The Bar Towel

Pierre Sparr Altenbourg Riesling 2017

A nice dry & juicy white wine from the historic Alsace winemaking region - one bounded at various times within Germany or France, right now it's the latter. Nice Riesling grape typicity of melon-lime, stony mineral, acidic pale stone fruit, some honey and lychee. A whiff of petrol on the nose and the back of the palate. It's really a bit beguiling and you could imagine this being great alongside some fresh Alsatian onion tart.

Riesling is often quite good wherever it's grown and this one is fairly easy going while keeping things interesting. I could get into these Alsatian French wines more...

Belgian wrote:M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes de Roussillon 2014

A very fine $15.95 wine, so a tad easier on the wallet than the (also) consistently excellent & more ageable Occultum Lapidem also available from Bila-Haut. Round and full and structured with nice dark fruit, dark florals and spice.
Carignan has particular herbals. This med-full-bodied red opens up nicely with a bit of short-term aeration, it's mostly a pour-and-go wine but a little air does it good. Nice bit of tannins and acidity to go with Beretta AAA strip loin. Cin cin!

Well, this hasn't gone up in price for years, and for a few more days it's theee bucks off.

Fantastic solid $13 value. Hard to match for the price. Had with Beretta Farms cast iron pan seared Ribeye, from Foodland.

Now it's time for my Covid Cut #4 so wish me luck. I have got oil on the Wahl clippers...

Passi Reali Appassimento Montepulciano Organic VDT
Montepulciano
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 523100
$12.90
$14.90 Save $2.00 Limited Time Offer
Until September 13, 2020

If you haven't ever tried a red done in the Appassimento style this one is worth trying especially since it is on sale.

Warm, smooth, doesn't really seem like 14.5 % abv. and being Organic doesn't hurt either. Excellent with fresh fettuccine and now that the cooler weather is on the horizon.

Ukie wrote:Passi Reali Appassimento Montepulciano Organic VDT
Montepulciano
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 523100
$12.90
$14.90 Save $2.00 Limited Time Offer
Until September 13, 2020

If you haven't ever tried a red done in the Appassimento style this one is worth trying especially since it is on sale.

Warm, smooth, doesn't really seem like 14.5 % abv. and being Organic doesn't hurt either. Excellent with fresh fettuccine and now that the cooler weather is on the horizon.

I should probably revisit this one. I found it offputtingly sweet when I tried it a couple of years ago. And yes, I know that the appassimento style is going to lend itself to a sweeter style wine with raisin notes. Normally, that suits me just fine but this one seemed off balance. But I do believe in second chances (particularly at discount pricing).

I'd recommend the Negrar Appassimento for those interested in the style. It's my poor man Amarone substitute, though it's not always available.

https://www.lcbo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ ... 0WWnMhKiM9

Provost Drunk wrote:

Ukie wrote:Passi Reali Appassimento Montepulciano Organic VDT
Montepulciano
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 523100
$12.90
$14.90 Save $2.00 Limited Time Offer
Until September 13, 2020

If you haven't ever tried a red done in the Appassimento style this one is worth trying especially since it is on sale.

Warm, smooth, doesn't really seem like 14.5 % abv. and being Organic doesn't hurt either. Excellent with fresh fettuccine and now that the cooler weather is on the horizon.

I should probably revisit this one. I found it offputtingly sweet when I tried it a couple of years ago. And yes, I know that the appassimento style is going to lend itself to a sweeter style wine with raisin notes. Normally, that suits me just fine but this one seemed off balance. But I do believe in second chances (particularly at discount pricing).

I'd recommend the Negrar Appassimento for those interested in the style. It's my poor man Amarone substitute, though it's not always available.

https://www.lcbo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ ... 0WWnMhKiM9

You are quite right about the sweetness. I had loaded up on Passimento just as the Covid 19 lockdown started and was ready for a move up in sweetness as this one is even drier than the Negrar.

Pasqua Passimento Rosso IGT
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 141952
$14.90

Looking at it now I think I paid $10.95 a bottle back in March/April. Defintely a no brainer at that price.

Provost Drunk wrote:

Ukie wrote:Passi Reali Appassimento Montepulciano Organic VDT
Montepulciano
750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 523100
$12.90
$14.90 Save $2.00 Limited Time Offer
Until September 13, 2020

If you haven't ever tried a red done in the Appassimento style this one is worth trying especially since it is on sale.

Warm, smooth, doesn't really seem like 14.5 % abv. and being Organic doesn't hurt either. Excellent with fresh fettuccine and now that the cooler weather is on the horizon.

I should probably revisit this one. I found it offputtingly sweet when I tried it a couple of years ago. And yes, I know that the appassimento style is going to lend itself to a sweeter style wine with raisin notes. Normally, that suits me just fine but this one seemed off balance. But I do believe in second chances (particularly at discount pricing).

I'd recommend the Negrar Appassimento for those interested in the style. It's my poor man Amarone substitute, though it's not always available.

https://www.lcbo.com/webapp/wcs/stores/ ... 0WWnMhKiM9

Great stuff. I have found that aerating a wine - or just letting a partial bottle stand for a day or so - really brings the balance together and opens it up, smoothing out what seem at first like flaws.

