MyWinePal

This evening was a night out with guy friends. One of my friends, of British origin, was interested to try out Bitter Tasting Room to see what interesting beers we could sample. The location is located on the western outskirts of Chinatown.  Hip industrial looking inside with ceiling to floor windows on the two outer walls.

Their beer menu is quite long; an entire sheet double column with beers listed by the bottle and a few on tap. No Molson Canadian or Labatts Blue on the menu. All the beers on tap that I could see were from BC. The bottled beers were mainly from Canada and the USA, but there was a selection from Europe. Here is a link to their full beer list.

I started my evening with a L’ABBAYE DU VAL-DIEU BRUNE Dubbel from Belgium.  Very full bodied, dark, low hops with some sweetness to it.  I quite enjoyed it as it reminded me of my trip to Belgium last summer. At 8% alcohol I needed to get to the meal soon.  This was my favourite beer of the evening.

Pot of sausages with condiments

The Dine Out Menu selection I ordered:

• Curried Root Vegetable Soup with Sour Cream, ‘Picker Shack’ Apple Compote
• Pot Of Sausages 4 Handmade Smoked, Mildly Spiced Sausages Served with Sauerkraut, Pickled Vegetables and Mustard Ragout
• Chocolate Terrine Dark Chocolate Pate with Chantilly Cream

It was very busy when we arrived, so the flight of beers we had also ordered was a bit tardy.  There were only so many glasses in Bitter, and they were all in use, so the flights of beers slowly arrived.  My flight of 3 beers were all dark beers brewed here in BC:

Bitter flight of 2 Stouts and 1 Dunkel

• R & B Brewing Company Milk Stout
• Phillips Brewery Dr. Funk Dunkel
• Crannog Ales Back Hand of God Stout

I sampled through these 3 beers together with my 3 course meal.  These dark beers went nicely with the chocolate terrine, especially the Dr. Funk Dunkel which had a coffee flavour to it. A Dunkel is traditionally a dark German beer with a smooth malty flavour.  The Back Hand of God Stout had some coriander flavour, which is  a nice spice to enjoy with the pot of sausages.  The pot of sausages consist of 4 hand made European style mild flavoured sausages.  I liked the Mustard Ragout the most, followed by the Sauerkraut.  The Milk Stout did not do much for me.  It had an odd chalky flavour.  My British friend told me that Milk Stout was a big hit during WWI or II (I’m not sure which one).  The ladies that worked in the factories would go to the pubs after work, and Milk Stout would be the favourite drink.  The appetizer was the curried soup, which was lightly flavoured; an OK dish.

Chocolate Terrine

My British friend really enjoyed the Lighthouse Cream Ale, and had a few pints.  Bitter is a place to drop by and try some beers with your mates that you would have a hard time finding elsewhere.  The food on the main menu may have been more interesting to sample than what we had with the Dine Out menu.  The Dine Out menu was OK, but nothing really stood out for me.

Tags: bc, beer, Belgium, Bitter, Dine Out Vancouver, Dunkel, sausage, Stout

Chinese dragon

January 23, 2012, arrived full of promise, dragon-sized.  With that in mind, I checked out the New Product Salon for the Import Vintners & Spirits Association (IVSA) in downtown Vancouver.  There was a wide range of wines; sparkling, still, red, white, and fortified.  A few stars from the tasting that I would like to share with you.

 Italian Prosecco

• Emotivo Prosecco, Italy, $14.49. Pale lemon with small bubbles in the glass. Light citrusy nose.  High acid with citrus and flower flavours.  Very tasty.

Rose

• Familia Cassone Obra Prima Cabernet Sauvignon Rosado, Argentina, $15.99. Smoky strawberry nose.  Medium plus acidity with red cherries, red berries and some smokiness.  Dry on the palate.

White Wines

• 

  Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Rserva 2011

  Tasca d’Almerita Regaleali Bianco 2010, Italy, $19.99.  This is a blend of Grecanico, Inzolia, and Catarratto from Sicily. Medium lemon colour with light stone fruit, oaky nose.  Bright acidity with oak and ripe apple flavours.  Medium length.  I think this wine would pair nicely with many dishes.

• Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc “Leyda Valley”, Chile, 2011, $12.99. Pale lemon in colour.  Gobs of gooseberry on the nose. High acid, with light body.  Gooseberry and green flavours.  Some jalapeno flavour on the mid-palate. Lingering acid and spice on your tongue. Very nice.
• Araldica Piemontese Cortese 2010, Italy, $14.99. This wine is made from the Cortese grape from the Piedmont area of Italy.  This wine was light lemon colour.  Nice nose with gewerztraminer-like aromas.  Sweet spice, lemon and flowery flavours.  High in acid but still round on the palate.  Very nice.  Enjoy with some seafood.
• Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay 2009, California, $28.99.  Medium lemon in colour.  Apples, raisins, and flower blossoms on the nose. High acid, yet creamy.  Apples, citrus and pineapple flavours.  Long length.  An interesting wine, that comes in a ceramic bottle, reminding me of a Portuguese Lancer’s bottle.

Red Wines

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  Hullabaloo Old Vines Zinfandel 2009

  Miles from Nowhere Cabernet Merlot, Australia, 2010, $17.99. Medium garnet in the glass with capsicum and black currant aromas.  Smooth with mineral, spice, cherries and mint on the palate.

• Hullaballo Zinfandel, California, 2009, $19.99.  This was a very intriguing wine.  Normally you think of jammy raspberry flavours from a Zin, and this wine is completely different. Along with a jammy nose there are also herbaceous and spice aromas.  Medium body, dry, with cassis, herbal and spice on the palate.
• Plume Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2009, $29.99. Deep ruby in colour.  Nice ripe plum and cherry aromas.  Medium body with very drying tannins.  Vanilla, cherries, oak and some minty notes.  Very nice.
• DFJ Portada, Portugal, 2009, $12.99.  This is a red blend that OVER DELIVERS. It is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Castelao, Shiraz, Alicante Boushet, Caladoc, and Pinot Noir. Some traditional Portuguese grapes and some grapes more common from Burgundy or the Rhone Valley. Light ruby in colour.  Interesting nose of ripe purple fruit.  Medium body, dry with cassis, apples, and ripe fruits. Low acid and tannins.  Medium length.  Not a huge wine, but a nice wine.

