Christmas 2010 Wine Newsletter

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. December 2010 Wine Newsletter A Very Merry Christmas to you and your families... As you can see from the header, winter arrived early on the west coast of Canada. This year it was in November for goodness sakes. However, there are advantages to winters early arrival. For instance, we can start thinking about what wine we will serve with Christmas dinner, what wine would make the perfect hostess gift, what wine we will take to the next gathering and what port would be the tastiest beside the fire at the end of the day. After being away last year, Ellen, Eddie and I are looking forward to Christmas at home on Thetis Island...I have the perfect Charlie Brown fir tree picked out, we have lights in the trees outside, the ferry has a great set of lights on her and we have an Don and Gwen Hunter XL Chicken ordered for the big day. Kelsey and Monica will be joining us for Christmas dinner and part of the Christmas holidays. After Christmas we will be going to Vancouver as Kelsey will be leaving on the 28th for Spain. She will be spending the next semester there (January to July) in the city of Huelva on the southwestern coast of Spain, close to the southern border of Portugal...Vancouver Island University has an exchange agreement with the University of Huelva. Kels is in her 4th year of a degree in Global Studies...On the way she will spend some time in London visiting her cousin Carolyn, and we are looking forward to visiting her next spring...and sampling first hand some of the fantastic Spanish wines. If anyone has any Spanish travel tips they would like to share, please send them along. Monica is in her third year of a degree in Graphic Design at Vancouver Island University...and has only 3 semesters left. You can check out her website at: http://www.mediastudies.viu.ca/monicarush/site/home.html Wines: I have a really good line up of wines for you try this month, all of which would be welcome around the Christmas dinner table or take one, or better yet two bottles to your next Christmas gathering. You will notice that there are a couple of wines from Chile in this edition. I read an interesting article in Gismondi on Wine recently (around the time of the rescue of the Chilean miners) where he was bemoaning the fact that so few Chilean labels get listed in government liquor stores. He goes on to say; 'A quick tally of listings on the LCB website shows 1,130 wines of French origin, including a staggering 400 listing that sell for $100 or more per bottle (out of my range). A similar search for Chilean listings produces only 158 wines, of which four sell for more than $100 - and two of those are 16 - litre boxes of Chilean juice bottled in Cananda. In fact by volume Chilean wine (391,906 9L cases) is much larger than France (254,919 9L cases) in the province. The ratio is roughly 8:5 in favour of Chile although by value they are essentially equal: French table wine retail sales total $50.5 million; Chilean $50.1 million.' Having said all that, I hope you enjoy the Chilean listings below... Carmen Grand Reserva Carmenere 2008, Apalta Valley, Valle del Colchagua, Chile Price: $22 UPC: 00677758901240 Score: 89/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine Remarks: This wine was a category champion at the International Value Wine Awards. From AG: 'This spicy black plum, cassis and floral scented carmenere is not only better, its cheaper than past years. Enjoy its supple, rich, smooth palate with bits of chocolate, pepper, tobacco, savory plum jam, cassis and tea flavours. There is both fruit and balance and intensity which is a rarity from most carmenere labels. Excellent value for the price. We shared this with a number of folks at a dinner gathering on Thetis last month. All 10 of us had a good sampling...and all gave a thumbs up to the wine. It paired wonderfully with chicken marbella. A good and somewhat eclectic choice for your Christmas turkey. