Fruit forward style

Then the 2011 Sandeman Ruby is for you! Priced at $70.00, this Port is value driven while still delivering that full bodied, black fruit style. This Port can age for 20 – 30 yrs and some consider this house a “1st Growth” in the family Port. Great value!

Floral style

If perfume is your thing, then I highly recommend the 2011 Fonseca Vintage Port for $130.00. Think violets and rose petals with voluptuous fruits on the finish. This house is owned by Taylor’s.

Dry Style

The 2011 Dow’s Vintage Port was extremely dry on the finish with notes of raisins and black liquorice. Very austere with bright acidity, this Port could see another 25+years in bottle. It retails for $90.00.

Sweet style

Look no further then the 2011 Graham’s Vintage Port for $95.00. Perfect for the person that really loves an extracted and rich style Port that is not overly floral. Amazing with blue cheese! This Port will also get more spicy and herbaceous with age.

All around Port

Personally, the 2011 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port fits this category at $130.00. Lots of raisins and purple floral notes that follows with a long, powerful finish. Lots of tannin and acid will help this beauty age for another 30+ years. Did you know that Taylor is one of the few houses that still uses people to stomp the grapes?

Tawny Port

Taylor Fladgate 30 Year old Tawny Port for $183.00 was so seductive! Caramel, hazelnuts, dried fruits that danced on your palate with such softness. This Tawny could definitely age some more but drink now and pair with walnuts or a fat cigar!

Taylor Fladgate 40 Year old Tawny Port $245.00. A much more oxidative style then the 30 yr old. Still delicious but had a very dry, sherry like taste for me with long finish.

Tip – Keep Tawny Ports standing up as the enclosure does not like being stored on its side.

Happy Holidays!

For the Wine Geek: 2010 Schloss Schonborn Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau, Germany $18.95
Wine geeks love Riesling and this one from the Rheingau is exceptional.

For the Flirty Gal: Santa Margherita Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Italy $17.95
A dry Prosecco that pairs well with oysters or stone crab or just as delicious on its own.

For the Young Professional: 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State $19.95
This easy to drink now Cabernet will impress your friends and introduce them to the great wines of Washington State!

For your lover/significant other:
Guy – 1792 Ridgemount Reserve Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon, USA $49.95
What guy wouldn’t love a bottle of yummy Bourbon!

Girl – Tarlant Rose Brut Champagne $49.95
Most women love Rose and this one has the right amount of fruit and spice.

To pair with the Turkey: 2011 Jacques Depagneux Cote du Py Morgon, Beaujolais, France $18.95
This is no ordinary Beaujolais and would pair delightfully with your holiday dinner…bring on the cranberries!

To pair with the Roast Beef: 2009 Domaine De Vieux Lazaret, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, France – $34.95.
Decant this amazing Chateauneuf-du-Pape an hour before dinner and the black fruit and spice will be jumping out of your glass

To pair with the cheese: 2007 Offley Late Bottled Vintage Port, Portugal $19.95
Port and cheese is a match made in heaven!

Fireside Drinking/Party pleasers: – 2010 Famiglia Bianchi Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina $15.95
This crowd pleasing Malbec will be a hit at the ski chalet or just sitting back and watching the snow fall this winter.

Happy Holidays!

Unfortunately this month I did not have the opportunity to taste all the wines I’m going to recommend to you today, however, some of the wines I have tasted in the restaurants where I work and with others I have had previous vintages and can give you my sommelier guarantee that this vintage will be equally as delicious. So, get your Vintages Catalogue and let’s start shopping!

White Wine

Chardonnay Pick

Located on page 5 is the 2010 Catena Chardonnay from Mendoza, Argentina. Yes, they can make great Chardonnay in Argentina, this wine has notes of tropical fruits and spice that leads to a creamy finish. Nice use of oak here. Serve with chicken in an Alfredo creme sauce/ Price is $19.95 and I give it 9 points.

“Must Try” White

Check it out on page 29 which is the 2009 L’Uvaggio di Giacomo Vermentino from Lodi, California. Vermentino is a late ripening variety which is native to southern Italy and this is first for California. Look for beautiful aromatics on this wine with nice green fruits and spice on the finish. This is a very dry wine that drinks well on it’s own or with any type of food. Great value at $15.95 and it gets 9 points.

Sommelier Pick

Head to page 34 for my sommelier pick. It is the 2009 Saget La Perriere Marie De Beauregard Vouvray from Loire Valley, France. The grape variety here is Chenin Blanc and of lately has been a good to wine for me. It pairs nicely with fish, seafood, chicken, salads, sushi. It’s a very dry white wine with lots of acidity on the finish. It’s priced at only $17.95 and it gets a solid 9.5 points with me.

