The Bar Towel

Those interested in this topic might enjoy a book called "The Battle for Wine and Love: or How I Saved the World from Parkerization" by Alice Feiring.
Cheers!

'07 Fontareche Corbiére... hmm I think Carignan-heavy wines and me don't quite get along like old pals but it's still nice. One bottle is going back though, screw it.

The '06 Fontanelles Cuvée Renaissance Corbiéres I sampled yesterday is absolutely fantastic & probably worth the extra seven bucks. This one seems to be driven more by the Syrah and a certain sneaky amount of Mourvédre - producing aromas and tastes of blueberries and spices. Don't miss trying it.

Meeker 2004 Mendocino County Cab Sauv. Wonderfully dry with loads of dark fruit and a wonderful oak nose.

BODEGAS ATECA OLD VINES GARNACHA DE FUEGO 2008.

$12.95
LCBO Vintages # 162685


The tasting notes are as follows........


"The grapes for this new project were sourced from 60- to 80-year-old vines whose already low yields were reduced an additional 70% by the weather conditions of the vintage. A glass-coating opaque purple, remarkably deep for a wine of this price made from Garnacha, the wine offers a nose of brooding black cherry and blueberry. Concentrated, ripe, and balanced on the palate, this flavorful, lengthy effort will drink well over the next four years. It is an outstanding value. Score - 89. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, June 2009)"


I can't say I disagree at all. This is a very good 100% Grenache with loads of spicy bramble with blasts of red cherry and red fruits. I don't think there is a better value in Vintages at this time. 2008 Wasn't an overly exciting year for this region, but this wine is a shining star. Great varietal character. One of my favourites of the year.

Belgian wrote:

SteelbackGuy wrote:LOREDONA SYRAH ROSÉ 2008. Vintages 120246

This wine was around $15.00, but has recently has been dropped to $8.95.

That's a friendly price, and a summery wine.

That 2008 was first released inJuly of last year. - described as "a good value" for 12.95, let alone 8.95.

Probably want to drink those fairly soon I would guess!

Scored a few of these, LOL almost no point mentioning since it's largely sold out but I look forward to opening one with the Fam later this week. Keele-St Claire store has some.

I imagine most Rosés drink best in the year after the vintage but the more solidly-made ones should hang in for that extra year or so without "turning." At any rate it's free to try a wine you don't like & refund it!!

Do wines from previous vintages releases ever reappear year after year? I'm not a big wine drinker, so I don't follow this sort of stuff.

I was just wondering what my chances of seeing the return of Torres Vina Esmeralda are. I thought it was delicious when I had it last summer.

mintjellie wrote:Do wines from previous vintages releases ever reappear year after year? I'm not a big wine drinker, so I don't follow this sort of stuff.

I was just wondering what my chances of seeing the return of Torres Vina Esmeralda are. I thought it was delicious when I had it last summer.

Hopefully the Esmeralda will return again. The sell through was pretty decent for us and fingers crossed the LCBO accept the next submission for this. I'll have a word with our agency in Ontario and let you know.

mintjellie wrote:Do wines from previous vintages releases ever reappear year after year? I'm not a big wine drinker, so I don't follow this sort of stuff.

I was just wondering what my chances of seeing the return of Torres Vina Esmeralda are. I thought it was delicious when I had it last summer.

400 cases are coming in for release on June 6th.

mintjellie wrote:Do wines from previous vintages releases ever reappear year after year?

By this MJ means (I think) Vintages Program, not the same actual vintage year re-released. Though I think on some rare occasions they do re-order a vintage year that has been selling well for additional future releases. Just like a real retail store would!!

And (to MJ's more general question) yes the LC definitely order subsequent vintages of certain wines in subsequent years' releases, over and over again, much in the way they keep ordering the same fine beers from Chapeau and Trafalgar every year.

There seem to be a lot of 'ongoing relationships' with certain producers like Torres in Spain, certain producers from the Rhone and Beaujolais, the Alsace etc etc. meaning over time we get to try many of the producer's different wines, each in a different season or having a different 'deluxe or regular' quality level.

yes, thats exactly what i meant.

Since Malbec is the hottest thing right now. I thought I'd give this new general list Italian Malbec a try. Spinelli Malbec. Sadly, not worth another try. No varietal character and it is just too damn sweet and jammy for a Malbec.

SteelbackGuy wrote:Since Malbec is the hottest thing right now. I thought I'd give this new general list Italian Malbec a try. Spinelli Malbec. Sadly, not worth another try. No varietal character and it is just too damn sweet and jammy for a Malbec.

What did you expect for $7.45?!?!?!?!

A decent Malbec starts at $14.95 and goes up.

Torontoblue wrote:

SteelbackGuy wrote:Since Malbec is the hottest thing right now. I thought I'd give this new general list Italian Malbec a try. Spinelli Malbec. Sadly, not worth another try. No varietal character and it is just too damn sweet and jammy for a Malbec.

What did you expect for $7.45?!?!?!?!

A decent Malbec starts at $14.95 and goes up.

I didn't expect much, but I thought I'd give it a try. And I've had plenty of good Cahors and Argento wines in the $11-$14 that have been fantastic.

Having a night off the beer and currently really enjoying a 2007 Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage "La Matiniere". A really smooth, easy drinking white. Wonderful aroma of fruit with an almost Swizzle stick aroma, and the mouthfeel is nicely acid with a lovely fruit kick. A shame it's my only bottle as I could get to like this. Drinks pretty much like a Viognier.

So I just started seeing a girl and apparently she isn't as in to double IPA's and barrel aged imperial stouts as I am.... so I need advice on wine. Does anyone have suggestions for wines available at the LCBO that aren't too expensive (say, under $20)? Both red and white wine suggestions would be appreciated. I know that is incredibly vague, but just whichever wines people think are good. I do love wine, but I know next to nothing about it compared to beer.