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 Robertson Winery was named after the town of Robertson located in the Western Cape, South Africa.  The town itself was named after Dr. William Robertson, a minister from Scotland who arrived in the region in 1822.  In honour of Dr. Robertson’s work that he had done in the region, the members of the community named the new town after him.

The family that makes this winery so successful is actually a group of 35 families who are growers in the area and who are responsible for farming over 2400 hectares.  There are some who are the 7^th generation grape-growers.

Bowen Botha is the Cellar Master and General Manager.  Bowen’s belief is that if you want a particular style of wine, then you need to plant the grapes in the vineyard that is going to give you that style.  There is a great team of winemakers who work with Bowen to bring their expression of wine to us.  Jacques Roux is the Specialist Winemaker.  Lolly Louwrens is the Head Winemaker and Red Winemaker.  Francois Weich is responsible for the white winemaking.

Talking about whites, let get started on this Sauvignon Blanc

Location:Robertson Winery, South Africa
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

The Robertson Winery makes this wine young and fresh with some nice acidity.  They make the wine for you to enjoy at a young age.  Well, not that you need to be a babes in the woods, just the wine.  They would like you to taste the wine at its best and they recommend that it be consumed within a year of vintage.

WINEMAKER’S COMMENT

Full-bodied with powerful varietal flavours of bell-pepper, green apple and freshly cut grass. Good structure with lovely balancing acidity.

Food Pairing:

Asparagus Crab Salad; Grilled Lemon Bay Shrimp

CSPC:     444968
Price:

$11.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Location: Robertson Winery, South Africa
Blend: 100% Shiraz
Tasting: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Everyone thinks that Shiraz is Shiraz.  Well, not exactly.  We live in a province known for its farming communities.  We know that certain parts of the province produce very distinctive corn, carrot, barley or wheat.  Grapes are a farmed, as well.  They too are going to pick up different things in different soils and they will be affected by the climate in the area and so on.  The Shiraz you have in South Africa will be somewhat different than that of the Rhône, British Columbia, Barrosa or California.  That is a good thing, because if they all tasted the same, it wouldn’t be any fun for you and I to consume.

Like its sister wine above, this is made to enjoy at a young age, as well.  They do suggest you have this as a sipper within 2 years.

WINEMAKER’S COMMENT

This full-bodied wine shows freshly crushed black pepper aromas with hints of cinnamon and cloves on the nose with lots of brambly red berry fruit, rich mulberry and well integrated vanilla tones.

Food Pairing:

Steak House Beef Ribs with Stout Barbecue Sauce; Grilled Sausage, Pepper and Bocconcini Pasta Salad

CSPC:     586149
Price:

$11.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Barista Wine
Location: Western Cape, South Africa
Blend: 100% Pinotage
Tasting: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

“An exciting new brand from Bertus “Starbucks” Fourie, is the crème of Pinotage blends from South Africa.  As the winemaker who created the coffee Pinotage style in South Africa, Bertus felt that this Pinotage blend was his best ever, and deemed it appropriate to name the brand Barista, being the title of someonewho has an exceptional level of skill in making espresso.”[1]

The Pinotage grape was created in 1925 by Professor Perold at Stellenbosch University by crossing the Pinot Noir and Cinsaut grape varieties.  This grape has almost become the fabric of the South African wine industry.  It positively makes some very distinctive wines that are not to be missed.  You have to come by and try this one.

TASTING NOTE

A burst of intense, rich coffee and chocolate aromas with ripe nuances of mulberry, plum and Maraschino cherries.

Food Pairing:

Coffee Crusted Beef Tenderloin; Grilled Sirloin with a Coffee Bean-Peppercorn Crust

CSPC:     11106
Price:

$15.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Next week we are visiting Charles Smith in Washington.

Evidence shows that vine plantings in this beautiful area of New Zealand may be traced back as far as the 1870’s.  Modern day history, however, dates back to the 1970’s when the very distinctive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc started to take the wine world by storm.[1] As of June 2009, New Zealand has 33,400 hectares of land planted in wine grapes.  In 2002 that number was 17,300 hectares. The Marlborough region alone has 19,600 hectares.  Back in 2002 Marlborough recorded 7,500 hectares.[2] That is a huge increase! The King of vines here is the Sauvignon Blanc, not that that is any surprise.  What may surprise you are the other grape varieties that are making inroads in Marlborough.  Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay to name just a few.

