“Old World inspired. Artisan winemaking. Handcrafted with a minimalist philosophy. Township 7 is British Columbia’s only urban and rural winery - with locations in the picturesque Fraser and Okanagan Valleys.  Our sustainably farmed, classic French vinifera vineyards are low yield and reflect the terroir in which they are grown. Our wines are meant to be enjoyed with friends and family.”[1] That kind of says it all.  With the production of some wines being as little as 55 cases (Seven Stars Sparkling) and as many as 1639 cases (Merlot), this truly is a small handcrafted producer.  You don’t have to be big to make great wine.   This is proven time and time again.

Famed Master of Wine and world-renowned wine writer and reviewer, Jancis Robinson, said this about Township 7:  “Certainly the wines show quite extraordinary directness of fruit; they almost punch you between the eyes with their frankness. And, like the wines of the deserts of eastern Washington to the south, they all have good natural acidity thanks to the Okanagan’s routinely cool desert nights.”[2]

Mike Raffan is the man at the helm.  Mike had a successful career in the restaurant business for about 30 years prior to pursuing his passion for wine and purchasing Township 7 almost 6 years ago.  (The winery itself was opened 12 years ago by Corey and Gwen Coleman.)  Bradley Cooper, Township 7’s winemaker, joined the winery the year prior to Mike.

Bradley started his career in the Okanagan at Hawthorne Mountain Winery.  From there he went to New Zealand and back up to Washington State before joining Township 7 in 2005.  The 2011 season was not the best year.  We spoke with an Okanagan winemaker this morning who said that they thought 2010 was not the best and then 2011 came around.  So what happens to fruit that doesn’t quite cut it for wine.  In a conversation with ‘Cuisine & Company’ in October of 2011, Bradley said that the grapes that were unsuitable for making wine were donated to Critter Care Wildlife Society and were gladly consumed by injured/orphaned bears and other wildlife.

Township 7 Winery is also involved with the arts community in a very special project.  Mike Raffan partnered with Robb Dunfield who is a Cloverdale, B.C. artist. Robb’s painting “Visions of Possibilities” was the artwork used on the label of the Dunfield Collection wine (a Meritage made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc).  Robb is a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic.  He mouth-painted Visions in a labour intensive, three-year process! There were only 200 cases of this special wine released and we are sad to say that none of it was available in Alberta.  However, we are happy to tell you that ‘partial proceeds from the wine will be donated to the Rick Hansen Foundation, in support of spinal cord research.’

We think it is about time that we try these wines.

Township 7 - 7 Blanc

Location: Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada
Blend: Gewurztraminer 45%, Pinot Gris 41%, Muscat Ottonel 14%
Tasting: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

With Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat Ottonel in the mix, you know that this is going to be a flavourful wine.  It is a touch off dry, but it has some nice acidity to go along with it.

Township 7 Tasting Notes:

“Off dry and exotic with tangerine citrus notes, pear and lychee in the nose. The taste is of pears, peach, mandarin orange, hints of walnut and some tropical spice. The finish lingers with yellow raisin and fig.”

Food Pairing:

Tuna Maki; Barbeque Pork on Rice (Kow Moo Dang)

CSPC:                   114553
Winesday Price:

$19.13 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$21.25

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

Township 7 Merlot

Location: Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada
Blend: Merlot 88%, Cabernet Sauvignon 9%, Cabernet Franc 3%
Tasting: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

This Merlot was recently given a Bronze Medal and was named one of the best merlots at the Wine Access 2011 Canadian Wine Awards.  No small feat with over 70 entries and only 38 medals.

The winery says:

“Rich plum, chocolate shavings and spiced berry in the nose. Dried cherry, cola and leather in the palate. Superb finish with hints of exotic spice.  Great early structure.”

Now that we have some relatively mild weather, it is time to barbeque, my friends.  Well… not barbeque my friends… oh you know what we mean.

Food Pairing:

  Grilled Beef & Mushroom Burger;  Slow-Cooker Hearty Beef Stew

CSPC:                   735474
Winesday Price:

$21.60 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$24.00

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

Next week it is:  Aussie Aussie Aussie… Oi! Oi! Oi!

