Gewurztraminer: German for "freaking hard to spell after most of a bottle".
This is a delicious white of great value from Niagara-on-the-Lake. Very easy to drink, but at 11%abv this is not a curse. Well, when is it a curse?
This wine does not have the jarring acidity of other white varietals and is sweet on the finish, so it can be consumed without interrogation. It's almost slippery it's so drinkable. We had it with sautéed squash and tuna burgers with cheddar and lemon-pepper mayo. It worked out very well for us. Not so much for it.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Domaine de Gournier (France)
Mmmmmmmm.
"Imagine a dark-haired siren gliding down a broad marble staircase, her subtle curves sheathed in deep red velvet. She approaches lightly, smelling mildly of Nibs and hint of anise and vanilla. She reaches out gently and caresses your palate with a satin-gloved hand."
That is my wife's interpretation of what I was thinking about this tasty, $12.00 red. How come my fantasies can't include giant marble staircases? Also, any obviously wealthy vixen in velvet who's been chomping Nibs would make a really fine companion. My interpretation of the wine went a little more like:
Imagine your palate is a car being soaped by sighing, dark skinned and bikini clad beauties in sunny Southern California. In slow motion. To music. Like in the movies. I am pretty sure it's in the movies. I hope. (I need the car; I had to get to the wine.)
Seriously, a sip of this wine was like drinking from a glass of velvet. Without the lint-y coughing. This wine went very well with our homemade pita pizza.
Worth a try.
"Imagine a dark-haired siren gliding down a broad marble staircase, her subtle curves sheathed in deep red velvet. She approaches lightly, smelling mildly of Nibs and hint of anise and vanilla. She reaches out gently and caresses your palate with a satin-gloved hand."
That is my wife's interpretation of what I was thinking about this tasty, $12.00 red. How come my fantasies can't include giant marble staircases? Also, any obviously wealthy vixen in velvet who's been chomping Nibs would make a really fine companion. My interpretation of the wine went a little more like:
Imagine your palate is a car being soaped by sighing, dark skinned and bikini clad beauties in sunny Southern California. In slow motion. To music. Like in the movies. I am pretty sure it's in the movies. I hope. (I need the car; I had to get to the wine.)
Seriously, a sip of this wine was like drinking from a glass of velvet. Without the lint-y coughing. This wine went very well with our homemade pita pizza.
Worth a try.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Candidato, Spain, 2006, Tempranillo / Garnacha
Candidato, Spanish for "Monday night when you've finished the merlot".
Not kidding. I looked around for a good candidate and there it was. I'll be frank: this wine is easy on the wallet, nay, the change pot. But it is a pretty decent value when I think that 2 dozen donuts (which would, if I ate them, make me much sicker than this bottle of wine), cost about the same amount. It has everything one needs in a wine. It's red, comes in a vitrified pouring device, and looks completely at ease sitting on a counter or a table near a kitchen.
Actually, if I remember correctly, at a wine club circa Christmas 2007, this wine was enjoyed by all and scored pretty high on our scorecards. Just a bit oaky and fairly robust without being cloyingly sweet or ostentatiously French. Super-awesome with homemade pizza. Or after Merlot.
Did I ever mention wine club? Well, let me tell you, great friends come to wine club, and even better times result! It may have taken 2.5 hours to drive to it in a snow storm, but the moment wine club starts all malice is forgotten! Am I not right Amigos?
Not kidding. I looked around for a good candidate and there it was. I'll be frank: this wine is easy on the wallet, nay, the change pot. But it is a pretty decent value when I think that 2 dozen donuts (which would, if I ate them, make me much sicker than this bottle of wine), cost about the same amount. It has everything one needs in a wine. It's red, comes in a vitrified pouring device, and looks completely at ease sitting on a counter or a table near a kitchen.
Actually, if I remember correctly, at a wine club circa Christmas 2007, this wine was enjoyed by all and scored pretty high on our scorecards. Just a bit oaky and fairly robust without being cloyingly sweet or ostentatiously French. Super-awesome with homemade pizza. Or after Merlot.
Did I ever mention wine club? Well, let me tell you, great friends come to wine club, and even better times result! It may have taken 2.5 hours to drive to it in a snow storm, but the moment wine club starts all malice is forgotten! Am I not right Amigos?
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Nieto, Senetiner Malbec 2007, Argentina
The idea here is that we have wines so that we can post about them. Not tonight. I am posting so that I can have some wine.
Its the wine of the title. Lucky you Mr. Mediocre Malbec. You made the title of a backwater wine blog. You could not try less to be a good wine. You are like the dumpy kid behind the counter at a Second Cup today, not really interested in getting me that coffee I ordered 5 minutes ago even though, and I am going to leap out onto a limb here in writing this, I assume you understood that was what would be expected of you when you dropped off your application.
