Report from ... Prince Edward County, the 2nd Wave Dinner - December 5, 2009

Prince Edward County is exploding, or more rightly put, is set to explode, the moment ‘the policy’ gets passed … and I implore the existing wineries to do so post haste and stop halting the progress of this region, because if they keep this up they will rob the Ontario wine loving and buying public from some very good wines and wineries.

Tonight, it was a dinner at East & Main Bistro in Wellington, where 9 wineries presented their wares to an excited group of writers and the public at a delicious dinner (photos below).

Reception …
Casa Dea (formerly Carmela Estates), under new ownership and a new winemaker, kicked off the evening with their brand new sparkling wine. Also taking part in the reception another two wines were poured; one was an absolute surprise from Karlo Estates, a Frontenac Gris Rosé that was a stunning achievement with a grape variety I never knew existed.

Appetizer …










Cracked Pepper Scallop Ravioli, lemon thyme butter, melted leeks – served alongside 2 Chardonnays and a Riesling. Clear winner here was the Barnyard Wine Company’s 3630 Chardonnay 2007 ($28.95).

Salad …Green Salad, strawberry balsamic vinaigrette – we continued sipping on the white wines with this course, and still the Chardonnay shone through.

Main …









Seared Duck Breast, root vegetable gratin, blueberry demi-glaze – three Pinot Noirs were poured, and while everybody at the table seemed to ooo-and-ahh over one in particular Pinot I found it had too much volatile acidity (nail polish remover) for my liking, no matter how much aeration the wine was given. Instead, I gravitated towards the funkiness of the Lift Haus 2007 Pinot Noir, it reminded me of leathery fruit; think back to being a kid and playing with a fruit roll up.

Cheese Plate …
Benedictine Blue and Vieux Bruge – this dish belonged to Del-Gatto Estates 2008 Two Shades of Red, I did also enjoy the Casa Dea Cabernet Franc, but the Del-Gatto wine had me guessing as to what were the two shades and the grape varieties within. Someone in attendance (not the winemaker or owner of Del-Gatto, who was no where to be seen) told me that the sum was much better then the two separate parts … the sum (being the wine) was quite good.

Dessert …









Pear Charlotte, caramel sauce, crème Anglaise – for lack of better terminology the Hillier Creek Vidal Icewine 2008 served with this course, tasted like icewine – a well made icewine at that, but icewine none the less – it paired better with the delicately sweet dessert because it was sweeter than the pairing. But the real star of the dessert course was the Karlo Estates 2008 Late Harvest Frontenac Gris (there’s that variety again), overwhelmed by the sweetness in the dessert this wine was better when tasted alone and offered some real zip and zing to the palate … very impressive.

After Tasting …
Another nine wines were set out for tasting after dinner. Standouts here were the Hillier Creek 2008 Riesling and their 2007 Gamay (I’m a sucker for good Gamay), but the real winner of the nine-wine sideboard was the Stanners Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir, of which only 25 cases were made – pity it’s so little because this is one delicious wine that more people should have the opportunity to taste/sample and buy.

Good luck to the 9 newbies of the County. Thanks to East & Main for a delicious dinner and thanks to the wineries who invited us down for this interesting and fun tasting of the new wineries of Prince Edward County.

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Report from ... Ontario Wine Society Taste & Order Event – November 30, 2009

In truth, I don’t have much to say about the wines, for the simple reason that the wines I tasted here will see the light of day in either my newsletter or Weekly Wine Note (though one of the wine reviews has already found its way into a Newsletter). But what I would like to say is that the evening was very impressive and interesting, if not a little overwhelming. Take into consideration that there were 33 wineries in attendance, each having 3-4 wines on for tasting; they were then spread out over 4 rooms, in alphabetical order, throughout the main level of the Faculty Club of the University of Toronto and you begin to see the scope of the event. This is made all the more impressive when you consider that the event was put on entirely by the volunteers of the Ontario Wine Society (OWS), no help from either the Wine Council, the LCBO or any other trade organization. According to VP of the OWS, Sadie Darby, “the event was put on to promote the wines and wineries of Ontario.” Those in the know about Ontario will realize that the province has well over 33 wineries, but the event was only open to those industry members of the OWS … which does help to explain the lack of support from the Wine Council, LCBO or anybody else because they would have wanted to have more winery inclusion - but really, could you imagine trying to taste over 100 wineries wines in only 3 hours? Nor can I.

Lots of wine was poured, and amongst them plenty of interesting new wines will be making its way onto the shelves of some of your favourite wineries. My top new wine of the evening, the yet to be released Peller Estates 2007 Andrew Peller Signature Cabernet Sauvignon (to be reviewed in a January newsletter); top County pick: Sandbanks 2007 Cabernet Merlot Reserve (to be reviewed in January) and top sweet selection, Lailey Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine (another for the January newsletter).

Slight drawback was the lack of food presented, plenty of bread, but I saw only about one or two hors d’oeuvres trays, which were swarmed by attendees as quickly as they were spotted, leaving little for those late in arriving to the scene of the massacre – waiters should have demanded danger pay. Another drawback was that the Faculty Club does not really lend itself to this style of walk around event, sit down yes – I hosted a tasting for the OWS here earlier this year as a sit down affair – but the walk around style and the lay out of the place does not lend itself to this style of event; I almost missed the last room where the winery of my Chardonnay pick of the evening was just packing up; good thing I accosted Mario Testa before he hightailed it out the door and back to Stouffville.

All in all a very enjoyable and educational evening, and made more impressive that it was all done in house at the OWS. Their next event will be taking place in the Distillery District of Toronto at the Cannery Restaurant, and will be featuring Schott-Zwiesel stemware, my buddy Lloyd Thistle and yours truly … details can be found here.

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Report from ... Appearance on BNN-TV "Grape Guy Makes for Great TV" - December 10, 2009

If you didn’t happen to catch my mug on BNN-TV yesterday, being grilled about why buying local matters, then I should share with you what I did yesterday by providing you with this link (granted it was only 7-minutes and 22-seconds of my day, but it was the highlight of a rather busy day).

http://watch.bnn.ca/midday-markets/december-2009/midday-markets-december-10-2009/#clip244781

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Report from ... Wrapped Up in the Valley – November 21, 2009

Last year they filled a basket, this year they filled a box … a box of chocolates that is. This year twelve 20 Valley wineries took part in Wrapped Up in the Valley, each pairing a wine with a food and each gave the gift of chocolate to thank you for the visit, namely a chocolate truffle made with the winery’s wine. At the end of the trek you ended up with a full box of chocolate truffles and the memories of a variety of foods in your belly. To fill your box you had to visit all twelve wineries, while there you would have tasted 12 different food pairings … now for someone with a sweet tooth like mine you just know that visiting all 12 wineries was a must (I’m also a bit of a collector and a completionist); while I haven’t broken into the chocolates (yet) I can give you a run down on the food and wine pairings, not all of them worked; in fact very few had that “wow” factor you look for in a food and wine pairing. Some of the wineries had really good food, others the wine was the star, but in all cases (with the exception of one) the wineries showed us something interesting and worthy of a return visit for next year’s edition of Wrapped Up in the Valley, in whatever form it takes; if for nothing else than to see what they plan to fill.

