JUSTIN'S WINE PICKS OCTOBER 24, 2012

Wines will be released for sale in Ontario on October 27 2012.

You have heard this here before but nonetheless it is true: Christmas doth approach us and waves of high-end vinos are being offered up for our purchasing pleasure! If you are in the Christmas shopping mode or need a hint for someone buying for you here's your chance.

I think I will give you three price groups for reds, starting with the most expensive, since there are a ton of wonderful wines. There is also a special release of 2009 Bordeaux, touted as a remarkable Vintage Year! So slip on your shop to you drop outfit and ensure that good old Ontariario has a Happy and profitable Christmas! ( Note: there is no need to panic shop here! There will be several more offerings before Christmas.)

2009 Bordeaux.

Ch. Lestruelle 2009 Medoc $18.95. “ Core of raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry fruit.”

Ch. La Croix Chaigneau 2009 AC Lalande de Pomerol $ 23.95. “bright, spicy fruit.”

Ch. Cheval Brun 2009 AC St.-Emilion Grand Cru $24.95. Drink 2014-15.

Ch. Teyssier 2009 AC St-Emilion Grand Cru $39.95. Parker Score 92.

Best White: Cave De Ribeauville Giersberger Brut Cremant D'Alsace $19.95. This is made in the traditional Methode Champenoise and is very dry and very delicious! Goes remarkably well with a wide range of foods.

Fine Whites.

Coyote's Run Red Paw Vineyard Pinot Gris 2011 Niagara $17.95. Light & refreshing. Good Wine!

Domaine Delorme Et Fils Sur La Roche Pouilly-Fuisse 2009 $29.95. “Dry & quite ripely fruity with a rich, long finish.”

Stadt Krems Gruner Veltliner 2011 Austria $13.95. I am a fan of this grape since our Sept. Danube cruise. Very well balanced!

Preiss-Zimmer Riesling 2008 Alsace $18.95. Try this with crab-cakes.

Dr. Loosen Red Slate Riesling 2011 Mosel $19.95. Perfect with Christmas dinner!

Mountadam Riesling 2010 Australia $24.95. Complex, nuanced flavour profile.

Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc 2011 N.Z. $19.95. “passion fruit & lime.”

Tedeschi Filadonna Pinot Grigio 2011 Veneto $15.95 Compare with the Coyote above.

Best Red: Antinori Solaia 2009 Tuscany $251.95. This is one of the best wines in the world, no question! In the same class as top flight Bordeaux, and when you compare it's price to the $1000 range they demand it's a bargain

Fine Reds In The High-Rent District.

I Castei Campo Casalin Amarone 2007 $47.95. Drink 2020 to 2030.

Fattoi Brunello Di Montalcino 2007 $34.95. Wonderful Vintage!

Domaine Du Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2009 $79.95 Drink around 2020+.

Howard Park Scotsdale Shiraz 2009 Australia $39.95. Huge, powerful and strong. A big, juicy treat. Will last until 2030 or so.

Melville Verna's Estate Pinot Noir 2010 Santa Barbara $34.95. “jammy raspberries & cherries.”

Great Gift Reds $20 to $30.

Freemark Abbey Merlot Napa $29.95. “Lovely, elegant merlot.”

Clos De Los Siete 2009 Argentina $21.95 “ Ripe, succulent, balanced.”

Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Block 27 Carmenere 2009 Chile $29.95. A real sleeper! This is lovely, fruity, balanced and just delicious!

Dandelion Vineyards Lionheart Of The Barossa Shiraz 2009 $20.95. This is for those who like them thick and juicy with big spice. Just IMMENSE!!

Leconfield Merlot 2010 Coonawarra $22.95 Superb cherry/cassis profile.

Louis Jadot Ch. Des Jacques Morgon 2009 $23.95. Morgon wines are considerably more dense and longer lived than most Cru Beaujolais. EXCEPTIONAL VALUE!!

Domaine Cros De Romet Cairanne Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2010 $21.95. Fabulous Wine!!

Antinori Chianti Classico Reserva 2008 $29.95. “terrific length and balance.”

Great Gift Reds under $20.00

Peninsula Ridge A.J. Lepp Vineyards Reserve Merlot 2010 Niagara. A fine, hot vintage.

Ironstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 California $17.95. A MUST BUY WINERY!!

Trapiche Fincas Las Palmas Malbec 2007 Argentina $17.95. “Dry, big & powerful.”

Melk's Cabernet Sauvignon/ Shiraz 2010 S. Africa $15.95. Spicy berry. Very Tasty!

Delas Freres Saint-Esprit Cotes Du Rhone 2010 $15.95. BEST BUY!!!

Lornano Chianti Classico 2007 $15.95. Perfect with lamb!

Great Reads: Beast Of Burden by Ray Banks is a really dark/noir detective story set in Manchester.

