French oak.  That still gives it nice refreshing notes to enjoy

Winemakers notes:  “Greenish yellow with golden hues. Aromas of green apples and tropical fruit. Complexity given by notes of vanilla, coconut, toast and a smoked touch.”

Food Pairing:

Oyster appetizers;Asparagus with Lemon and Butter; Apple and Leek Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

CSPC:     742735
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Norton Barrel Select Malbec

Winery: Bodega Norton
Vintage: 2010
Location: Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Malbec
Tasting: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

…and here is the Malbec.  As we mentioned, these Norton Barrel Select wines are the newest kids in the Norton family to come to Alberta.

The average age of the vines used for this wine is 15 to 30 years.  Only 50% of this wine was aged in first and second used French oak barrels.  So there will be lots of nice fruit in this wine.

Tasting notes from the winery:  “Deeply red with violet hues. Aromas of ripe red fruits, cassis and pepper.Sweet on the palate, friendly tannins with spicy flavours.Very good persistence.”

Food Pairing:

Lamb Burgers Topped with Mâche Salad; Grilled Steak with Fresh Corn Salad; Sausage Pizza

CSPC:     742736
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Born in the USA… they were born in the USA… That is where we are heading next week.  Get your passport ready.

[2] Oxford Companion to Wine

[3] Norton website

Winery: Dominio Del Plata
Location: Lujàn de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Chardonnay
Tasting: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Winemaking has been a male dominated field since time began, so to speak.  Around the world there are many outstanding winemakers, many of whom are women.  Susana Balbo… now this is a name to remember. Since Susana received her oenology degree thirty years ago, she has made news in the wine world in Argentina.  However, she has not only made wine in Argentina, but also in the countries of Australia, U.S.A. (California in particular), Chile, France, Italy, South Africa and Spain.  This is a woman who never stops learning about her craft.

After many years of making wine for many others 1999 saw Susana starting her own winery called Dominio Del Plata.  She has a passion for wine and everything about it.  That passion leads Susana to travel for a month every year to different wine regions around the world to study what the local winemakers are doing not only in the winery itself, but also in the vineyards.  That is dedication.  That dedication is transferred to the wonderful wines this amazing winemaker gives to her customers.

Today we are sampling a Chardonnay from Susana’s Crios line of wines.  In Alberta, we also have the pleasure of enjoying her other line of wines…simply ‘Susana Balbo’ and Ben Marco.  In the Susana Balbo line of wines there is a Late Harvest Malbec that is not to be missed.

So let’s talk about Crios.  The name means “offspring”.  Susana picked this name because it indicates that although the wines get all the same attention as their big sisters, they are not quite “grown up”.  The label has three interconnected hands, which was an inspiration from a Mayan artifact, and is representative of Susana and her three children.[1] The Crios line are youthful wines and are meant to be enjoyed young.

This is how the winery describes this Chardonnay:  “Light yellow and golden shining appearance.  Its aroma reminds us of white fruits, green apple and tropical fruits.  Slight honey notes in combination with a subtle almond and vanilla appear in the mouth as a spice reflex that lasts in a long fresh mild end.  Good balance.  Enjoy it is youth!”

Food Pairing:

Crab Cakes; Chicken Tenders in Canadian Cream Cheese Sauce

CSPC:     719749
Price:

$17.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Gouguenheim
Location: Tupungato , Mendoza , Argentina
Blend: Malbec
Tasting: Wednesday, February 16, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

We were speaking with the representative who distributes Gouguenheim wines and he was telling us that Patricio Gouguenheim’s mentor was none other than… Susana Balbo.  How ironic that we are presenting both winemakers in the same week.

Patricio Gouguenhaim has been quoted saying:  “My two daughters once told me that ‘I’m mad to start a winery!’ but I love the fact that I’m creating something that can be shared with others. I feel as though I’m spreading some sense of Argentina all around the world.”

Here is a man who used to work in the mergers and acquisitions field buying and selling companies.  He had travelled to Mendoza between 1999 and 2002 for business purposes.  In 2002 Argentina’s economy when into the tanker and Patricio saw his opportunity to get into the wine industry.  It was a time when many were getting out of the industry.  Patricio believed that Argentina’s time to shine in the wine spotlight was yet to come and he was right.

After buying an old winery he put the banking shingle away and hung up the winemaker shingle.  In just a few short years Gouguenheim Winery has gained its fans.

Andrew, the wine representative, told us that this wine is 100% Malbec and is so new to our market that there is very little information on it.  Now there is a good reason to come by and try the wine.  We are already lining up in our minds what to serve with this Malbec.