The Best Pairing …

A tie here between Fielding and Vineland. Fielding served up a spicy corn chowder alongside their 2007 Chardonnay Musque … the coolness of the wine simmered down the heat of the chowder creating a taste combination second to none. That’s why they tied with Vineland’s Marinated Jumbo Shrimp and the 2007 Pinot Noir … this dish was served with two sides and two wines – the Sauvignon Blanc paired with the Citrus Thyme dip while the Pinot Noir went masterfully with the Smoky Paprika Chipotle – reverse the two and it was a messy affair. I was also impressed with the healthy portions of both of these foods being served.

Great Food …

EastDell’s homemade slow cooked chili hit the spot on this chilly day – thick and rich and exactly what the doctor ordered. Another nice sized portion.

Speaking of nice size, DeSousa had a “homemade” meatball that should have been called a “Man-sized” meatball; easily the size of a golf ball (if not bigger) stewed in a port-infused sauce paired with Lakeview’s port-style wine “Starboard” … the pairing didn’t work because it was sweet-on-sweet, but the meatball on its own was incredibly tasty.

Flat Rock did a phyllo flower filled with gorgonzola cheese and caramelized onions – the key to this one was to pop the entire flower into one’s mouth (eat the petals first, then pop the middle in your mouth) otherwise you ended up getting too much of one flavour over the other.

Rosewood Estates made a change to their menu, for the better, instead of Salmon Gravlax they served a Greek dish called Spanikopita: phyllo pastry-filled with spinach and feta cheese … heated this would have been an awesome little snack because cold it was quite tasty.

The Other Five …
Angels Gate, Cave Spring, Harbour Estates, Mountain Road and Peninsula Ridge all did okay, nothing fantastic as far as the pairing goes; the wines performed well and the food was decent, some up, some down, but all edible and passable … plus you needed to go there to fill up your box of chocolates.

Disappointment …
There’s one in every crowd, and Creekside led the charge here. Their serving was suppose to be a rustic mushroom soup and their scheduled time to begin was 11:00am. But upon our arrival at 11:05 we were told they were not serving their pairing till noon; the girl behind the counter had very little knowledge of what was being done, “my manager left me a note saying that our organizers would be in at noon.” She poured us the wine and found the chocolate (so we were able to complete our collections); but I think someone dropped the ball at Creekside in a big way. Our embarrassed wine-jockey offered us tasting of whatever we wanted to compensate – a nice jester on her part.

Final Thought …
Wrapped Up in the Valley has a lot of potential to be one of the premier holiday events of the Niagara region; I believe this is the third time they have run the event and it still needs a little polish. One important point for future years would be to have a consistent start time from winery to winery to avoid confusion with patrons: 5 wineries started at 10:00am; 6 at 11:00; one at 10:30 and another advertised for 11 but didn’t get going till noon (so they said, we didn’t stick around to find out) – this kind of inconsistency could drive away customers and it just manages to piss people off. If you want to begin the event at 11 in the morning (allowing for opening and set-up) then make it across the board for each winery … I hate to point this out but that should be a basic starting point when planning any multiple location event. That said it is important to note that the tickets were sold out early to this event (both weekends), which shows that people like the direction this association of wineries is headed. I am looking forward to next year’s edition of the Wrapped Up festivities.

Drop in Surprise …
Louise at Featherstone was doing her annual Open House, outside of what the rest of the 20 Valley Association was doing – once again she served up great home cooked appetizers (though this year she admitted to have a little outside) with some Featherstone favourites (rosé, Chardonnay and Merlot). It’s always worth a drop-by.

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Report from ... Gourmet Food & Wine Expo – November 19, 2009

The best part about the Toronto Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, for me anyway, is the ability to sample wines I have yet to try or find out what certain countries, agents or producers are raving to the public about. Amongst all the goings on I found seven worth crowing about.

Spain …
I found three real winners here, which then turned into two once I had my information corrected. The Osborne Santa Maria Cream Sherry ($11.30) is a stellar performer for sweet sherry drinkers: a cherry, almond, tangerine and marmalade nose leads to a creamy smooth hazelnut, spice and cherry marmalade palate with a hint of spice on the finish (*****). There’s also a Torres 2006 Coronas Tempranillo ($13.25) which shows incredible ageability (5+ years) all for under 15-bucks. Spices, herbs and black fruit galore, which leads to a long spicy, bitey finish (****). Finally, there was this Marques d Valcarlos 2000 which was awe inspiring, especially at the quotes price of $13.95; lots of red fruit on both the nose and palate followed by a lovely hit of tannins on the finish. Pretty impressive for a 9-year-old wine that was ready to drink yet could age another 3-4 years comfortably, all for under $15 (****). That price seemed a little fishy to me (especially after it was revealed to be a Vintages product). Upon my arrival home I looked the wine up on the LCBO website; the price was actually $17.95; the good news is that there is plenty of it available throughout the system. At $13.95 it was a special-trip-scour-the-city-buy-what-you-can-grab wine, but at $17.95 I can now wait till the next time I’m in the LCBO’s hallowed aisles, and if it’s sold out, so be it. But it is a very good wine it just doesn’t get that extra half star for value.

South Africa …
I tried The Wolftrap 2008 ($13.95), this usual Syrah-Viognier blend has been augmented with the addition of Mourvedre (30%) and it has made a world of difference. Instead of the usual unpleasant “South Africa notes” (tarry, barnyard) I pick up in the lower end wines from this country I am picking out chocolate, spice, black fruit and the slightest hint of burnt coffee aroma. Palate seems smoother and fuller with blackberry fruit, dark chocolate and a touch of spice. Terrific. (****½)

Argentina …
Coming in February (2010) to Vintages will be an Alta Vista 2007 Atemporal Assemblage ($19.95) a blend with Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot – nice spice, chocolate and floral notes on the nose; very bold and flavourful in the mouth with lots of spice and tannins (****). On of my perennial favourites to come into the LCBO is the Clos de los Siete, this 2007 version (40% Malbec / 20% Merlot / 20% Syrah / 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) is rich in red and black fruit, smooth and tasty in the mouth with licorice, leather, blackberry and a spicy finish (****) – not the best they’ve ever made but still a good wine.

