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February 2011 Wine Newsletter
Greetings Folks:I hope this note finds you well and enjoying life.
Ellen and I have some news...and that is that we sold our apartment in West Vancouver. It took us a while to finally decide to list our place as we love it and the location. We listed with family friend Jason Jennings of Sussex Realty. It all went smoothy and sold very quickly, thank you Jason. We are really excited to be truly living full time on Thetis Island. Once the move is over we will be going to Spain and Portugal for a few weeks to catch up with daughter Kelsey, who is doing a semester at the University in the Spanish city of Huelva.
Guest Beer Lover:
We have another guest writer this month and he also will NOT be talking about wine. Scott Bax is a friend of mine who I met through his wife Krista. Krista and I worked together in Vancouver at the BC Forest Safety Council. Ellen and I and Scott and Krista have become very good friends over the years, and we look forward to their annual summer visit with us on Thetis Island. Enjoy Scott's reccomendation which follows:
"When I was first asked by Keith to write a guest beer column, I must admit that I was more than excited. Finally, all those trips to the infamous Thetis Island retreat, the Rush Inn, weighed down by 6 pack after 6 pack of delicious micro beers, has paid off. Not to mention the free pass entitled “ research” I handed to Krista on the way in to the local beer store for research of course…
I am beer aficionado who has enjoyed beers from over 55 countries, regularly targeting seasonal offerings, seeking out award winners and always trying to make the most out my beer drinking experiences. So from my experiences to yours, cheers to your next beer.
In my opinion, beer deserves a better reputation. Specifically, it deserves to be treated less as an afterthought and more as aforethought. It deserves to be sought out and meticulously matched to a memorable meal much the same way wine is. Like wine, when treated properly, a good beer will reward you handsomely. To get the most out of my beer, I follow three basic steps 1) serve it at the right temperature, 2) serve it in a beer glass and 3) enjoy its appearance, smell, taste and finish.
This month, I would like to introduce you to an every day local lager that is always high on my shopping list.
Whistler Premium Export Lager
Brewed exclusively with silky soft Whistler Glacier Water, this multi-award winner is well worth a spot in your beer rotation. Notables
A bright deep golden colour is the first thing to greet your eyes through the clear bottle and it only gets better looking when poured in your glass (accompanied by a nice head of course). Fortunately, the best is yet to come…
A bit more malt then you might expect from a lager, this beer is nicely balanced by hints of citrus and wheat as it rolls across your palate. Finally, it finishes as strong as it starts bright and crisp.
Food pairings: An excellent complement to salmon and Asian dishes, this beer can handle both spice and fat well.
Awards
Gold Medal: Best Beer, 2006 Festival of Ales
Silver Medal: Best Pilsner, 2006 Canadian National Brewing Awards
Price: $11.75 per 1/2 dozen bottles"
Wines:
Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 New Zealand
Price: $15-17
UPC:009419453000887Score: 87/100 (AG)
Remarks: The Cottesbrook Sauvignon Blanc is from the Marlborough region of NewZealand. 'This is a fun to drink white that smells of lemon grass, lightly smoked jalapeno, grapefruit and gooseberry. The palate is soft round and fresh'. A delicious wine all on its own or with any fish or light meat dish. I found this at Everything Wine in North Vancouver.
Crios de Susanna Balbo Torrontes 2009, Salta, North Argentina
Price: $15
UPC: 07798068480300
Score: 89/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'A quintessential screw cap offering from Salta Argentina. Owner winemaker Susannah Balbo is the queen of torrontes and her 'hand-picked' hand made expression of this spicy, floral, high-altitude white wine is one of the best. Look for a dry, elegant, fresh palate with some weight and plenty of fresh lychees, nectarine skin flavours flecked with ginger'. I have been looking for a torrontes to recommend for some time now and believe we have a winner here. Wonderul as an aperitif and delicious with sushi, chicken and any fish dishes. It is reasonably available in BC.
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2009, Valle de Casablanca, Chile
Price: $13
UPC: 07804320256900
Score: 87/100
Remarks: This is one of our 'go-to' Chardonnays. It is well made and eminently affordable, and enjoyed by my resident Chardonnay critic. 'It is so clean and fresh with a correct twist of lees adding complexity and body to its bright acidity and lemon apple fruit. Thirty percent of the wine is fermented in French oak but as usual it dissapears into the background'. This wine is readily available throughout BC and the States, buy it by the case.
VISTALBA CORTE C, Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Argentina
Price: $19.99
Skew: 12070
Score: 89/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'This stunning wine offers the richness of Malbec with the noble charm of Cabernet. It has mouth coating flavours of macerated black forest fruits with a good crank of black pepper, cinnamon, expresso, dark chocolate, smoke, cassis and a long black cherry finish. This is a full bodied and thrilling $20 bottle that drinks like a $40 one - at least'. A wine that offers up its terrior and will improve for many years to come. We had this wine at brother Graham's and sisiter in law Suzanne's with roast venison sausages...superb. Fairly available in BC...
San Pedro 35 South Shiraz Reserva 2009,Chile
Price: $14
UPC: 007804300123321
Score: 87/100 (AG)
Remarks: 'Delicious meaty, spicy, blueberry, black cherry, peppery, licorice root aromas. The palate is soft, fresh and dry with black cherry, licorice, peperry, smoky, savoury flavours'. Solid value here and a real winner around the BBQ. Ellen and I thoroughly enjoyed this with a grilled steak, mushrooms and home grown potatoes (which we are almost out of).
I hope you enjoy this note and happy hunting...
Keith Rush
http://winerush.blogspot.com/
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