The red wines below really impressed me.  I highly recommend any one of them!

• 

  Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico 2009

  La Font du Vent Signargues Cotes du Rhone Villages, Notre Passion, France, $19.99. I am not sure of the vintage. This Rhone wine is a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. Light garnet colour in the glass. Green olives and red fruit aromas.  Medium body with green olives, spice and cherry flavours.

• Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico, Italy, 2009, $24.99. Light ruby in colour.  Nice light cherry and vanilla nose.  Light body, dry, with red cherries and raspberry flaours.  High acidity and low tannins.
• Castagnoli Poggio A Frati Chianti Classico Reserva 2006, Italy, $37.99. Meidum ruby in colour.  Beautiful nose of rich red fruit with vanilla and menthol. Dry, medium body with red cherries, low acid and tannins.  Very classy.

Looking over my 13 recommendations, 5 are from Italy.  Hopefully many more nice Italian wines will travel across the Old World to our shores.  Enjoy!

Tags: Alicante Boushet, Araldica, argentina, Bianco, cabernet, Caladoc, Castelao, Catarratto, Chianti, chile, Cortese, Cotes du Rhone Villages, DFJ, Emotivo, Familia Cassone, Graciano, Hullaballo, Inzolia, italy, La Font, Leyda Valley, merlot, Napa, Obra Prima, pinot noir, Plume, Portada, portugal, Prosecco, Rocca di Castagnoli, rose, Santa Carolina, sauvignon blanc, shiraz, Sicily, Tasca d'Almerita, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, zinfandel

Painted Rock pictographs

I was very excited when I received two bottles of the latest releases from Painted Rock recently to review.  The two bottles being Painted Rock’s Syrah 2009 and their Merlot 2009.  Every year, I hear great things about Painted Rock’s wines and read about awards they have won.  Did you know that Painted Rock Estate Winery was ranked as the #1 Winery in BC and #3 Winery in Canada at the 2011 Wine Access Canadian Wine Awards?  Their 2007 Red Icon and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon also won 2010 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in BC Wines.

What does the 2009 vintage have in store I wondered, as I held the two bottles in my hands?

Who Is Painted Rock?

John at Painted Rock

Painted Rock is named for the pictographs that border their 60 acre property, located beside Skaha Lake in Penticton.  The winery is a family run business, started with the purchase of their land in 2004. The owners, John and Trish Skinner planted their vines in 2005 and 2006 and now have roughly 25 acres under vine; all of it Bordeaux reds or Syrah, except for a block of Chardonnay. In the owners’ words:
“Painted Rock sits on a spectacular bench overlooking the eastern shore of Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C. This 60-acre property has a unique microclimate that is particularly suited to the production of premium wines.

Envisioned as a family-run estate winery, Painted Rock draws its inspiration from proprietors John and Trish Skinner. The Skinner’s philosophy is rooted in the simple idea that wine should be made for friends and family to enjoy. With a dedication to quality and a respect for the terroir, Painted Rock ensures that each grape is of superior quality, proving that the best wines are made in the vineyard.”

My Wine Review

To do this review I opened each bottle and tasted the wines on two separate days to see if there was any change in aromas or flavours.  Sometimes wines require some time in contact with air in order for them to “open” up and show more of their character.  I as well did a fair amount of swirling the wines in my glass to help bring out the aromas and flavours.  Both wines are produced from Estate grapes and the wines are VQA certified.

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  Painted Rock Merlot 2009

  Painted Rock Merlot 2009. Deep garnet with a hint of ruby colour in the glass.  Very aromatic.  Just pouring this wine into my glass, brought out lots of aromas from this wine. Youthful nose and very pronounced, with jammy, sweet ripe fruit, including plums, blackberries, black cherry and dried fruits. There was also some sweet spice aromas of cinnamon, cloves, licorice and nutmeg. As you swirled the wine, a bit of perfume filled the glass and there was also a hint of blackberry leaf.  The wine is dry with medium weight in your mouth, good acidity too, and medium plus tannins.  On the palate I tasted black fruit, plums, blackberry and black cherry flavours.  There was also some vanilla, oak and blackcurrant leaf.  On Day 2 of my tasting I detected a bit of the perfume that I previously smelled on Day 1.   The wine has a long finish with tartness on your tongue.  A very good good that you could drink now, but I think give it 2 years to age softening the tannins and settling the acidity down a bit.  A quality wine.

• 

  Painted Rock Syrah 2009

  Painted Rock Syrah 2009.  This wine is opaque ruby colour from core to rim. It has a very delicious aroma.  Blueberries popped out for me.  A very youthful nose with red and black fruit aromas, lots of vanilla and a bit of cloves.  On Day 2 some additional cinnamon spice was detected.  The first thing you notice upon sipping this wine is it’s soft mouth feel, like silk in your mouth, with very juicy ripe fruit flavours and a hint of smokiness.  Medium body with medium plus acidity.  Also flavours of red cherry, plum, and hints of cedar, pepper and oak.  A long dry finish that leaves a lot of fruit lingering in your mouth.  The acidity also gives you a bit of mouth watering on the finish.  I really liked this wine and highly recommend it.  Outstanding now but you can still age it and get more years of enjoyment.

Where Can I Get Painted Rock’s Wines?