United States …
Let’s conclude this look into the wines of the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo with a Chardonnay from the Scott Family, 2008 Dijon Clone Chardonnay – Arroyo Seco ($28.95), it spends only 7 months in new French oak, has 14.5% alcohol and is just a lovely, delicate wine full of rich flavour and yet enough complexity to make it interesting. Vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, pineapple and honeydew melon greet the nose and tantalize the taste-buds; the mouth is loaded with tropical fruit and creamy vanilla – good mouth feel and a long lingering finish, this is darn good Chardonnay (****½); and that’s high praise coming from a non-Chardonnay drinker.

Bargain Hunters Notice …
Get ready, word on the street is that Chilean producer, and Vintages staple, Montes is getting ready to invade the LCBO’s general list. Coming March 2010 you’ll see the Montes Classic Series for a mere $12.95, in two varietals: Sauvignon Blanc for you white fans and Cabernet Sauvignon for you red lovers – both wines are quite good and very nicely priced.

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Report from ... Hanna & Sons presents: Wines of Daniel Wollenweider – November 19, 2009

Another trip to the Fine Wine Reserve and another wine tasting. The Fine Wine Reserve seems to be the favoured spot of wine agents these days – there’s an intimacy and exclusivity to the place. As for Daniel Wollenweider, all I learned about him is that he is making some damn fine Rieslings in the Mosel (Germany). 12 of these wines were poured for us today in a range of styles, from a Dry Kabinett to a super sweet Trockenbeerenauslese and everything in-between; even the years poured had a range, 2002-2008 … all were very good, but of course I had my favourites (as did everyone in attendance):

My Top 3 Selections …

2008 Riesling Spatlese ($36.80) – this wine had a pure mineral sensation mixed with delicious apple on the nose; the palate showed a steady seam of acidity with bosc pear fruit and peach pit nuances; spectacular and delicious. (****½) … I also tried the 2002 Spatlese, the peach and mineral were intact with hints of petrol, quite lovely, you can see how this wine (2008) might age and what it has the potential to turn into.

2005 Riesling Auslese ($53.95) – another stellar wine that’s aging quite nicely. You can smell and taste the development of the apricot and peach with honey notes; there’s a touch of dried fruit on the tongue mixing with a sweet stony mineral sensation.

2008 Riesling ($24.05) – this wine is crisp and lemony with the three “P’s”: peach, pear and petrol (just a touch); great acidity, beautiful seam of minerality and a long persistent ready-for-more finish.

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Report from ... Lunch at Biff’s Bistro for La Chablisienne – November 17, 2009

When you are invited to a place named Biff’s for lunch you really don’t expect a whole lotta great high-end food; burgers, ribs, basket of fries and potato skins come to mind. So wouldn’t you be surprised at being served a fabulous Seared Arctic Char, delicious Smoked Salmon and a wonderful Classic Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee. Biff’s is a French Bistro on Front with a funny name but obviously, from my description, delicious food. It also seemed (at first) an odd place to be drinking fine French Chardonnay, though my host would correct me on that statement: “In the north of France we don’t make Chardonnay, we make Chablis.” The winery, or better yet, the co-operative to which I am referring today is “La Chablisienne”, who represents close to 300 growers and controls approximately 25% of the Chablis region; their history dates back to 1923. La Chablisienne produces some thirty different wines every year from all regions of the appellation, including 6 Grands Crus and 11 Premier Crus. You might think that’s a lot of Chablis and that many probably taste the same (after all, it is still Chardonnay), but each wine is distinctive from the next: “We are not just here to make wine. We are here to put a piece of the land into the bottle.” One of the distinct qualities of Chablis is the mineralness that comes in these bottles; and each plot of land brings something different to the wine … true terroir in action. Which brings me round to another quote from our newfound Chablisienne friend: “Chablis without minerality is not Chablis,” says our host, “it’s Chardonnay.”

In 2003, La Chablisienne turned a major corner in its evolutionary history with the purchase of Chateau Grenouilles, “a celebrated Grands Crus and the only Chateau of the Chablis appellations.” Today, we tried five of the wines released by La Chablisienne with along with a delicious Chablis-inspired lunch. All wines scored at least 4-stars (very good) but two scored a little higher and really deserve some attention here:

Stunning Chablis …
2006 Chablis 1er Cru “Vaulorents’ ($31.80 - #111666) – of the Vaulorent area, of which there are 7 hectares, La Chablisienne owns 4½. The nose of this wine is peach pit, floral and delicate with a small touch of butteryness. The palate delivers a refreshing mineral note along with peach pit and lemon drop … the mouth feel is soft, round and supple; it’s wine to enjoy with food or sip on it’s own. (****½)

2005 Chablis Grand Chateau ‘Grenouilles’ ($89.00 - #82974) – after tasting this wine there is no wondering why this is a feather in the Chablisienne cap; it is their cream of the crop wine, handmade from 2 hectares of vineyard, gravity fed, aged in 100% French oak for 12 months, while the taste is … The wine is delicate yet with a little power behind it: strong minerality, candied almonds, hazelnuts and a beautiful elegance; each sip is to be savoured, each swirl to be sniffed … lovely complexity and thoroughly enjoyable. (****½)

Thanks to Vinexx for the invite and to La Chablisienne for the chance to taste these wines.

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Report from ... Taste the Season 2009, Niagara-on-the-Lake – November 14 & 15, 2009

This year’s Taste the Season event in Niagara-on-the-Lake was like all the others: each winery puts forth a food and wine pairing for passport holders; its’a winning formula that has been working for years, so why screw with it. Taste the Season is by far my favourite event, matched only by the Wine & Herb Festival and, the more recently introduced, Days of Wine & Chocolate, also events staged by the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The wineries within this union now number 21, so there is plenty to keep you busy and an event like this, to be done right, must be spread out over the entire weekend; so I would suggest booking some accommodations. But if you only have one day to take in the wines and foods here is my guide of where you should go and who you can skip – this year, next year, next event, it’s a whole new ballgame.

The Best Pairings …

Taste the Season is all about the wine and food pairing, some wineries brought out some great wines to showcase, others had wonderful food to pair them with, but the winners here were the wineries who’s pairing was more than the sum of its parts:

The Top 3 Pairings Not to Miss …
Palatine Hills Estate Winery took two seemingly incongruous things and made them work, pairing a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine with either a pork or veggie spring roll (it was your choice) topped with plum sauce. Not sure how this one worked together, or who in the organization came up with the idea, but together these two worked wonderfully together; the wine made the pork pop and the veggie zing – proves that thinking outside the box pays off (but not all the time – you’ll see what I mean, keep reading).

Sunnybrook Farm Estate Winery; picture a hunk of what they are calling “Decadent Chocolate Brownie” served next to an Iced Cherry wine. Apart these two are just okay, but together they worked quite the surprise effect in the mouth. The wine brought out the chocolate, making it taste more decadent than it was on it’s own … these two need each other, otherwise it’s just not the same experience.

