So I'm looking at my calendar and sitting there, like so many holidays do, is the words "Earth Day". If you listen to the Podcast you'll learn how I plan to celebrate Earth Day.
I am thrilled to announce that as of February 24, 2009, each Podcast has its own unique player - so you can listen to whichever Podcast you want to. So without further ado I will leave you with this week's Podcast, or if you decide not to check out the new format you can read the tasting notes below ... I recommend the Podcast, of course.
The Tasting Notes: The colour is gorgeous – a pinky-orange that reflects the light beautifully. The nose is very inviting with raspberry, strawberry and apple. It’s the palate that needs some getting used to – big biting acidity, once you get it to soften the wine revels a refreshingly dry palate with a raspberry and tart green apple finish. Price: $18.95 – Rating: *** ½
Showing posts with label Southbrook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southbrook. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Southbrook Vineyard 2006 Whimsy Syrah (Lot 19) - $32.75
This is a barrel selection wine, meaning that during a routine tasting of the barrels the folks at Southbrook found this wine to be different, more unique or special in some way over the other barrels – thus they decided it needed a special bottling so you too could experience its uniqueness. Black raspberry, strawberry and pepper greet the nose, whilst in the mouth you’ll find a good tannins backbone holding up the black pepper and black fruit notes … good longevity for a 2006, you should be enjoying this one for the next 5-7 years.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Southbrook Winery 2003 Cabernet - $14.95
If it is at all possible for a wine to be a meal this is it. There’s a hint of iodine on the nose but it intermingles with the black fruit and vanilla beautifully, so it’s not off-putting or detracting, it just makes up part of the whole. A definite smoky oak presence rounds off the nose. On the palate there’s more smoky tones especially in the finish, it’s like you’re eating a nice corned beef (read: smoked meat) sandwich with green peppers and onions (maybe my mind put the last one there). Mouth-filling and not too tannic. A very pleasant drink for anytime – but especially when you’re hungry … very satisfying. Available at the winery only.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Southbrook Winery 2002 Triomphe Cabernet Franc - $24.95
Triomphe is Southbrook’s reserve line of wines. These wines sit in barrel from anywhere between 12 to 18 months, so they can take on more complex flavours than those that sit in barrel for 6 months or less. They also have great longevity, thus making them wonderful cellar candidates … this Franc is no different. Made by the now defunct wine making team of Colin Campbell and Steve Byfield, this wine has plenty of spicy notes on the nose along with black pepper, vanilla and oak. There’s also some green pepper that comes along for the ride up your olfactory lobes, with some berry fruit including blackberry, cassis and cherries. This wine has not finished developing yet and will not smooth out for some time (say 5-7 years), right now it’s still heavily influenced by the oak but there’s licorice, blackberries and white pepper showing up, so far, on the palate, with maybe a hint of cocoa playing around in the background. A fantastic wine that’s only gonna get better with age. Drink now, or hold for a while, but definitely enjoy it. Available at the winery only.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Battle of the ‘Boise: Southbrook vs. Downey’s (Framboise challenge) – $14.95 each
At this year’s Toronto Wine and Cheese Show (2006), best sweet fruit wine was won by Downey’s Estate Winery Framboise. “That’s because we didn’t enter ours,” says winemaker Steve Byfield, of the perennial winner in the category, Southbrook Winery; while over at Downey’s those are fightin’ words. We take the battle out of the bottle and into the glass to see who’s Framboise is better. Six tasters weigh in to help me make the decision:
Downey’s Estate Winery Framboise - $14.95 … 14.9% (375ml)
Less sweet than the Southbrook version with higher alcohol, which some tasters claimed was right upfront on both the taste and nose: “the alcohol was very prominent to the wine, it’s the first thing that hit me”. This Framboise is lighter, both in colour and consistency than it’s Southbrook counterpart. Some tasters comments were: “it tastes more like the real thing, like fresh raspberries” and was more “pleasantly pungent”, “truer to the smell of raspberries”. Overall, Downey’s Framboise is lighter in colour, thinner on the palate with more alcohol – but true to what you’d expect a raspberry wine would be like. Final analysis: very good and tasty.
Southbrook Framboise - $14.95 … 14.5% (375 ml)
Definitely sweeter than the Downey’s version, richer in the mouth and a deep red in colour. Southbrook’s Framboise was described as “thicker, almost syrupy”; “definitely a dessert wine”; “I could see pouring this over ice cream, pie, or even cooking with it”. Other comments made were “smooth”, “viscous” and “perfumey”. The lowdown on this wine: fresh raspberries with a sprinkling of sugar on top, and it was consistently ranked sweeter then it’s Downey’s rival.
The final result was 3 – 3 … no clear-cut winner this time round, a sure sign that personal taste always wins. Those who enjoy sweet liked the Southbrook, while those who enjoy lighter flavoured wines enjoyed Downey’s. The good news is that nobody disliked either wine, the panel thought they were both excellent and very enjoyable. I guess it is now up to you to decide … then weigh in with your opinion.
Downey’s Estate Winery Framboise - $14.95 … 14.9% (375ml)
Less sweet than the Southbrook version with higher alcohol, which some tasters claimed was right upfront on both the taste and nose: “the alcohol was very prominent to the wine, it’s the first thing that hit me”. This Framboise is lighter, both in colour and consistency than it’s Southbrook counterpart. Some tasters comments were: “it tastes more like the real thing, like fresh raspberries” and was more “pleasantly pungent”, “truer to the smell of raspberries”. Overall, Downey’s Framboise is lighter in colour, thinner on the palate with more alcohol – but true to what you’d expect a raspberry wine would be like. Final analysis: very good and tasty.
Southbrook Framboise - $14.95 … 14.5% (375 ml)
Definitely sweeter than the Downey’s version, richer in the mouth and a deep red in colour. Southbrook’s Framboise was described as “thicker, almost syrupy”; “definitely a dessert wine”; “I could see pouring this over ice cream, pie, or even cooking with it”. Other comments made were “smooth”, “viscous” and “perfumey”. The lowdown on this wine: fresh raspberries with a sprinkling of sugar on top, and it was consistently ranked sweeter then it’s Downey’s rival.
The final result was 3 – 3 … no clear-cut winner this time round, a sure sign that personal taste always wins. Those who enjoy sweet liked the Southbrook, while those who enjoy lighter flavoured wines enjoyed Downey’s. The good news is that nobody disliked either wine, the panel thought they were both excellent and very enjoyable. I guess it is now up to you to decide … then weigh in with your opinion.
Southbrook Framboise available at the LCBO and the winery - Downey's Framboise available at the winery only.
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