More Summer Sippers...July 13th, 2009

Good day folks,

I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying the summer or looking forward to your family holiday in the near future...

Ellen and I are off on our first bike trip today...it will be fun. It was fun. I have posted some photo's from the trip on my Facebook page. keithrush@shaw.ca

The wines for you to look at are the full spectrum from light white to heavy red...all are worth a try...

GUNDERLOCH FRITZ'S RIESLING 2007, RHEINHESSEN, GERMANY

Price: $17

UPC: 04022642000749

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'Tailor-made for barbecued or pull-pork dishes'. Riesling is one of the best west coast summer wines...its fresh, floral, crunchy fruit and juicy citrus flavours can brighten any picnic lunch or patio dinner party. It pairs really well with cheese, which we had with friends a few weeks ago as an aperitif. Delicious.

MIGUEL TORRES SANTA DIGNA CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSE 2008, VALLE DEL CURICO, CHILE

Price: $14

UPC: 08410113005366

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'A patio sipper, or serve it with a variety of charcuterie and cheeses'. We have had this a number of times...excellent. For a more detailed description of this wine...I am going to quote a new friend of mine Rick Howie (who I met a couple of weeks ago at the BC Field Ornithologists AGM and Convention, in Clearwater...who obviously is quite a wine lover and connoisseur, [he also is a very accomplished birder]) on this review..."It’s been a warm June so it is time to join the rush for rosé. It is 28 degrees at the time we are enjoying a Miguel Torres Santa Digna 2008 Reserve rose. It is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and is just about the prettiest wine you could have in your glass on a warm day. It gleams a nice raspberry pink or pomegranate hue with fleeting purplish tones although I suppose I could go along with the label notes indicating a cherry colour when in the bottle where the volume is greater and the glass may add some colour. It is surprisingly refreshing despite the 14% alcohol. The acidity perks it right up and it is not heavy at all. The tannins are minimal , which is a good thing. Plums, strawberries and hints of grapefruit on the nose says the label, but none of them are so forward that they dominate. The fresh fruit aromas are apparent with a good deep inhaling with perhaps a nod to the strawberries being a bit more dominant but not overpowering. We enjoyed this wine quite chilled with the balance on the palate just excellent. The flavours are fruity without being “in your face” and so evidently one thing or another that you have to deal with them. Neither are they so bland or neutral that you don’t care. They may even be more black currant in nature but hey are just extremely enjoyable with great acidity to take the edge off of a hot day. This is a dry wine but may taste a bit off dry, but certainly not sweet. The finish is crisp and clean with no bitterness or unpleasant aftertastes. I did not challenge this wine with our rib dinner and in reality, the bottle barely made it to dinner. Torres suggests that it is “sublime” with Chinese food and can be enjoyed with meat, pasta and tomato sauce. I think that the bracing acidity would do fine with all of those items, but if you are the least bit thirsty and start off with this wine as an aperitif, good luck in having enough left for dinner, even if there are only two of you. Those 750 ml bottles just seem to be getting smaller over the years. I don’t know if this wine was fermented in the classic French rose style with a little skin contact and then pressing, or whether it is one of the “modern” rose blends of red and white wines that the French seem to abhor. If it was a blend, I would have thought that the wines would have all been listed. Only the Cabernet is noted so it may be a classic rose in the sense that it is achieved through minimal skin contact with a red wine grape and then a quick pressing. Whatever the technique, it is a good one and I will be picking up a few bottles to have on hand for friends who drop in or just for Carol and I who won’t have any problem enjoying this again. In fact, there are so many rose wines in stock right now, it may be a good idea to buy one of each and do a comparison tasting. Now there in fact, is a good idea. In the mean time, twist the top off of this one and head for the sundeck with a good book or chatty company. You will not be disappointed in the least for $13.99. I am looking at an empty bottle and an empty glass and feel quite disappointed because I did not buy two. I hope that this does not indicate a problem, but I am looking forward to another hot day. Apparently, rosés are hot items at the moment and I can see why". As you can see, Rick really knows how to report on his wine enjoyment...

CLAY STATION VIOGNIER 2007, Lodi,

California

Price: $19

UPC: 5011932008632

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Lovely fresh white wine with hints of musk melon and orange blossoms. A more delicate version of this variety without the oily notes. Clean fresh tasty delicate wine with honeysuckle and melon notes. Quite an interesting outcome from the Central Coast. Hard to believe it’s 3.99 at Trader Joe and only 19.00 in British Columbia'. A fabulous wine to go with your BBQ'd chicken this summer...speaking of which, I had better get ours on...

Road 13 Merlot 2006, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Price: Plus or minus $20 depending where you get it...

Score: 88/100
UPC: 626990081265
Remarks: 'Smoky, vanilla, cherry, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, menthol, cedar aromas with a spicy, peppery edge. Dry, round, supple palate with light, grainy tannins. Full coffee, cedar, tobacco, peppery, cherry, vanilla, smoky, menthol, mineral, stony flavours. Good solid effort that has the ability to age 2-4 years'. We took a bottle of this to a party a few weeks ago. It was extremely well received by the folks hanging around the wine bar. A delightful change from all the Shiraz and Malbec's. It was delicious with the roast beef dinner (and was OK with the salmon as well)...Thanks Pam and Sandy.

