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