Painted Rock’s wines are available in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario currently. If you are lucky enough to live in Vancouver, many restaurants carry Painted Rock.  A few that you may recognize are:

• Bishop’s
• Blue Water Café
• Chambar
• Cru
• Hawksworth Restaurant
• Le Gavroche
• Rain City Grill
• Seasons In The Park In Queen Elizabeth Park
• Wild Rice

If you are attending Dine Out Vancouver, one of these wines might be a good pairing!

To check the closest wine shop to you carrying Painted Rock’s wines, follow this link. Enjoy!

Tags: bc, cabernet sauvignon, Dine Out Vancouver, John Skinner, Lieutenant Governor's Award, merlot, okanagan, Painted Rock, Penticton, Skaha Lake, syrah, Trish Skinner

January 23, 2012 is a New Chinese New Year.  This new year will be the Year of the Black Water Dragon. It begins on the first day of the first lunar month (usually in late January or early February) and ends on the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival).

A Dragon is a legendary creature. All legendary stories about Chinese dragons are from the sky, which means heaven in China.  The Dragon is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal signs.  The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend.  In ancient China, the celestial Dragon represents an emperor and  power. Today, it  is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness. Invariably accompanied by thunder and rain, dragons move like lightning and whirlwinds. (from http://www.stanssewingsupplies.com/catalogs/store.asp?pid=254835)

Snap Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Dragon Wine?

Are there any wines that have a dragon theme in Canada, or elsewhere? This is what I found.  In my search, the first wine is from Napa Valley, California.   The wine is from the Snap Dragon Winery.  They produce a Riesling, Chardonnay, red blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  I think with the Dragon being a big powerful animal, that maybe enjoying their Cabernet Sauvignon would be most appropriate. Wine Spectator describes the 2007 vintage as “Dried berry, black cherry and wild berry fruit is modestly complex, ripe and vivid, full-bodied and easy to drink. Drink now.”  SnapDragon’s website for you.

Digging deeper in Google I found Turley Wine Cellars from Templeton California and their Turley Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard 2007. Wine Expert Stephen Tanzer has this description about their 2007 vintage: “Good medium ruby. Urgent aromas of crushed berries and licorice. Dense, pliant and sweet, with surprising lift to the lush berry flavors. This rich, concentrated, chocolatey wine really spreads out to saturate the palate. The long finish features floral and spicy nuances.”  This sounds like a wine I would love to try!

Berberana Dragon Tempranillo 2002

My last wine for you with the dragon theme is the Bodegas Berberana Tempranillo Dragon Label Rioja, Spain. Rioja has a hot climate, perfect for dragons. The Rioja DOC is inland in the northern part of Spain and has a very warm continental climate.  The area is sometimes known as the Bordeaux of Spain. Rioja wines are normally a blend of various grape varieties, and can be either red (tinto), white (blanco) or rosé (rosado).  The most common red grape variety for Rioja is Tempranillo. The Bodegas Berberana Tempranillo Dragon Label according to the winery is aged for 6-8 months in American oak barrels, and it has ripe red fruit aromas and flavours, with notes of spice and cedar.

What Food and Wine to Pair For Black Water Dragon New Year?

Moroccan spiced lamb chops (image courtesy http://www.foodandwine.com)

When I think of dragons I think of fire, so my thoughts are going toward spicy dishes, and grilled dishes.  One nice pairing is a grilled Moroccan spiced lamb chop with a Cabernet Sauvignon. A few Cabernet Sauvignon that I could recommend are: Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State, Santa Julia Magna, 2009, Argentina (this is a Cab / Malbec blend), or Salvestrin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, 2007. The

If you are a seafood lover, a different pairing you may like would be grilled fish with a citrusy Riesling or Semillon from Australia or a New World Sauvignon Blanc.  Maybe try a Grilled Salmon with Morel Vinaigrette with a bottle of Brokenwood Semillon 2008 Australia, Skillogalee Single Vineyard Riesling 2009 Australia, or Waipara Hills Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand?

Gung xi fat choy.

Tags: australia, Bodegas Berberana, brokenwood, cabernet sauvignon, Chinese New Year, dragon, new zealand, Quilceda Creek, Rioja, Santa Julia, sauvignon blanc, semillon, Skillogalee, Snap Dragon Winery, spain, Temranillo, Waipara Hills

Even with the busy holiday season taking up our time, I was able to make a quick trip to Vancouver Island, and one of the things I did was visit the Chase & Warren Winery located in Port Alberni, BC.  I bet you didn’t know there were any wineries in Port Alberni, a place better known as a forestry town.  Well there is, and my host pouring the wines was Mr. Vaughan Chase.

Chase & Warren sold their first bottle of wine in 2003 but the vineyard was started in 1995 and the first vine planted in 1996.  The wines are of a very limited production, so the best place to get the wines is to go and visit them.  If you are living in Vancouver like me, the following stores carry their wines:

• Denman Place Wines
• Everything Wine (North Vancouver)
• Firefly Fine Wines & Ales
• Jimmy’s Beer & Wine
• Liberty Wines, Point Grey Place
• Yaletown Liquor Store

As you may guess, this is a marginal climate for grapes, so you would not get the same wines as you would from a hotter climate, such as Oliver, BC.  Think more white wines.  They do offer some reds, but the grapes are purchased from vineyards in other parts of the Province.  You may notice that the labels for the wines have pictures of birds.  This is because the winery owner is a bird lover.

Chase & Warren’s Wines

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  Chase & Warren Alsatia Cypress White and Tokay Pinot Gris

  Muscat d’Orval 2010.  These grapes are produced from their own vines.  This wine was watery lemon in colour with orange and pineapple aromas.  Light body with citrus and pine needle flavours.  Dry with a medium length.  You need to let this wine breathe a bit if sulfur dioxide (SO2) bothers you.  It is not a fault in the wine. It is added by many wineries to help prevent oxidation and preserve fruity flavour and freshness in wine.