[2] www.township7.com

Well, here we are back in South Africa again.  Stellenbosch, to be exact. Known as the capital of the wine industry in South Africa.  It is also the home for Guardian Peak Winery.  It opened in 1999 as a partnership between Jean Engelbrecht and PGA Golf star Ernie Els.  Although the two recently dissolved their partnership to further explore their separate wine interests, Guardian Peak lives on.  Guardian Peak’s philosophy is to provide fruit driven new world style wines that are accessible to wine enthusiasts.  They know what a large number of consumers are looking for and they are delivering.  You will see what we mean when you come to try the wine.

Guardian Peak Frontier

Location: South Africa
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 45% Shiraz 35% Merlot 20%
Tasting: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

A few months ago we had the opportunity to try this Guardian Peak wine and we thought you would enjoy it.  So here we are.  The wine has some interesting flavours that make it quite food friendly.  You will notice the ‘Grilled Sausage’ and the ‘Grilled Filet with Herb Butter’ recipes below.  When we read them we thought they would go great with this wine.  We haven’t tried them yet, but it is all about experimentation… in other words, we are trying them this weekend.

As described by the winery:

Appearance: Deep Ruby Red

Aroma: Great complexity on the nose with floral notes of jasmine and violet. This is backed up by sandalwood and licorice with hints of classic lead pencil.

Palate: Ripe, juicy red fruit are prominent on the palate with a lengthy, smooth finish. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are in perfect harmony. Together with the Merlot, this creates a well rounded, wonderfully balanced wine.

Impression: “The three varietals each contribute unique flavours and character to the wine to make this a wonderful drinking experience. The wine will mature and soften beautifully over the next 5 years.”

Food Pairing:

Grilled Sausage Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Gruyère Cheese; Grilled Filet Mignon with Herb Butter & Texas Toasts;

CSPC:     721145
Winesday Price:

$17.09 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$18.99

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

Guardian Peak Shiraz

Location: Coastal Region, Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: Shiraz
Tasting: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Philip van Staden, the Winemaker describes the wine for us:

Appearance: Bright ruby red.

Aroma: Ripe red fruit aromas are evident, with cassis and white plum. This is backed up by hints of coffee and mocha, with well balanced, subtle oak notes.

Palate: The focused fruit shows exceptional follow through from the nose. This, combined with the seamlessly integrated tannin structure creates an approachable, elegant wine.

Impression: “A beautiful and well integrated Shiraz best enjoyed now and for the next three years.”

Food Pairing:

Bison Burgers with Cabernet Onions and Wisconsin Cheddar; Grilled Leg of Lamb with Rosemary, Garlic, and Mustard

CSPC:                   721144
Winesday Price:

$15.75 (Includes Winesday 10% discount)

Regular Price:

$17.50

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

We have many favourite places in the world, but without a doubt Alsace in France ranks right up there.  Wait until you see the photos and taste the wine.  You will think you are right there.

You have heard us say “Washington = Merlot” many times before.  We have a feeling that that saying may soon become “Washington = Charles Smith”.   The man and his wineries have been getting an incredible amount of press over the past few years.  From The Wine Advocate to Wine Spectator, there doesn’t seem to be any stopping this train.  If you met the man, you would be overwhelmed by his passion for winemaking.  It shows through in every fiber of his being.  It isn’t fraught with stuffiness, but just plain love of the stuff.  Richard and I wrote about Charles last year highlighting his Kung Foo Girl Riesling and Boom Boom Syrah

We recently had the delight of meeting Charles and his beautiful wife, Ginevra, when they visited Edmonton in October of this year.  We had the pleasure of enjoying dinner with them and about 25+ people.  Even with that many people, it was quite an intimate dinner.   Winter, the wine agent representative in Edmonton, told us that Charles wanted to make the dinner like a family event.  No plating food ahead of time.  He wanted all the food to come out in serving dishes and people could pass the dishes around the table just like at a big family dinner.  She said that he wanted to get people to chat and get to know each other.  Well, that we did.  And it was a blast!

Charles referred to the first couple of wines we enjoyed that evening like country wines.  ‘These are the type of wines like if you were in Tuscany and you asked for the local wine and they poured you a glass, this would be it.’  ‘There is no need to swirl it and sniff it, just drink it.’

If we were to describe Charles in a few words, we would say he is a ‘take me as I am’ kind of guy.  No fuss no muss.  We gotta say, that is great and truly refreshing.   Hey Charles!  Love the curly hair, man.  Of course, I am partial to curls myself.