Red Wine

Crowd Pleaser

Is on page 18 and it is the 2009 Bonterra Zinfandel from California. Look for rich black plum. brambleberry and black peper on the nose, that leads to a smooth finish. Would be delicious with pulled pork or BBQ ribs. This is a drink now wine. I give this wine 8.5 points and the price is $19.95.

Pinot Pick

I can’t say enough good things about the 2008 vintage in Oregon and this wine is no exception. On page 30 is the 2008 Maysara 3° Pinot Noir from McMinnville, Oregon. Very nice notes of strawberry, cherry and cranberry with soft tannins on the finish. This wine will get better with time but can be drank now with an hour of decanting. Pair with salmon, duck or even a juicy burger! Price is $24.95 and it gets 8.5 points.
Steak Night / Canadian Pick

On page 28 is the 2009 Mission Hill Reserve Shiraz from the Okanagan Valley, BC. The dessert like climate here does well for Shiraz in Okanagan Valley. Look for red and black fruits, cedar, spice and dark chocolate on the nose and finish. Tannins are big and still a bit tight so I would suggest decanting an hour before dinner. Enjoy tonight or cellar for another 4 years. Price is $23.95 and it gets 8.5 points.

Tuesday Night Special

Page 7 is the 2010 Chakana Yaguarete Collection Bonarda from Mendoza, Argentina. Yes, I have another Bonarda pick for you but honestly at $12.95, how can you go wrong? Look for ripe black fruits and baking spices on the nose and finish. This is a medium bodied drink now wine. Would be great with take out pizza as well as hamburgers or sausage on a bun. Outstanding value and it gets 8 points.

Wine and Cheese Pick

Is on page 27 and it is the 1998 Calem Colheita Single Vintage Tawny Port. This is the perfect wine to pair with those strong blue cheeses! Look for figs, raisins, prunes and caramel flavours on this lovely Port. It was aged 13 years in barrel so it is ready to drink now. Amazing value at $25.95 and I give it 9.5 points.

Cellar Pick

On page 38 is the 2007 Antinori Badia A Passignano Chianti Classico Riserva from Tuscany, Italy. I absolutely love this Chianti from the Antinori family. Look for sour cherry, spice, and smoke on the nose and finsh. Very elegant acid and tannin structure. If you opened this wine tonight, I would decant for about an hour or two but see if you can age for another 5 years. Price is $43.95 and it gets 9.0 points.

Finally, some thoughts on the 2008 Antinori Solaia. Since I did not have the opportunity to taste this wine, I can’t give it a proper score but I can tell you it is a great wine that really needs time to age however, I’m not completely sold on the $249.95 price tag. Personally I’d buy a few bottles of the 2007 Chimney Rock Cab on page 30 as I’m a huge fan of wines from the Stag’s Leap District and the 2007 vintage was absolutely stellar.

Till the next release on April 28…

I thought the concept for this place was great, but I was hoping for 1 or 2 oz pours to allow for an opportunity to taste more wines.  Trust me, after a few 4 ounce pours, they will all start to taste the same.  Not only that, but your bill could be well over $100 for wine samples alone.  Now, if you ever wanted to try a glass of Krug champagne or Opus One without splurging on an entire bottle, then here is your opportunity!

Yes, it’s true Nabisco Foods (the company that owns the Triscuit brand) is getting into food and wine pairing.   The September 30, 2008 issue of Wine Spectator has a two-page ad from Triscuit featuring their “Rosemary & Olive Oil” cracker paired with 3 cheeses.

The really cool thing is that there are recipes to go along with each pairing.  For example, take their Herby Blue Cheese and Pear recipe.  I personally would not pair a blue cheese with a Chardonnay because the blue cheese flavour is typically quite strong and, in most cases, would over power the wine.  But in this recipe, they are using a creamy blue cheese which is not as strong, adding 2 oz of milk (to thin the cheese), then spreading this on the cracker and topping it with a pear slice and some toasted almonds.  The sweetness of the pear and the toasted almonds help with neutralizing the cheese and enhance the fruit and toastiness of the wine.

The other recipes include a Creamy Smoked Salmon and Brie, topped with Capers and Crème Fraiche and a Zesty Monterey Jack and Olives topped with Orange Zest, which all pair well with an oaked Chardonnay.

Unfortunately, these fun recipes are not listed on their website, nor is this ad featured on their website either, even though they are currently running an on-line promotion with Turning Leaf Wines. Pick up your issue of Wine Spectator soon!

Note to Nabisco Foods: I love the ad in Wine Spectator, but remember that food and wine lovers are everywhere, especially here on the Internet.