Quick Picks ─ Vintages Release: September 1 2012

When I saw the main theme of this week's release at Vintages - Favourite Wines for Fall Fêtes - I did my best imitation of MacCauley Culkin in Home Alone...ARRGHH!!!  It's still the (glorious) dog days of summer and these guys want to bury the season and move on to fall.  Isn't summer short enough in Canada without calling an end to it before Labour Day?!  But these are the same folks that start pushing the Christmas themes in early November.  A pox on them, I say.

To the good news, there are goodies scattered throughout the release and it wasn't easy to narrow it down to just 12.  But here they are:

Organic

MARIMAR ESTATE LA MASÍA DON MIGUEL VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2008, Russian River Valley (California); #270090; Price: $25.95; 14.2% ABV
Chardonnay (!) from the cool climate Russian River Valley in Sonoma.  Certified organic and working towards Biodynamic certification.  From my favourite winemaking family.  Enjoyable now but can be aged a few more years.

COOPER MOUNTAIN RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2009, Willamette Valley (Oregon); #510750; Price: $29.95; 13.5% ABV
Pinot Noir from Oregon.  A real treat with beer-can chicken but better to wait a couple of years.

Off the Beaten Track

Whites

After some Pinot noir, why not try some Pinot Blanc?  It’s an ideal late summer sipper and goes well with grilled white fish, chicken, pork or sausages.  Here are 2 accomplishments with this underrated varietal wine, One New World, one Old World.  Meant to be drunk young, so these are ready to go!

GRAY MONK PINOT BLANC 2011, VQA Okanagan Valley; #321612; Price: $19.95; 11.9% ABV
From one of the oldest wineries in BC.

ANDRÉ BLANCK & SES FILS ROSENBOURG PINOT BLANC 2011, AC Alsace (France); #626606; Price: $13.95; 12.5% ABV
Alsace is where they really know what to do with Pinot Blanc.  Classic aperitif!

PEDRO ESCUDERO FUENTE ELVIRA VERDEJO 2010, DO Rueda (Spain); #218313; Price: $14.95; 14.0% ABV
Verdejo, a grape indigenous to Rueda.  Known for its herbaceous aromas; with age it will show off a nutty flavour.  How patient are you?  Try it with grilled veggies.

Reds

XANADU CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Margaret River (Australia); #59956; Price: $28.95; 14.0% ABV

Yes, Cabernet Sauvignon.  What makes this worth seeking out is that it’s from Margaret River on the west coast of Australia.  It’s Cabernet Sauvignon, only different.

DOMAINE BERNARD BAUDRY 2009, AC Chinon (Loire); #940783; Price: $19.95; 13.0% ABV

2 consecutive releases from Vintages with a Cabernet Franc from Loire!  Excellent summer wine that goes well with most anything off the grill.

GÉRARD BERTRAND SYRAH/MOURVÈDRE 2009, AC St. Chinian (Languedoc); #281832; Price: $16.95; 14.0% ABV

Classic St Chinian from a reputable producer in a good vintage.  Taste the Garrigue!  Match it with rosemary-marinated lamb kabobs.  Drink now.

CHÂTEAU DE GALIFAY CAIRANNE 2010, AC Côtes du Rhône-Villages (France); #290080; Price: $ 17.00; 14.0% ABV

Another treat from the south of France.  Great value in a good vintage.

QUINTA DO PORTAL RESERVA 2008, DOC Douro (Portugal); #280578; Price: $19.95; 14.0% ABV

Want to know where the great wine values are?  Look no further than the Douro region in northern Portugal.  Famous for port but it’s their table wines (made using the same grapes as used for Port) that really deliver.  Try it with rib-eye steak.  Drink now.

LEGÓN CRIANZA 2008, DO Ribera del Duero (Spain); #276089; Price: $15.95; 13.5% ABV

Speaking of great value, you can’t do better than this Tempranillo.  It's the BEST VALUE in this release.  Ideal with grilled lamb chops.

Rosé

CHÂTEAU DE MANISSY TAVEL 2011, AC Tavel (Southern Rhone); #276469; Price: $15.95; 13.0% ABV

Bye Bye rosé!  See you next year…

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Quick Picks: Vintages Release ─ August 18 2012

The theme of this week's release is the 2010 vintage of the Southern Rhone.  There's a fair bit to choose from but, being the contrary fellow that I am, I found lots of other interesting selections to offer for your consideration.  Again, this week, it's Quick Picks...because being at the computer during summertime is just too punitive.