In fact, I almost assume that's the case with the 'rough and ready' inexpensive Italian reds. Some work is involved. It's completely unfair to judge their potential without letting them open up.

The (more mid-level) Retnato Ratti Nebbiolo and the Fontafredda Nebbiolo both definitely open up that way, the Fontafredda becomes less simplistic and jammy and the vibrancy of the flavors pops out more, with interesting wild strawberry etc. These two Langhe Nebbiolo are pretty different and I like having both around if I can.

La Ferme du Mont Première Côte Côtes du Rhône 2018

This is a bafflingly fresh and simple wine for $21, but some claim that's a certain modern Rhône style many people like. La Ferme du Mont is well-regarded for their big Crus, and this wine, their simpler Premiére Côte is amazingly fruit forward (can we call it a juice?) with lots of ripe blackberry sweetness & some spice.
So it lacks much dryness, firm structure and complexity. Has a tiny hint of immature yeasty sourness. It seems they aim for the 'big, yummy Shiraz' type of wine drinker.

It does have some body and acidity and alcohol-driven power, just by merit of the grapes and region. There is a bit of blueberry and mineral mingled in the background. But it's friendly as a hippie after a few too many tokes. It's way too clean, grape-sugary and short on length to be very interesting, just in my opinion. I would prefer maybe some herbal brushiness, mature tannins and unique overall character vs excessively 'new world' or childishly simple.

I got this for under $15 on sale at the Front and Spadina store if you'd like to give it a spin, YMMV and I'd like to know if you disagree. I'm also giving it some air.

The Chateau Des Roques 2013 Vacqueyras I also got (it too was on sale, maybe sold out) should be a far better drop, with classic French style. Sometimes I know what wines to grab and which to skip, but I try something else anyhow.

2010 Echo de Lynch Bages. This is very nice right now. Big time pencil shavings, a good but if acidity and nicely balanced, moderate depth/body. Feels very traditional Bordeaux.

This is also one of the first wines I cellared, it's awfully satisfying to finally reap the rewards.

Chateau des Roques Vacqueyras 2013

Really nice medium-weight southern Rhône - Cherry and a little smooth brandy-soaked black plum, violets and blueberry/blackberry. Really great refined dry palate. This bottle is 2013 which is probably why it was a nice reduced price just over $17.

SalvaTerra Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2016

Wow, this Valpolicella is a reasonably big and yet silky Corvina-blend red from Italy's Northeast region of Veneto - the area also known for Amarone. It offers sweet and acidic cherry-berry, spiced blueberry pie, florals and brushy herbs. Dry leathery notes and I think some wild strawberry may be emerging as it opens up, which can take time.

Velvety and warm, powerful impression. Has some charming character with the tartness and the slightly wild herbality. Ripasso wines like this are an absolute steal.

Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi 2013

Here is a beautiful mid- southern Italian Aglianico red wine packed with character. The tart and sweet red berry / red currant / blueberry fruit is framed with dry herbals and hints of mineral, leather and veal stock. Leafy and tea -like tannins persist. Aroma develops into that tart red and complex fruit and bready yeast and also walnut and wood. This is a 'grown up' wine here. Aglianico doesn't pussy around for easy-going palates. But this one's surely a bit elegant.

Total food wine with the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. The overall frame is rustic and austere, a bit inky but it should open up with some air. Got for about $15 off at Front and Spadina LC thanks to the store specialist who also recommended some other good stuff.

Hilario Corbières 2018 Syrah/Grenache/Mourvèdre

Here is a Languedoc red of the Corbiéres appellation, and it's OK. Very juicy and sweet with an unkempt wild herbal / tannic aspect over the dark berry. Notes of coffee and pepper. Seems to have a yeasty youthfulness I am hoping will blow off as it absorbs some oxygen, we'll see if it improves.

The berry is like dry and tart blackberry and blueberry. The late finish has nice acidic note.

Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

This nice Cali dry red has enough dryness and body to stand up to any kind of dinner yet's also smooth enough to just enjoy by itself. I like the slightly toasty vanilla oak against the small tart red berry and sweet ripe blackberry fruit. Warm spicy overtones.

Tenute Falezza Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017

Now here is a big powerful red with a moderate price tag. Now arriving late for the October 3 Vintages release, a Corvina-dominated blend typical of the Veneto wine DOC region in NE Italy (also associated with Venice, Verona and Padua, if Shakespeare is your jam.)

Nice round and acidic fruit of black cherry and ripe red berry, notes of leather and herbs... opens up with air and actually improves into day two after opened. Mellow Arabica bean notes, French oak and liquorice. The late finish lingers an almost apple-like acidic grip.

Plenty of good stuff going on for any wine near $20; if you see this label with the big eye-catching gold TF logo maybe give it a shot.

Château Les Aubiers 2016 (Right-Bank Bordeaux)

A beautiful little Merlot-focused Bordeaux red (80%) with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec in the blend.

Needs some oxygen and time to open up the ripe and acidic red berry & smooth out the dry and gently wooly profile that has nice lingerings of herbs and hints of green peppers from the Cab grape. Slight mineral feel, good stuff with food but expect to decant it to get full enjoyment.