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.

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.

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.

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.

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).