Cattail Creek Estate Winery; after a messy fish dish at the last event Cattail was determined to “redeem itself”, remarked Roselyn (owner). This time they had sausages infused with their new 2008 Gamay Noir, they served it up on a thin slice of special grape skin baguette topped with sautéed wild mushrooms … now the world knows I am not a mushroom fan, so I had to rely on my counterpart and traveling partner Erica on this one. She reported that the combination really brought out the earthiness in the ‘shrooms (I’m told that’s a good thing). I could tell she liked it cause her eyes popped open. They paired it with the most obvious of wines here, the 2008 Gamay Noir.

Other Don’t Miss Wineries (for their food especially) …

Coyote’s Run Estate Winery, a winery known for pulling out all the stops when it comes to their food and wine pairings. They paired a 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay with a sweet roasted pepper, charizo sausage and lobster ragu … nice combianation that was surprising how well it went together. But the ragu was the most memorable … gotta get me that recipe.

Jackson-Triggs paired a 2007 Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon with a delicious Cabernet-Braised Pork Belly Casoulet; Erica said that had they served this with a slice of bread it would have garnered five stars (out of five), but instead she coughed up a rare 4½ star rating, they also provided the recipe. I was impressed with the wine, whilst the $12.75 price tag made it a real bargain (look for my review in an upcoming newsletter). The only drawback here was the surly nature of the staff, nobody seemed to be having a good time. Hope you have better luck when you visit.

Pillitteri Estates Winery: presentation was everything here, a hearty beef stew served in a puff pastry shell, or mini-bowl would have been more like it (“vol au vent”) paired up with a 2007 Cabernet Franc. The smell wafting from the room upstairs (where the tasting took place) was enough to make your tummy gurgle with happiness, the taste did the same thing … the wine also delivered.

More Pairings, in Short …
Chateau des Charmes: 2007 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, PEI lobster and Cognac Bisque with a Shot of Crème Fraiche … served in a shot glass this is a one gulp soup, otherwise the crème fraiche makes the soup taste cold; drink as you would any bar shot. Score: 8 out of 10

Reif Estate Winery: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve paired with a medley of appetizers including Granello cheese, Bresola (cured beef) and dried Niagara tomatoes ... None of the foods truly meshed with the wine, but the antipastos were yummy on their own and so was the wine. Score 8 out of 10.

Lailey Vineyard: The 4 white grape blend 2008 Counterpoint paired with a Chevre and smoked trout pinwheel ... I think the flavours speak for themselves here – in both the wine and the food. Score 7.5 out of 10.

Hillebrand Winery: 2006 Trius Red paired with Trius Pot Pie … Presentation was cute and the pie was quite tasty, but they substituted the lighter bodied 2006 version of the Trius Red in place of the heartier (and advertised) 2007 version … the pie needed something more substantial to make it pop. If you go insist on the more robust 2007 Trius Red and you’ll find it a better combination. Score 7.5 out of 10.

The Group of Seven …
These wineries all get a passing grade of 7, the pairing was good, the wine was good, nothing earth shattering or mind blowing here but you will not be disappointed if you go.

Konzelmann Estate Winery: 2007 Sparkling Riesling paired with a salmon-zucchini twist crowned with ‘Bleu Turtle Salsa” and chive cream cheese on Artisan Corn Bread.
Comment – Corn cake was too dominant which took away from the lively, fresh topping … less corn cake and you have a winner here. Good news, no turtles were harmed in the making of the salsa.

Niagara College Teaching Winery: 2006 Shiraz paired with black currant, pepper and venison medley along with artisan bread.
Comment – This is a stew, a tasty stew, but it needed something to jazz it up.

Southbrook Vineyards: 2008 Triomphe Merlot paired with Mini Beef Burger Sliders.
Comment – The burger was cold and there was little hint of the advertised “apple chutney topping”, the bun proved to be a little gritty; but overall good a effort that’s very fixable … heat up the burger and you’ve got yourself a winner here.

Strewn: 2008 Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon paired with creamy mushroom medley in Puff Pastry.
Comment – There was a lack of presentation here, it was a bowl of mushrooms with a triangle shaped puff pastry – the pastry was in the mushrooms not the other way around. If you like mushrooms you’ll like this.

A Couple of Quick Stops …
If you have the time to experience Stonechurch and Maleta swing by. Maleta has a nice Icewine Sponge Cake, made by assistant winemaker Mike Komar’s mother, paired with a Sparkling Old Vines Riesling (they poured the 2006, though advertised the 2007*). Stonechurch is serving up a 2007 Merlot with “Shrimp Cocktail” not exactly a typical presentation of this appetizer classic (shrimp with a smidge of cocktail sauce on a cream cheese slathered piece of bread, with cocktail sauce in the cream cheese) … both of these pairings are a quick in and out nibbly.

An Unfortunate Special Mention …
Due to a family emergency Marynissen was unable to present their advertised pairing this weekend, instead they substituted their Tapanade … reports say the Satay Beef skewer is amazing (the usual); but the Tapanade did nothing to enhance the wine or the reputation of the winery. Many folks I spoke with on the tour described it as possibly the worst pairing have had all day. I’ll leave this one open to those who tried it and give Marynissen a pass. Next weekend should be better.

Bottom of the "barrel" - so to speak …
These four wineries did not add any thing special to the passport program, pairing-wise, and can be avoided if you are on a tight one-day schedule, if you wanna have your own opinion please stop on by and let me know your thoughts. Presented here in reverse order.

#18 of 21 … Peller Estates: 2007 Private Reserve Chardonnay with St. Honore Cheese an Truffle Mushroom Tart.
Comment – The tart was cold, bland and rubbery … maybe warming it up a bit would help, maybe; this is surprising because Peller has a kitchen on-site..

#19 of 21 … Joseph’s Estate Winery: 2006 Gewurztraminer/Riesling with Almondine Tart and Poached Pear.
Comment – Loved the crunchiness of the tart but where was the pear flavour, two micro-thin slices of pear does not constitute pear flavour – usually Joseph’s does a lovely job when they have a dessert pairing … not this time.

#20 of 21 … Inniskillin: 2006 Olympic Vidal Icewine with French Onion Soup and Niagara Gold Crouton.
Comment – The usually reliable Inniskillin dropped the pot on this one. Remember I told you about the good part of thinking outside the box; well this is the other side of the coin on the passport program this year. It was a nice try to think outside the box here, but this time they didn’t quite hit the mark. Even after I tried to liven up the soup by splashing icewine into it it still didn’t awaken this bland, boring and uninspired combination.