The Velvet Devil

Winery: Charles Smith Wines
Location: Mattawa, Washington, U.S.A.
Blend: 2009: 90.6% Merlot, 9.4% Cabernet Sauvignon
          2010: 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Merlot.  People either love it or don’t.  Well, we love it.  It is a tough grape to describe because there is so much to it.  There is a lot of red fruit like:  raspberry and strawberry to name two.  Then there is the black fruit like:  black cherry, blackcurrant, plums and damsons.  On top of that there is the fig and prune plus chocolate.  You hear it being described as having ‘velvety’ tannins, as well.  Now there are many more descriptors that people will get out of Merlot, but that will give you an idea.

Love love love the name of this wine.  We always tell people that when you are enjoying a really nice Merlot you should have the same sensation as the touch of soft velvet on your fingertips.  Why call it “The Velvet Devil”?  Charles says “It makes Merlot sound sexy… because it is!”

He describes the 2009 like this:

“PURE VELVET! Milk chocolate, wild blackberry, baking spice, rose oil…beautifully perfumed Washington in a glass….Velvet Devil? HELL YEAH!”

What about the 2010?

“Classic Merlot aromas of dark cherries, cedar, pip tobacco. Anise, stone and cherry blossoms. Yeah, believe it! Naughty and nice, a true Velvet Devil.”

People think we are nuts when we tell them that one vintage is different than the next.  Yes, it is true that the basics are the same, but the expression… wait a minute, that “expression” bit sounds stuffy, and Charles is far from stuffy.  Let’s just say this:  Every year the wine is going to be a bit different, which is good, because if every year they were exactly the same it would be no fun.  We know you will enjoy each one.  If you don’t believe me, just try them.  You’ll see.

CSPC:                   735856
Winesday Price:

$20.25 (Includes Winesday 10% discount.)

Regular Price:

$22.50

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

Winery: Charles & Charles
Location: Washington
Blend: 2009 & 2010: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Syrah
Tasting: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Charles & Charles is “a collaboration founded in 2008 between Food & Wine Magazine 2009 Winemaker of the year, Charles Smith (K Vintners, Charles Smith Wines) and Charles Bieler (Three Thieves, BIELER Pere et Fils, Sombra mezcal). The label is an abstract play on the American Flag done by the well loved and historic Nashville, TN poster shop, Hatch Show Print.”  They produce only two wines:  Charles & Charles Rosé, and the Charles & Charles Red

Just to let you know, Richard and I were two of those people who were swirling and sniffing this wine.  We know Charles said to ‘just drink it’, but we couldn’t help it.  It smells incredible.  We knew as soon as we tried it that we would have to include in our Winesday for you.

They describe the 2010 like this:

The wine is still loaded with black fruit lead by currants, violets and blackberry with rich, toasty mocha aromas - all of which carry through to the palate.  A portion of the syrah was whole cluster fermented which adds to the dark brambly flavors.”

CSPC:                   738576
Winesday Price:

$16.65 (Includes Winesday 10% discount.)

Regular Price:

$18.50

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

Next week we are hitting Australia and the U.S.A.

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

Winery: Eikendal
Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Blend: 100% Chenin Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

For the past 30 years, this winery has been owned by the Saager family from Switzerland.  They invested in modernizing the operations from the vineyards to the cellar.

Social Responsibility is also a big part of this company.  So they not only make great wine for us to enjoy, but they give back to their community.  “Eikendal is involved in sponsoring and supporting not for profit organizations, involved with taking care of children with disadvantages or special needs.”  They are also commited to the preservation of Africa’s wildlife and support some organizations involved with the welfare of wildlife.

This wine was fermented in both stainless steel tanks and French oak.  I have a lot of ‘favourite’ grape varieties and Chenin Blanc is one of them.  The South African Chenin Blanc, also known locally as Steen, has totally different aromas when it is grown here than it does in France.  More tropical flavours are evident in the South African wine.  It is the most widely planted grape variety and accounts for almost 1/5^th of all grapes planted in South Africa.  A lot of the vines are located in the Stellenbosch region.

The winemaker has a few words for us on this wine:  “The Eikendal Chenin Blanc is an elegantly wooded and fresh white wine, with a full, rounded and balanced palate. On the nose it has melon, pineapple, lychee, apricot and peach flavours.  The fruit flavours follow through on to the palate, with a rich and generous fruit and cream finish. . The oaked component gives the wine an extra, and graceful structure, without dominating the wine.

