Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Henry of Pelham 2005 Merlot - $19.95

This week we check out a wine that I thought was not longer on the shelves at Henry of Pelham - but luckily I bumped into Paul DeCampo (Key Accounts Representative for HOP), who informed me that indeed it still is available, just in rather limited quantity - so let me advise you to take a take a trip to St. Catharines to pick up a few bottles of this rare (for 2005) beauty. Take a listen to the Podcast to hear why this wine is a rarity, or, if you choose the more boring route, you can just read the tasting notes below (the Podcast is always more fun):

After spending 14 months in French and American oak (1/2 of which was new) the wine has emerged as a real gem. The nose is seemingly simplistic with blackberry, cherry and red fruits. In the mouth, you’ll find a smooth, rich wine with blackberries and black cherries, a nice tannin structure, a touch of cedary-oakiness and a delicious dark chocolate finish. Sit for 5+ years if you like … but drinking now is not a problem.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Thirty Bench 2006 Winemaker’s Red - $22.00

This week we take a trip to the Beamsville Bench to see what's new and exciting at Thirty Bench - and I'll tell you a little story about a fight I had at a tasting over this winery ... take a listen to the Podcast to hear the tale of two wine writers, or, if you choose the more boring route, you can just read the tasting notes below (the Podcast is always more fun):

The nose is chocolate, cherry, blueberry and cinnamon, while the palate has tobacco, spices, black fruit with a predominance towards black cherry along with plenty of the other stuff you found on your sniffer … holding time for this one is about 5 year, my advice, drink this one while you wait for the 05 to come around and for the 07 to come out.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Vineland 1998 St. Urban Chardonnay - $30.00

This week we dive deep into the cellar at Vineland to try a 1998 Chardonnay ... take a listen to the Podcast to hear how I got my hands on a bottle of this, or you can choose to just read the tasting notes below (the Podcast is more fun though):

The nose was hell-bent on giving you pure buttered-caramel and it delivered with each swirl and sniff, it was followed on the palate with the merest hint of celery root. But it was the oak-sweetness, creamy texture, hint of fruits past and luscious lingering finish that stuck around, and hung about and just plain stayed with you long after you swallowed … wow. After 10-years this wine has aged gracefully and has turned into a stunning beauty – a grand dame if you will. Only 4 cases remain at the winery, so get on the horn and get your bottle before their all gone … oh, and did I mention this is a drink now wine – don’t hold it, savour it as soon as it is chilled, forget the food, this one should be enjoyed all by its lonesome.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Reif Estate 2007 Cabernet Merlot - $13.95

This week it's all about simplicity (and tasty) take a listen to the Podcast to see what I mean or just read the tasting notes below:

There are lots of berries on the nose black ones, rasp ones and cherry ones – there’s also a little bit of spiced vanilla in there. On the palate there’s black cherry, cinnamon and a healthy kick of bittersweet chocolate; as the bottle remained open it became a spiced cocoa. The finish lingers with black cherries … cocoa enrobed black cherries – sounds simple but mostly it sounds delicious.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Chateau des Charmes 2007 Aligote - $13.45

As we look ahead towards much cooler weather and ... I hate to say it, snow, the desire for wines that are heavier, like heart and cockle warming reds and monster oaky whites, takes hold of most of us. This week I look at a white that could quite easily be mistaken for one of those big whites, but in fact is as unoaked as a Riesling. Check out the Podcast for it's full story or below for just the particulars.

The nose could easily fool you into believing it's an oaked Chardonnay, with lots of vanilla and buttery notes along with a hint of floral, and touch of almond. The palate proves just as interesting, with vanilla-caramel-apple and a dash of cinnamon; there's a mid-mouth citrus sweetness here that gives way to green apple tartness on the finish, yet shows an elegant smoothness and fullness in the mouth - and yes that hint of almond finds it's way to the tongue too.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Organized Crime Winery 2006 Pipedown - $18.00

Yet again we're back at The Organized Crime Winery and once again I have a story to tell - so take a listen to the Podcast of this wine ... for details about the wine only see below:

This 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot blend, which is one of the first reds off the line at The Crime Boss, has a nose of cranberry, a bit of pepper, and cherries as sour as the offended congregation’s mood … those cherries continue with other red berries in a smooth, soft, easy drinking style of red. This one’s pleasant and enjoyable.

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