#21 of 21 … The Disappointment of the Day:
Stratus: 2006 Wildass White with Sweet Potato Profiteroles.
Comment – Speaking of bland, boring and uninspired, this was a shocker … After such a brilliant beginning (ranking #1 at the Wine & Herb) we get to see how far the mighty have fallen, on the other hand, maybe it was beginners luck. The food had no taste, it was a sweet potato mousse served in a frozen éclair roll. There was no sweet potato flavour, and the pastry it was served in was also bland and tasteless; as the old saying goes: “two blands don’t make it right”; not even the wine could save this pairing. I chewed, swallowed and it was like I hadn’t put anything in my mouth. Stratus once again served their pairing outside, on the patio overlooking the vineyard, this time I suspect it was a way to distract you from what they were serving … and why would you highlight a wine line (Wildass) you can’t buy or try in the store? Sorry Charlie, J.L. and the rest of the Stratus team, this pairing was a real loser … let’s hope you make a come back at the next event.

*Daniel Pambianchi contacted me and said it was indeed the 2007 Sparkling as they have been sold out of the 2006 for some time - I have to admit I did not check the bottle and just took the employee's word for it being a 2006 vintage wine.

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Report from ... Celebrate Argentina – November 10, 2009

Before I kick off this review of the most recent Argentina tasting to be held in Toronto, I thought I would offer a few words of advice to those wineries “seeking representation” here in Ontario: Stop talking to your buddy, get off the phone and pay attention to who’s in front of you. There were 5 wineries from this South American country who were listed as ‘seeking’ and plenty of agents doing some seeking of their own, looking for the next big wine for the Ontario market (or at least something good to add to their portfolio); but more often then not those ‘seeking’ were too busy gabbing with their fellow countrymen to pay attention to those standing in front of them … keep doing that and you’ll be ‘seeking representation’ for quite some time to come. Now, shut up and pour the wine.

Alright, enough advice for wineries trying to crack into Canada’s largest market; time for my advice as to which Argentinean wines you should be looking for next time you make that trek to the liquor store – there are plenty of good Argentine wines at good prices and many of them involve the Malbec grape.

Nothing But Malbec …
The 4½ Star Club (out of 5) – good value, excellent wine:
Chakana Reserva Malbec 2008 ($16.95)
Don Nicanor Malbec 2007 ($17.95)
Los Clop Reserva Malbec 2006 ($16.95)

The 4 Star Club (out of 5) – good value, very good wine:
Nieto Senetiner Malbec Reserva ($11.95)

The Other Grapes …
Navarro Correas Allegoria Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($19.95) – a limited edition grand reserva; big red cherries and other red berried with chocolate, blackberries and hints of leather, through all that it remains very juicy. (****½)

Andeluna Grand Reserve Pasionado 2004 ($45.95) – a blend of Malbec, Merlot and the Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc; sweet aromas that ease onto the palate: vanilla, oak, white pepper, raspberry, very smooth with hints of chocolate on the finish. (****½)

Pascual Toro Merlot 2007 ($12.95) – juicy blackberries, black currants, vanilla and cinnamon – good value. (****)

Xumek Zonda Chardonnay-Viognier ($14.99) – nice fruit flavours tropically nuances with lots of juicy pineapple. (****)

Xumek Syrah 2008 ($24.99) – Syrah is the signature of this winery; leathery black fruit and smoky, also has a nice mineral note. (****)

Familia Schroeder Saurus Patagonia Select Pinot Noir 2007 ($18.95) – earthy, good red and black fruit mix with a nice spiciness, good tannins, delicate use of oak, ripe and delicious; one of the best Pinot Noirs I have had from Argentina, price very attractively for such a good bottle of Pinot Noir. (****½)

Chakana Yaguarete Collection Bonarda 2009 ($13.95) – an absolute steal for this big-on-cherry-with-a-touch-of-floral wine made from Argentina’s other popular grape (there, and hopefully soon here). Clean, tasty, full of fruit and coming to a Vintages near you in March or April of 2010, so keep your eyes and ears open for it … this one is quite the find, and you’ll thank me for it. (****½)

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Report from ... Annual Italian Tasting – November 2, 2009

I stare into the abyss that is Roy Thompson Hall, sure the place is beautiful and an architectural wonder (or so the literature says), but I’m also looking at close to 100 Italian producers (someone says its actually ONLY 99) all pouring a minimum of 5 wines; for the mathematically challenged that’s easily 500+ wines they want me to try – hospitalization here I come. Thankfully there is a 10AM seminar to sit through, allowing me to wrap my head around the 212 page bible (listing all the wines and producers beyond the seminar walls) that lies in front of me. But I’ll get to that in a minute or two, first let’s listen in to Mr. Attilio Scienza as he talks to us about the Italian island of Sicily – and to David Lawrason, as he leads us through the wine tasting.

The day began with the numbers about Italian wine as presented by Paolo Ponti, director of the Italian Trade Commission – he provides the same good news every year: Italian wine is on the rise around the world and especially in Canada. I half expect him to pull a little Italian flag out of his pocket and wave it frantically in one hand while saying, “yeah Italy”, but then again if you ever met Mr. Ponti you would find that funny because he is such a serious looking man and he talks in a very serious tone, befitting of his look. Then it was off to Sicily with Attilio. I hear it mentioned that Mr. Scienza is “brilliant” and “really knows his stuff” when it come to the wines of Italy, to him it’s more than just wine, “it’s a science” – not surprising then to learn that the first five letters of his name are the same 5-letters in the word science … co-incidence? I think not. He refers to Sicily as its own “continent” the way it sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, with its good diurnal temperature (nice expanse between day time highs and night time lows), sometimes as much as 10-12 degrees. Harvest in Sicily is the longest of any region in Italy, lasting from the beginning of August to late October or early November – as long as 100 days from beginning to end. 85% of the grapes grown are indigenous, while the other 15% are international varietals like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. 75% of the grapes are white varietals (thus leaving 25% to be of the red persuasion). There are 650 wineries in Sicily.

Sicily is broken down into 3 macro areas : Western (the most important), South Eastern and North Eastern (aka: Etna) and two smaller micro areas, which are actually small islands. The soils of Sicily are African based, especially in the south, and different from all other European soils: “Sicily has it’s own genetic specificity which is unique,” Professor Science tells us; he also says that “Sicilian varietals never work out of this region because of their intimate link with the soils.” Other soils found around Sicily are volcanic soils and “calcarinite” soils (loaded with shells), each giving the grapes a certain flavour (even when made with the same grape), the word ‘Terroir’ should come to mind. Interesting to note: Sicily was the last stop for phyloxera on its march through Europe, thought to be because of the sharp shell make up of the soils – the shells cut the louse thus making it hard for them to take purchase and live in Sicily soils.