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008, Southeastern Australia Price: $17 UPC: 012354071445 Score: 88/100 Remarks:  'A solid red blend that will perform with a myriad of food possibilities.' This wine paired fabulously with BBQ steak, mushrooms, oven fries (our own potatoes) fresh from the garden beet tops and beets...and homemade focaccia bread. This is a solid 'go to' red in my books, and is readily available in BC and the States. Will work well at Christmas. Telmo Rodriguez Basa Rueda Blanco 2009, Castilla-Leon, Spain Price: $19 UPC: 08420759900017 Score: 90/100 Remarks: 'The new Telmo Rodriguez Basa Rueda Blanco 2009 is a delicious bottle of white wine. Floral, passion fruit, grapefruit, melon, lime and jalapeno aromas attract you to its fresh palate and creamy textures.' Ready to drink now and under a screw cap to ensure its freshness. We had this as an aperitif with Kelsey, Monica and one of their friends. Outstanding, and will go well with your Christmas bird... Grooner Gruner Veltliner 2009, Nierderosterreich, Weinland Osterreich, Austria Price: $17 UPC: 00089744754547 Score: 88/100 Remarks: We first sampled this at a tasting event for a home wine-making company. Friends at Thetis hosted the event (thanks Pat and Lucy) and Great Fermentations of Duncan brought 5 wines to sample and paired them up with appropriate appy`s. This very versatile food wine was the first on the list. Gruner Veltliner may not be for everyone, but if you are curious check this one from Austria out. You will love the mineral, grassy, green apple flavours that line the palate and then finish crisp. A very delicious food-style white that you can serve with a variety of seafood pasta dishes, shellfish and chicken...or have it on its own as an aperitif. It appears to readily available at government LCB stores, and would be fun to have on the Christmas dinner table. Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva  2010, Valle de Leyda, Valle de San Antonio, Chile Price: $12 UPC: 7804350596366 Score: 88/100 Remarks: `The palate is juicy and round with ripe guava, melon and jalapeno flavours`. Very good quality for the price. Sips well on its own as an aperitif, or with snacks before dinner. A great wine for crowds and casual settings. A couple of other Sauv Blancs from Chile to look for include: Santa Rita 120 Sauv Blanc, $10;  Quintay Clava SB $15 and from South Africa, Robertson Winery SB, $10. Locally the Mission Hill Five Vineyards, $14 is a good choice, as is the Bastianich Sauvignon 'B' from Italy, $20. Segura Viudas Cava Brut Rosado N/V, Pendes, Catalunya, Spain Price: $16 UPC: 000332933640004 Score: 88/100 Remarks: This Cava consistently over delivers for the price (you may remember this one from last Christmas). `Dry and fresh with nutty, cherry, baked pear and citrus flavours. It is the perfect tapas style bubble. The blend is a mix of trepat, garnacha and monastrall`. This vintner also makes a white Cava, that is equally delicious, and is also a very food friendly bubble. Makes a great hostess gift. Quinta do Crasto Late Bottled Vintage Port 2005, Douro Valley, Portugal Price: $27 UPC: 5604123002009 Score: 90/100 Remarks: As the last pick...crack open a bottle of this Late Bottled Vintage Port, and cosy up to the fire. LBV port will keep for days if not weeks in the bottle, allowing you to savour its attractive spicy, savoury floral nose flecked with dried cherries, plum jam amd licorice notes. Complex, ripe, rich, elegant, and slightly tannic palate, it is awash in chocolate, dried figs, cherry, mint and licorice root flavours. We had this the other night with a group of friends sitting around the fire with Ellen's famous chocolate cake in a canning jar...fantastic. It was the perfect end of the day sipper, it had both finesse and length...and it also would make an excellent hostess gift. Again, Best Wishes, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Cheers Keith Rush http://winerush.blogspot.com/ http://rushwinesandblog.blogspot.com/ Our mailing address is: Box 17-9 Thetis Island, BC V0R 2Y0 250-416-0013