Food Pairing:

Chicken with Roasted Vegetables; Sushi

CSPC:     730731
Price:

$15.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Eikendal
Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Blend: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot
Tasting: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

These three grapes when blended together are like a great   marriage.  The Cabernet Sauvignon has got the power, the Cabernet Franc has the fruit and the Merlot makes it all go down like the feel of soft velvet on your fingertips.

French oak was also used in making this wine.  The flavours it imparts are subtle, so as not to overpower the wine.

Winemaker’s Notes:  “The Eikendal Classique is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot and Cabernet Franc each - a wine that always entices the senses. Sweet, ripe black and red fruit abound, followed up with slight spice and typical earthy, mineral characters. On the pallet it grips with fine, silky tannins. This wine typifies what Eikendal is all about - it is a classy, understated red wine with staying power.”

Food Pairing:

Beef Tenderloin Medallions; Beef Flank Roll Ups.

CSPC:     719876
Price:

$29.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

STOP THE PRESSES… Our wines were changed at the last minute, which is why this is late being posted this week.  Our apologies.  We are still doing Spain, just a little different than we had planned.  We hope you enjoy our fun funky wines this week!

Winery: Bodegas Mustiguillo
Location: Valencia, Spain
Blend: 50% Bobal, 20% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% each Merlot, Syrah and Garnacha
Tasting: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Bodegas Mustiguillo is known for being one of the pioneers in the Vino de la Tierra El Terrerazo, which is located in Utiel Requena in the southeastern region of Valencia, Spain.

This is a juicy wine with lots of earthy funk to it.  Now you may read that and wonder whether it is a wine for you.  Well, here is what I say… you never know until you try and that is what Winesday is all about.  You get to try some wines that you may see on the shelf and wonder what the heck they are all about.  Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate), is what one may call ‘a wine aficionado’ and he says “While it is not for everybody… but it is unquestionabley avant garde in its aromas and flavours.  I found its weirdness to be a turn-on.”  He gave the 2003 vintage 89 points, which isn’t too shabby.

Food Pairing:

Spanish Beef Stew;  Marinated Beef Flank

CSPC:     718228
Price:

$25.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Beso de Vino
Location: Carinena D.O. Spain
Blend: 100% Garnacha
Tasting: Wednesday, February 23 - 2011  4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Garnacha, Grenache… you say tomato and I say… well you get what we mean.  These two ‘G’ words are the same grape variety.  It is just that in different languages it may be spelled and pronounced a little differently.

Garnacha is a very friendly grape and this particular wine, because it is aged in oak for such a short period of time (only 4 months in French oak), it maintains its nice fruit flavours.

The winery says this:  “Beso de Vino’s red wines begin with the 2009 Beso de Vino Garnacha V.V. (old vines) which spend 4 months in French oak. It displays super fragrant aromas of black cherry, red licorice, and lavender leading to a dense, layered wine that over-delivers big-time for its humble price. Enjoy it over the next 3 years. Grandes Vinos y Vinedos’ collection is replete with stunning values”.  As with the previous wine, this one also scored 89 Points from Robert Parker.

Food Pairing:

Lentil Soup;  Baked Ham

CSPC:     834846
Price:

$11.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Mouton Cadet
Location: Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
Tasting: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

On June 2, 2010, Richard and I had the great honour of visiting Château Mouton Rothschild.  To have the opportunity to visit this famous Château was like a dream come true.  Our visit was incredible, amazing and every other word that describes ‘awesome’ that you can think of.  Ironically, on that same day Diana was sampling one of the Rothschild’s ‘branded’ wines, Mouton Cadet, in Edmonton for Sherbrooke’s Winesday (click here for link to blog and history of Mouton Cadet).

Last year Mouton Cadet celebrated 80  years.  In comparison, our wine that we are sampling this week is a mere baby.  The Réserve Mouton Cadet line of wines came to be in 1988.  Barely 23 years ago.

The ‘Réserve’ line of wines is a bit of a bump up from the fresh fruit easy drinking Cadet.  The winemakers want to keep the nice fruit characteristics, but this reserve wine is also aged in wood for 12 months and then it sits at the Saint-Laurent Médoc Winery for an additional 24 months before being released so that you and I may enjoy a sip or two.  The oak is not overpowering, it is integrated giving subtle notes of vanilla and complementing the nice fruit.

The tasting notes from the winery tell us this:  “The wine has a deep, dense colour with a violet, almost black tint and a remarkable, highly expressive nose on which concentrated black fruit aromas (blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry) mingle with subtle, refined and elegant floral notes, powerful on the palate, it combines forward. Silky, well-integrated tannins, thoroughly characteristic of Médoc wines, with generous fruit, displaying varied notes of fresh plum, liquorice, cherry stone and red fruit liqueur.  The long, richly flavoured, lingering finish enhances the power of this perfectly balanced wine.”

