Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Chemin de Terre, Oregon, 2006
Hi. Oregon is known for logging and pretty coastline and in my mind a little town in the North called Astoria. Apparently wine is made in Oregon as well. (I joke- our good friends and WC mates did a WC on Oregon and it was fantastic). Like this one, picked up at Vintages for $14.95, its a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Grenache and Pinot Noir. Its made at a winery called A to Z Wineworks, which now makes sense to me. Its also eminently drinkable, as attested by my sweetie; quote: "This wine is so addictive. I mean, more than the usual wine-addictive." Cherry and black licorice on the nose, a little tannic Cab Sauv on the palate, and an "oh, please, stay just a little longer" finish. Not outstanding, but delicious and somewhat obscure, which is all around pleasing. I bet it would cellar for years, so maybe worth getting a bottle or two?
Friday, September 2, 2011
De Bortoli Traminer Riesling, 2009, Australia
Sneaky.
An Aussie wine like a German wine like an Aussie wine. A fragrant white at a non fragrant white price. At $11.95 this wine has a nose that is really very inviting, but not over the top sweet or fruity, despite what the label may say. I love the nose. Floral, but back in there is that petrol Riesling, that wet slate. A bit like smelling the lilacs at the side of my house as the bus goes by on a rainy day. No joke! This happens often in the late spring, as I leave for work after the kids have left for school, winding down another year of growth and becoming. Sneaky, how these children change. And change you.
Sneaky how playful whites like this help you cook! We were preparing for a very important evening tomorrow, doing as much advanced cooking tonight as possible. Sneaky how fast they disappear.
Sneaky how 10:30 becomes 12:12.
Sadly, this wine does not really go well with the chocolate chips I am sneaking from the extremely obvious and giant Costco bag of chocolate chips. But it would go very well with some spicy shrimp. Sadly, there is no giant Costco bag of spicy shrimp that I can sneak.
Best sneak to bed.
An Aussie wine like a German wine like an Aussie wine. A fragrant white at a non fragrant white price. At $11.95 this wine has a nose that is really very inviting, but not over the top sweet or fruity, despite what the label may say. I love the nose. Floral, but back in there is that petrol Riesling, that wet slate. A bit like smelling the lilacs at the side of my house as the bus goes by on a rainy day. No joke! This happens often in the late spring, as I leave for work after the kids have left for school, winding down another year of growth and becoming. Sneaky, how these children change. And change you.
Sneaky how playful whites like this help you cook! We were preparing for a very important evening tomorrow, doing as much advanced cooking tonight as possible. Sneaky how fast they disappear.
Sneaky how 10:30 becomes 12:12.
Sadly, this wine does not really go well with the chocolate chips I am sneaking from the extremely obvious and giant Costco bag of chocolate chips. But it would go very well with some spicy shrimp. Sadly, there is no giant Costco bag of spicy shrimp that I can sneak.
Best sneak to bed.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Tardieu-Laurent les Becs Fins, Cotes du Rhone Villages, France, 2009
A serious wine post.
I found this at the SAQ Selection for $17.95. What a lovely wine. It does not have that Cotes du Rhone up front "spice" I was expecting. Its really very sweet, cherry-berry on the nose with a mild tannic bite and a bit of a spicy finish. Its kind of like dessert AND dinner rolled into one. Enjoyable.
A Very Mature Wine.
Impress your elders with this wine. Yum!
I found this at the SAQ Selection for $17.95. What a lovely wine. It does not have that Cotes du Rhone up front "spice" I was expecting. Its really very sweet, cherry-berry on the nose with a mild tannic bite and a bit of a spicy finish. Its kind of like dessert AND dinner rolled into one. Enjoyable.
A Very Mature Wine.
Impress your elders with this wine. Yum!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Heartland Stickleback Red 2008, South Australia
Crikey! What a find. At $14.95 in Vintages this was a big flavour to dollar ratio.
A blend of Cab Sauv, Shiraz, Lagrein and Dolcetto (the latter 2 in small proportion) the first thing that this 14.5% abv brute hit me with was the smell of ketchup! Seriously, sweet and a little spicy, it was almost revolting (I hate ketchup) but wow, when sipped, a very nice, big, round wine with a spicy finish appeared and said, "G'Day". The big alcohol is masked by the jamminess. Its so jammy I think it would pair well with peanut butter and toast, which I would have tried tomorrow morning were the bottle not finished. Oh, I am almost off my face, so much so I may have to chuck a sickie tomorrow.
Get some, keep it on hand for a big end-of-the-nighter and your guests will think you are a tall poppie.
A blend of Cab Sauv, Shiraz, Lagrein and Dolcetto (the latter 2 in small proportion) the first thing that this 14.5% abv brute hit me with was the smell of ketchup! Seriously, sweet and a little spicy, it was almost revolting (I hate ketchup) but wow, when sipped, a very nice, big, round wine with a spicy finish appeared and said, "G'Day". The big alcohol is masked by the jamminess. Its so jammy I think it would pair well with peanut butter and toast, which I would have tried tomorrow morning were the bottle not finished. Oh, I am almost off my face, so much so I may have to chuck a sickie tomorrow.
Get some, keep it on hand for a big end-of-the-nighter and your guests will think you are a tall poppie.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
La Posta Malbec, 2008, Mendoza, Argentina, 13.9% abv
A delicious wine from the Pizzella Family Vineyard, available at vintages for $15.00.