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November 2010 Wine Newsletter

International Value Wine Awards...and a visit to the BC Okanagan Valley...

Canada's Wine Access Magazine has just published the results of their 5th annual International Value Wine Awards (IVWA). I will review some of their top choices in this issue and in subsequent notes. As a reminder the competition is an annual look at the best wines selling somewhere in Canada for under $25. If you haven't already, pick up a copy at your local news stand. The issue features more than 300 winning wines from 18 counties and is broken down by varietal, blend and by country. They also have a section on the top 25 killer values (under $15, with a raw score of 87 or more) and the top 15 wines under a screw cap.
The header on this note is from a vineyard of black grapes on the Naramata Bench in the BC Okanagan Valley. Naramata is just north of Penticton on Okanagan Lake. The bench is home to about 30 small wineries, including Lake Breeze, Red Rooster, La Frenz, Hillside and Ruby Tuesday. It is also home to Ron and Janis who were such great hosts on our visit...Thank You. The Okanagan really is stunning in the fall...especially when the weather is fine, and the grapes are being harvested and crushed.

Wines...
This is a really fine collection of labels to go looking for. The availability in BC is fairly good and our American friends may be able to find the French, Italian and Australian wines as well as the Riesling from the Columbia Valley.
As always, I love hearing back from folks on how things are going and whether you have been able to try any of the selections...
So...now on to the wines...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yalumba Y Series Shiraz Viognier, South Australia
Price: $15 - $18
Score: 87/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This wine is definitely worth the hunt, as it was a judges choice at the IVWA. I found it in Park Royal in West Van. We had this with our friends Ron and Janis in Naramata with roast beef. A superb pairing, soft round and supple with peperry, plummy earthy flavours with hints of spice.