• Bacchus 2010. I quite liked this wine.  The grapes for this wine are also grown on their estate.  It had a light nutmeg and citrus nose.  Quite aromatic. Light body with medium acidity and a slight prickle in your mouth.  Lots of pine needle flavour along with some nutmeg.  Medium plus length. Dry finish.
• Alsatia 2010. This is a blend of Auxxerois and Pinot Gris grapes from their estate. The grapes are crushed and fermented together.  Slightly sweet nose with citrusy aromas.  Very light body with banana, tropical fruit and peach flavours.  Very round and soft mouth feel.  Low acidity.
• Cyrpress White, NV. Another wine I quite liked. A blend of Viognier and Chardonnay. The Viognier was fermented in 2009 and the Chardonnay in 2010, then both were blended together. The Viognier grapes do not grow in this cooler area, so they were sourced from elsewhere in BC. This wine was light lemon in colour.  Light stone fruit aromas and some lees. Medium body and medium acidity. The level of acidity gave the wine a nice bite.  I enjoyed the peach, stone fruit, and slight herbal flavours.  It ended with a mouth watering finish.  Very refreshing.
• Tokay Pinot Gris 2008.  Light pear skin colour with a light peach nose. Off dry with medium body.  Round mouth feel with medium acidity.  Quite mouth filling with peaches, sweet spices and some herbal flavours. Medium length.
• 

  Chase & Warren Cabernet Sauvignon and Bacchus

  Wrangel Red, NV. Wrangel pays homage to the Insular Geological Belt extending along the west coast of Alaska and British Columbia, of which Vancouver Island is a part. One of the 2 terranes composing this belt is called Wrangellia. This is a red blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, with a dash of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris added.  Light cherry colour.  Quite aromatic with sweet cherries, candied fruit and flowers.  Light body, dry with low tannins.  Cherries and some leafiness on the palate.  Quite interesting and enjoyable.

• Wranglette, NV. This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir, with the grapes coming from a vineyard in Nanaimo. Medium garnet in colour.  Light cinnamon aroma that builds in the glass along with red cherries. Light body with low tannins.  Ripe red cherries, some tropical flavours and vanilla on the palate.  Dry with medium length.
• Merlot 2009. These grapes come from the South Okanagan and are fermented in stainless steel open top fermenters. Medium garnet in colour with light cherry and milk chocolate aromas. Medium body, round mouth feel with medium tannins.  Cherries and some leafiness on the palate.  Medium plus length.
• Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. Cabernet Sauvignon is another grape that needs warm weather, so these grapes are brought in from another area in BC.  This wine was deep ruby in colour and had dark fruit aromas.  Medium plus body, very fruity with some vanilla and a bit of spice.  It also had an interesting dill flavour component.

Take A Steam Train to Chase & Warren

Trees in Cathedral Grove

Do you have any nostalgia for the days of steam trains?  If so, there is a daily WINE STEAM TRAIN RIDE leaving the Port Alberni Harbour Station at 1:00 pm and returns from the Chase and Warren Winery at 3:30pm. Reservations are required. The price is $40 per person and includes steam train ride, wine tasting and appetizers at the winery. Very cool.

That’s all for this post, my last one for 2011.  I hope you enjoyed my writing for this past year.  If you have a chance in the Spring – Summer – Fall to go to Vancouver Island, consider taking the ferry and then driving over to Port Alberni to visit Chase & Warren. Here is their website link.  You will also pass through Cathedral Grove, which has a stand of some of the oldest and largest trees in BC.  Cheers!

Tags: Bacchus, bc, birds, Chase & Warren, Muscat, pinot gris, Port Alberni, steam train, Tokay, Wrangel

Michael Bartier (left) and David Scholefield (right)

David Scholefield and Michael Bartier are not new to wine in BC.  Michael Bartier was born and raised in the Okanagan and worked in the past for Hawthorne Mountain (See Ya Later Ranch), Township 7, Stag’s Hollow and most recently Road 13 Vineyards. He joins the team at Okanagan Crush Pad Winery as winemaker, where he and David produce their wines.  David Scholefield had a long career as a senior wine buyer for the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch. His knowledge earned him a global reputation for the ability to acquire allocations of the world’s finest wines for the BC liquor stores. He has deep knowledge of the wine trade here and abroad.  In addition, Alberto Antonini is their internationally renowned traveling winemaker working with Michael Bartier.  Alberto has earned an international reputation for creating some of the top wines in the world. He was a senior winemaker at Antinori and Frescobaldi in Tuscany, and at Robert Mondavi, Au Bon Climat and Qupé in California.

Bartier Scholefield Wines Tasted

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  Bartier Scholefield White Table wine 2010

  Bartier • Scholefield White Table Wine 2010 ($22) is a blend of Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay, all grown in the Oliver area.  No barrels were used, just stainless steel tanks. There was a short lees contact for added wine complexity (my note). I am not sure of the percentages of each of the grapes.  This wine was light lemon in colour with a youthful bouquet of peaches, pineapple and lemon.  The lees also shows up on the nose. On the palate the wine is dry with medium plus acidity.  Some roundness but supported by an acidic backbone.  Medium plus body and intensity.  Pineapple, peach, lemon, cherries, and almond flavours greet your tongue, with a bit of steeliness too.  Medium plus length.  This wine is a nice sipper.  Try with a lightly cooked fish with lemon sauce or some shellfish.

• 

  Bartier Scholefield Rose Table wine 2010

  Bartier • Scholefield Rose ($20) is 100% Gamay Noir from the Wise Brothers’ vineyard in Oliver. This wine was medium salmon colour in the glass.  Light, youthful aromas of strawberries, red cherries and other red fruits.  It is dry on the palate with medium plus acidity.  Medium body.  I get fresh summer fruits like raspberries, red currants, strawberries and red cherries, and a lingering watering mouthfeel on the finish.  Another good sipper.  With the higher acidity in this rose, you might try with a pork or chicken dish that has a cream sauce.