Food Pairing:

Steak with Parmesan Butter Balsamic Glaze and Arugula; Beef Tenderloin Steaks Stuffed with Morels

CSPC:     740892
Price:

$20.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Map sourced from Classic Wines

Ah yes, here we are back in Cafayate Valley in Argentina. It is pretty darn high up in this part of the world.

When we read the following tag line we loved it: “High Altitude - High Attitude”. Isn’t that fabulous? Although this Valley produces only 4-5% of the country’s wine, it is known for producing some pretty darn nice wines.

Weather wise, the Cafayate Valley has a wide temperature range. In the summer you get nice warm days and the evenings cool down. Now those cool evenings are not just for getting a good night’s sleep, they also help to maintain acidity and heighten aromas and flavours in the wine. With an average of 350 days of sunshine, there can be an increase in the polyphenols in the wine. In short, that is the good stuff that can be found in nuts, dark chocolate, blueberries, raspberries, and red wine. So if you have a blueberry and raspberry salad with some nuts and dark chocolate on the side and then sip a glass of red wine, you should be good to go!! It sounds good to me.

Don Rodolfo Torrontés

Winery: Don Rodolfo
Location:Cafayate Valley, Salta, Argentina
Blend: 100% Torrontés
Tasting: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m

Torrontés (Tor-RON-taze) is still a grape that people are discovering. They are not always too sure what it is all about. We like say that Torrontés makes a very refreshing wine. It is dry, has nice acidity and lovely fruit and flower. In a word… crisp. Torrontés can pair quite nicely with food (as you will see below) or you can enjoy it on its own. Once people try it, our experience has been that they like it.

Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc out of Argentina still get a lot more press than Torrontés. Hopefully we will see that change in the future. This grape has made a good home in Argentina and the wines made from it are just fun to sip.

Don Rodolfo describes this wine: “Light yellow-gold color with hues of green. A very fruity, floral nose with white peach and hints of citrus. Good volume in the mouth with complexity and balance, and an excellent fresh finish.”

Food Pairing:

Pizza with a white sauce; Thai food; Seafood in a cream sauce.

CSPC: 716720
Price:

$14.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Don Rodolfo pinot noir

Winery: Don Rodolfo
Location:Argentina
Blend: Pinot Noir
Tasting: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

When one thinks of red wine from Argentina, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are probably the first two grape varieties that pop into peoples’ heads. Well, Pinot Noir is rising as well. We know Pinot Noir from the beautiful region of Burgundy in France. Now it is grown in many places all around the globe: Canada, United States of America, Australia and Argentina are just a few countries that have romanced this grape. It is known as the heartbreak grape, because it can be very tough to grow.

The best part is that in every country each terroir and each producer put their own stamp on it. We have had people say Pinot Noir from Burgundy is the best; or Pinot from Oregon cannot be missed; or Pinot from British Columbia is divine. Each of these statements is true, because each wine that someone has tasted from these areas has brought something special to the table. Something in particular that they are looking for in a wine. Now you get to try Pinot Noir from Argentina.

Don Rodolfo describes this Pinot Noir as: “Rich purple with black hues. A deeply fruitful nose, with complex black cherry aromas. Excellent volume in the mouth with medium structure and velvety tannins lead to a harmonious finish.”

Food Pairing:

Roast duck; Salmon (grilled or poached); Turkey; Sheep’s milk cheese.

CSPC: 729987
Price:

$14.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Next week we get to have some Vampire wine.

Map courtesy of www.aboutwines.com

Argentina is the fifth largest wine producing country in the world. Its domestic consumption as of 2006 was over 40 litres per capita. That is a good bit of vino! Malbec has proven to be the most successful in the export markets, but other red varieties like Bonarda, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon are making their mark as well. Of the white varieties, Torrontés [tore-rahn-TEZ] is the most typical coming from Argentina and if you have never tried wine made from this grape, well you should. Winesday September 8th is a good day to start.

Malbec has become the new sexy grape over the past few years and there is no wonder why. We live in the land of beef and Malbec goes great with beef. Argentina is also known for its beef, so it is a great fit for that country. (Surprisingly, it can also go with food with a bit of spice to it.) It just seems to have taken the new world by storm. Great marketing helps too. The wines from this country have not only been in the spotlight for their flavour, but also for their value. You can get a nice wine at a good price. In these economic times, that is always a plus.