 

 

 

 

 

Frescobaldi 2008 Remole, Tuscany Italy
Price: $12 - $16
Score: Wine Access Magazine 90/100
Remarks: This wine is a Category Champion at the IVWA for red single varieties. From Wine Access Magazine: "The Remole is a sangiovese that uses a touch of cabernet sauvignon (15 percent) to round out its profile. This is a modern chianti, with the cab bringing lots of cassis, despite occasionally obscuring the subtle notes of the sangiovese. The balance is good overall and the tannins give it some nice bight." This paired nicely with BBQ'd chicken, fresh beet tops caesar salad and rice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Winds Syrah 2008, Vin de Pays d'Oc
Languedoc, France
Price: $14
UPC: 3760143270353
Score: 89/100 AG; 90/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This wine is another Category Champion from IVWA in the Syrah/Shiraz Category. From Wine Access Magazine: "Three Winds charmed the judges in the preliminary and final rounds with its spicy, smoked meat and savoury nose and fresh, tarry black cherry jam notes. The palate is soft and generous, with bits of mocha, black cherry, plum and liquorice root flavours. A delicious style for BBQ foods." I must admit that I am not very good with French wines...I find the labeling confusing (maybe because I haven't been to France since our honeymoon in 74/75)...but this wine says it on the label...it is a Syrah. I have had it number of times and have really enjoyed it. At $14 it is hard to go wrong. Availability at Government LCB stores seems to be good...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Familglia Bianchi Malbec 2007, San Rafael, Mendoza Argentina
Price: $18
UPC: 7790703167645
Score: 89/100 AG; 90/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: Another Category Winner from the IVMA for the Malbec Category which was a real dog race apparently. From Wine Access Magazine: "This wine delivers both finesse and complexity that is generally associated with a higher price tag. San Rafael is south of Mendoza proper, but at more than 700 metres above sea level the grapes develop just fine. Perfumed and pretty, with raspberries, currants and a host of warm baking spices, this one isn't going to stain your teeth in the first few sips which should be reason enough to revisit this often-dismissed and overlooked varietal." We had this with friends the other week, with a delicious hot mustard rubbed pulled pork...well received.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2008, 
Columbia Valley, Washington
Price: $15
UPC: 088586621840
Score: 88/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: Another Category Champion. Wine Access Magazine: "The elegant vibrancy of this wine allowed it to stand out in a category of excellent values. Bright and effusive floral and peach aromas are followed by lovely flavours of ripe pear, peach, apple and citrus fruits with a lively, refreshing acidity to balance the pleasant off-dry, mineral tinged finish. A versatile food wine with the ability to compliment everything from light salads and shellfish, to spicy Thai and Indian cuisine. Delicious, mouth-watering and eminently drinkable, this graceful wine shows harmony and balance beyond its modest price." Ellen and I tried this recently as an aperitif. It was delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Rooster Pinot Blanc 2009,
Okanagan Valley
Price: $17
UPC: 6811246800069
Score: 88/100 AG; 89/100 Wine Access Magazine
Remarks: This was a Category Champion in the White Single Varieties. Wine Access Magazine: "The much-maligned Pinot Blanc has again defied itss critics, producing a category champion. This grape continually produces great wines at great value prices. The Red Rooster is classic BC Pinot Blanc, with its good intensity on the nose, showing lemon, peach and pear aroma. The palate is balanced, with refreshing acidity, flavours of melon and pear and a medium long finish. Reliable, refreshing and affordable." We ahd this at Thanksgiving with our 'Hunter Chicken'...fabulous and worth the hunt. I found a bottle at the Beverley Corners Liquor Store in Duncan...and of course we picked up a couple of bottles while in the Okanagan.
Enjoy...
Best Regards
Keith Rush
http://winerush.blogspot.com/

October 2010 Wine Newsletter…

Canadian Thanksgiving Greetings to you all.

I hope that this note finds you well and looking forward to your family Thanksgiving gathering.  We will have Kelsey and Monica for dinner along with Ellen’s brother and sister in law (Tim and Pat), plus a couple of Thetis Island guests. A Gwen and Don Hunter chicken will be the center of attention on Sunday for us.  Their chickens and turkeys are amazing…raised on Thetis Island…they taste so much better, in my view, than the regular store bought ones. YUM.

I have reverted back to my old format while I work out some issues with the general email program…and in the process I may have missed a few folks and sent some that have opted out over the last year or so. My apologies to those folks.

Now, lets get on to the wines. Most of these would work well with your Thanksgiving turkey.

Little Year Pinot Noir 2008, Australia

Price: $15.

UPC: 09316562001739

Score: 87/100

Remarks: ‘Strawberry, liquorice, smoky, black pepper, tobacco, celery root nose with a touch of barnyard. Soft, round, easy palate with juicy strawberry, spicy, licorice, orange, dried herb flavours. Solid, forward style with fruit for immediate appeal. A value proposition here’. We had this with friends a couple of weeks ago with Chicken Marbella. It was thoroughly enjoyed bay all who had it. I must admit though I have had a hard time tracking this one down. I finally found at the LCB in Park Royal. I am always on the hunt for well priced pinot’s.