You can find more about Bartier Scholefield on their website, or about the Okanagan Crush Pad winery here. Enjoy!

Tags: Bartier, chardonnay, Gamay Noir, okanagan, Okanagan Crush Pad, Oliver, pinot blanc, pinot gris, rose, sauvignon blanc, Scholefield

Buenos Aires City Collage (courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Have you ever wanted to go to Argentina, watch a live tango show, visit the Iguazu Falls (remember the movie “The Mission”?), walk the vineyards in Mendoza, eat an Argentinean style barbeque (asado), and enjoy a big Malbec with your asado?  I’ve been to Argentina, and had a chance to do many of these things.  Argentina is a big, beautiful country.  Buenos Aires has been coined the most European city of South America.  With it’s French architecture, and fashion, I understand why. Here is some additional information on Buenos Aires from Wikitravel.

I am planning a ~7 day tour of Argentina, and want to make it something that excites you and makes you daydream about it during your workday.

What I need is your feedback of the items you would like to see, plus ideas of places to see, or things you would like to do that are not on my list.

Mendoza Vineyards (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons by by Sherlock4000)

Ideas for an Argentina Trip

• Take a tango class
• Watch real tango in a nightclub in Buenos Aires
• Visit the Recoleta (cemetary) to see Evita Peron‘s grave
• Visit the Opera House in Buenos Aires
• Visit top quality wineries in Mendoza, including tasting wines at each winery (e.g. Bodega Catena Zapata, Bodegas Salentein, Bodega Familia Zuccardi, Bodega Tapiz)
• Enjoy an asado in Mendoza with wine of course
• Visit the art galleries of Mendoza
• Take a cooking lesson in Mendoza
• Drive into the Andes Mountains
• Visit the Iguazu Falls and walk along the falls or take a boat ride (see Wikipedia’s page)
• Take a boat ride on the Tigre River in Buenos Aires
• Take a boat ride from Buenos Aires across the Plata to Montevideo, Uruguay and try some of their signature Tannat wines.
• Watch a futbol (soccer) match.

Can you please comment on the above sites or experiences?  Which are the most attractive to you?  I hope to have a good list compiled before Christmas.  Will you help me?

Also add in sites and experiences that you know, which may not be in my list.  Many thanks!  Let’s have some fun in Argentina.

Tags: Andes, argentina, asado, Buenos Airies, Catena Zapata, cooking class, Familia Zuccardi, Iguazu Falls, malbec, mendoza, Montevideo, Recoleta, Salentein, soccer, tango, Tannat, Tapiz, trip, Uruguay

A variety of wines at the Grand Taste

The Grand Taste is the last, and biggest event for the Taste of Tulalip.  I was amazed when I saw how long the line up was for people to enter this event.  If you’ve been to the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, this lineup was at least that long or longer.  Represented at the Grand Taste were 66 WA wineries, 22 California wineries, and 16 Italian wineries. Many of the WA wineries, I did not recognize as their wines do not reach the BC market.  It was so interesting to try their wines, and I hope that we will be able to see more WA State wines in our BCLDB stores, or in our private shops.  There was also many tables of food being cooked fresh in front you in the WA State tasting room, so you could try your wines with a wide variety of tasty tidbits.

Here are a few of my favourites from the Grand Taste at the Taste of Tulalip. I spent most of my time in the WA State room trying their wines, thus the longer list of wines mentioned below.

Washington State Wines

Charles Smith Wines King Coal 2008

Brian Carter Cellars Le Coursier 2007. This is a ‘Right-Bank’ Bordeaux style blend using Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Medium garnet in colour with a light ripe fruit nose.  Light body with red cherries and vanilla flavour.  Medium tannins.

Charles Smith Wines King Coal 2008. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah blend (Bordeaux meets the Rhone).  Medium garnet in the glass with a light blueberry nose.  Full body with soft tannins.  Mint/herbal, vanilla, plums and blueberries on the palate.  Very tasty.

Cullin Hills The Dungeon, 2008.  This is a Syrah / Mourvedre blend.  Highly unusual, but very nice. This wine was deep garnet in colour.  Light dusty nose, but on the palate it is very full body with ripe blueberries. Vanilla and ripe cherries on the mid palate.  It would be a total knock out if it was more open on the nose. Maybe the bottle was just opened and had not yet opened up yet?

Januik Winery Cold Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 2009. Watery lemon in colour with a light oak and apple nose. Light body with light oak and apple flavours.  There is also a bit of minerality or earthiness.  Light spice and vanilla on the finish.  An interesting wine.

Kontos Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. This Cabernet has a small amount of Petit Verdot in the blend to give additional colour and flavour to the wine.  This was was a deeper garnet colour.  Light aromas of dark fruit.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  Lots of cumin, nutmeg and ripe cherries on the palate.  Medium length.

Novelty Hill Syrah 2008. Meaty nose.  Full body with light tannins.  Dark chocolate and black fruit on the palate.  A quality wine.

Rotie Cellars Southern Blend 2009.  Rotie Cellars as in Cote Rotie, is a winery that produces traditional Rhone Blends in WA state.  This is their southern blend, which contains Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre.  Light garnet colour in the glass.  Meaty with light cherry aromas. Dry, full body with firm tannins.  Lots of black fruit flavours.

Rotie Cellars Northern Blend 2009

Rotie Cellars Northern Blend 2009.  This blend is 95% Syrah with 5% Viognier.  This is a traditional blend in the Rhone.  The two varieties of grapes are co-fermented. The white Viognier grape causes deeper colour extraction in the Syrah, plus adds a more floral or perfume component to the wine. Light garnet in colour with ripe plums and perfume on the nose. Full body with medium acidity.  Dry with dark fruit, blackberry and blueberry flavours. Very nice.