Same for you Mr. Malbec. You have a bottle, a label, a 13.5% abv content, now be a wine! Make me search for flavours, "Oh, oh, there it is, dried bing cherries at a campfire after a big bowl of baked beans..." Make me shed tears. Make me smell you in the glass and drift away as though your aroma were lighter than helium and filled my lungs with flight. Make me want to blend my food and you into a smoothie for the morning, for the love of God!
Nope.
Nothing.
Its red. Its liquid. It will make you forget about it unless you hop immediately onto your blog and write something about it. Which makes you drink it. Who does that? Lame Malbec haters, that's who.
Ahhhh, the circles of life are many and compelling. Really.
Its the wine of the title. Lucky you Mr. Mediocre Malbec. You made the title of a backwater wine blog. You could not try less to be a good wine. You are like the dumpy kid behind the counter at a Second Cup today, not really interested in getting me that coffee I ordered 5 minutes ago even though, and I am going to leap out onto a limb here in writing this, I assume you understood that was what would be expected of you when you dropped off your application.
Same for you Mr. Malbec. You have a bottle, a label, a 13.5% abv content, now be a wine! Make me search for flavours, "Oh, oh, there it is, dried bing cherries at a campfire after a big bowl of baked beans..." Make me shed tears. Make me smell you in the glass and drift away as though your aroma were lighter than helium and filled my lungs with flight. Make me want to blend my food and you into a smoothie for the morning, for the love of God!
Nope.
Nothing.
Its red. Its liquid. It will make you forget about it unless you hop immediately onto your blog and write something about it. Which makes you drink it. Who does that? Lame Malbec haters, that's who.
Ahhhh, the circles of life are many and compelling. Really.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Vivolo di Sasso, 2008, Italy
This white Pinot Bianco, which cost about 11 dollars at the SAQ, was really quite surprising.
Very refreshing, eminently drinkable with mild citrus and a buttery mouth feel, it conjured up flavours of roast bacon-wrapped turkey thigh drenched in thick soy-lemon gravy and served with butter lemon pois mange tout (of the giant variety) and a rich, dense summer squash casserole. Oh this wine had me having visions of drinking the gravy right out of the boat, the so called "Moby Dick Manoeuvre". And after I had another sip I had another and it conjured up the sensation of stuffing bacon drenched turkey meat into my mouth and chasing it with eggy, herby baked summer squash. And another sip of wine. Back to the gravy boat shots. Oh this wine is terrific! It made us giggle on a Tuesday night!
Who giggles on a Tuesday night? People who drink "Sassy Life" wine from Italy and stuff their faces with their hot wife's delish cooking, that's who.
Very refreshing, eminently drinkable with mild citrus and a buttery mouth feel, it conjured up flavours of roast bacon-wrapped turkey thigh drenched in thick soy-lemon gravy and served with butter lemon pois mange tout (of the giant variety) and a rich, dense summer squash casserole. Oh this wine had me having visions of drinking the gravy right out of the boat, the so called "Moby Dick Manoeuvre". And after I had another sip I had another and it conjured up the sensation of stuffing bacon drenched turkey meat into my mouth and chasing it with eggy, herby baked summer squash. And another sip of wine. Back to the gravy boat shots. Oh this wine is terrific! It made us giggle on a Tuesday night!
Who giggles on a Tuesday night? People who drink "Sassy Life" wine from Italy and stuff their faces with their hot wife's delish cooking, that's who.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Frontier Red, California
In the book The Road, Cormac McCarthy realizes a bitter fact about the human condition and voices it through the character of the man: "We forget the things we want to remember and remember the things we want to forget".
The delicious, excellent red blend of the title embodies this acute dichotomy very well. I remember that we purchased only two bottles of this 19 dollar red, recommended by the independent wine store clerk in Winnipeg (let the words roll in your mouth a little and see how good they feel: independent wine store). Doubtful this wine could be found anywhere between Kenora and Cornwall, a region I will refer to, with respect to wine selling and buying, as retarded.
I forget that this red was a bold, almost raunchy wine that really, really warmed the cockles. This wine comes at you with an easy smile and lets you know that you'll be well taken care of and that you can trust it fully. And trust it we did; at 15.5% abv the short-lived bottles probably have much to do with my pathetic memory of the tasty Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mouvedre and Carignane mash-up they contained. We liked it so much we brought home an empty bottle. Who does that?
People who don't remember, that's who.
The delicious, excellent red blend of the title embodies this acute dichotomy very well. I remember that we purchased only two bottles of this 19 dollar red, recommended by the independent wine store clerk in Winnipeg (let the words roll in your mouth a little and see how good they feel: independent wine store). Doubtful this wine could be found anywhere between Kenora and Cornwall, a region I will refer to, with respect to wine selling and buying, as retarded.
I forget that this red was a bold, almost raunchy wine that really, really warmed the cockles. This wine comes at you with an easy smile and lets you know that you'll be well taken care of and that you can trust it fully. And trust it we did; at 15.5% abv the short-lived bottles probably have much to do with my pathetic memory of the tasty Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Mouvedre and Carignane mash-up they contained. We liked it so much we brought home an empty bottle. Who does that?