Blue Mountain Pinot Blanc 2009, Okanagan Falls, BC

Price: $18

UPC: 00626990024958

Score: 89/100

Remarks: ‘Positively swimming in bright fruit, showing bits of peach and apricot’. You will need to go to a specialty shop for this

pinot blanc that is made from two French clones, that is fermented half in old wood barrels and half in stainless steel tanks, thereby

preserving its delicate fruit. Excellent for halibut, salmon, clams or as an aperitif. ‘Easily one of the best Pinot Blancs in the valley’.

Escudo Rojo 2008, Chile

Price: $18

UPC: 00812485000013

Score: 89/100

Remarks: ‘A great pairing for roast lamb or with a favourite old cheese’. This is a blended red from the Valle del Maipo in Chile.

Is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Carmenere (37%), Syrah (18%), and Cabernet Franc (5%). Expect an intense nose

of black raspberry flecked with bits of spice and tobacco. We had this with friends when we were in the Caribou…it received solid

reviews. This wine is well worth the hunt.

1884 Reservado Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina
Price: $17
UPC: 00722358070008
Score: 88/100
Remarks: Killer value at $17. This is a wonderful classic Malbec with intense colour, peppery savoury fruit and rich character. It works well with anything on the BBQ. We have had it a number of times over the summer always to very good reviews. This wine is readily available in BC, even at the Chemainus LCB.

Trivento Cabernet Malbec Reserve 2008, Mendoza Argentina

Price: $13

UPC: 7798039590137

Score: 88/100

Remarks: ‘Soft fat savoury fruit with bits of mocha, licorice and black cherry jam’. A terrific value wine that is readily available at most BC LCB outlets.

Enjoy the hunt for these wines…

Best Regards…

Keith

Keith W. Rush RPF

keithrush17@gmail.com

Cell: 604-889-5357

Tuesday May 18th, 2010

Wine Suggestions...in time for the May long weekend...

Greetings everyone,

I really hope this note finds you well and looking forward to the long weekend. As usual, I have a number of great selections for you to try...a few of them are from the co-hosts of the Vancouver International Playhouse Wine Festival, Argentina and New Zealand. At the bottom, I have explained my rationale for the wines I select for you to try. A reminder to my BC readers, that most of my suggestions are available in Government Liquor Stores. If a selection is only available at a private wine shop, I include the name and location.

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Trivento Amado Sur Malbec Bonarda Syrah2007, Argentina
Price: $16
UPC: 7798039593503
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'A 72/16/12 blend of malbec/bonarda/syrah' from one of the International Playhouse Wine Festivals, co-host country. The entry is smooth with plum, black cherry, coffee tobacco flavours. A classic hamburger red that really over delivers for the price, good value, and it is readily available in BC Liquor Stores, even the smaller outlets.

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Dona Paula Estate Malbec 2008, Mendoza, ArgentinaPrice: $22
UPC: 00836950000056
Score: 90/100
Remarks: 'The palate is round and fresh with a mix of chocolate, vanilla, dried herbs, black cherry, plum and flecks of orange flavours with a pinch of poultry spice'. We had this on my birthday dinner with Tim and Pat, along with BBQ steak, roast vegetables, rice, and a salad...delicious. Readily available.

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Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2008, New Zealand
Price: $25
UPC:9419663017996
Score: 89/100
Remarks: 'The palate is dry round and elegant with supple tannins. The flavours are a mix of tobacco leaf, caraway, cherry, orange peel and strawberry flavours, with a touch of tea leaf. Fine finesse in a Pinot Noir'. We had this the other night with Kelsey and Monica who made a delicious prawn pizza, with all sorts of trimmings for a combined birthday, Mothers Day dinner. Fantastic Pinot, even if it is over my threshold price...highly recommended, and appears to available in the larger LCB stores...

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No. 8 Wire Sauvignon Blanc 2009, New Zealand
Price: $17
UPC: 00621926300014
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Ripe passion fruit, melon, gooseberry and kiwi aromas. The finish is juicy with smoky citrus highlights. As for the No. 8 wire...it is a reference to the gauge of the wire used to tie the vines to the trellis in the vineyard'. Delicious with sushi, chicken or all on its own as an aperitif.

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Lulu B Chardonnay 2007, France
Price: $13
UPC:604174001704
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Good value and sealed under a screw cap'. Just passed the test of my local Chardonnay critic. It is a fresh, clean Chardonnay, that is stainless steel fermented resulting in peachy scents with honey and citrus butter streak its creamy finish.