Stottle Winery Tempranillo 2008. The grapes for this wine come from the Horse Heaven Hills area of WA State.  I’ve noted before that I really do like the wines that use HHH grapes.  Something about the terroir… This wine was deep garnet in colour with a light plum aroma. Full body, round mouth feel with cherry and vanilla flavours. A really nice wine.

Terra Blanca Merlot 2006. Nice translucent garnet colour. Plum, red fruits and vanilla aromas. Full body with cassis and ripe black fruits.  Dry with medium tannins.  Very nice.

Waters Cabernet Sauvignon 2008.  Medium garnet with light smoky sausage and dark fruit aromas.  Very fruity on the palate.  Full body with medium tannins.  Ripe dark fruit flavour with a bit of capsicum in the mid-palate.  Dry finish.

Napa Valley Wines

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2009

Aubert Chardonnay 2009. This wine is fermented in 100% new oak barrels, but the oak does not overpower the wine.  Pale lemon in colour.  Toasty oak and buttered popcorn aromas, with a whiff of citrus.  Medium body with vanilla and lemon flavours. Long length.  I think this is the first time I mentioned a wine and buttered popcorn at the same time.

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2009.  This is a single vineyard wine.  Medium lemon in colour with tropical fruit and some toasty aromas. Medium body and very soft mouth feel (really silky). Some vanilla and tropical fruit flavours.  Really nice.

MacRostie Chardonnay 2009.  The grapes for this wine come from the Sonoma coast. Medium lemon with a greenish tinge.  An interesting nose with light tropical fruit and butter. Light body with vanilla, lemon, and light oak flavours.  Very tasty.

Merryvale Chardonnay 2009. We have grapes from Carneros in this wine.  Light toast on the nose. Light body with some minerality, light citrus, vanilla and spice on the palate.  An elegant wine.

Roederer Estate L’ermitage 2002. This sparkling wine is made by the famous Roederer Estate Champagne house from France. It is a blend of 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir. Pale lemon in colour.  Toast, lees, and caramel aromas. Tiny bubbles in the glass.  High acidity with lots of citrus flavour and some toastiness on the finish.  Nice.

Did you notice that all the wines are white wines or sparkling for my Napa Valley selection?  There were lots of quality reds there, but I just did whites on my way to the WA State tasting room, where I tried so many white and red wines.  I ran out of time to get back to the Napa reds.

Italian Wines

Bastianich Vespa Bianco 2008

Bastianich Vespa Bianco 2008. This is a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Sauvignon Blanc, and 10% Picolit. You don’t see Picolit very often. From Wikipedia, “Picolit (also known as Piccolit and Piccolito) is a white Italian wine grape grown predominately in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy… The grape is most commonly associated with sweet dessert wines often made in the passito style. Historically planted in poor and infertile vineyards, the grape gets it name from the very small piccolo yields that the vine produce… “  Light apple aromas.  Dry with medium minus acidity.  Round with apples and some nutmeg spice on the palate.

Bisol Estate Crede Brut. This is a Prosecco.  Nice citrus and light white flower aromas. High acidity with white flowers, citrus, almonds and caramel flavours.  Medium length. A very tasty Prosecco.

Tasty Appetizers

Coleslaw with bacon, blue cheese and shrimp

Food is a natural complement to wine, and there was lots of complements to pass around in the WA State tasting room.  One of the appetizers that I really liked was a coleslaw that was made with bacon, blue cheese and topped with shrimp.  So many flavours and textures.  A natural pairing to a Sauvignon Blanc or other aromatic white.

There were salads, pork and beef dishes, seafood, and of course some desserts.

Panfried scallops

There were many more wineries than I’ve listed here.  It is impossible to taste all the wines from this event, so I’m sure I missed a few gems.

If you were at the Grand Taste and you have a few favourites, please post your comments here.  If you have never been to the Taste of Tulalip, consider attending next year. Next year’s event will be November 9 and 10, 2012.  This is a very high quality event, and I highly recommend going to it.

This is my third post about the Taste of Tulalip.  Here are the other two posts in case you have not had a chance to read them:

• What a Celebration Dinner at Taste of Tulalip!

• Magnum Party at the Taste of Tulalip

When I hear about ticket sales, I will be sure to post it on Twitter.  My Twitter id is @mywinepal.  Enjoy!

Tags: Aubert, Bastianich, Beringer, Bisol, Brian Carter, cabernet, california, chardonnay, Charles Smith, Cullin Hills, Horse Heaven Hills, italy, Janiuk, Kontos, MacRostie, merlot, Merryvale, Napa, Novelty Hill, Picolit, Prosecco, Roederer, Rotie Cellars, Stottle Winery, Taste of Tulalip, Terra Blanca, Vespa, Washington, Waters

Meyer Family Vineyards goal is”crafting single vineyard wines of excellence“. This is my fourth review of their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines and each year their wines get better.  More complexity, more balance. For this review I received a bottle of the following wines:

• Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay, McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, 2010
• Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Series – Sonja Gaudet Chardonnay, Old Main Road Vineyard, Naramata, 2010
• Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2010
• Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Reimer Vineyard, Kelowna, 2010
• Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, 2009

Who Is Meyer Family Vineyards?

JAK Meyer

Just in case you are not family with Meyer Family Vineyards, they are a winery started in 2006 in the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan by JAK Meyer and his wife, Janice Stevens. They purchased a small 1.62 ha vineyard on the Naramata Bench and in late 2008 they purchased a 6.9 ha property in Okanagan Falls. From these two small vineyards, they produce less than 2000 cases from mature 15 year old vines.  They have added Pinot Noir grapes and extended their land holdings in the Okanagan.  In this release I see Pinot Noir coming from the Reimer Vineyard for the first time. They want to showcase the characteristics of each vineyard and express its place of origin through the wine.  JAK and Janice, along with other oenophiles, think that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are two grapes that really allow place of origin, and terroir to show through their wines.

