Greetings everyone. I am trying a different format and email delivery system for my wine notes and recommendations. At over 350 names, I was getting too many bounce backs from Outlook. During the transfer of names from one system to another it is possible I may have missed someone or duplicated some names. Please let me know if I have missed anyone you know (like your spouse) or if you have received two copies. I would also like to know what you think of the new format, and if you have any suggestions for improvement.
The results of the 4th annual Wine Access 2009 International Value Wine Awards (IVWA) are now in. The competition, held in Calgary last June is searching for the best value wines that are sold somewhere in Canada for under $25. Five days of intensive blind-tasting, that included a preliminary round, a final round and, in some cases, a final taste-off produced an impressive list of award-winning wines. The 1,200 wines came from 17 different countries and were judged by a panel of 26 judges. The full slate of results are in the Wine Access Magazine, or online at www.wineaccess.ca.
Montalto 2008 Pinot Grigio Sicily, Italy
Price: $12
UPC: N/A
Score: 89/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA), Pinot Grigio Category Champion...
Remarks: 'A warm, exotic style that is more than impressive for the price'. A delicious mix of peach, honey, apple, and orange, that is great as an aperitif, with or with out food. We served this wine at the Thetis Island Community Fund wine and cheese social. It was the favourite white of the night. It appears to be readily available in BC. Montalto has a red blend that also scored well at the IVWA. We will try it and report back in a future note...
Lujuria 2006, Monastrell Merlot Valencia and Murcia, Spain
Price: $10
UPC: 05604123000814
Score: 89/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA), Red Blends Category Co-Champion...
Remarks: 'A well made easy sipping red that over delivers for the price'. This wine was also served at the Thetis Island Community Fund wine and cheese social...'look for a soft, round, dry pleasant entry from this 70/30 blend of monastrell (mourvedre) and merlot. The flavours mix coffee, dark chocolate, plummy/blueberry fruits with spice and smoke throughout'...well received, great price.
Boekenhoutskloof, The Wolftrap; Syrah-Mourvedre-Viognier 2008, South Africa
Price: $15
UPC: 746925000564
Score: 89/100
Remarks: 'Outstanding value red wine, perfect for robust fall and winter menu items'. Great value under a screw cap. Readily available...
Zin.fat.u.a.tion Zinfandel 2006, Amador County, Sierra Foothills, California, United States
Price: $16
UPC: 0085200027002
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Raspberries white pepper and coffee all in one'. Our first bottle of this Zin was a gift from Kelsey's boyfriend Raphael. We had friends over for dinner and served this with BBQ'd hamburgers...its never too late in the season to have hamburgers, especially when they are home made, with a ton of extras, like hot mustard, onions, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes...well you get my drift. It paired fabulously, even Ellen got into the tasting. It really was too bad we only had one bottle. I also chose this as one of the wines for the Thetis Island Community Fund wine and cheese social. It was thoroughly enjoy by all who tried it. The mix includes 10 % barberra and 7% syrah, aged 18 months in French and American oak. Thanks again Raph! It is quite available as I have seen it in North Van, Nanaimo, and Chemaimus.
Quinta do Crasto Douro Vinho Tinto 2007, Douro Valley, Portugal
Price: $20
UPC: 05604123000814
Score: 91/100
Remarks: 'One of the best years in a century makes this a very collectable wine. Cellar a decade or more'. Big rich peppery, black plum fruit went extremely well with grilled sausages. Ellen really enjoyed this as well. Do I detect a trend here? I had spoken a little on cellaring in my last note. This very reasonably priced wine is worth putting a few bottles down for a few years, and see what happens.
My Wine Blog is still at: http://www.winerush.blogspot.com/
Vega-Sicilia: A Tasting with Anthony Gismondi
I attended a tasting event last week at the Everything Wine store in North Vancouver. It featured wines from the Spanish winery Vega Sicilia, and was led by Vancouver Sun Wine Columnist Anthony Gismondi. We tasted a white, four reds and two dessert wines. All the wines were superb, but the $400 a bottle red wine 'Unico 1998' was my favorite. It is a blend of Tempranillo and a little Cabernet. Interestingly, they transfer the wine between French and American Oak, large and small barrels several times prior to bottling. Anthony's knowledge of the wines, the winery, the global wine business and the wines we sampled was very impressive.
Thetis Island Community Fund Wine and Cheese Social
The Thetis Island Community Fund (Ellen is on the Board of Directors) held a Wine and Cheese Social to wrap up its month long fund raising campaign. About 50 folks were in attendance at one time or another during the two hour Sunday afternoon event. I was asked to choose the wines, three of which are reviewed in this issue. Thank you to all who made donations to the Fund.Thank you Dennis Jones...
A great big thank you to Dennis Jones of the Drunk Monk Winery (which is close to Seattle) for the two bottles of Syrah that he so generously mailed to me a few months ago. We had the 2004 Syrah last weekend. A superb wine, that was thoroughly enjoyed by all of our guests.
2004 Syrah,Drunk Monk Winery, Washington, USA.
www.drunkmonk.biz
Remarks: Big bold blackberry fruit with a smooth entry.
Wine Recommendation Rationale:
- I need to have tasted the wine personally, and even better if I have been able to share it with family or friends at dinner or a gathering, to get further input to the taste and value.
- I rely heavily on Anthony Gismondi's tasting notes and his picks of the week in the Vancouver Sun each Saturday.
- For the most part the wine needs to have scored 87 points out of a hundred or more (by AG). If it is the Wine Guys (from the Vancouver Province)doing the review, I aim for a B+ or an A- as a minimum. When I say the most part...I have suggested wines that scores 85 points if it is in the $10 to $13 range.
- Price is also a factor...I am looking for a good score and interesting flavours at a reasonable price...a $10 wine that scores 85 may be a better buy than one that scores 86 and is $17. I usually recommend wines that are under under $20...Having said that, if there is one that is 90+ points that is over the $20 range, I may give it a try and pass it on...but don't tell the better half.
- I often look for recommended wines in LCB locations other than Vancouver to get a sense of its availability...this of course is not fool-proof.
- I like to send a picture of the label with the UPC code to help facilitate easy finding.
- And of course, I do have some favourite grapes and blends...Zin, Malbec, Syrah, Chardonnay for Ellen, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer etc...
- More excellent buys from the International Value Wine Awards.