For the Rhone release, look for the good values by concentrating on the Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages (a step up from ordinary Cotes-du-Rhone), Vacqueyras, and Vinsorbes.  If you can spend a bit more, look for a Gigondas.  Generally speaking, the Chateauneuf-du-Pape is overpriced, although I do recommend the white CNP just because it's so rare.

Also take a look at the minor theme, wines from the West Coast.  There are a couple of Oregon wines that are worthwhile.
     

Biodynamic 

SOUTHBROOK TRIOMPHE CABERNET FRANC 2010, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake; #275958; Price: $21.95; 13.3% ABV

Cabernet Franc, the overlooked summer wine.

Off the Beaten Track

Whites

CHAMISAL UNOAKED STAINLESS CHARDONNAY 2011, Central Coast (California); #289223; Price: $25.95; 13.5% ABV

Unoaked.  Look for the citrus fruit flavours and acidity to come to the fore.

THE EYRIE VINEYARDS PINOT GRIS 2009, Willamette Valley (Oregon); #717421; Price: $21.95; 13.5% ABV

Oregon wineries took some time to learn that Pinot Gris works well in their unique climate.  A lesson that PEC wineries should take to heart (You do Pinot Noir; why not more Pinot Gris?)  Here’s Oregon’s pioneer in that learning process.

THREE PONDS SEMILLON 2011, Hunter Valley (Australia); #285049; Price: $19.95; 11.0% ABV

Delicious Semillon from the place, Hunter Valley, that does it best.

BROTTE BLANC 2010, AC Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Southern Rhone); #74203; Price: $29.95; 13.5% ABV

A rarity at Vintages, white Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  Usually contains Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Picpoul.  You pay for the brand.

Reds

PAPPAS WINE CO. PINOT NOIR 2009, Willamette Valley (Oregon); #285726; Price: $24.95; 13.8% ABV

Another goody from Oregon.

L.A. CETTO PRIVATE RESERVE PETITE SIRAH 2008, Baja California (Mexico); #291062; Price: $19.95; 14.5% ABV

Their entry-level Petite Sirah is a reliable bargain, so the Private Reserve is worth a try.

DOMAINE RUET LA FONTENELLE 2010, AC Chiroubles (Beaujolais); #282095; Price: $16.95; 12.5% ABV

Another Cru Beaujolais; easy drinking for the summer.

LES VIGNOLES TERROIRS ET LIEU-DIEU DE LOIRE 2009, AC Saumur-Champigny (Loire); #662585; Price: $15.95; 13.5% ABV

After giving Vintages a kick in the pants for not having any reds in their recent Loire feature, you can bet that this Cabernet Franc will make the list.

STOCCO REFOSCO DAL PEDUNCOLO ROSSO 2009, DOC Friuli-Grave (Friuli, Italy); #289561; Price: $14.95; 13.0% ABV

Known for plum flavours and bitterness on the finish, making it an excellent food wine.  Try it with grilled pork.

MELONI TERREFORRU 2009, DOC Cannonau di Sardegna (Italy); #101378; Price: $16.95; 13.5% ABV

Cannonau is what the Sardinians call Grenache.  Try the Italian variation.

Rosé

DOMAINE SAINTE MARIE TRADITION ROSÉ 2011, AC Cotes de Provence (France); #283564; Price: $15.95; 12.5% ABV

Looks like the rosé pipeline is drying up!  Get ‘em while you can.

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Just Call Me Ace

If you've read my bio, you'll know that golf is my other passion...well, aside from Michèle!

Today I got my first hole-in-one.  Par 3 14th hole at Anderson Links.  Easy 9 iron.

So cool.



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Quick Picks: Vintages Release: August 4 2012

It's a mixed bag in this week's release.  The main theme is "a summer lineup of blockbuster wines" with a pseudo-cinema theme.  To each his own, I guess, but when it comes to summer drinking, I'm not looking for "blockbusters".  I'm looking for lighter, easy-drinking wines that go well with hot, hot days and cooler evenings out on the patio.