Sauvignon Blanc is planted in many regions around the world.  New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Italy, Loire Valley and Bordeaux.  In our humble opinion, New Zealand truly put Sauvignon Blanc on the map.  It has a particular style, unlike any from other regions in the world.  It is zingy and tongue tingling, big grassy and gooseberry.  It is unmistakable.  That is not to say that other regions in the world don’t make fabulous Sauvignon Blanc, because they truly do.  They are just different.  Different is good.  If everything was the same it would be boring.  Richard and I are positively not about boring, for sure.  Try a number of them and see what you think.  You be the judge, so to speak.

If you happen to be popping over to New Zealand this weekend, take time to participate in the Marlborough Wine Festival

We are featuring a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir from Marlborough at our Winesday this week.  These wines are the pride and joy of Wither Hills Winery.  We will be sampling their ‘Two Tracks’ labeled wines.

Two Tracks Sauvignon Blanc

Producer: Wither Hills
Location: Marlborough, New Zealand
Tasting: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The rain came down in February not too long prior to harvest.  Rain is a good thing, but like with most things in life, timing is everything.  Luckily March and April brought in a beautiful ‘Indian Summer’ and all was good in the vineyard.

The winery has these tasting notes for us:

“Bright zingy fresh aromas of gooseberry, dried herb, citrus & tomato leaf characters lead into a palate of sweet capsicum balanced with fresh citrus lime flavours and a touch of supple tropical guava to finish.”

CSPC:     737900
Price:

$17.99 (Minus 10% Winesday discount)

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

Two Tracks Pinot Noir

Producer: Wither Hills
Location: Marlborough, New Zealand
Tasting: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

When you talk to vineyard managers/winemakers, they quite often refer to themselves as farmers.  As really that is what they are.  As consumers, we don’t often think of what goes into making that bottle of wine that we are drinking.  These keepers of the land depend on Mother Nature and what she is going to send their way.  The people at Two Tracks say that 2008 was “the most challenging since 1995″.  Mother Nature had “Rex Butt’s and Ben Glover’s Viticultural and Winemaking teams going Hammer down 24/7.”  Like all good winemakers, they were able to make the challenging conditions work in their favour and, as a result, the Pinot Noir that we will be sampling “was worth the effort”.

These are the words on the Pinot Noir from the winery:

“Lovely bright raspberry, spicy ripe herbal notes with subtle dark chocolate aromas lead into succulent flavours of brooding brambly fruits of dark cherry and plum, supported by silky tannins and a sweet mid fruit profile.  An exquisite Marlborough Pinot Noir with gorgeous inviting aromatics and a long rich palate weight.”

CSPC:     739703
Price:

$20.99 (Minus 10% Winesday discount)

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

Come see us next week when we are making a trip to Newfoundland.  Yup… you heard us correctly… Newfoundland.

[2] Statistics New Zealand

BABICH WINES

When we think of New Zealand and its history of winemaking, most of us would not even guess how long it goes back.  Take Babich wines, for example.  This winery started in 1916 shortly after Josip Babić (later anglicized to Babich) moved to New Zealand from Dalmatia (now part of Croatia).  That was almost 100 years ago.  We tend to think of the ‘new world’ wines as having a more recent history than that.

Josip’s history in New Zealand began in Kaikino, where he was once arrested for selling two bottles of wine to a customer.  Where was the crime in that?  No, he wasn’t bootlegging.  The law stated that he was supposed to sell a minimum of two gallons.  The case was never prosecuted.  Shortly after that, Josip and his brothers moved from Kaikino to Henderson, which is fairly close to Auckland.  They started mixed farming again.  They had cows, vegetables, fruit trees and of course… a vineyard.  Josip passed away almost 30 years ago, but he passed on his passion to his children who have taken this winery to new heights.  From this very humble beginning, Babich wines took flight.

Josip’s children, Peter, Joe and Maureen all take an important role in realize their father’s dream.  Josip’s grandson, David (Peter’s son) is also involved on the sales and marketing side).  I grew up in a family business, so I understand how important it is to have the siblings involved.  It makes all the difference.

