JUSTIN'S WINE PICKS JANUARY 16, 2013

Wines released for sale in Ontario on Saturday, January 19.

This release is highlighted by a group of Spanish wines that offer excellent value for money, especially if you like your wine rich and full-bodied. I will list them in order of my desire to own them.

Spain

Whites:

Alvarez De Toledo Godello 2010 $13.95. “Smooth Textured, impeccably balanced.”

Lealtanza 2011 Rioja $14.95. “Lemon curd and pink grapefruit on the nose.”

Cuatro Rayas Vinedos Verdejo 2011 $15.95. Highly floral nose.

Reds:

Rioja Bordon Gran Reserva 2004 $22.95 . Aged for you. Quite Rich!

Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2010 $19.95. Full-bodied, spicy black cherries.

CMS Del Montsant 2010 $15.95. Very well-structured.

Don Jacobo Reserva Rioja 2004 $17.95. “elegant, powerful, rich, spicy.”

Finca Monica Crianza 2009 Rioja $15.95. Gold Medal Winner in Berlin.

Fortius Crianza 2008 $14.95. Black-currant/cherry.

Solar De Sael Crianza Mencia 2007 $15.95. Spicy, menthol, black raspberry.

There is a slew of other great buys from around the world!

Best White Wine: Henry of Pelham Estate Riesling 2010 Niagara $17.95. Riesling is still my pick for the best white varietal to grow in Ontario.

Best Bargain in White Wine: Joseph Cattin Riesling 2011 Alsace $14.95. This is drier than the Pelham, with a lovely lemon-lime expression!

Top Whites

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 N.Z. $19.95. This is consistently GREAT!!!!

Anne Boecklin Gewurztraminer 2010 Alsace $18.95. Drink these fabulous Gewurz' now. Do not overage them!!!

C.H. Berres Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2010 Mosel $24.95. Try with a Tikka Masala.

Fattoria Il Palagio Vernaccia Di San Gimignano 2011 $13.95. Dry, crisp and lively.

Fantasy Land Vino: The Blue Wine Of Prince Edward Island (Baby Spud ) has been eagerly awaited by appreciators of fine wine. It is potassium from the potato-field fallow mixed with the characteristic red soil of the Island that produces this distinctive, blue wine. An unexpectedly delightful feature is the tendency of the wine, due to it's high potassium and magnesium content, to burn under water.

From Good Gothe by Jurgen Gothe.

Best Red Wine: A tie between Domaine Tournon Shay's Flat Vineyard Shiraz Australia 2010 $29.95 and Domaine Des 3 Cellier Marceau Chateauneuf-Du-Pape 2009 $34.95. Both heavy hitters!

Best Value Red: Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2007 $16.95. “Classy & Classic!”

Top Reds

Le Arche Amarone 2009 $32.95. Drink with wildly rich Stilton!

Quinta de Foz de Arouce Red 2008 Portugal $19.95. Well built wine. Still young.

Clos Troteligotte Kor Malbec 2009 Cahors $16.95. Powerfully rich.

Nor'Wester Pinot Noir 2009 N.Z. $24.95. Kinky cherry!

Vinaceous Raconteur Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 S. Africa $19.95. Richly balanced.

Heartland Shiraz 2009 Australia $19.95. Lively, spicy fruit.

Flenchas De Los Andes Malbec 2010 Argentina $14.95. BEST BUY!

L.A. Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $11.95. My house wine in Mexico!

Beringer Napa Pinot Noir 2008 $29.95. “Plush, velvety texture.”

Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Shiraz 2010 Niagara $19.95. Like a good Rhone!

Great Reads: The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly, another well-written Lincoln Lawyer adventure in court. The Great Big book of Canadian Humour by Allan Gould.

Thanks,

Justin

Canadian Humour Sample: Club Debris.

We used to go to this place called Club Debris. It was a great place for under-age drinking; the bouncer couldn't read to check your ID. We walked in; we were 15 years old. We tried to look cool; ordered beer on the rocks. The clientele in this place looked like an insult to Darwin. Guys in there could have traced their family tree back two generations and hit the invertebrates. I asked this girl for a date. “I wouldn't. My husband is very jealous, and he's just come in.”

I turn and there's this knee. On top of the knee there's this guy the size of a dumpster- and easily as intelligent. Definite light came into his eyes when both neurons fired at once. I don't know what he did for a living, but judging by his face, he was a kick boxer who never had the rules explained to him. He saw me with his girl. Picked a fight. I handled myself pretty well. Had him scared. He thought he'd killed me. Lorne Elliott.