There's also a secondary theme on German single-estate wines.  Now, I'm a big fan of German wines and I dearly wish that Vintages would bring in many more than what shows up.  But why-oh-why do they all have to be the same "medium" sweetness?!  Germany makes some delicious bone-dry Rieslings.  But they are as rare as hen's teeth at Vintages.  Give us variety!  What a disappointment.

So, I've come up with my own theme for this release.  All of this week’s picks are ideal for summertime drinking.  The whites are light- to medium-bodied, with refreshing acidity.  Great on their own but they are all Old World wines that go great with food as well.  The reds are also light-to-medium bodied, except for a bigger one from Douro.  The rosés, of course, are all what they should be:  extra-dry and young.  And, except for a Cabernet Franc from Niagara, they're all under $20.

Nothing organic this week.

Off the Beaten Track 

White

STEININGER GRÜNER VELTLINER 2010, Kamptal (Austria); #280842; Price: $14.95; 12.5% ABV

Simply Gruener to its fans, it’s the signature varietal of Austria.  Light-bodied by modern standards…crisp…a perfect summer patio wine.  Drink alone or with grilled white fish or chicken.

KÖNIGSCHAFFHAUSEN TROCKEN PINOT GRIS 2011, Kaiserstuhl (Baden, Germany); #597500; Price: $13.95; 13.0% ABV

A touch of nostalgia for all of us who’ve been lucky enough to live in the Black Forest.  It’s what the locals call Grauburgunder or, sometimes, Rulander.

TERRE DORA 2010, DOCG Fiano di Avellino (Campania, Italy); #120048; Price: $18.95; 13.0% ABV

Fiano:  it’s another one of those delicious southern Italian whites that brings the aromas and flavours of tree fruit (think apricots and peaches) along with great minerality.

ABAD DOM BUENO GODELLO 2010, DO Bierzo (Spain); #154302; Price: $14.95; 13.0% ABV

What the Portuguese call Verdelho, the Spanish call Godello.  But the Portuguese also call it Gouveio…and some Spaniards call it Verdello.  Confused yet?  Just drink it.  This one’s from Beirzo, up in the northwest corner of Spain.   Look for tree fruit and minerality.

Red

FIELDING ESTATE CABERNET FRANC 2010, VQA Niagara Peninsula; #36194; Price: $21.95; 13.0% ABV

Poor Cab Franc, nobody gives it any respect.  But it’s a delicious wine that’s just right for summertime drinking with red berry fruit and fresh herbaceousness that's perfect with grilled veggies and pork.

JEAN-PAUL BRUN TERRES DORÉES 2010, AC Côte de Brouilly (Beaujolais); #235127; Price: $18.95; 12.5% ABV

A Cru Beaujolais from one of the very best producers who specializes in the classic style.  What a deal!

DOMAINE LES YEUSES LES ÉPICES SYRAH 2009, IGP Pays d’Oc (Languedoc, France); #177584; Price: $13.95; 13.5% ABV

Syrah from Languedoc, with « spices » on the label?  Good enough for me! BEST VALUE IN THIS RELEASE.

PODERI COLLA PIAN BALBO 2010, DOC Dolcetto d'Alba (Piedmont, Italy); #285494; Price: $16.95; 12.0% ABV

Known for its great acidity, here’s a Dolcetto with loads of berry flavours from one of the best regions.  Meant to be drunk young.

QUINTA DE VENTOZELO TOURIGA NACIONAL 2008, DOC Douro (Portugal); #657452; Price: $18.95; 14.0% ABV

This week’s only big wine would be great with a mixed grill of beef and game.

Rosé

WILDASS ROSÉ 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula; #71712; Price: $19.95; 12.5% ABV

God only knows what’s in this one! [Update: They tell me it's mostly Cabernet Franc and Gamay.]  But I love their wines so I’m in.

DOMAINE CORNE-LOUP ROSÉ 2011, AC Tavel (Southern Rhone, France); #71209; Price: $16.95; 13.5% ABV

More delicious Rosé from the folks who do nothing but.  Try it with grilled sausages, like merguez.

PARDEVALLES PRIETO PICUDO ROSADO 2011, DO Tierra de León (Spain); #274449; Price: $12.95; 13.5% ABV
A rare grape variety from a little-known region.  It's perfect!

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