Today, Babich wines has grown from its relatively few vines to vineyards in Henderson, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Gisborne.  They have wineries in not just one location, but two (Henderson and Marlborough).  They have an extended range of wines.  Some of which we see in Alberta, but the only way to see the rest is to take a trip to New Zealand.  Richard and I are up for that.  How about you?

Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Winery: Babich Winery
Location: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Richard and I will remember this wine forever.  It was one of the wines that we had on our blind tasting for our exam in May.  If you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, you will love this wine.  Bright and crisp is how we would describe it.

The winery’s tasting notes say:  “Musk melon, lime and an intriguing minerality dominate the nose. The entry is all upfront fruit salad, with extra lashings of pear and some kiwifruit. Fresh and juicy fruit, with nettle and herbal notes take the mid palate to the finish to join agreeably with guava and lime. A very well balanced wine with a lovely medium weight.”

Food Pairing:

Oysters Rockefeller (just for fun); Chicken with Roasted Lemons Green Olives and Capers;

CSPC:     560144
Price:

$16.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Babich Hawke’s Bay Merlot

Winery: Babich Winery
Location: Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Blend: Merlot
Tasting: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Hawke’s Bay is located on the North Island of New Zealand.  As Marloborough’s connection with white wines, Hawke’s Bay is known for its red wines.  Having said that, whites also play a role here, but red truly is the dominant factor.

Merlot has its friends and foes, but one cannot deny its ability to pair with food.  This particular wine is very easy drinking and foods that will pair with it abound.  If you haven’t tried a Merlot before, take time to try this one.

Food Pairing:

Braised Chicken Thighs; Spice-Rubbed Grilled Pork Chops

CSPC:     106906
Price:

$14.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

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

Back in the late 19^th century, Don Melchor Concha y Toro, who started Concha y Toro Winery in Chile, brought the noble French vines from Bordeaux to Chile.    After a number of his ‘special’ wines kept disappearing from his cellar despite being kept under lock and key, Don Melchor spread a rumour that the devil lived in his cellar.  The rumour spread like wildfire and it did the trick.  The wine stayed in his cellar never to ‘disappear’ again.  That is how these great little wines got their name ‘Casillero del Diablo’

You will most likely recognize a few of these names:  Frontera, Trio, Marques de Casa Concha, Terrunyo, Amelia, Don Melchor (gee I wonder who that was named after) and Carmin de Puemo.  These are some of the delightful wines made by Concha y Toro.  We always like to say that every wine has its story, and it is no different here with these wines.

We will sample more of these wines in the future, but this week we are going to concentrate on the Casillero Del Diablo.   Although a very popular wine within Chile, the winery decided to start to export the Casillero Del Diablo wines to Europe in 1963.  >From then until today, you can find these wines in over 100 countries.

They are known as incredible value for the dollar.  It is amazing to think that although this winery makes a large amount of wine, it is able to maintain its quality.  It has done so through its commitment to producing a good wine for their customers to enjoy.   After all, if we don’t make our customers happy… well, you know the rest.

Concha y Toro has also taken a stand on the environment.  “Our sustainability philosophy leads us to work with respect for the environment and be socially equitable with our employees and the community. As a company we view our business according to the principles of sustainability. We see ourselves as an innovative and responsible company with a serious commitment to the environment.”

“As our own vineyards are exposed to the climate change phenomena predicted by experts, we believe that to care for the environment by minimizing our environmental impact and having sustainable production processes will be key to the future of our company and to the new generations of wine growers.”[1]

As of 2010 the Casillero Del Diablo wines are now in lighter bottles.  Also in 2010, Concha y Toro was the first winery in the world to measure its water footprint.  That was to go along with its decision to measure its carbon footprint three years earlier and make changes to decrease its footprint.  Every step makes a difference to our wonderful planet.  It certainly can’t hurt, that is for sure.

So this week we are sampling 3 of the Casillero wines.  We have had the opportunity to work with these wines many times previously and we love how people enjoy them and find a new favourite each time.

