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Travaglini Gattinara 2013 Neb

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2018 7:37 pm
by Belgian
Travaglini Gattinara 2013 Nebbiolo / Piedmont

Nebbiolo-based wines are a great way to explore the 'serious' wines of Northern Italy, as this the famous grape used in Barolo and Barbaresco reds. This Gattinara has some great years and a number that are less so. The 2013 Travaglini supposedly isn't a standout vintage (I've heard they can be insanely good) but you get to enjoy some Neb grape character & the terroir of the region.

Very smooth drinking with rounded plum-skin tannins, deep dark raspberry, leather, blackcurrant, barely a little tar and some spice. These acidic-sweet fruits flow long over the palate. Makes me want more Nebbiolo from the Piedmont.

Rhône Vacqueyras 2015

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 8:22 pm
by Belgian
Belgian in Aug 2018 wrote:
Belgian in 2016 wrote:Les Amouriers Signature Vacqueyras 2012
Another good bottle. Grabbed four more at Weston and 401 today. Left one there for the unsuspecting wine traveler.

In fact, this was a 26.95 wine marked down to 21.25. So I still have half a case (saving close to $46 on the last eight) and this good-value Vacqueyras should age well for a few years if it lasts that long.
Having a 2012 Amouriers Signature now - still aging marvelously with the smoothness and power I would expect. Black cherries and licorice, spice box.

The 2015 is avail now for 28.95, two bucks more (not quite as well-rated as the 2014, which you would think we'd get two years after the 2012. But the '15 is still decently-rated, even if you might want to keep it in the cellar a year or two longer to improve it.
The 2015 is over five bucks off now, and actually very good - a true 'character wine' that needs a few minutes to open up but there's a lot going on here.

Again taste licorice, herbs, a little dry black olive, black-cherry fruit. Long complex cherry/cassis-raisin-tannnin-sweet balsamic finish. Aroma is complicated herb and fruit that is almost berry-cassis-pear compote, hint of barn. Definitely above-par for 23.75 if you want to explore the S Rhone. Cellar time or air should improve.

Re: Uncorked-Wine and Spirits Appreciation

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2018 1:08 pm
by portwood
For those who like to sip their Tequila (rather than getting drunk on shooters) I'd like to bring your attention to Pasote Reposado
LCBO has marked this as a clearance item and reduced the price 25%

good value for a high quality Tequila!

Re: Uncorked-Wine and Spirits Appreciation

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2018 6:15 pm
by sofakingdrunk
portwood wrote:For those who like to sip their Tequila (rather than getting drunk on shooters) I'd like to bring your attention to Pasote Reposado
LCBO has marked this as a clearance item and reduced the price 25%

good value for a high quality Tequila!

Thx for the heads up....is this the 25% off price? I love a good sipping reposado, I find them much better value than anejo

Re: Uncorked-Wine and Spirits Appreciation

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2018 7:10 pm
by portwood
sofakingdrunk wrote:
portwood wrote:For those who like to sip their Tequila (rather than getting drunk on shooters) I'd like to bring your attention to Pasote Reposado
LCBO has marked this as a clearance item and reduced the price 25%

good value for a high quality Tequila!

Thx for the heads up....is this the 25% off price? I love a good sipping reposado, I find them much better value than anejo
yes, the original listing was $90 (bought a bottle at that price last yr, worth it for a tequila made using traditional methods - i.e. brick oven, tahona, copper pot)

Villamont 2015 Burgundy

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:04 pm
by Belgian
Henri de Villamont Bourgogne Chardonnay 2014

A nice little white Burgundy with decent Chardonnay character and some spicy-oaky barrel toast. Not hugely complex but solidly put together.

Limestone Bench 2016 Spark Riesling

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2018 9:38 pm
by Belgian
Tawse Spark Limestone Ridge Sparkling Riesling

Here is a sparkling Riesling with good acidity and freshness, tart fruit and apple and some mineral. The acid structure is mouth-watering and Riesling is one of the superstar grapes of Ontario, the Rhineland and Alsace - it likes a cooler climate. Made with the classic bottle-carbonated method, it's a more dry and lean sparkling wine but certainly not dilute. Two bucks off for another week makes this a far better choice than some sparklers under 20 bucks.

Don't forget Perle D'Aurore as well! Happy new year.

Tawse Quarry 2013 Chard VQA

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 11:54 pm
by Belgian
Tawse Quarry Road Chardonnay 2013 Vinemount Ridge

Here is an impressive barrel-fermented Ontario white behaving a bit like a northern Burgundy wine. The (American oak?) barrel is immediately evident with light coconut, toast and vanilla but not in a brash way, and there's some woody presence. The sweet and tart pale fruit (apple, tropical) is set off by mineral and acidity and some light yeasty/barrel funk and spice. The flavours are fairly big and harmonized and hang on for a long time! The wood and spice lingers. Very solid palate you'd expect of a white made to age 5-6 years.

Not a bad value, maybe I've had slightly better actual Chablis for a higher price of course and I'm sure the oak was in that case 100% French or equivalent. But this is pretty great. Tawse have a hand in growth or production of over-hundred dollar wines in Burgundy so they must have some reference in creating this more accessible Niagara/Vineland Ontario tribute.

Silvaner Beerenauslese Schmitt '15

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 7:20 pm
by Belgian
Schmitt Söhne Beerenauslese 2015 Silvaner

Well now here's something - A style not quite like an Eiswein, one made with the white Silvaner grape of Franconia. Basically these grapes are picked ('selected berries') later than the general harvest and exhibit greater ripeness and concentration of flavor. There is intense apricot, peach, orange blossom and even some orchard-like earthy funk.