Winery: Cuma (Michel Torino)
Vintage: 2009
Location: Cafayate, Salta - Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Organic Malbec
Tasting: Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m

A couple of months ago, we tried two wines from the Bodega El Esteco label called Michel Torino. (See July 21 blog) We talked a bit about the history of this company and some of their wine labels. They make “young and fresh wines, fruit driven”. Today we have the opportunity to try two of their organic wines: Cuma Malbec and Cuma Torrontes.

The name ‘Cuma’ means “pure and clear”. It comes from the language of a tribe (Aymara) who inhabited this region around the time of the Incas. The viticulture and winemaking practices for the Cuma wines, are very strictly controlled and the Cuma wines were certified organic in 2005.

Generally speaking, sulfur levels tend to be lower. The wines are expressive. The colour of this Malbec is deep, dark and draws you in. There is a little more intensity in the flavours of the nice red fruit. The tannins are definitely present giving it a nice structure. The aftertaste lingers with the red fruit, some spice and even a wee bit of red plum with a little note of mint.

Food Pairing:

Mexican influenced beef (a little spice is always nice); Spicy pork dishes; Grilled steak.

CSPC: 733219
Price:

$14.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Cuma (Michel Torino)
Vintage: 2009
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: 100% Organic Torrontés
Tasting: Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Torrontés produces some of the most distinctive white wines in Argentina, characterized by floral Muscat-like aromas and a spicy note. Recently I read this: ‘Smelling a glass of Torrontés is like smelling a wonderful bouquet of flowers.’ That really describes it perfectly.

The background of this grape variety has always been a little murky. Although the Argentineans like to think that this is their own varietal, there has been some talk to the contrary. “According to a 5/28/08 Daily Herald article by columnist Mary Ross, recent genetic testing indicates that Torrontes is a hybrid of Muscat of Alexandria and Criolla Chica.” No matter what the background is, the Argentineans love this wine. It makes up approximately 10% of the white grape varieties planted in the country, but it accounts for 20% of the sales.

This is a wine that you and I should enjoy when it is young. Please do not over chill this wine. You will lose all of the wonderful flavours and aromas and therefore miss out on what makes this grape variety so neat. With the floral and citrus (orange) scents and flavours of peaches, flowers and even some lemon, this wine will pair with some cool food.

Food Pairing:

Vegetarian empanadas; Asian influenced cuisine; guacamole.

CSPC: 733223
Price:

$14.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Look out France… Richard and I are heading your way next week.

Bodega El Esteco

One hundred and eighteen years ago, two French brothers (David and Salvador) planted their first vines and opened the Bodega El Esteco Winery.  The name of the winery was taken from the legendary city of El Esteco.  The legend goes that El Esteco was a very “opulent” city that had buildings covered in silver and the citizens dressed in gold.  However the city and “it’s treasures” were buried in an earthquake in 1692 and the legend was born.  In the late 1970’s the winery purchased the El Esteco Estate and found that there were riches there, they came from the wonderful soil that grew vines to make some appetizing wines.

In 1929 it was one of the first wineries to win an international award in Spain.  They were one of the first to lead the way for ‘wine tourism’ in the 1970’s and in the 1990’s they were also one of the first wineries to incorporate ecological practices.

Like with many wineries, Bodegas El Esteco has a number of different labels, four of which we see in Alberta:  Michel Torino, Don David, Cuma and Altimus

Winery: Michel Torino
Vintage: 2008
Location: Argentina
Alcohol: 13.5%
Blend: Tannat 100%
Tasting: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

There are so many grape varieties throughout the wine growing world.  Some of them are very familiar like Merlot, Syrah (Shiraz) and Chardonnay to name just a few.  There are so many other wonderful varieties out there to discover and today is the day to try one of them.  Tannat… home for this grape was in Southwestern France, where it has been used for blending purposes.  This grape gives big tannins (hence the name Tannat), and big colour to the grape varieties with which it is paired.

Because this grape variety is known for producing very big tannic wines, the first time we had this wine we decided to decant the wine for about two hours.  The wine was wonderful… full of flavour and aromas reminiscent of wonderful black fruit.  The second time we tried this wine, we decanted it for just one hour and the wine was just as flavourful.  Now this is going to be fun on Wednesday, as we haven’t had this wine for about three years, so we are looking forward to trying it again.

Food Pairing:

Bison with a Blueberry and Saskatoon sauce or reduction; Duck and Mushroom Ragout; French Onion Soup Gascon Style

CSPC:     710374
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Michel Torino
Vintage: 2007
Location: Argentina
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Ahhh… Sauvignon Blanc.  Quite ironically, this grape variety is also from a Southwestern Region of France.  This greenish/yellow grape produces some lovely dry and fresh tasting wines.  Like everything else, there are exceptions.  One of the best known exceptions to Sauvignon Blanc making nice dry wines is a sweet wine called Sauternes. Sauternes is a marriage of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes that have been affected by Botrytis (a wonderful gift from Mother Nature).  These wonderful wines are from an area about 30 miles south of Bordeaux which are comprised of five communes, one of which is called Sauternes, where this delectable wine gets its name.  We will visit this wine another day.  We just wanted to let you know that there are always exceptions.  Where would life be without them?