Casillero Del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc

Winery: Casillero Del Diablo
Location: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

This is our lone white this week in our group of three.  Like all three of the wines we are sampling this week, the grape vines have their origins in France.  This wine is nice and light with easy drinkability.  Remember on a hot day to put a couple of frozen grapes in your glass to keep this nice wine cool.   Nobody says it like the winery:   “Pale yellow colour with green hues, very bright and clean.  Fresh, due to citric hints. Presence of pears, lime and some tropical touches with a greenish finish thanks to the presence of green apples.  An elegant wine due to the intensity and balanced acidity. The citric characteristics from the coastal areas of the Central Valley stand out. It is fresh from the beginning to the end, where the balance of fruit and acidity refresh the palate.

Food Pairing:

Scallops Carpaccio; Baked Oysters; Crab Cakes

CSPC:     578641
Price:

$12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Casillero Del Diablo Carménère

Winery: Casillero Del Diablo
Location: Rapel Valley, Chile
Blend: Carménère
Tasting: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Ah… ‘the lost grape’.  We just love talking about this grape variety.  We have spoken about this in the blog previously, but it doesn’t hurt to do a quick recap.

In the latter part of the 19^th century there was a little louse that was imported to Europe from North America (the charming aphid like bugs pictured to the right).  The vines in Europe were no test for this invasive little pest.  Vineyard to vineyard and country to country this nasty little creature made its devastation known and it wiped out vineyards throughout Europe.  A Phylloxera resistant root stock was developed (that is another story all on to itself) and the European vines were grafted onto this new rootstock.  It was thought that one of the casualties of this infestation was the Carménère grape.  Many thought it had been wiped out of France altogether.  Well little did they know that the Carménère vines had been brought to Chile.  The Chileans, however, thought it was a clone of Merlot and it wasn’t until 1994 that they discovered otherwise.  There… that is the Reader’s Digest version.

The Chilean’s are known for Carménère in the same way that the Argentineans are known for Malbec.  They just go hand in hand, even though they both come from France J.

It was just two weeks ago that we presented a tasting for customers and this wine went over like gangbusters!  This is easy to drink, food friendly and like the other Casillero wines, it won’t break the bank. And what does the winery have to say?:  “Dark and deep purple.  Luscious fruit flavors. Aromas:  Dark plums and blackcurrant, black chocolate with hints of coffee and toasted American oak.  Taste:  Notes of dark plums and spice, generously framed by toasty American oak with a soft and well structured mouth-filling texture

Food Pairing:

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Chilean Cilantro Sauce; Chili Con Carne; Grilled Pork Tenderloin

CSPC:     714648
Price:

$12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Casillero Del Diablo Merlot

Winery: Casillero Del Diablo
Location: Rapel Valley, Chile
Blend: Merlot
Tasting: Wednesday, May 4, 2011 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

If you are not a big Cabernet person, try your hand at Merlot.  Some refer to it as the velvet devil (how appropriate for this wine).  There is even a winery in the U.S.A. that called its Merlot by that very name.  For those of you who do not like the big heavy tannins, you don’t need to worry about that with this wine.  I could write notes on this Merlot, but the notes written by the winery really says it all:  “Native from Bordeaux, France, is elegant by nature. Flexible, of soft tannins, expresses freshness and sweetness. In its Merlot, Casillero Del Diablo captured all the finesse of a subtle wine, of low astringency, with blackberry, strawberries and raspberries, together with chocolate, vanilla and cassis notes.”

Food Pairing:

Veal Picata; Beef Stroganoff; Slow Roasted Lamb Shanks

CSPC:     427088
Price:

$12.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Au revoir mes amis. Richard et moi vous rencontrerons en France la semaine prochaine.
(Good-bye my friends.  Richard and I will meet you in France next week.)

We are going to have a little ‘Fun’.

Map sourced from vinovixens

Farming has been in this family’s veins since the mid 1800’s.  However they didn’t plant their first vines until over a hundred years later in 1968.  Bogle Vineyards has grown from their initial 20 acres of wine grapes 42 years ago, to the over 1,200 acres today.  Bogle’s home in Clarksburg, California is located alongside the Sacramento River.  What a great spot for a vineyard.

Patty and the late Chris Bogle became involved with the vineyards at the very early stages when planting vines in 1970.  Nineteen years later, Patty took over the operations of the winery.  Her daughter, Jody, is involved in customer support, she runs the wine club and takes care of all international sales.   Warren Bogle, Patty and Chris’s son, is the Vineyard Manager.   He is the 6^th generation of Bogles to farm this Sacramental Delta Region.