Chardonnay Review

The first Chardonnay to review is the Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay, McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, 2010. The grapes are planted in two separate blocks in the McLean Creek Road Vineyard with slightly different slopes and aspect.  This variation in the blocks leads to differences in flavour development, which in turn leads to more complexity in the wine. The grapes were gently pressed and underwent a long, cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks, then transferred to 100% French oak (22% new) to complete fermentation.  The wine was left “sur lees” for 10 months without stirring (battonage) to add an additional yeasty flavour component. Lees refers to deposits of dead yeast or residual yeast and other particles that precipitate to the bottom of the barrel after fermentation and aging. Lastly the wine went through a secondary malo-lactic fermentation, where the more astringent malic acids in the wine were converted to softer, more buttery, lactic acids. This wine was a medium lemony gold in colour in the glass.  Medium intensity aromas in the glass of citrus, tropical fruit, cinnamon and vanilla.  On the palate it was dry with fairly high acidity and quite full body. There was lots of fruit and acidity up front with vanilla coming in mid palate.  Lemon, apple, pear fruit flavours as well as butter, vanilla, oak, and some minerality rounded out the palate.  Nice round creamy mouthfeel.  This wine had a long length.  I’d rate it as very good quality. Read to drink but can reward you with aging.  A very elegant wine, and maybe the best yet from the McLean Creek Road Vineyard.

Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Series Sonja Gaudet Chardonnay 2010

The second Chardonnay was the Meyer Family Vineyards Tribute Series – Sonja Gaudet Chardonnay, Old Main Road Vineyard, Naramata, 2010. Each year the Meyer Family Vineyards pays tribute to a Western Canadian for an outstanding achievement in their field.  This year the Tribute is to Sonja Gaudet. She is a Bronze, Silver, and Gold National Champion in the sport of Wheelchair Curling, a two-time World Champion in 2009 and 2011, and a two-time Paralympic Gold Medalist in Torino, Italy in 2006 and in Vancouver/Whistler in 2010.  The Old Main Road Vineyard faces north which causes the vines to slowly ripen the grapes to produce a great spectrum of flavours while retaining good acidity and minerality. This wine went through the same fermentation process and aging as for the McLean Creek Road Chardonnay. The wine had a lemony gold colour in the glass.  On the nose it had a medium intensity with aromas of tropical fruit, pear, vanilla and butter. Dry with medium plus body and intensity of flavour. Round, creamy and buttery with a bit of toast and honey on the palate. Flavours of citrus, tropical fruit, pears, apples, pepper, almond, vanilla, cinnamon and some lees. Quite a gamut of flavours from this wine. Medium plus length.  Another very good, high quality wine that you can drink now, but I think will be even better with at least a year of aging.

Pinot Noir Review

The Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2010 is the entry level Pinot Noir for MFV.  The grapes are sourced from throughout the Okanagan. It does have a screw top, which is different from all the other bottles which come with a cork.  A screw cap helps keep in the fruity character of a wine.  Medium ruby in colour with a youthful nose with aromas of violets, strawberries, red cherries and vanilla.  There may also be a slight hint of cloves. Light bodied, dry, with low tannins and fairly high acidity. It had a bouquet of red currants, strawberries, red cherries, and some violets.  Along with a bit of black currant leaf, vanilla and a hint of liquorice.  Medium length.  This wine is at it’s peak now, and the screw cap should keep it like that for a long time.  Enjoy at your leisure.

Meyer Family Vineyards Reimer Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010

The Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Reimer Vineyard, Kelowna, 2010 is the newest vineyard as I mentioned earlier to provide Pinot Noir grapes.  This vineyard is located in the more northerly end of the Okanagan in Kelowna, which should give you more of the red summer fruit characteristics compared to a warmer climate Pinot Noir. This vineyard has a northwesterly aspect, which should cause the grapes to ripen longer, giving more intensity of fruit flavour and still keeping a high level of acidity in the wine. The grapes were de-stemmed, with 25% left whole cluster. The grapes were allowed to cold soak to start bringing out the colour from the grape skins. After the cold soak, indigenous and cultured yeasts were used to ferment the grapes.  The wines were later gently pressed  and transferred to 100% French oak barrels (33% new) to age for 10 months. A natural malo-lactic fermentation occurred in the late spring.  This wine had quite a deep ruby colour.  Still a youthful nose with medium intensity aromas of violets, raspberries, red cherries, blackberries, vanilla, and a hint of liquorice. This is a fuller bodied Pinot Noir that has lots of fruit and a big bouquet of violets.  Red fruit, raspberry, red cherry and raspberry leaf flavours along with vanilla. The acidity in the wine buoys up the violet and red cherry flavours.   This wine is dry with a long finish.  It’s a really nice wine, but could be aged for a few years for additional complexity.

The final Pinot Noir was the Meyer Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, McLean Creek Road Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, 2009. The same fermentation process was used for this wine as was used for the Reimer Vineyard grapes. While the Reimer Vineyard wine was ruby in colour, this wine was medium garnet.  It does have a very pronounced nose with developing fruit characteristics.  There are red fruits, red cherries, red & black currants, vanilla and oak, with hints of smoke, violets and some herbal aromas.  Dry with higher levels of acidity, tannins and body.  Red fruit, red cherry, strawberry, black currant and black currant leaf, some sweet spice, vanilla and a tiny bit of violet flavours on your palate.  Very dry, long finish.  This wine left the back of my tongue very dry, but shows it’s potential now with the good quality fruit flavours and higher acidity.  Wait at least a year or longer for the tannins to soften and you should have an outstanding wine. Please note that this wine is not yet released, but will be available in the Spring of 2012.