People who don't remember, that's who.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Barefoot Pinot Grigio, California,
A very quick word on this 9 dollar gem of a white. It is the red licorice of wine. Keep some on hand all summer long.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
De Conti, La Truffière 2005, France (Bergerac)
Bergerac. What a cool sounding name, like a crusty French detective or a physical principle- "the Bergerac Principle" whereby we know a bottle opened is a bottle emptied.
Anyway, it's the region / appellation which produces De Conti, La Truffière, a Merlot / Malbec blend from the SAQ for 13-ish bucks. This is a very tasty wine, but subtle and very French. We say that a lot in our house, "very French" mostly because we are only partially French, but also because we mean something like the following: It's not the kind of wine that wants to get down to business and make deals with your mouth right after the handshake.
Rather, it's the kind of wine that befriends you without being overbearing, lets you be yourself, gets you talking and feeling at ease until you realize hey, I kinda like this guy. I don't think I really get him, but he's OK. Let's try to get to know him. And then, wham! The bottle is done! French guy was actually more sophisticated than you could handle and has left you wanting to try him again.
We had this wine with sweet potato fries and curried mayo tonight. Great flavour combo!
But for you the reader, I have left you wondering perhaps if this is a good wine or a not good wine. I'll try to help with a random score on an equally random scale. I'll give this wine a Red 44.21 on the Jenesaisquoi scale.
Hopefully it helps. If not, I'll note that we've bought this bottle a few times (and actively sought it out at least once).
Anyway, it's the region / appellation which produces De Conti, La Truffière, a Merlot / Malbec blend from the SAQ for 13-ish bucks. This is a very tasty wine, but subtle and very French. We say that a lot in our house, "very French" mostly because we are only partially French, but also because we mean something like the following: It's not the kind of wine that wants to get down to business and make deals with your mouth right after the handshake.
Rather, it's the kind of wine that befriends you without being overbearing, lets you be yourself, gets you talking and feeling at ease until you realize hey, I kinda like this guy. I don't think I really get him, but he's OK. Let's try to get to know him. And then, wham! The bottle is done! French guy was actually more sophisticated than you could handle and has left you wanting to try him again.
We had this wine with sweet potato fries and curried mayo tonight. Great flavour combo!
But for you the reader, I have left you wondering perhaps if this is a good wine or a not good wine. I'll try to help with a random score on an equally random scale. I'll give this wine a Red 44.21 on the Jenesaisquoi scale.
Hopefully it helps. If not, I'll note that we've bought this bottle a few times (and actively sought it out at least once).
Monday, August 31, 2009
Crios de Susana Balbo (Argentina)
Hi.
First, a brief intro. I like wine. I am probably drinking it now. Which is likely why I am starting a blog about the random wines we sample in our house. Eeep.
Tonight's wine of note (yes, there was more than one on this Monday of distinction) is Crios de Susana Balba, 2007 from the SAQ. An Argentinian (Mendoza) blend of 1/2 Syrah and 1/2 Bonarda??? (new to me; I bet we see this becoming a little more popular in the near future). Short and sweet, this wine is a big tasty brute after the Coyote's Run Chardonnay (Ontario, 2007, which was weak in comparison to the striking 2005 sampled a year ago. That 2005 was like a soft box going down the throat, which is why we stashed one for tasting very soon).
The big tasty brute smells like an abandoned open pit mine, or the scene of a jungle plane crash, neither of which I have witnessed nor expect (as metaphors) to translate well to anyone within eyeshot of this screen. Nevertheless, the wine says so. It tastes a little rough, as though someone was smoking on the job when it was pressed and then lied about it, but finishes up about as complex as someone like me would like it to. But it is quite tasty and velvety yet brutish and therefore goes down as a "real good wine", especially for 14 bucks or so.
So remember CRIOS, possibly a Spanish word for something.
First, a brief intro. I like wine. I am probably drinking it now. Which is likely why I am starting a blog about the random wines we sample in our house. Eeep.
Tonight's wine of note (yes, there was more than one on this Monday of distinction) is Crios de Susana Balba, 2007 from the SAQ. An Argentinian (Mendoza) blend of 1/2 Syrah and 1/2 Bonarda??? (new to me; I bet we see this becoming a little more popular in the near future). Short and sweet, this wine is a big tasty brute after the Coyote's Run Chardonnay (Ontario, 2007, which was weak in comparison to the striking 2005 sampled a year ago. That 2005 was like a soft box going down the throat, which is why we stashed one for tasting very soon).
The big tasty brute smells like an abandoned open pit mine, or the scene of a jungle plane crash, neither of which I have witnessed nor expect (as metaphors) to translate well to anyone within eyeshot of this screen. Nevertheless, the wine says so. It tastes a little rough, as though someone was smoking on the job when it was pressed and then lied about it, but finishes up about as complex as someone like me would like it to. But it is quite tasty and velvety yet brutish and therefore goes down as a "real good wine", especially for 14 bucks or so.
So remember CRIOS, possibly a Spanish word for something.
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