Best wines of the Seminar …
We tasted 10 wines, one of my favourite was the Planeta, 2008 Cometa, made from the Fiano grape (white) – a wine first made in 2000. This wine was pretty big in the alcohol department (14.4%) but the booze was barely apparent because of its good balance in the mouth. A nose that was floral, sweet and tropical with hints of tangerine. Great flavours followed with buttery, vanilla and tropical nuances along with hints of mineral – all ending with a great long finish and mouth-watering acidity. My other favourite was from the Etna region, where Europe’s biggest active volcano resides, these grapes are hand-harvested at the beginning of November and grow at an altitude of 750m above sea level. Patria 2006 Etna DOC Rosso, made from the red grapes Nerello Mascalese (80%) and Nerello Cappuccio (20%). Plummy and spiced raspberry on the nose; the palate delivers a spicy, peppery wine with nice red berry fruit, good acidity and is mocha-coffee like on the finish with gentle tannins … nice complexity to this wine. Both of these wines received 4½ stars (out of 5) from me.

The Main Event … (10 wines that were worth tasting)
Vini Farnese 2007 Edizione Cinque Autoctoni ($36.95) – five grape blend: Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera di Brindisi – juicy blackberry and plum, easy on the palate with good tannins and a dry finish. (****)

Feudi Di San Marzano (Farnese’s estate in Puglia): offering three great, and very different, Primitivos …
2008 Primitivo Puglis IGT ($14.95) – rich raspberry pie nose, big raspberry palate, rich and fruity with a touch of plum on the back palate. (****)

2007 Primitivo Di Manduria DOC Sud ($23.00) – this is a vine selection wine; raspberry, blackberry, a touch of plum, lots of juicy fruit flavours, plenty of plum and raspberry in the mouth. (****)

2006 Primitivo Di Manduria DOC Sessantanni ($35.00) – from 60 year old vines; fruit and mineral notes, plummy-mineral flavours, very Zin-like here with dusty raspberry finish. (****½)

FontanaFredda 2005 Barolo Serralunga D’Alba DOCG – single village, estate vineyard selection; clove and spice, pepper and black fruit with big tannins. (****½)

FontanaFredda 2008 Dolcetto Diano D’Alba La Lepre DOC – single village, single vineyard; nice fruit and spice with good acidity, short oaking period helps to retains those fresh fruit flavours. (****)

Leona de Castris 2008 Primitivo Di Manduria DOC Villa Santera – rich, red and jammy, this is almost more Cali-Zin-like than most California Zins are these days; if it had not been for the elevated acidity I would have sworn it was from California. (****)

Monte del Fra 2007 IGT Corvina Del Veronese – all stainless steel; very fresh and fruity with lots of red berry fruit and good acidity. (****)

Cantina Todini 2008 Umbria IGT Relais Rosso – 60% Sangiovese, 40% Petit Verdot; rich and fruity with chocolate aromas and flavours, there’s also reddish fruit with spice and pepper … delicious. (****½)

And Finally, A Reason to Shop for Wine in January …
Casa Vinicola Zonin 2007 Valpolicella DOC Superiore Ripasso ($15.95 – general list January 2010) – nice fruit, cherries and chocolate, this one is ready to drink up and look at that great price point. (****)

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Report from ... Halpern Portfolio Tasting – October 29, 2009

It’s time for the Halpern tasting, an every two year affair, from what I am told. Halpern represents a variety of wineries both famous and infamous, from around the world. Their tasting was held in the ex-Automotive Building (now the Allstream Centre) on the Exhibition grounds (otherwise known as The Ex). The most amazing part of the tasting – besides some of the wines – was the elephant (not kidding) at the front door acting as a beacon to visitors … you had to have some sympathy for the guy who had to cart around the wheel barrel and shovel all day … one guy leads the elephant around from the front, the other guy has a the wheel barrel and shovel, sounds like a metaphor for life. But enough about the pachyderm. The reason to be there was to taste all the great wines Halpern brings into Ontario, and there were plenty of them on display, some need no introduction or plug from me, so I’ll try (operative word here is try) to focus my attention on wineries you may not have heard about and wines you’ve just gotta get your mitts (and tongue) on – someway, somehow … maybe by getting a case from Halpern, just a suggestion:

M. Chapoutier (France) 2007 Rasteau Cote du Rhone Village ($17.80) – lots of cherry and red fruit with a subtle spiciness … excellent price for this delicious wine. (****)

Domaine Carneros (USA) 2005 Vintage Brut ($32.70) – this bubbly bites back with tart green apple and lots of acidity. (****)

Faiveley (France) 2007 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands ($39.50) – I’m worried about the name of this wine, not sure I’m too enthused about a wine that comes from “My Glands”, but once it hit the palate all my cares just drifted away. This all Pinot Noir wine delivered delicious flavour: lovely cherry with subtle earthiness; try this and you too will be crazy ‘bout a Mercurey. (****½)

Gaja (Italy) 2006 Ca’Marcanda Magari IGT ($76.00) – 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc; big black fruited beauty with bold tannins. (****½)

Hecht & Bannier (France) 2006 Cotes du Rousillon Villages ($22.95) – a Grenache dominated wine; heavy on the black fruit, big on taste with nice tannin structure. (****)

Kalleske (Australia) 2007 Pirathon Shiraz ($36.85) – smooth blackberry, white pepper and spice, big mouth filling wine, at 15% alcohol, with a chocolaty finish. The representative, obviously from Australia, said this is his house wine, I hope when I get to Australia I’m invited to his house. (****½)

Isole e Olena (Italy) 2006 Uvaggio Coste della Sesja Rosso DOC ($43.65) – a blend of Nebbiolo, Vespolina and Croatina; think young fresh fruit: strawberry and raspberry flavour with a touch of stoniness, floral aromas are delicate on the nose and the wine has a good tannins structure and nice acidity which helps to keep it fresh and lively … this was a pleasant and welcome surprise. (****½)

Jermann (Italy) 2007 Were Dreams ($67.15) – made of indigenous Italian grapes though it tastes like a well made Chardonnay: creamy vanilla, butter and a touch of sweet tropical fruit. (****)

L’Aventure Winery (USA) 2007 Estate Cuvee ($102.55) – Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot; crème du cassis, black fruited and boldly peppery. (****)

L’Aventure Winery (USA) 2007 Cote a Cote ($102.55) – owner/winemaker Stefan Asseo hails from Bordeaux, tired of the restrictions put on him in his native land he came to California to make “whatever he wanted”. This beauty, a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah (his take on a Rhone-style blend, California style) was the best wine of the tasting. Loaded with fruit (both red and black), pepper, spice and so much more; the wine had a great complexity on the nose which followed right into the mouth, there was also plenty of alcohol (16.4%) – stunningly good. (*****)

Layer Cake (Italy) 2007 Primitivo ($23.00) – plumy with sweet cherry fruit backing, very Zin-like … bring on the bbqed ribs with extra sauce. (****) … the Layer Cake Malbec (from their Argentinean venture) is also quite good.