The previous three reviews I did for Meyer Family Vineyards are:

Meyer Family Vineyards 2009 vintage

Meyer Family Vineyards 2008 vintage

Meyer Family Vineyards 2006 vintage

If you would like to find out more about Meyer Family Vineyards, please visit their website.  Here is a PDF link with more info about Sonja Gaudet. Enjoy!

Tags: chardonnay, curling, McLean Creek Road, meyer family vineyards, okanagan, Old Main Road, Olympics, pinot noir, Reimer Vineyard, Sonja Gaudet, Tribute Series, wheelchair

November is always a special time for tasting new wines at the Import Vintners and Spirits Association (IVSA).  It’s just one month away from the Christmas and New Years holidays.  And that means lots of sparkling wines to taste.  So with this in mind, I spent almost all my time at the IVSA tasting bubbles.  And my picks are here for you.  Bubbles are great all year round, BTW, so buy some for the holidays, and for whenever you want to treat yourself, family, and friends!

 Top Champagnes

• 

  Champagne de Venoge Cordon Bleu Brut Select

  Champagne de Venoge Cordon Bleu Brut Select NV, France ($62.99). This Champagne is a blend of 2/3 Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (both red grapes), and 1/3 Chardonnay. Light lemon in colour.  Nice medium toasty nose.  Medium acidity and body.  Citrus, some spice and toasty flavours on the palate.

• Pierre Paillard Brut Grand Cru N/V, France ($56.99). This Champagne is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% of Chardonnay. It had a toasty nose.  Light body with light lemon, peaches, and some floweriness.  Dry mouthfeel with a medium length. Very nice.
• Perrier Jouet Grand Brut N/V, France. This is also a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Pale lemon in colour.  Light lees and toast on the nose. Light body with apples and white fruit.  Small bubbles with lower acidity.  I really enjoyed this one in part due to the lower acidity which made this Champagne very easy to drink on its own.
• Champagne Gardet & CIE Brut Tradition, France ($49.95). This Champagne is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. Light lees and apple aromas in the glass.  High acidity with small aggressive bubbles.  Toastiness and apples on the palate with a dry citrus finish.
• G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge N/V, France. A nice nose with citrus and toastiness. Dry on the palate with a sweet undercurrent. Citrus with slight oak and toast.  Elegant.

Cava and Prosecco

In case you didn’t know Prosecco is an indigenous grape to the Venuto region of Italy, as well as the name of the sparkling wine that is made from this grape.

• 

  Bastianich Flor Prosecco

  Trevisiol, Prosecco Extra Dry N/V, Italy ($29.99). Light lemony colour.  Very light stone fruit nose. Medium body, with  a creamy mousse.  Apples, lime and lemon flavours.  A bit of roundness on the palate. Very nice.

• Bastianich Flor Prosecco, Italy ($19.99).  A delightful wine with melon and lychee aromas. Off dry, light body, with cinnamon, citrus and peach flavours.  Small bubble.  This is such a fun wine. Start a party with this wine.
• Rosa di Sera Rosato Extra-Dry NV, Italy ($21.99). This is a rose Prosecco, made with 85% Prosecco and 15% Marzemino grapes. Light cherry colour with a bright cherry nose. More cherries on the palate along with marzipan.
• Villa Sandi Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry DOCG, Italy ($22.95). Light roses and citrus aromas. Off-dry with apples, orange and citrus flavours.  Medium bubble.  Easy to drink.

Old and New World Bubbles

• 

  Oyster Bay Brut and Rose sparkling wines

  Cabriz Espumante Bruto, Dao, Portugal ($17.99). Yes, Portugal produces sparkling wine.  But we rarely see it. This wine is made with native grapes to Portugal.  Light citrus aromas, lead to green apples and light oak on the palate.  Dry with medium body.  High acidity. A treat to try.

• Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose, France ($24.99). This Cremant is produced from the Pinot Noir grape. Watery pink colour. Light strawberry aroma. High in acid with small bubbles.  Dry with apple, cherry and strawberry flavours to tickle your tongue.  Elegant.  Easy to enjoy.
• Monmousseau Cuvee JM Brut 2007, France ($19.99). This sparkler is made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes. Light lemon in colour .  Light citrus with a hint of honey aromas.  Cinnamon greets your lips up front on the palate, followed with citrus and apple flavours.  Medium acid and length.  Very tasty.
• Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee Brut N/V, New Zealand ($24.99). I was really surprised by this wine.  It won me over with it’s fresh fruit flavours. Light citrus and stone fruit on the nose.  Lots of flavour in your mouth with citrus, lime, kiwi fruit, and herbal flavours. Small bubble with medium acidity.
• Dr. L Sparkling Riesling, Germany ($18.99). Dr. Loosen is a master of the Riesling grape in Germany as well as other regions of the world, such as Washington State, where he works with Chateau Ste. Michelle.  Medium lemon with a green tint in the glass. Citrus, minty, petrol aromas. An interesting nose! Light body, off-dry, with green applies, mint and petrol.  Medium plus acidity keeps it refreshing.  A different, fun sparkling wine.
• Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir N/V, Australia ($13.99).  Light citrus nose. Dry with high acidity and green apple flavour on the palate.  Small bubble.   Medium length.  This is an easy sipper.

I hope you found a few sparkling wines that you would like to try for the holidays.  During this tasting I also tried a few fortified wines, so my next blog for the IVSA will be on ports and stickies.

Contact me if you would like me to run a private tasting in your home or for your office.  Enjoy!

Tags: Albrecht, australia, Bastianich, brut, bubbles, Cabriz, Cava, champagne, chardonnay, Dr. Loosen, france, Gardet, Germany, italy, IVSA, Jacob's Creek, Monmousseau, Mumm, new zealand, Pierre Paillard, pinot noir, Prosecco, rose, Sandi, sparkling, Trevisiol