JUSTIN'S WINE PICKS
JULY 31, 2012
Wines
released for sale in Ontario on Saturday, August 4, 2012.
Hey,
as the Beatles would say “I read the news today, Oh Boy!”
Apparently the latest newscast has variety stores petitioning the
government to allow the sale of wine & beer on their premises.
100,000 signatures so far. Where do I sign? ( you people who live
outside of Ontario will be scratching your heads in wonderment.)
This could have happened like 60 years ago if not for the ennui of
said governments who don't want to rock the boat.
You
never know though; a bottle of Lindeman's Chardonnay on a Mac's
Convenience store shelf might just send the populace over the edge,
running amok through the streets and causing Rob Ford to cry out for
their banishment to Quebec! Oh the Humanity!!
There
are a bunch of very good wines for $15.00 or less this time, which
will enthuse 99% of my readers. Just think, if we had 100's of
internet wine providers competing for our business, as they do in
Britain, do you suppose there might be new-fangled ideas like
loss-leaders, sales promotions etc.?
Best
White Wine: I can't make up my mind so choose any of these three
German Rieslings, any one of which will make you very happy!
Bollig-Lehnert
Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese 2009 Mosel. $21.95.
Markus
Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2008 Mosel $26.95. I
collect this winery.
Schloss
Reinhartshausen Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Kabinett 2009
$17.95.
There
are few wines that can combine excellent food matching and refreshing
hot weather ( or cold) sipping like Riesling can.
Delicious
Whites
Benjamin
Bridge Nova 7 2011 Nova Scotia $25.95. A Moscato D'Asti imitation
that I insert strictly from curiosity. Never heard of it before!
Clos
Marguerite Sauvignon Blanc 2010 N.Z. $18.95. “peach, pineapple &
lime flavours.”
Tormentosa
Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2011. S.A. $14.95. “Fruity, refreshing.
Steininger
Gruner Veltliner 2010 Austria $14.95. Memories of Danube Cruising!
Joseph
Cattin Pinot Blanc 2010 Alsace $14.95. BARGAIN!!!
Domaine
De Bois St. Denis Reuilly 2010 Loire $18.95. Dry, minerally with lots
of citrus fruit.
Dezzani
Morelli Moscato D'Asti 2010 $14.95. Low alcohol, mildly bubbly,
floral bouquet. Ambrosia when served with a simple fruit dessert.
Culinary
Jottings For Madras. 1878 recipes.
The
book tells you more about the nature of imperial rule in India than
any number of political histories. If you can feed a party of eight
on snipe soup, fish fillets, mutton cutlets a la Moscovite, oyster
Kramouskys, braised capon, and a brace of wild ducks with bigarade
sauce , if you can finish off with prune jelly, iced molded pudding
with strawberries, and cheese, and if you can serve and eat all that
when it's 95 degrees in the shade, the you can conquer any country
you like.
From
Secret Ingredients, The New Yorker Book Of Food And Drink.
Best
Red On Release: A tie between two outstanding reds in opposite
spectrums of weight.
Coriole
Vineyards Estate Grown Shiraz 2009 Australia $26.95. This is lush,
smooth, with deep-running blackberry and cassis, tannins and oak. Try
with rich ribs.
Deloach
Pinot Noir 2010 $28.95. Russian River Pinot Noir from California is
for me the obvious alternative to over-priced and under fruited
Burgundy. “ Dry, with an elegant medium-bodied frame, well
integrated alcohol, bright acidity and refined tannins providing
structure.”
Fine
Red Wines:
Burgo
Viejo Gran Reserva 2001 Rioja $21.95. “Wonderfully rich and
persistent.”
Filon
Garnacha 2010 Spain $14.95. Full, cherry-berry! BEST BUY!!
Quinta
De Ventozelo Touriga Nacional 2008 $18.95. I buy anything these
folks make!
Pinino
Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 $38.95 Classic!
Jean-Paul
Brun Terres Dorees Cote De Brouilly 2010 Beaujolais $18.95.
Super-summer wine.
Ch.
D'Angles La Clape Classique 2007 Midi $14.95. Don't miss this!!
Domaine
Les Yeuses Les Epices Syrah 2009 Midi $13.95. “ Perfumed &
spicy, with notes of black olive, thyme and blackberry. VERY GOOD!!
Pirramimma
Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Australia $24.95 “Full-bodied, complex,
fruit driven.”
Concha
Y Toro Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Carmenere 2009 $16.95. “Generous,
rich, flavourful.”
Jennifer
you will want some Cidrerie St-Nicolas Pom'Or Crackling Cider from
Quebec $13.95. “It's a light and dry, refreshing, frothy
apple-flavoured concoction that sings Oh Canada.”
Excellent
books to read: A Good Man by Guy Vanderhaeghe has Mounties, Sitting
Bull and Custer's Last Stand wrapped up in a great story!
The
Magic Bullet by Larry Millett features a Sherlock Holmes type
Minnesota detective.
Mexican
Amigos will want to read Mexico What Everyone Needs To Know by
Roderic Al Camp, a good summary of modern Mexican political history.
Thanks,
Justin