Majella (Australia) 2005 Sparkling Shiraz ($34.35) – representative Peter Lynn called this: “red wine with training wheels”, the bubbly is aged 48 months on lees and, as in the traditional method, in bottle; it retains the peperiness and black raspberry of the Shiraz grape, as well as the elevated alcohol (14%); the dosage is premium Aussie Port-style wine, giving it just hint of something sweet … probably one of the best Sparkling Shiraz’s I have ever had. (****)

Vega Sicilia (Spain) 2006 Pintia ($66.15) – 100% Tempranillo from the Toro Region; spicy, bold and black fruited, lots of pepper, it’s a two “L” wine: lively and lovely. (****½)

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Report from ... Bordeaux Under One Roof – October 28, 2009

Here I got the chance to try the Bordeaux wines under $25 and most, if not all, available at the LCBO … these were my top 8 that were worth the dollars they’re asking for them … I also noticed that when it comes to Bordeaux under 25 you really do get what you pay for, want more complexity in your wine, you have to pay for it, and it makes a world of difference, though there are quite a few bargains to be had.

Thomas Barton 2006 ($16.95) – 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon; big chocolate and cherry nose which follows in the mouth, very new world in style. (****)

Chateau Canada 2005 ($14.95) – being from the Great White North you have to have a special place in you heart for this one; black fruit, black cherry, spicy, cedery and good tannins. (****)

Chateau Argenteyre 2005 ($24.95) – blackberry, vanilla, black cherry, cinnamon, spices and herbs with a nice black fruited finish. This one has nice complexity for the nose and mouth. (****½)

Chateau des Laurets 2006 ($19.95) – nice sweet blackberry fruit with juicy blackberries in the mouth. (****)

Calvets Reserve 2006 ($13.95) – lots of cherry flavour which follows from the nose into the mouth … pleasant dry red fruit finish. (****)

Chateau St. Germain 2007 ($13.95) – licorice and blackberry on the nose, smooth red fruit in the mouth with delicate flavours, easy drinking at a good price. (****½)

Chateau Pey La Tour Reserve 2006 ($21.95) – black cherry, cassis and sweet fruit palate with a nice tannin backbone. (****½)

Chateau Roquetaillade La Grange Vieilles Vignes 2005 ($21.95) – from 45 year old vines; a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot with 13.5% alcohol. Great colour and concentration, the nose is a little closed off at first pour – so it needs some air to open ‘er up. But when it does: raspberry liqueur fills the olfactories. Palate delivers a complexity of flavour far beyond it’s price point: blackberry, vanilla, sweet fruit, plum, chocolate/mocha, licorice and white pepper … delivers great flavour and great value for under $25 … this one’s a real star, 5 of them actually. (*****)

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Report from ... Mazel Wines Tasting – November 11, 2009

There was a time when the words ‘kosher’ and ‘wine’ didn’t mix. Even to this day, to some kosher wine means sweet sacramental wines, while to others, it means wines of an undrinkable nature, especially if you grew up with the stuff. While today there are still some real stinkers out there that’ll make you gag as you choke them down – the most notable fault is that the wine doesn’t taste like wine; on the other hand, there are also some very good wines and wineries that are putting out, not just drinkable kosher wines, but would be considered good wines even if they didn’t have the crutch of a ‘kosher’ label on them (the standard for kosher wine seems to be lower because of its undrinkable reputation – it’s as if kosher wine was invented so that the Jews could punish themselves). Tonight we were here to debunk that myth, a tasting of Mazel Wines wines (kosher wine agent) – a free for all tasting and a sit down portion, where we learned what it is that makes a wine “kosher”, the evening was led by wine writers Sheila and Irv (no last names mentioned to protect the innocent).

Sit Down Tasting …
8 Wines made up this part of the evening: 3 whites, 3 reds and two sweet bubblies. The whites included a Gruner Veltliner (Austria), a Pinot Grigio (Italy) and a Chardonnay (Israel). Hands down it was the Italian Cantina Gabriele 2007 Pinot Grigio ($18.35) that was the best of the white bunch – green apple, grapefruit/citrus, nice acidity and a long finish.

The red wines poured during this segment of the evening were: a Chianti (Italy), a Pinot Noir (Austria) and a Merlot (Israel) … I’m impressed here once again by the Italians, who seem to be doing it right. Cantina Gabriele (once again) 2007 Chianti ($18.35) was fruit forward with black cherry, vanilla, spice and had a lovely cherry finish.

The 2 bubblies were sweet versions, one from Austria, the other from New York State. Another no brainer for the tongue here, the New York wine won, Armon Sparkling – ($13.20) made from the much maligned Concord grape. Sure it’s a sweet wine with grapey flavours, but everyone needs a little sweetness in their lives and this wine really provides it.

Other Highlights …
During the walk around portion I encountered a Hafner Zweigelt ($13.95) that was a light and refreshing red, kinda like Pinot Noir without the earthy quality. Speaking of light, the third wine, from Italian producer Cantina Gabriele, that I tried was a very refreshing Moscato ($16.15) … it tasted like Moscato should, and that’s not some kosher-wine-pass I’m giving it, it was really very good – but you have to like Moscato; I do.

Finally, there was one Teperberg 1870 wine to try, and two representatives from the company on hand – there ought to be a rule in the wine business that states: the number of people from a winery should never out number the wines being poured. This winery had a story to tell and plenty of interesting wines were listed, and even on display (full bottles) but the corks were never pulled, nor were the wines tasted – a shame and a pity. One can assume from the name that Teperberg has been around since 1870 (but don’t quote me on that). The wine I tried was a tepid Late Harvest Riesling ($20.65 – 375ml), that someone forgot to chill, it had great tropical fruit with a sweet vanilla creaminess to it derived from the minimal barrel aging put on the wine (3-4 months of new and used oak); I suspect this wine would have been better chilled because it was quite good at room temperature.

It’ Not That Easy Being Kosher …
Rabbi Tzvi Heber gave a brief talk about Kosher wines and how they should be made … he did mention in his remarks that making wines kosher is a very “sensitive, tedious and difficult process.” But it seems that some wineries are getting the hang of making good wines within the confines of the rules of kashruth. It’s still hit and miss, but I’m glad to see that the hits really are hits and not just wines on a some kind of must-have-kosher-day-pass to the table.

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Report from ... Bb33 Errazuriz Winemaker’s Dinner – November 3, 2009

It was another fantastic winemaker’s dinner at Bb33, the restaurant within the Delta Chelsea hotel in downtown Toronto, and executive chef Gino Guercio outdid himself once again (click here to see my previous Bb33 dinner I attended for Bodegas Norton).

The winery this time was the Chilean self described “boutique” Errazuriz, with guest speaker Michel Coutonlenc, regional director, who was brief and to the point with his comments, wanting instead for the wines, and the food pairings, to speak for themselves. So, as per his wish, let’s get right to it.