Food Pairing:

Grilled Marinated Lamb Chops with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes; Beef Stew with Shiitake Mushrooms and Baby Vegetables

CSPC:     728480
Price:

$18.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Mouton Cadet
Location: France
Blend: Rosé:  Merlot (65%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%).
Tasting: Wednesday, February 9, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

“Le Rosé de Mouton Cadet is the result of a rigorous selection of grapes from our partner wine growers in the main appellations of the Bordeaux region: Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur and Premières Côtes de Bordeaux between the Dordogne River and the Garonne River, Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Bourg, Côtes de Castillon and Bordeaux Côtes de Francs on the right bank of the Gironde and the Dordogne.”[1]

When North Americans see a ‘pink’ wine, they automatically think ‘sweet’.  What the heck are we talking about?  North America is where the term ‘blush’ wine came to be.  White Zinfandel, White Grenache, White Merlot and so on are referred to as ‘blush wines’.  In sweetness levels that you are familiar with, these wines tend to run from a sweetness of a 2, 3 or 4.  Now they are great little wines and are lots of fun for sipping on the patio and enjoying with some food.  The unfortunate thing is that now when customers see a ‘pink’ wine, they don’t think that it will be dry.  Our mission in life is to show people that ‘pink’ does not always mean sweet and sweet does not always mean ‘pink’.

Our Rosé (not ‘blush) today is dry.  Actually, I would say that about 95% of Rosé wines made in the world are dry.  Le Rosé de Mouton Cadet is also lots of fun to pair with food and for sipping on the patio.  Okay, maybe we won’t be on the patio today because there is about 3 feet of snow, but we can close our eyes and think warm!  This wine was featured at the Taste of Wine at the Taste of Edmonton in July of 2010 and was a real hit.  The customers had fun discovering it.  ‘Oh this is nice and dry.’  ‘I expected this to be sweet.’  These were comments that we heard a lot.  You know there is something about Rosés that makes me want to dance.  They are just fun fun wines.  Come and enjoy this Le Rosé de Mouton Cadet with us.

Some fun words from Mouton Cadet about this Rosé:  “A brilliantly clear light ruby, the wine has a rich, fruity nose of redcurrant, raspberry and red cherry enhanced by a floral touch. Generous in the mouth, its fresh and crisp, ripe red fruit is nicely balanced by refined, silky tannins, extending into a long and smooth finish.”

Food Pairing:

Pissaladiere; Poached Salmon with Beurre Blanc;

CSPC:     732029
Price:

$11.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Argentina here we come… Gee I wonder what grape variety we are going to try next week?   …Hmmm

In winery terms, Viña Chocalan is the baby on the block, but boy that baby sure has been getting around in this part of the world.

Guillermo Toro, whose family owns Viña Chocalan, had worked on the periphery of the wine industry for over 50 years before he decided that he wanted to expand the family business.  His family supplied wine bottles to producers, but he wanted to do more than that.  He wanted to “realize his long-held dream of filling his bottles with his own high quality red wine.”[1] So in 1996 he set out on his quest to find just the right property.  After searching for 2 years, he finally found the spot.  In 2002 they built their own vinification facility and in 2003 the passion for wine that Guillermo had for so many years turned a dream into reality.

Viña Chocalan (pronounced “Sho-kaw-lann) is located near the town of Melipilla.  (Believe it or not, the Province of Alberta has something in common with the Melipilla… the Rodeo!  Apparently they are totally into the macho sport.)  The meaning of ‘Melipilla’ is ‘four warrior spirits’ from the Mapudungun language, which is spoken in South-Central Chile and West-Central Argentina.

Winery: Viña Chocalan
Location: Maipo Valley, Melipilla Region, Chile
Blend: 85% Carmenère, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

We have spoken previously about the wonderful Carmenère grape.  Just to give you a quick refresher, it is originally from the Bordeaux region in France.  Like a lot of vines from the old world, the explorers brought vines to the new world.  In this case, they brought them to Chile way back in the mid 16^th century.  Although the grape may be found in France today, it is fairly sparse in its plantings.  Today Chile has the largest planting of this vine in the world.  It wasn’t until about 17 years ago, however, that they found out that it was Carmenère.  They thought it was Merlot or a clone of Merlot for all the time prior.  It is referred to as ‘the lost grape’, because viticulturists thought it had been lost from France during an outbreak of phylloxera (a nasty little pest), which devastated vineyards throughout Europe.  Today Carmenère is safe and sound and R & R are happy campers.