This style can be made from grapes that, like the Sauternes of Bordeaux are affected by the 'noble rot' or Botrytis fungus that magically transforms the grape's chemistry as it tries to defend itself. There is something of that character in this wine (fatness, acidity, mineral, honeyed pale orchard fruits) but of course it's quite different. I'd even say it's a tad rougher than Sauternes (the finish doesn't do nearly as well) but this Schmitt is tasty and has unique charm to it.

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I'd like to try some top-shelf Riesling Beerenauslese based on this experience.

Sicilain Nero D'avola blend

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:42 pm
by Belgian
Barone Montalto Nero D'Avola Cabernet Ter Sicilane IGT

Here's a basic everyday Red which for the very affordable price does not have all the character ironed out of it, and retains some personality.

Berries and herbs, some plummy fruit sweetness and a little acidity. Decent body and dryness, slight chalky on late finish. Definitely Mediterranean, a little savory meaty and tomato, bare hint of tar.

Slightly warm alcohol - best to cool it to 15ºC. Nothing fancy here, but a great pizza night bottle and it's enjoyable. A buck off for the next few weeks.

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Grand Retour Rhône Villages '16

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:21 pm
by Belgian
Château Le Grand Retour Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2016

Here is a well put together GSM blend red from the Côtes du Rhône, with the 'Villages' on the label to indicate more select vineyards. Grenache, my favourite Rhone grape leads the way making up over half the blend, the rich Syrah and moody Mourvèdre make up the remainder. Some good black fruit fullness, spice box and herbaceous florals. I like the acidity and dry tannins framing the structure and the black cherry nuances. Very good for $15.95

I almost bought the Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhône, anybody tried that one for $29.95? I just might. Beau makes its name on Chateau Neuf-du-Pape wines pushing the 90-dollar range so I was curious how this 'baby' edition from this Southern Rhône vintner was faring. Varied reviews, needs hours of decanting.

A great CDR Villages

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:34 pm
by Belgian
Domaine Les Grands Bois Cuvée Philippine Sainte-Cécile Côtes du Rhône-Villages 2016

A 55% Grenache-driven Rhône red, sleek and velvety. Also 1/3 Syrah, the balance not Mourvèdre this time, instead a little bit of Carignanan. Lower-yield grape harvest brings an added depth. Showcases dark cherry and berry and spicebox and some herbaceous floral 'garrigue.' I think some hints of tar there also, mineral. Echoes of chocolate. Has a defined but easy dryness and acidity, can feel the black plum skin tannins.

Slightly more interesting than the very good Grand Retour CD-R we recently enjoyed, maybe not as heavy from the Syrah. This is Southern Rhône style kind of like the Vacqueyras from Amouriers. I'll hoard a few and see what develops.

Re: Uncorked-Wine and Spirits Appreciation

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:09 pm
by Craig
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/tawse- ... 016/431593

Tawse Limestone Ridge North Riesling.

This is an off-dry from Niagara, and it's about the best Ontario wine I've ever had. Very fresh tasting with lots and lots of citrus with a distinct minerality, this is exactly what I want from the style. Aftertaste reminiscent of a granny smith apple. I grabbed it because it was 7 bucks off making it a steal for 17 bucks. Wish I'd got more.

Belgian tried the sparkling version of this a little while ago. I might have to seek that out.

Malbec and Cab Franc 80/20

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:53 pm
by Belgian
La Celia Reserva Malbec/Cabernet Franc 2015

Cabernet Franc is typically a minor blending grape for red Bordeaux wine, one less strong and bold than Cab Sauvignon. It sometimes finds its way into a varietal bottling (Bourguiel in central France, and also Ontario.)

Here in this mostly Malbec blend from Argentina, the Franc grape performs a similar small blending role, adding complexity to the fairly powerful Malbec which of course already does so well in these regions. The Cab Franc adds some herbal greenness over the black and red berry tart-sweet fruit and hints of rich tobacco. Spicy mulled cherry, earth, a little roasted green pepper. It's a new-ish idea that actually sort of works. I bet this would pair great with Southern Italian food.

When opened this wine immediately seemed poorly-shaped, but considering the firm 'Southwest France' grape types and the fairly recent 2015 vintage it seems to benefit from aerating, and I also think it should gain from a few years of cellaring. This is not a huge wine or my favourite style yet from Argentina, but pretty good for a $14.95 red and does have some character. Be a killer wine for braising and stewing as well.

Edit - this is a good Day 2 wine, smoother now so long oxygen exposure may be good for it.

2nd Edit - wow this is good on day 4. I think you could decant and 'breathe' this wine for some hours, rather than uncork and drink.

Jamelles Cab Sauvignon

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 10:37 pm
by Belgian
Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon Pays D'OC

Solid Regular List gem on sale for a few days, a somewhat juicy and medium-bodied pure Cabernet Sauvignon from Southern France.

Though it has enough of the Cab tannins to lend some dry firmness and structure, overall the sleek and deep black / berry fruit is more forward, gentle phenolic spice, and even some brushy garrigue herbs. Vanilla and sweet oak. There's a hint of green pepper and mint indicating the grape type, but very little woolliness. A more feminine yet moderately full Cabernet, and its pleasing just as it's meant to be. Many at a gathering will enjoy this. Some acidity contributes to the good structure.

Les Jamelles produces a number of varietals, and I have yet to try their 100% Merlot wine but the brand always seems to offer solid value for price.