Now back to our Argentinean Sauvignon Blanc.  One doesn’t normally think of pink grapefruit and grass when talking about wine, but that is just what notes you will smell and taste when you try this wine.  Fresh really is a good descriptive word.

Food Pairing:

Asparagus; Sautéed Chicken; Lemongrass Chicken; Light Salad with Goat Cheese.

CSPC:     715375
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Next week we are going to prepare a few mixed drinks that will be easy to make for the long weekend.  Can you believe Heritage Days weekend is almost upon us?

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: 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!

Welcome to the first edition of Sherbrooke Sips with R & R (otherwise known as Rosanne and Richard).  Every week we will write about some tasty wines and a few spirits, as well.  We want you to not just have a glass and learn a little along the way, but we want you to have fun.  Yes, there will be a tad of technical speak, but only a tad.

Now, if you could only read about the wines well, that would be no fun.  You will actually get to taste the wines.  No, not virtually… in the flesh.  The wine that we write about this week will be available at Sherbrooke Liquor on Wednesday, February 3 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM for you to come by and have a sip.  So every Wednesday afternoon come by and have a chat with either Richard or myself and have a sip of the featured product.  You never know, you might find a new favourite or two.

Okay, so here we go…

For our first week we are travelling to one of the hot New World wine countries… Argentina.  Over the past couple of years, we have seen an influx of Argentinean wines.  There has been a wonderful selection of Syrah, Malbec, Torrontes, to name just a few.  We decided for our first wine we would sample a Syrah.  Luigi Bosca Syrah Reserva 2006.  This particular vintage from Luigi Bosca was given 90 points by Wine Spectator Magazine.

Luigi Bosca Wines are the pride of a fourth generation family owned winery in Mendoza, Argentina.  The Arizu family planted their first vines almost one hundred and ten years ago.  They have been on the forefront of cutting technology ever since.

The Arizu family has adopted some of the “most beneficial Principles” of Biodynamics.  What is Biodynamics?  “Biodynamic agriculture is a method of organic farming with homeopathic composts that treats farms as unified and individual organisms, emphasizing balancing the holistic development and interrelationship of the soil, plants, animals as a self-nourishing system without external inputs insofar as this is possible given the loss of nutrients due to the export of food.”  (Source - Wikipedia)

For example:  They grow olive and chestnut trees so the vines are part of a bigger system and they “co-exist” and are “harnessed by other species”.  That is just a very small part, but it will show you that they care about taking care of the vines and all that surrounds them.

Now, on to the wine…

This 2006 Syrah has been aged in oak for nine months.  Six of those months were in French oak and three months in American oak.  The winery recommends that if you plan to cellar the wine, a maximum of eight years would be optimal.  Having said that, that doesn’t mean the wine cannot be enjoyed now, because it positively can be savoured right away.  We know this, as we certainly have enjoyed a glass or two (okay maybe three) on more than one occasion.

When you pour the wine, you will notice the deep rich purple colour.  This will give you an insight into the aromas and the taste of the wine to come.

Some of the wonderful aromas you will notice will be black plum, black currant and laurel (bay).  You may even notice a hint of chocolate and a bit of spice.  As soon as you taste this wine, you will notice what a massive wine it is.  The tannins are very firm and you will detect that spice right away, along with lots of black fruit.

Food pairings…

If you like red meat, you will be pleased that this big Syrah will work with many different manners of cooking beef.  Whether you roast, BBQ (steaks or burgers) or stew the beef, you can’t go wrong.  Maybe try the Syrah with grilled sausages, ribs or even some chili (Superbowl Sunday is just days away, after all.)

For those of you who are partial to venison, you might enjoy the Syrah with that too!

Now we can’t forget cheese.  Pair it up with a few favourites.   Experience it with some hard cheeses like aged cheddar (2, 4 or 6 year old), or parmesan.

Well, that is it for our first wine.  I hope you enjoyed reading about it.  I am sure our English professors are cringing when they see our sentence structure and dangling participles, but hopefully you won’t grade us on that.

Now.. come by and try Wednesday, February 3 from 4 - 7.

Next week we will be off to Oregon.