Friday, April 22, 2011

Report from ... The Green Living Show, Bio Vino Expo - April 15, 2011

The Green Living Show was not all about wine, it's about living life without leaving a big carbon footprint behind, it's about sustainability, bio-dynamics, organics, living lightly on the land, living off the land, giving back to the land ... oh heck, for me it was about the wine ... there weren't as many on display for tasting as there were last year and that's probably best because last year got a little over-whelming; this time out there was a nice manageable number of wines - and some really good ones, many garnering 3 1/2 stars or higher ... here were my top international Bio Wine selections:

Cono Sur 2009 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($12.95 - Chile) - ****+
Domaine des Cognettes, Granite de Clisson 2004 Melon de Bourgogne, Nantes ($20.95 - France) - ****+
Monty Waldin 2009 Monty's Tuscan Red ($18.95 - Italy) - ****
Bodegas Cecchin 2009 Malbec ($12.95 - Argentina) - ****
Collefrisio 2009 Montelpulciano D'Abruzzo ($17.95 - Italy) - *** 1/2+
Domaine Breton Bourgueil "Trinch" 2009 Cabernet Franc ($19.85 - France) - *** 1/2
Temple Bruer Wines 2010 Preservative Free Cabernet-Merlot ($23.95 - Australia) - *** 1/2
Richard Plains 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($17.95 - New Zealand) - *** 1/2
Cono Sur 2010 Riesling ($9.95 - Chile) - *** 1/2
Cono Sur 2010 Reserva Carmenere Rosé ($11.95 - Chile) - *** 1/2

Also looking forward to the 2010 Cono Sur Viognier, a perennial favourite at $9.95 ... it's summer in a glass.

Beer at the Bio ...

There were also a small contingent of local breweries in attendance (6) and I sampled a bit of suds just to keeps things level:

- Better Bitters Brewing Company makes Nickel Brook and my favourites here were:
Green Apple Pilsner (need I say more) & the Maple Porter (creamy coffee with a hint of maple)

- Mill Street makes quite a few beers, especially the ones that are their brew-pub exclusives, best of the batch here:
Franconian Bock (slightly sweet) & Lemon Tea Beer (lemony tea no doubt, odd but nice)

- Muskoka Cottage Brewery had three to sample and two proved to be very tasty:
Weiss (nice citrus and vanilla notes) & Dark Ale (coffee nuances)

1 comment:

Dean Tudor said...

My take ..

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Cono Sur Sparkling NV Chile, $13.95
-Cono Sur Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Chile, $12.95
-Le Clos Jordanne Chardonnay Village Reserve 2007 Niagara, $30
-Dom. Des Cognettes Granite de Clisson Melon de Bourgogne 2004 Nantes, $20.95.
-Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc 2010 New Zealand, $17.95

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Dom. Barmes Buecher Pinot Gris Herrenweg 2004 Alsace, $19.95
-Les Clos Perdus Corbieres Cuvee 71 2009, $19.95
-Les Clos Perdus Corbieres Mire la Mer 2006, $32.95
-Bod. Familia Cecchin Syrah 2007 Argentina, $12.95
-Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Franc 2008 Niagara, $22.95
-Temple Bruer Cabernet Merlot 2010 Langhorne Creek Australia, $23.95
-Temple Bruer Shiraz 2010 Langhorne Creek Australia, $23.95
-Tawse Quarry Road Gewurztraminer 2010, $24.95

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Les Clos Perdus Corbieres L’Extreme Blanc 2009, $47.95
-Les Clos Perdus Corbieres L’Extreme Rouge 2007, $47.95
-Dom. Barmes Buecher Riesling 2007 Alsace, $35
-Monty Waldin Monty’s Tuscan Red 2009, $18.95
-Bod. Familia Cecchin Merlot 2007 Argentina, $11.95
-Bod. Familia Cecchin Malbec 2009 Argentina, $12.95
-Dom. Breton Bourgueil Trinch 2009, $19.85
-Dom. Campinuovi Siena Montecucco Sangiovese 2008, $26.85
-Southbrook Triomphe Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Niagara, $23.95
-Richmond Plains Pinot Noir 2010 New Zealand, $23.95
-Cono Sur Riesling 2009 Chile, $9.95.
-Milton Vineyard Riverpoint Chardonnay New Zealand, $17.95
-Ciao Organic Chardonnay Puglia, $11.95 1 litre tetra pack