It's part of a series which has me hooked but be warned that the story is REALLY GRIM!

One of my all-time favourite reads is Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. There are actually three Volumes. You'll laugh and you'll cry!

Thanks,

Justin

JUSTIN'S WINE PICKS, OCTOBER 10 2012

Wines released for sale in Ontario on Saturday, October 13.

Just back from three, very fun weeks in sunny Scotland! The sun really did shine on us. Rain for two days only, in a water filled year.

Back to the land of the LCBO, OH MY!! The selection of wines available on websites alone in Britain dwarfs the measly offerings of our big brother monopoly, not to mention buying wine in grocery stores where they treat it as a food rather than as an evil drug.

Anyway we do return to a selection of new wines that include some real winners!

Best White: Bollinger Brut Special Cuvee $69.95. “ Hints of marzipan,honeyed malt, bread dough, baked apple and gingersnap. Intense acidity, refined texture and a lingering finish.”

Great Whites

Tawse Sketches of Niagara Riesling 2010 $17.95. “ Intense, juicy, fresh and exceedingly bright.”

Domaine Viticole De La Ville De Colmar Pinot Gris 2010 Alsace $17.95 “Long, delicious finish.”

Willy Gisselbrecht Tradition Gewurztraminer 2010 $18.95. Needs a spicy dish!

Beauvignac Picpoul De Pinet 2011 Midi $12.95. I fell in love with this grape a long time ago. Very dry with grapefruit/citrus on the nose and a glorious hit of fruit on the palate.

H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese 2010 Mosel $24.95. Here is a wine that is truly grown for aging! These Rieslings change and develop over years, in a most interesting fashion.

Buy a case of 6 and open one every two years.

This has absolutely nothing to do with vino but I love an optimist!

“A Scottish football (soccer) fan made a slight mistake in 1992 when he altered his coupon in an attempt to convince Ladbrokes ( bookies firm) that he'd correctly predicted all 61 results in the Boxing Day English and Scottish league program. His stake was 50p and Ladbrokes calculated that, if he was right, he had won 3,826 billion pounds: 10 times Britain's gross national product and 6.5 times the nation's annual tax revenue. He later pleaded guilty to forgery.”

from The Lore of Averages by Karen Farrington.

Best Red: Michelle Castellani Cinque Stelle Amarone 2007 $54.95. “Tar and leather notes, with dense tannins...layered with subtle hints of kirsch, coffee liqueur, dried herbs. Drink from 2015-2032.

Two interesting Barolo's made in contrasting styles are featured this time. ( Good timing Gord and Henry!) Marchesi Di Barolo Barolo 2006 $34.95 is old/style heavy-hitting Nebbiolo with lots of cherry/licorice and a long finish. Very tannic, don't drink until maybe 2020 through 2030.

Sobrero Ciabot Tanasio Barolo 2007 $39.95. Rich cherry/rose fruit with solid tannins. Drink from now, although 2016 would be better, through 2021.

Masi Grandarella 2008 $24.95. New to me this is a Super-Veneto, made in the Amarone method of drying the grapes, albeit with a radically different grape mix. “Big, rich and delicious.”

Continuing with the Italian theme, DON”T MISS! Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva 2007 $24.95 “Best Chianti Classico ever from here. Georgeous wine. “

Osborne Pedro Ximenez 1827 Sweet Sherry $17.95 is a truly decadent, super/sweet dessert wine!

Red Wines of Note:

Quail's Gate Pinot Noir 2010 BC $24.95. One of Canada's Top Vintners!

Kenwood Jack London Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 $37.95. This was one of the first reds I tasted in my younger days which opened my eyes and tongue to real quality.

Benmarco Malbec 2010 Argentina $17.95. “succulent, intensely flavoured.”

Ch. Brown Pichon 2008 AC Lussac St.-Emilion $16.95. “plum, cherry, cedar.”

Cave De Rasteau La Domeliere Rasteau 2009 $15.95. BEST BUY!!

Ch. De La Gardine Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2010 $32.95. This has to age a long time but will be worth waiting for. You need to be under 60 to anticipate sipping it in this lifetime.

Maritavora Tinto 2008 Portugal $15.95. This is the country that should be filling up your wine cellar now! Really rich but also very well balanced.

Quinta Dos Roques Vinho Tinto 2009 Portugal $15.95. See above. Exquisite flavours.

Arrocal 2009 Spain $16.95. 100% Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero. BARGAIN!!

Pedro Martinez Alesanco Reserva 2006 $17.95 Rioja. Absolutely superb wine!

The best book that I read in Scotland was Gentry by Adam Nicolson, a great portrait of the English, featuring aristocrats on the way down and new money on the way up.

Also very good is Scribble, Scribble, Scribble by Simon Schama.

Thanks,

Justin