“The success of Bogle over the years is firmly rooted in one thing: the day-to-day involvement of the Bogle family in the hands-on effort to produce and promote quality wines. ”

Bogle Winery joined the California Appellation Program in 1992.  “In this program, winemakers source fruit from some of the best vineyards in the state and blend them with Bogle’s Estate Vineyards in Clarksburg, thus assuring that the wines benefit from many of the incredible grape growing regions of California.”  They are also members of the Clarksburg Winegrowers Association Now let’s try these wines!

Bogle Petite Sirah

Winery: Bogle Vineyards
Location: Clarksburg, California
Blend: Petite Sirah
Tasting: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m

Let’s get the name thing out of the way right away.  You will see this grape spelled many ways.  Petite Syrah, Petit Sirah, Petite Sirah, and Durif. Which one is right?  Well, they are all right.  The last name… Durif… is the name of the gentleman who developed the grape in France in the late 1800’s.  His name is Dr. Francois Durif, a botanist at the University of Montpellier in France.  Dr. Durif developed the grape by crossing the Syrah grape with the Peloursin variety in the 1870’s.  This new grape variety was resistant to Powdery mildew, but because of its very tight bunches, it is said to have issues with ‘rot’.  Although there are a few wineries still growing the grape in its native Rhône (France), you will also see it grown in Australia, USA, Brazil and Argentina to name just a few countries.  There are only a few wineries that call it Durif, but by far in the United States of America you will see it called Petite Syrah (or its many other spellings).

We always find it funny calling this grape “Petite”, because there surely is nothing “Petite” about it.  In fact, this grape is known for making wines that are dark and inky in colour and extremely round and full in the mouth.  People quite often think that a Petite Syrah is going to taste like a Syrah (Shiraz), but it is dense and the tannic structure cannot be missed for sure.  The colour, compared to Syrah is a deep dark purple.  If you tried them side-by-each… even blind… you would be able to tell they are not the same.

Bogle says this about their Petite Sirah:  “Full-bodied on the entry, aromas of black plum jam and toasty oak set the stage for what is to come. Vibrant boysenberries and luscious fruit are framed by serious tannins, while wisps of leather and vanilla seduce just enough. A final touch of acidity finishes the wine with a precisely balanced mouthfeel.”

Food Pairing:

Hearty dishes:  Lamb stew; Game (sausages or stew); Pork

CSPC:     431478
Price:

$21.50 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Bogle Fumé blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)

Winery: Bogle Vineyards
Location: Monterey and Russian River Valley Vineyards
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

What is a Fumé Blanc?  It is a term that was coined by Robert Mondavi for California Sauvignon Blanc wines that were made in the style of Pouilly Fumé (Sauvignon Blanc) in the Loire Valley in France.

The story goes that Sauvignon Blanc was not a lauded variety in California prior to 1970.  A lot of the wines were supposedly lighter and sweeter.  After receiving exceptional Sauvignon grapes from a particular vintage, Mr. Mondavi was apparently inspired by Pouilly Fumé wines that he had tasted in France.  He decided that he wanted to make his wine in this style.  As a result, he wanted to differentiate his wines from all of the others.  That is when he apparently coined the term Fumé Blanc.  Today there are many wonderful Sauvignon Blanc wines from California.  Bogle describe this wine as being “classically made” and having the “true varietal character of the Sauvignon Blanc Grape”.

This particular Sauvignon Blanc is described by the winery in this way:  “Freshly zested limes spring off the nose, followed by leechee nut and a tiny bit of orange peel. The citrus follows through on the palate, tinged by hints of tropical pineapple. Lean and light, yet surprisingly full of flavor, the wine finishes with brisk acidity that makes your mouth water for more!”

Food Pairing:

Light fare:  Salads; Fresh Fish with Fruit Salsas; Shellfish;

CSPC:     431486
Price:

$18.75 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday afternoon.  We will be there with bells on!!

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: Baron Phillippe de Rothschild S.A. Mouton Cadet
Location: France
Alcohol: 13%
Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasting: Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

When one utters the name ‘Rothschild’, people automatically think of history, luxury beyond imagination and everything expensive.  Quite frankly that is true.  Although Baron Philippe de Rothschild was a member of the banking dynasty family, he was also a Grand Prix racecar driver, a screenwriter, a film producer, a theatrical producer and, one of the most successful wine producers in the world.