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Odds' n' Ends

Wine Recommendation Rationale:

Below is my rationale for selecting the wines that I pass on for you to try...

• 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...

Cheers and enjoy the wine

Keith Rush

http://winerush.blogspot.com/

Wine Suggestions... Greetings everyone, I have a number of really great selections for you to try this month. I have been looking for the Carmenere's since Anthony Gismondi reviewed a number of them in late January. Also included are two selections from the LCB's Spring promotion. I have included a Pinot Noir to follow up on the heals of a significant wine fraud that was uncovered in the south of France involving a dozen executives from the Langue-doc wine industry and fake Pinot Noir they sold to the California based E&J Gallo. Apparently they were passing off a blend of Merlot and Shiraz as Pinot Noir. Some 18 million bottles of bogus Pinot were sold to Gallo who unknowingly sold the wine under its successful Red Bicyclette label. Also included is a selection from the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival (April 19 to 25), and the last selection a cheap and cheerful red wine from Spain for all my budget conscious readers. Viu Manent Reserva Carmenere, 2008, Chile Price: $20 UPC: 07804314935064 Score: 88/100 Distributed by International Cellars Remarks: 'Aged in mostly French oak the flavours are soft and supple, with an expresso, chocolate nose, and dark chocolate, dried herbs, plummy fruit flavours'. This carmenere comes from near the town of Perallilo in the warm Colchagua Valley. We had this with BBQ steak, which was fantastic and it will go famously with lamb as well. I really enjoyed this wine...it is just that little bit different. Undurraga Sibaris (see the Pinot below for a picture of the label) also makes a Carmenere, which was delicious as well. Mount Fishtail Sauvignon Blanc 2009,New Zealand Price: $15 UPC: 009421004799041 Score: 88/100 Remarks: This selection and the next is part of LCB's Spring Promotion. You can find it in many outlets in special displays. It has a slightly sweet plalate of green apple. A bright, fresh elegant sauvignon. Delicious as an aperitif. Good value. New Zealand is co-host along with Argentina at the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival. James Oatley Tic Tok Pinot Grigio 2009, Austrailia Price: $17 UPC:9338053000908 Score: 88/100 Remarks: The second of the LCB Spring display promotion and comes with a hint of colour that re-assures its gris roots. Pinot Gris is made from black grapes that are crushed and immediately the juice is taken off the skins to ferment. A delicious wine that is very food friendly or on its own as an aperitif. This is one for Jane to try... Undurraga Sibaris Pinot Noir Reserva Especial 2008, Chile Price: $16 UPC:78043150020024 Score: 87/100 Distributed by International Cellars Remarks: 'Well balanced with light tannins'. Good value in Pinot Noir'. We had this wine with roast chicken a couple of weeks ago with our 'third' daughter Nicole and her husband Jason who joined us for dinner. Congratulations to Jason for graduating from broadcast school and landing a job with Sun FM in Powell River. We will miss you both. Another well priced Pinot that we tried was The Winery of Good Hope Pinot Noir 2008 from Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa. Mission Hill Pinot Gris Reserve 2007, BC Okanagan Valley Price: $19 UPC: 776545991171 Score: 88/100 Remarks: 'Round, dry, fresh palate with juicy gooseberry, grapefruit tropical flavours'. Mission Hill will be at the countries biggest wine bash in Vancouver along with many other Canadian and International wineries. It is fitting (following Pinotgate mentioned above, and the BC cellared in Canada debacle) that the three hour symposium at this years festival is entitled 'What's in Your Wine? A Symposium on Truth in Labelling'. It will be held at the SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue during festival week. Castano La Casona Monastrell 2008, Spain Price: $9.49 UPC: 008422443002519 Score: 86/100 Remarks: 'Soft, easy sipping and reasonably dry'. A wine for wine drinkers who can buy by the case and pull it out when the crowds swell, or your grown wine drinking children arrive with their friends in tow. It went well with chicken, steak and even spicy enchiladas. Apparently the vineyards are dry-farmed (no irrigation, and that keeps the yields naturally low) and the vines are 40 to 60 years old. All this under a screw-cap to ensure consistent quality. Odds' n' Sodds For those of you who have met our new little dog Eddie, he became quite sick about a month ago. It turns out he brought with him from Mexico a tick born desease called Ehrlichia. It is not common in BC at all, and is not contagious, but is very difficult to treat. So Eddie has been on antibiotics for a month and is on the mend. He even had enough stamina to endure an Easter dinner with three of his dog cousins and one cat cousin, who managed to get treed twice by one of the bigger dogs. A very long ladder was needed both times. Cheers and enjoy the selections... Keith Rush winerush.blogspot.com/

Our mailing address is: 202-1871 Marine Drive West Vancouver, BC V7V 1J7 Copyright (C) 2010 Keith Rush All rights reserved.