Winemaker’s comments:  “Brilliant and deep ruby red color. In nose, intense fruits aromas, varietal, frank and clean. In mouth, mature red fruits stand, jams, some mocha notes, and a touch chocolate and black pepper flavour.  Medium-bodied Carmenère, tasty, good volume and soft texture. A good balance between fruits and wood notes given by the guard in oak barrels.”

Food Pairing:

Smoke-Grilled Lamb Shoulder; Slow Cooker Pulled Pork; Grilled Rib-Eye Steaks with Roasted-Pepper Salsa;

CSPC:     717289
Price:

$12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

With a history that dates back to Cleto Chiarli in 1860, Chiarli 1860 is very in tune with and has a great appreciation for its customers.  To be in business for over 150 years you have to know what you are doing.  The company is also involved with the production of Balsamic Vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano, unfortunately we do not see these in our market.

The place where the grapes are grown is near the town of Castelvetro, from which our wine today gets its name.  “Lambrusco, known even in Roman times, is a wine of ancient origins which thanks to its natural fizziness, is more suitable than ever before to the requisites of modern eating habits.  Lambrusco comes in various types and, each being different, largely satisfy the various tastes of the consumer.”[2]

Winery: Chiarli 1860
Location: Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Doc Castelvetro, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Blend: Lambrusco
Tasting: Wednesday, January 26, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Lambrusco is not only the name of the wine, but it is also the name of the grape.  Unfortunately, Lambrusco has been given a bad rap and therefore people shy away from it.  Back in the last quarter of the 20^th century the name Lambrusco had been associated with a less than stellar product in the new world.  Just like the names ‘Champagne’, ‘Chablis’ and others, ‘Lambrusco’ had been flung far and wide and really didn’t have anything to do with the Italian wine.

“The vine grows on the dry soils of the Modenese uplands and lower hill-slopes, an area dotted with country mansions and ancient castles, where the Apennine chain, rising up to the peak of Monte Cimone, provides the cornice of an undulating landscape of rare beauty.”[3]

The wine made from this grape can be dry or sweet, still or sparkling.  The one that we are sampling today is sparkling and on the sweeter side.  The wine makes a fun ‘let’s go for a picnic’ sipper or an aperitif or enjoy it with some desserts.

The winery says:  “The wine is deep ruby in colour; with a violet sheen and a light froth with an edge of the same hue. The notable bouquet is fruity fragrant and interesting, bringing to mind the aroma of the grape. According to Agazzotti “it emanates a pleasant scent of peach-almonds”. Its keen, harmonious flavour has delicious body, is well-balanced in acidity and slightly fruity leaving a pleasant, somewhat bitter aftertaste. It makes an excellent aperitif and goes divinely with Modena’s typical pastries and desserts.”

Food Pairing:

Cherry Bavarian Cream; Red Fruit Salad; Makes a great Aperitif!!!

CSPC:     711220
Price:

$10.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

February 3^rd is Chinese New Year… the Year of the Rabbit.  We are going to sample two wines that go great with Chinese food.  France and Germany will be our stops.

[2] www.chiarli.com

[3] www.chiarli.com

Nugan Estate was started in 1999 about 60 years after Alfredo Nugan emigrated from Valencia, Spain to start a fruit and vegetable packing business.  Little did Alfredo know that 70 years later his packing business would turn into all that it is today.  Not only does the Nugan family produce estate grown wines on its almost 600 hectares of land, but it is also still involved with the fruit and vegetable packing business, the food industry and food services industry.

In 1965 Alfredo retired and left the company in the hands of his son Ken.  Ken Nugan headed the company for 21 years.  He passed away quite suddenly of cancer in 1986, just six short weeks after his diagnosis.  Ken’s wife Michelle, was thrust into taking over the wheel at Nugan.  She saw the company through some tough market changes and under her leadership, the company has grown exponentially.  Ken and Michelle’s children, Matt and Tiffany, are involved as well.  Matthew for over 20 years and Tiffany for 10 years.  Matthew is the General Manager of Nugan Estate and Tiffany is the National Sales Manager (Australia) and the International Marketing Manager.  Both of them have visited Edmonton over the past few years.  As has their Export Manager, Phil Goodman.  Matthew and Tiffany’s mom is still the lady at the helm.  She must be very proud to see how this company has grown under her watch.  Since its inception, Nugan Estate has grown into one of Australia’s Top 20 wine exporters.

