Canti Estate Barbera D'Asti Superiore, 2010.

SAQ essential!

Take a pine forest, lay it on some pavement and bake it for a while, add some sweet fruit, some leather and tannic elements and slap a $12.00 price on it and you have an Italian fave in our house. A DOCG wine, it contains a minimum of 85% Barbera grapes and as a superiore it has achieved a min. 12.5% ABV (13% in this case) and was aged for over a year, 6 months of which was in Oak or Chestnut casks. I am going to go out on a limb to say that this was aged in chestnut.

I read that the Superiore can be aged for 10-20 years. Hard to do in this house...

Kakor Chokladflarn

This is not a wine post.
This is a warning.*

Kakor Chokladflarn. Dwarvish for a portal to the underworld? C.S. Lewis! how your tales would have doubled in colour and depth if only Ikea had been such a provider of monikers then as it is today.

Kakor Chokladflarn. No, not a portal, but a doorway nonetheless to a hollow part inside of me, between my right knee and my kidney, that can contain myriad delectable chocolate crisp after delectable chocolate crisp. For Kakor Chokladflarn is not a name coined in the dark years before fire, before warmth, where dwarvish men found comfort eating nits from each others' beards. It is a name devised to define a confection, a double chocolate crisp, produced in Swedish factories. So clean, so white they must be; so knowing.  So all-Sauron-seeing that it, the factory itself, as though propelled by a purpose more hidden, more born of demonic subterfuge, knows that out there there is a soul who, upon opening the innocent package, will simply EAT the chocolate crisps, unstopping, uncaring, unguided. Derailed from the straight lines of morality and conscientiousness, moved to abandon the most basic dessert laws, such a soul finds itself now, at this very moment, 5 crisps in and clawing at his eyes, the carton, his eyes again, defying himself in full knowledge of the futility of doing so to not eat another.

Oh Kakor Chokladflarn. I see now why the Dwarvish never dared to put a word to your particular evil. 

*Brought to you by Terra Andina Chardonnay, Central Valley, Chile, 2010

Wine Men of Gotham Shiraz Grenache 2008, Australia, 14.2% LCBO Vintages, 14.95

One time as a student I was delivering a load of futon frames and futons to Pearson airport for transport to the Arctic. I know, I didn't get it at the time either. En route, or as Christian Mingle-dot-com Clean Coal F*ck head americans like to say, "On Rowt", I saw the trailer of a truck hauling gravel come off its hitch and skid at full speed across 2 lanes of the 401. It stayed upright, supported by two metal skids on the front end from which a shower of sparks arced a trailer length behind the careening mass, gravel spraying everywhere. It was really unexpected but I drove on somehow unphased- obviously consumed by the Futons to the Arctic campaign.

Same for this wine! What body! What flavour! BAM! Shiraz, Grenache; the grenache does something to the shiraz that makes it not so much jammy as chutney-y. Ketchup. Yet I drink on unphased.

"Not a house wine", says my rock, my soul, but definitely a hallowe'en wine I say. Or a late night pizza wine, where it might give you just enough pause to avoid burning the roof of your mouth. Try it, for sure.

Crios Torrontes, 2011, Argentina. LCBO Vintages, $12.95

Have you ever eaten a flower? Have you ever wondered what could possibly be the sheet to Saffron's duvet? Ever wanted all of summer spent by an ocean paradise distilled and poured into a condensation-jewelled glass by an invisible hand that was not only unapparent, but generous?

Twelve-ninety-five friends! This somewhat tortured grape (high elevation, dry weather, intense sun and cool nights) from past-blogged-about Crios (Bonarda) has bled for your sins. Drink it!

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?

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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.

Colio Estates Baco Noir, 2008, Niagara

A late night post for a late night wine. This red is precisely the wine to open after the good stuff is done. Maybe even before, but don't tell anyone it costs $7.35 on sale at the Metro wine store on March road.

The nose is sweet, a little green peppery. The mouth-feel is very good, not astringent but not sweet and cloying. Finish is not very deep but can sustain a fella between sips. All in all, for under 8 bucks this, is a pretty decent wine. A sort of a good after the holidays, first day back to work, put all the kids to bed, fold the laundry and shovel the snow then settle in to work part of the night kind of a wine.

Pretty much what I would call fuel for the sorry soul.

Strewn Two Vines Riesling Gewurztraminer, 2008, Niagara

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.

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.

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?

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).