We both had the same reaction to this wine; big but creamy. It was really rounded, not astringent and I suppose the mouthfeel was therefore really sublime. While it was not sensational in any one particular way, it was a bit like a Snow Patrol CD we listen to on occasion, big, full, powerful but mellow. Well crafted and straight-up but not the least bit rustic. If it were food, it would be Shreddies with brown sugar. After a 20 year hiatus.
Try to get some if you can.
We both had the same reaction to this wine; big but creamy. It was really rounded, not astringent and I suppose the mouthfeel was therefore really sublime. While it was not sensational in any one particular way, it was a bit like a Snow Patrol CD we listen to on occasion, big, full, powerful but mellow. Well crafted and straight-up but not the least bit rustic. If it were food, it would be Shreddies with brown sugar. After a 20 year hiatus.
Try to get some if you can.
Colio Estates Girl's Night Out, Cabernet-Shiraz, 2008, 12.3% abv.
When they called it Girl's Night Out, I don't think they had in mind a husband at home while his wife is off to Yoga. At least the sexy dress graphics around the neck of the bottle suggest otherwise. Unless, of course, they are suggesting something...else.
We mentioned Yoga earlier- not much earlier, I'll admit. Well, like Yoga, this wine is a bit of an exercise. There is some deep breathing involved, some relaxing of the mind, the slow passage of time as the glass nears the mouth. Perhaps a creaking tendon in the palate. All in all, there is effort required to be moved to poetic report of this prosaic Niagara plonk. Which leads me to believe that if it says Colio, it says "Tuesday night dress wearing party with myself that I hope no one actually believes but in truth this disclosure may in fact be a ruse so clever as to be down right savvy".
Does this make me look fat?
We mentioned Yoga earlier- not much earlier, I'll admit. Well, like Yoga, this wine is a bit of an exercise. There is some deep breathing involved, some relaxing of the mind, the slow passage of time as the glass nears the mouth. Perhaps a creaking tendon in the palate. All in all, there is effort required to be moved to poetic report of this prosaic Niagara plonk. Which leads me to believe that if it says Colio, it says "Tuesday night dress wearing party with myself that I hope no one actually believes but in truth this disclosure may in fact be a ruse so clever as to be down right savvy".
Does this make me look fat?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Kenwood Yulupa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, California
Would I !?
I am not going to lie to you; kids are in bed, better half is at yoga and I am at the counter working, drinking wine and designing the next best smart phone ever. This is how its done folks.
I saw this Kenwood at the SAQ and thought:
Would Ken like this?
Of course Ken would.
But its a Cab Sauv and Ken usually thinks they are just too over flavoured. That astringent green pepper business, you know? We always have Cabs at the end of wine club and they knock him on his butt.
Bollocks you perfumed ponce, Ken would like it.
But for $17.50 Quebec dollars*? Would Ken want to pay that much?
Dickhead! Of course Ken would pay that much, look at the name of the wine!!
I...don't...get it...
Uhhhhh. Dolt! "Ken WOULD" like this wine.
Because of the YULUPA? That's funny.
Oh my god. How have I managed this far...
Well, I am liking it. Its a little less, uhhhh, rough? than the Cabs I have had lately. As in, it doesn't wage astringent war on the pallet and is really smooth in general. I think if I were eating a fatty steak right now this wine would be the ideal companion. Along with a knife and fork, of course. There is a fruit taste under the fuel-ish nose and in general this wine has made my work go really well. I think.
Not sure it should be $17.50 Quebec dollars*, perhaps an even $14.00 would be better and would certainly help lessen the "its Tuesday night for f!cks sake and I'm drinking $17.50 wine at home at my counter. What am I, a domesticated rapper? Where my grills at?" guilt.
*Quebec Dollars: Unlike other dollars, Quebec dollars support things like Quebec hospital waiting times, DuMaurier and online Casinos and are automatically devalued to 30% of other dollars upon crossing of any of the Ottawa-Gatineau bridges if you earn your Dollars in Ontario.
I am not going to lie to you; kids are in bed, better half is at yoga and I am at the counter working, drinking wine and designing the next best smart phone ever. This is how its done folks.
I saw this Kenwood at the SAQ and thought:
Would Ken like this?
Of course Ken would.
But its a Cab Sauv and Ken usually thinks they are just too over flavoured. That astringent green pepper business, you know? We always have Cabs at the end of wine club and they knock him on his butt.
Bollocks you perfumed ponce, Ken would like it.
But for $17.50 Quebec dollars*? Would Ken want to pay that much?
Dickhead! Of course Ken would pay that much, look at the name of the wine!!
I...don't...get it...
Uhhhhh. Dolt! "Ken WOULD" like this wine.
Because of the YULUPA? That's funny.
Oh my god. How have I managed this far...
Well, I am liking it. Its a little less, uhhhh, rough? than the Cabs I have had lately. As in, it doesn't wage astringent war on the pallet and is really smooth in general. I think if I were eating a fatty steak right now this wine would be the ideal companion. Along with a knife and fork, of course. There is a fruit taste under the fuel-ish nose and in general this wine has made my work go really well. I think.
Not sure it should be $17.50 Quebec dollars*, perhaps an even $14.00 would be better and would certainly help lessen the "its Tuesday night for f!cks sake and I'm drinking $17.50 wine at home at my counter. What am I, a domesticated rapper? Where my grills at?" guilt.
*Quebec Dollars: Unlike other dollars, Quebec dollars support things like Quebec hospital waiting times, DuMaurier and online Casinos and are automatically devalued to 30% of other dollars upon crossing of any of the Ottawa-Gatineau bridges if you earn your Dollars in Ontario.
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