Nugan, like so many other wine producers, has a number of different wine labels.  In Alberta, we see the following: Nugan Estate Single Vineyard, Nugan Estate Black and White, Nugan Estate Third Generation, Cookoothama and Wally’s Hut.  We are trying two of the Wally’s Hut wines this week.

Wally’s Hut Chardonnay

Winery: Nugan Estate Wines
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Blend: Chardonnay
Tasting: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

We have a little story to tell you about this wine.  A few years ago we were doing a Wally’s Hut tasting in a store.  This lovely young lady came in to try the wines.  She wanted to each of the wines except the Chardonnay.  When we asked her why she did not want to sample the Chardonnay, she said ‘I don’t like Chardonnay at all.’  We asked if she would be willing to give this one a go and she reluctantly said ‘okay’.  She took a teeny weenie drop.  Then she had a look of astonishment on her face and took an actual sip.  ‘Geez this is pretty good.  Are you sure this is Chardonnay?’  She was so surprised.  You know there are so many fun things about what Richard and I do, but watching someone rediscover a wine or discover something new… that is the best!  We love the look on peoples’ faces when they find a gem!

When people ask us to describe this wine, we say that it is refreshing.  You don’t need to worry about the taste of chewing on a 2×4 when you enjoy this wine.  It has waved as it is passing by the oak trees and that is about it.

Winemaker’s notes:  “Pale straw with youthful green highlights. Aromas of poached peach, fig and pineapple with biscuit notes. Tropical, medium bodied style with peach and melon flavours complimented by zesty acids, savoury nuances and a crisp, dry finish.”

As one gentleman said a while ago, ‘this is a thirst quenching wine’.  Chill, say ‘cheers’ and enjoy.

Food Pairing:

Grilled Mahimahi with Tomatillo Sauce;[1] Battered Cod; Chicken Breasts in a Light Cream Sauce

CSPC:     711222
Price:

$10.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Wally’s Hut Cabernet Shiraz

Winery: Nugan Estate Wines
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
Tasting: Wednesday, January 12, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

We didn’t talk about the name ‘Wally’s Hut’ yet.  There is always a story about how a wine gets its name.  Here is Wally’s story.

“Wally’s Hut is the stockman’s hut built in the 1860’s on our Cookoothama vineyard. The hut was used by stockmen who rode the fence line of this once vast grazing property protecting its livestock. Today, the lone rider is long gone and the landscape has been transformed by vines but Wally’s Hut stands as his legacy.”[2]

This is an easy going wine that has a nice bit of flavor.  With the combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz it also pairs with a lot of food.  So let your imagination take you down lots of food roads.

This is what the winemaker has to say:  “Deep crimson with youthful purple hues. Lifted aromas of plum and blackcurrant melded with earth and spice. On the palate, appealing sweet berry flavours layered with mint, earth and spice.”

Food Pairing:

Grilled New York Steak; Braised Short Ribs[3]; Nugan website suggests - Homemade Bolognese Sauce topped with Parmesan Cheese.

CSPC:     711220
Price:

$10.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

California here we come.  Good timing, I would say, with all this snow we are getting in Edmonton.

[2] www.nuganestate.com

[3] www.epicurious.com

What the Heck is IGT?

When you look at the labels of the bottles of wine that we are sampling today you will see Indicazioni Geografica Tipica (a.k.a IGT) underneath the name and area the wines come from.  Reading wine labels is an art itself and can be as confusing as all get out.  ‘What in heaven’s name does this label say?’ or ‘How can I tell what kind of wine is in this bottle?’ are questions Richard and I get asked a lot.  People have literally written books about this very subject and as much as I like to talk and write, in my attempt to try and explain all of this, well…you could be here for a while.  I have been known to talk the paint off the wall (just ask Richard).  So here it is in the Reader’s Digest version.