The company today is still a family owned company.  The Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, the Baron’s daughter, is the majority shareholder.  In this day and age when so many large family companies have gone by the wayside, that is quite wonderful.

The Rothschild family has been making wines that have been lauded for many years. For example Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild have been mentioned in just about every wine magazine you can think of.  At the same time as making these incredible wines, they have also been making some very approachable wines at very reasonable prices.  The Rothschild Escudo Rojo wines from Chile are fabulous wines, and are priced reasonably.  Then there is “Mouton Cadet”.

Can you believe that Mouton Cadet is celebrating 80 years this year?  In honour of this celebration, we thought this would be a great time to sample two of their Bordeaux wines… a little red and a little white.  Come join us in France on this little birthday trip.

Chateau Mouton Rothschild was known for making exceptional wines that fetched a very good price.  In 1930, however, Baron Philippe Rothschild felt that the vintage was not up to snuff to put the Mouton Rothschild name on it.  It was still a nice wine however.  So he decided that he would come up with a new wine line called Mouton Cadet.  Baron Philippe was the youngest child, so he put the French term for youngest on the label… ‘cadet’.  The wine became an instant hit.  The following year, 1931, brought a high demand for this new label.  So much so, that the Rothschilds had to purchase grapes from other growers in neighbouring vineyards to keep up with the demand for this new wine.  Grapes came from Pauillac, Ste. Estephe, Haut-Medoc to name a few.  After the Second World War the wine was given AOC status.  The popularity of the wine grew immensely and before you knew it, a white Mouton Cadet became part of the family in the 1970’s.

The red wine is a blend of 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 65% Merlot and  15% Cabernet Franc.  This wine is easy drinking and what I like to call, as I said before, very approachable. It is not matured in oak casks, so the fruit is more evident when you taste it.

The wine has nice aromas of red berry fruit (raspberry, cherry and strawberry) and even a wee touch of mint.  The tannins are not over abundant, so it feels nice and ‘round’.

This wine has been around for 80 years, that is true, but it is still very popular.  On their website it says Mouton Cadet “The world’s leading Bordeaux AOC”.  See what you think when you try it.

Food Pairing: 

Lamb; medium to older aged hard cheese; veal (especially either grilled or done in a light tomato based sauce); and of course the perennial favourite… beef.

CSPC:     943
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

Winery: Mouton Cadet
Location: France
Blend: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
Tasting: Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Just like its red brother, this wine is meant to sit back and enjoy.  When people think of Bordeaux, they usually think of just red wines.  Don’t forget about the whites!!  Think about where Bordeaux is located and what kind of food one would likely have there.  It has a strong influence not just from the land, but also from the sea.  Lots of fish!  So red wine with scallops just isn’t gonna cut it, no matter how much you may want it to.  That is where the Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc come in.  They are very good friends not just to fish, of course, but to other foods as well.

The home of Sauvignon Blanc (pictured left) is France.  It thrives here and it makes some of the most incredible wines, from very dry to some of the most expensive and delicious dessert wines you have ever tasted (quite often paired with Semillon).  We are talking about the dry wine today.  The taste you can get from this grape can go from grassy crisp and acidic to almost tropical flavours.  It just depends on where it is grown.  Different areas and climates produce different types of wines.  In the Bordeaux region the Sauvignon Blanc has a fruitier characteristic to it so that works very well with its partner in this wine… Semillon.  Semillon is a relatively easy grape to grow (don’t tell the winemaker’s that I said that, though).  Semillon (pictured left), Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are the three white grape varieties allowed in the Bordeaux region.  In this particular wine, the tropical flavours are abound.  Freeze some grapes and put them in the glass to keep your wine chilled when you are sitting out on the deck.

So let’s look at the food pairings for this pleasant wine:

Food Pairing:

Goat’s cheese (used in a sauce or just on a light cracker); light tasting Brie cheese; Scallops and other shellfish just steamed;  Scallops/shellfish done in a light broth or butter/cream sauce;  Broiled fish; light chicken dishes.

CSPC:     323105
Price:

$13.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food Pairing:

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

CSPC:     293043
Price:

      $17.99 (Minus Winesday 10% discount.)

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

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