The Wines …
Errazuriz 2008 Pinot Noir Wild Ferment ($19.95 – Private Order) – an amazing wine that went with everything and got better and better over the course of the evening. It started off soft and fruity with beautiful raspberry and slightly earthy notes, I also found some currants and red fruit. There’s a delicacy and elegance here that continued to improve throughout the two hours we lingered over dinner, by the end there was a delightfully inviting perfumed aroma emanating from the glass – and over this time it had become my favourite wine on the table. (****½)
Paired with the Salmon

Errazuriz 2007 Max Reserva Shiraz ($17.95 – General List LCBO) – this is a big lusciouosly fruited wine made from 100% Shiraz. Michel told us that Errazuriz was the first winery to produce Shiraz in Chile (1986). Aged 12 months in 2nd use, mainly French oak, and fruit sourced from 22-23 year old vines. This wine is dark fruit driven and juicy with hints of vanilla and white pepper … good value at under eighteen bucks a bottle. (****)
Paired with the Rack of Venison

Errazuriz 2005 Don Maximiano ($79.00) – named after the founder of the winery Don Maximiano (1870), this wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon which is harvested by hand at night, to preserve the freshness of the fruit, aged 18 months in new French oak, and only 1500 cases are made each year. It started off leathery with blackberry and other black fruits with plenty of spiciness; it went well with the cheese, but with all those tannins and spice it probably would have gone better with that hunk of venison; a delicious wine now but plenty of time to lie it down and improve. (****½)
Paired with the Cheese

The Food …

Applewood smoked Chilean salmon & Muskoka forged mushroom timbale salad

Pistachio and cranberry crusted northern Ontario rack of venison

Quebec artisan cheese board

Warm cinnamon and maple syrup poached Bartlett pear tarte tatin

My thanks to the folks at Bb33 for having me and hosting such a delicious dinner.

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Report from ... G7 Wines of Portugal: Wine and Component Tasting – October 20, 2009

At first I was a little confused when invited to a G7 tasting, what did they want with me? But then I found out it was 5 wineries from Portugal representing 7 regions (from the map we were given I count 11 regions, so we were covering more than half). The five wineries were Alianca, Aveleda, Bacalhoa, Jose Maria Fonseca and Messias, each brought along their knowledge and two of their own wines already in the Ontario market, along with a tasting of some of the single varietal components found in many of their wines.

The Components …
We rarely see straight varietal wines from Portugal, like many old world countries they prefer to blend grapes to make the best wines possible, so to try these grapes/wines individually was quite a treat … these were not finished wines and in some cases were tank or barrel samples.

The Whites …
Alvarinho – one of Portugals main white varietals, mainly in the North near the Spanish border. Tropical, citrus, good acidity.

Loureiro – native grape planted mainly in the Vinho Verde region, it is gaining in popularity. Apple, pear and tangerine notes.

Arino – from north of Lisbon. Quite Riesling-like with good acidity.

Fernao Peres – this grape resembles Muscat. Fresh apple aromas with Mac apple flavours and a long finish.

The Reds …
Trincadeiro – not available for tasting, didn’t make it through customs in time.

Aragonez – a.k.a. Tempranillo or Tinta Roriz … everytime I hear this grape’s name I think of Sergio Aragonez from Mad magazine. Tips for growing good Aragonez based wines: one needs low yields and older vines, according to one of our hosts.

Touriga Nacional – a grape found all over Portugal but has different expressions depending where it’s grown: Douro (fruity), Setubal (earthy), Dao (licorice and herbal).

Touriga Franca – a cross between Nacional and Tinta Barrica or Roriz; this is a grape that produces wine no bigger than 13% alcohol and very little is planted throughout Portugal; adds rich dark fruit notes and requires time to develop once bottled (2-3 years before it begins to express itself).

Debunking the Myth of Thousands …
It was revealed that there are approximately 246 grape varieties in Portugal (that is much lower than the thousands they originally thought) that’s because recent DNA testing proved that many of the same varietals had different names regionally.

The Wines (of note) …
Quinta de Aveleda 2008 Vinho Verde ($9.95) – melon and tropical notes on the nose which follow on the palate; fresh and fruity with a long finish and light spritz. (****)

Alianca 2006 Particular ($13.95) – due to a rainy harvest all top end Touriga Nacional went into this wine making it an exceptionally good wine and excellent value. Aged 12 months in French and American oak with 5% done in Russian oak. It’s a blend of Nacional and Tinta Roriz (in previous years a third grape has been added to the blend). Sweet black fruit with licorice, ripe cherry and plum on the nose. Tastes of sweet ripe red fruit, black licorice, vanilla oak and a dry dusty finish – nice short-term ageability here (2-5 years) for under 14 dollars. (****½)

Alianca 2007 Vista TN ($10.95) – black fruit and spicy oak with a smooth finish and good length. (****)

Tinta da Anfora 2006 ($12.95) – a blend of indigenous and international grape varieties aged 12 months in French and U.S. oak. Nice red fruit with a minerally note, some earthy character, cherry, subtle spice and a black olive finish. (****)

Messias 2004 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($16.95) – this LBV proved to be better with time in the glass. A nose of cherry marmalade and tastes of sweet black cherry, chocolate and spices leading off the first few sips – more tawny-like than LBV-ish … with some time the complexity emerged: raisiny, dried cherry and spiced marmalade … the start was smooth with a rough tannin bite on the finish, which surprisingly turned almost creamy at some points – this Port has real character. (****)

The Lunch … (catered by Sotto Sotto)
Special wines from all 5 producers were served with lunch – wines that are not available locally, so they were a real treat. Such as Hexagon 2005 made from Tannat, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Tricadeira, Touriga Franca and Tinto Cao; Follies Alvarinho, a delicate wine that paired well with the seafood mosaic; Dados Douro 2007 Reserve, a big fruited blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional; and the incredibly rare sweet dessert wine, Bacalhoa 1999 Moscatel Roxo, a fortified sweety aged 8 years in barrel from the Moscatel Roxo grape, of which only 18 hectars are planted in Portugal (and potentially world wide). If ever one had the chance to call a wine sexy, this was it. Too good to fully describe. Suffice it to say it danced in the mouth with fruity, nutty and spicy sensations along with wonderful palate cleansing acidity that required a re-taste after each swallow, just to make sure it actually tasted that good. What a stunner.

The Menu – wines from Portugal meet food from Italy …

Tris di Mare: Seafood mosaic composed of seared scallop, seared tuna and garlic shrimp

Ravioli di Zucca: Butternut squash ravioi in a brown butter sage sauce

Osso Bucco Stinco de Vitello: veal shank with soft polenta

And for dessert, Cannoli de Ricotta all’Arancia: traditional Italian pastry with orange ricotta filling (sorry no picture, was too wrapped up in the delicious sweet wine, see above).

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