In ‘old world’ wine countries there are rules and  regulations to follow regarding growing grapes and making wine.  You can only use ‘a, b and c’ grapes.  You can use a minimum or maximum of ‘x‘ percentage of ‘a‘ grape, ‘b‘ grape and so on. You may only be allowed to make red wine in one area or white wine in another area.  There will be minimum alcohol percentages for red, white or rosé and a maximum yield per hectare.  And so on…

But where would we be in the world without people who like to  experiment and push the limits?  We wouldn’t have televisions, cars, refrigerators, computers or Blackberries.  It is no different in the wine world.  There have been and always will be vineyard owners and winemakers who want change.  They may not want to follow the rules for their particular region and therefore decide that they want to grow something different than what their regional laws allow.  They want to make a wine that they think will work well for their vineyards and their winery.  In particular, these vineyard owners or winemakers have wanted to use ‘International Grape Varieties’.  Grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Chardonnay.  They know that they won’t get their ‘DOC’ or “DOCG” designation, but they want to do it anyway.

In the beginning, these winemakers got unceremoniously dumped into the ‘table wine’ category.  Now that was okay in the beginning, but consumers were paying attention to some of these ‘new’ wines.  So too were the people in the know like people in the wine media, who gave some of these drops of vino a lot of press and a lot of points.   Some of these so called table wines (or ‘vino da tavola’, as they are called in Italy) were fetching a pretty good price and gaining a following.

To make a long story short, in 1992 in Italy, the powers that be created a new category in most of the regions that allowed vineyard owners and winemakers to, shall we say, experiment a little.  Now mind you, there are still rules to follow, but it gave the winegrowers a little more latitude.   As a result, we have seen some pretty cool wines come out of different Italian regions.  Some are priced in the hundreds of dollars and some are priced in the tens of dollars.  Today we get to try some priced in the tens.  Great tasting wines at a very good price.

We hope we didn’t put you to sleep with all that stuff.

Winery: Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Blend: Sangiovese 85% and Cabernet Sauvignon 15%
Tasting: Wednesday, January 5, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Our two wines today have something in common.  Not just that they are made by the same family, but they are both easy drinking, uncomplicated, just put your feet up and relax kind of wines.  Nice fruit and good flavours.  How can you go wrong with that?

The Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon used in Rèmole were not put in wood at all.  So what this gives us is the fruit without the added feature of the oak.  In the past few years we have spoken to a number of people who are not fans of oak, so this is a great wine for them to try.  For those of you who do like the oak, well, it is nice to switch it up a little.

This is how the winery talks about our wine:  “Remole ‘08 greets the eye with a deep, brilliant purple.  The bouquet is a dense complex of fruit aromas, such as blackberry, raspberry, cherry, and redcurrant, lifted with fragrant hints of spice and black pepper. The palate is velvet smooth, very warm and rich, with a perfect balance of its components and a refreshing crispness. A long-lingering finish mirrors nicely the fruit on the nose.”

Food Pairing:

All’Amatriciana; Pork with Figs and Charcuterie

CSPC:     105429
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Danzante Pinot Grigio IGT

Winery: Danzante
Location: Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino regions, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio
Tasting: Wednesday, January 5, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Danzante Pinot Grigio is another great sip and enjoy wine.  Isn’t that really the best thing about wine anyway?  The name, Danzante, is Italian for dancing. The name ‘was selected to convey a feeling of enjoyment and celebration’.[1]

Pinot Grigio is such a fun grape.  It is easy drinking and pairs so nicely with different types of food, as you will see below (recipes included).  It makes a nice crisp tasting wine.  Pinot Grigio is Italy’s most popular white wine and according to a number of articles that we have read, it is one of the most popular white wines imported into North America.  Each Italian region where the grapes are grown is different as is the weather and, of course, the winemakers.  Hence every Italian Pinot Grigio we have tried has been (you got it)… different.  A lady said to me the other day ‘I don’t think of white wine in the winter time.’  Please don’t forget about the whites even though the ground is covered in white!

The winery has a lot to say about this wine: “A luminous straw yellow with generous gold highlights announces Danzante Pinot Grigio 2009, followed by an explosion of aromatic impressions that include tropical fruit, such as banana, pineapple, and papaya, as well as spicy notes of cinnamon and vanilla. The palate is bold and self-confident, with a smooth mouthfeel and appealing warmth. A crisp vein of tasty acidity adds to the fine balance of all of its components. A very leisurely finish ends on a subtle note of crisp fruit.”

Food Pairing:

Lemon Risotto with Shrimp and Peas; Creamy Leek Torte; Lemon and Black Pepper Grilled Chicken Legs

CSPC:     534214
Price:

$16.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

We are going down under next week to visit good old Australia.  Come join us in the hut.