Wine Suggestions...for the 2010 Winter Olympics- Feb 19th, 2010

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. edit remove design header use text Wine Suggestions...for the 2010 Winter Olympics Greetings everyone, and particularly all my new friends on my list who I met in Mexico over Christmas... In this edition...Christmas report including new Mexican addition to the family, two whites and two reds to search out and enjoy during the Olympics, and some guidelines for food and wine paring. We had a fabulous and different Christmas this year in Sayulita there was no fussing about last minute gifts or driving to the shopping mall...what is important is spending time together as a family which was what we were able to do. On Christmas Eve we had a fabulous poolside dinner party with the Carels, Mattsons and Rush family. Preparation for the party saw all family members in action shopping, chopping and cooking, it was great fun! Christmas Day was spent swimming, picnicking and boogie boarding. It really was special being able to spend time with friends and family in sunny welcoming Sayulita. The next best thing was that Ellen and I were able to bring back a little white poodle-cross rescue dog with us. His name is Eddie and he is between one and two years old and is just the sweetest little guy, see below. We have been looking for a dog to 'fall into our laps' for some time now. So we hooked up with folks from Sayulia Animals, a rescue organization in Sayulita. www.sayulitanimals.org. Now...on to the wines. I have a number of selections for you to try this month. A couple of them are distributed by International Cellars in Vancouver. I mention this because Ellen and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with the folks at IC two weeks ago. Tara Hallgren who is their controller is a friend of Ellen's from high school and her husband Michael Shuster who is a Principal and Director of the firm, toured us around their offices, tasting room and storage cellar. One of the largest independent wine distribution companies in Western Canada, International Cellars has earned the respect of suppliers, liquor boards, customers, and competitors alike. The company provides market access to a full complement of quality, well-priced products to customers in the four Western Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. www.internationalcellars.ca Glen Carlou Grand Classic, 2005 Price: $20 UPC: 0600427000047 Score: 87/100 Distributed by International Cellars Inc. Remarks: 'Grand Classique is a Bordeaux blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon (41) and merlot (40) with smaller amounts petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc. Look for deep coloured red with a fine mineral nose dusted with vanilla and some meaty Brettanomyces notes. The entry is round the body dense with cedar and black fruit and liquorice flavours throughout. The finish is slightly dry with elevated acidity poking through. Best with roasted meats. Drink now'. We thoroughly enjoyed a bottle of this with friends on Thetis. It was fantastic with the braised rack of lamb. Thanks David and Marsha. Leaping Horse Vineyards Chardonnay Price: $12 UPC: N/A Score: 88/100, 2008 Wine Access IVWA, 86/100 AG. Distributed by International Cellars Inc. Remarks: 'This is easy to drink, with fresh, lovely, intense pineapple tropical fruit aromas and round, creamy buttery chardonnay flavours'. I have been looking for this for the last year, and finally found it in Tara's cellar at International Cellars. You may have to ask your local LCB retailer on the availability of this wine. Great value. Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2007, Okanagan Valley Price: $19 UPC:77885607012 Score: 89/100 Remarks: 'A modern style Chardonnay perfect for West Coast dishes'. This Chardonnay gets two thumbs up from my resident Chard critic. It was delicious as an aperitif and was fantastic with Beef Bourguignon. So it is a versatile wine that fits the full spectrum of food. Good value local BC wine. Readily available in BC. Sabor Real Tempranillo 2005,Toro, Castill-Leon, Spain Price: $17 UPC: 08437009707500 Score: 86/100 Remarks: 'Warm and fresh with lots of ripe fruit to go with most meats'. Tempranillo, (pronounced tempera-NEE-oh) is Spains best red native grape and tastes like a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. Tempranillo is good with game, smoked ham and sausages, especially spicy chorizo, casseroles and meat grilled with herbs, and is particularly good with roast lamb. It can partner some Indian dishes and goes well with soft cheeses such as ripe Brie. We thoroughly enjoyed this with mild Italian sausages done on the BBQ. It appears to be fairly available in BC. Odds' n' Sodds While we were away I picked up a copy of Food & Wine Magazine which had the following 'rules' for wine and food pairings. There is some very good advice in the suggestions that follow... 7 Rules for Perfect Pairing: Pairing Rule 1...Serve a Dry Rose with hors d’oeuvres Good rose combines the fresh acidity and light body of white wines with the fruity character of reds. This makes it the go-to wine when serving a wide range of hors d’oeuvres, from crudités to gougers. Pairing Rule 2...Serve an Unoaked White with anything you can squeeze a lemon or lime on. White wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino and Vermentino (typically made in stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels) have a bright, citrusy acidity that acts like a zap of lemon or lime juice to heighten flavours in everything from smoked sablefish to grilled salmon. Pairing Rule 3...Try low alcohol wines with spicy foods. Alcohol accentuates the oils that make spicy food hot. So when confronted with dishes like a fiery curried chicken or Thai stir fry, look for wines that are low in alcohol, such as off dry German Rieslings (especially since a touch of sweetness helps counter spiciness too) Pairing Rule 4... Match rich red meats with tannic reds Tannins, the astringent compounds in red wines that help give the wine structure, are an ideal complement to luxurious meat – making brawny reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah great matches for braised duck legs or pan seared sausages. Pairing rule 5...With lighter meats, pair the wine with the sauce Often the chief protein in a dish – chicken or pork say, say isn’t the primary flavour. Think of pork chops in a delicate white wine sauce versus pork chops in a zesty red wine sauce: in each case, the sauce dictates the pairing choice. Pairing rule 6…Choose earthy wines with earthy foods. Many great pairing combinations happen when wines and foods echo one nother. Earthiness is often found in reds such as Pinot Noir (particularly from Burgundy) and Nebbiolo, making them great partners or for equally earthy ingredients, like bison steaks and wild mushrooms. Pairing rule 7...For desserts, go with a lighter wine When pairing desserts and dessert wines, it’s easy to overwhelm the taste buds with sweetness. Instead, choose a wine that’s a touch lighter and less sweet than the dessert-for instance, an effervescent Moscato d’Asti with toasted pears. A reminder that if you would like to be taken off my list, just send me a note back or unsubscribe at the bottom of the page, and if you have any friends who you think would like to on my wine list, just send me their email address, and I will gladly add them. It has been quite a while since I have heard from many of you, so let me know how you are doing... Cheers... Keith Rush winerush.blogspot.com/ Our mailing address is: *|USER:ADDRESS_HTML|* Copyright (C) 2009 *|USER:COMPANY|* All rights reserved.

December Wines and Suggestions for Christmas...Dec 14th, 2009

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. December Wines and Suggestions for Christmas Christmas Greetings... I hope this note finds you all well and beginning to get in the mood for Christmas. The Rushes (including Kelsey and Monica) will be spending Christmas in Mexico with the 'Dean Mattson' family (Ellen's brother, wife Sandy, daughter Carly and son Blake). We are going to the little 'surfing' town of Sayulita, which is just north of Puerto Vallarta. This is a first for us, spending Christmas away from the rest of our family and the West Coast of BC. Needles to say, we are really looking forward to it. It will be so great to have our New Years swim in the warm Pacific ocean. We are so sorry to be missing the freezing polar bear swim in front of the Wilson's on Thetis Island...It was a lot of fun last year and I am sure the turn out and the experience will be even bigger and better, so have fun everyone... I have a number of 'interesting and somewhat eclectic' wines for you to consider this holiday season, along with a few 'count on-able' selections for your Christmas dinner. Enjoy the hunt as it will be quite a while before I send out my first note of 2010. It will be an interesting challenging finding wines in Mexico... A reminder that if you would like to be taken off my list, just send me a note back or unsubscribe at the bottom of the page, and if you have any friends who you think would like to on my wine list, just send me their email address, and I will gladly add them. It has been quite a while since I have heard from many of you, and you know who you are, so let me know how you are doing... Boutari Moschofilero 2008, Mantinía, Peloponnese, Greece Price: $19 UPC:5201022574233 Score: 89/100 and a Category Champion at the Wine Access Awards. Remarks: 'No oak and modest alcohol'. This wine and the next are for all of the folks who we went to Greece with in 2008. The grape of this award winning wine are barely pronounceable and mostly unknown - moschofilero - but it deliver a great combination. The entry is light and refreshing, with hints of lime and minreal notes that resound on the palate. This wine pairs nicely with sushi and any lightly spiced seafood dishes. Availability of the Greek wines will be a little spotty. I have seen them in West Van, North Van and in Nanaimo, but none in Chemainus...sorry, Thetis Islanders... Boutari Naoussa 2006, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece Price: $16 UPC: 05201022540504 Score: 87/100 Remarks: 'An ancient indigenous grape with elegance and style'. The second of the Greek wines, which I guarantee will be the topic of conversation if you take these to a dinner party. Naoussa is one of the towns that Ellen and I stayed in during our visit to Paros (one of the Greek islands). Thanks to our dear friend Judy Bendick, who lived in Naoussa for a while, for recommending we visit there. This wine is made from an ancient indigenous grape xynomavro (pronounced SEE NO ma vro) that has earthy, peppery taste and...well it just smells and tastes like Greece. We thoroughly enjoyed this with BBQ'd pork, and would go nicely with your Christmas turkey. Peter Lehmann Layers Red 2008, Barossa Valley, South Australia Price: $18 UPC: 9311910103103 Score: 87/100 Remarks: 'Round tasty peppery, black cherry, black raspberry, tobacco flavours'. A new listing from Peter Lehman is a blended red (grenache, syrah, mouvedre, carigan and tempranillo) from the Barossa Valley. I looked for this blend at the urging of Rick Howie, who enjoys the Auzzie version of these grapes to the French blends. It is still young, but has great flavour, and will improve in the bottle with age. If you are going to drink it right away, this is a great wine to open 45 minutes before your guests arrive, and then decant prior to serving...which is the secret to turning an $18 bottle of wine into a $40 bottle. Also a good choice for your turkey dinner. Availability is a little spotty, with North Van the only outlet that I was able to find it at, so far. Cono Sur 2008 Viognier, Chile Price: $11 UPC: 7804320405407 Score: 88/100 and a Category Champion at the Wine Access Awards Remarks: 'Spicy, floral, ginger, orange, juicy melon flavours'. Terrific value here. For all my young followers take note...bring this to your parents for Christmas dinner and it will be a hit. Elegant and fun with lots of fruit. You may recall that Viognier is one of my favorite wines to have with turkey. Some other delicious Viognier's to consider are: Paul Mas ($13) from France, Clay Station ($20), from California, Anakena ($16) from Chile, Yalumba Y Series ($18) from Australia. Painter Bridge Zinfandel Price: $14 UPC: N/A Score: 87/100 Remarks: 'The entry is soft and round with mostly supple tannins'. This is a better than average, easy-sipping Zinfandel at a fair price, and it is readily available throughout BC. Zinfandel is one of my favorite red wines to serve with turkey dinner. So if you are in the mood, here are some other great Zins to look for, all from California: Wingnut ($19), Shenandoah (an organic wine) ($20), 7 Deadly Zins ($25), Terra D'Oro ($22), Cline ($19). Segura Viudas CAVA Brut Rose Spain Price: $15 UPC: 00033293640004 Score: 88/100 Remarks: 'Fresh with nutty, cherry, baked pear and citrus flavours'. I took this along as a 'hostess' gift recently to friends. We wound up putting this delicious Cava to the test. It was delicious with the prawn and avacado appetizer's. A blend of trepat, grenacha, and monastrell grapes, it has a lovely raspberry colour, with pear and citrus flavours. It is the perfect tapas wine that you can pour freely before dinner, and it makes a great 'hostess' gift. Readily available in BC. Odds' n' Sodds I often mention the names of grapes in my notes, many of which are not the usual, cabernet's or chardonnay's. The grape called Mourvedre (mentioned a number of times in this and other notes) is an interesting one that I want to say a little about. The French call it Mourvedre, the Australians and Californians call it Mataro, but the Spanish call it Monastrall, which is odd according to Oz Clark, because the grape originated in Spain either near Murviedro in Valencia or near Mataro in Cataluna. Perhaps says Clarke local pride meant that both areas claimed the grape so fiercely that Monastrall was chosen so as not to offend anyone. The Taste of Mouvedre Young Mourvedre, picked at low yields, has a fairly wild mix of rasping hillside herbs, more than a hint of farmyard, and, if you're lucky, flavours of blackberries and bilberries. It is solid in style, with high alcohol and tannin. Most is blended with other grapes such as Grenache and Syrah. Blended or not, Mourdevre will always add a farmyard herby roughness for a few years before developing flavours of leather, gingerbread and game. (from Oz Clarke's Grapes and Wines; published by Websters International Publishers)...a fantastic soft-cover book...a possible Christmas present for someone? Does anyone have a favorite bottle of Mourdevre, or a blend they can recommend, or any experience making wine from these grapes...or traveled to that region in Spain? Anyhow...best wishes to you all and your families for a wonderful Christmas and all the very best in 2010... Cheers... Keith Rush winerush.blogspot.com/ You are receiving this email because you are on Keith's Wine email list. Unsubscribe keithrush17@gmail.com from this list | Forward to a friend | Update your profile Our mailing address is: Keith Rush 202 1871 Marine Drive West Vancouver, BC V7V 1J7 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2009 Keith Rush All rights reserved.