Concannon Petite Sirah Limited Release 2005, Central Coast, California, United States

Price: $19

UPC: 081908635471

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Orange peel, black cherry, coffee, spicy, mineral, plum flavours'. My brother Graham and I have been looking for a PS for a while and we had this with Roast Turkey a couple of weeks ago. It was good, but a little tart on the finish. Not my favourite grape, but it was worth the test. It may pair better with stew or something like that.

I haven't heard from many of you for long time...send me a note and let me know how things are going.

Cheers...

Keith

Summer Sippers...June 4th, 2009

Good morning everyone...

I wanted to get this out to you during this spell of unbelievably great weather. I hope that you are able to find a way to cool off. Fortunately, Ellen and I are at Thetis, and have the ocean right out front. So...if ever there was a time and a need for a refreshing wine to sip on the patio or deck, it is now. All the wines have been taste tested and represent some really good value. Enjoy.

THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE CHENIN BLANC 2008, STELLENBOSCH, COASTAL REGION, SOUTH AFRICA
Price: $14
UPC: 00854954000216
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'The Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc 2008 made in Stellenbosch. It is old bush vines in the Helderberg area that are behind this delightfully fresh and juicy chenin grown on mineral based, decomposed-granite soils. There is no wood used here, but lees stirring keeps it all interesting. If pears, limes and bright acidity appeal to you for summer this is the wine to drink'. Fantastic wine, and the first Chenin Blanc that I have recommended, goes great as an aperitif and was delicious with BBQ'd chicken...

Chat-en-Oeuf Dry Rosé 2008, Cotes-du-Ventoux, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $14
UPC: 03430560001693
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Chat-en-Oeuf Dry Rosé 2008 is a blend of cinsault, grenache and syrah. From its appealing, super pale, eye-of-the-partridge colouring to its fabulously floral, fruity nose, this is as impressive as rosé gets for $14. Bracing citrus strawberry, red currant fruit flavours meld with a just a twist of lemon in the finish. Cool clean and food-friendly, this should work well with lobster but would really excel with local, fresh Dungeness crab. Drink all summer'. We had this with sushi, and it was perfect...

QUAILS' GATE ROSE 2008, OKANAGAN VALLEY
Price: $13
UPC: 778856108248
Score: 87/100
Remarks: 'A terrific pale pink colour with a bright fresh strawberry-rhubarb nose is the story of the Quails' Gate Rosé 2008, Okanagan Valley. The grape is gamay with a dash of pinot gris for extra fruit and lift. The palate is super-fresh and bone-dry. Crab, anyone? Well done'. We had this rosé one afternoon with friends, hanging out around the pool deck...It was surprisingly well received by all who tried it...unexpectedly dry, and went very well on its own.

If you have anyone that you think would like to receive these wine notes, just let me know their name and email address, and I can include them. Conversely, if you do not wish to receive these anymore...just send a note back to that effect. Or, visit my blog: http://winerush.blogspot.com/

I also wanted to take the opportunity to give you all an update on our summer bikes trips...First off, thank you to all of you for your enthusiasm for this venture...it has been nothing short of humbling...

Although we have received a lot of interest in the trips, we have had very few bookings. In light of that, we have decided to consolidate our summer month trips to the one starting July 12th, and we will keep the September date open for the time being. The July trip will be a little different than originally planned...We will be doing the whole route, but with family and friends on a cost basis...If you would like to join us...give us a call.

Best Regards...

Keith

Wine Recommendations: May 3rd, 2009

Good day everyone,

First off, a big welcome to more than 1/2 a dozen members of the Kamloops Winemakers Association. I really appreciated receiving your requests to be included in my wine updates. It looks like you are all having a great time making wine and sharing your knowledge. Thanks Bob for your initiative on this...Anyone interested in what these folks are up to can visit their website at: www3.telus.net/kwa.

I have a bit of a mixed bag for you today. Some recent tastings and a few of the wines I tried quite some time ago, and put them on hold for the report on the Thetis Island wine tasting event.


Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Western Cape, South Africa
Price: $10
UPC 06001108004031
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'Bright grassy pink grapefruit notes with a touch of minerality'. A delicious Sauvignon Blanc. I goes nicely on it own, and is very food friendly...great price also. Readily available in BC...

Michel Torino Cuma Organic Malbec 2008, Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Argentina
Price $13
UPC 7790189040142
Score: 85/100
Remarks: 'Fresh, supple, round plum and cherry fruit'. We had this with friends a few weeks ago with spaghetti...fabulous. Again a great price. Another organic wine and readily available in the organic section of the LCB. The mate to the white version I sent around in November.

Bollini Pinot Grigio, 2007, Italy
Price: $18.99
UPC: 611723
Score: A pair of -A's from the wine guys, Kenji Hodgson and James Nevison. 87/100 Anthony Gismondi
Remarks: 'Fantastic intensity and a balanced finish bookend this floral citrus, and apple skin beauty'. Ellen and I tried this last month, as a before dinner wine. Really good. We picked up, grapefruit, lime and peach notes as well as the good balanced acidity.

FAMIGLIA BIANCHI MALBEC 2005, SAN RAFAEL, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Price: $20
UPC: 7790703167645
Score: 89/100
Remarks: 'More of a new World Style versus Euro but should have plenty of fans'. We had this with spaghetti, with one of my brothers and sister-in-laws, which was great. However, it would go really nicely with a nice BBQ steak as well. Rich, soft on the entry, with spicey blackberry flavours, it got better and better as the meal progressed...

La Bastide (Rouge) Syrah-Grenache-Carignan 2007, France
Price: $10
UPC: 003368680002293
Score: 86/100
Remarks: 'A blend of Syrah, grenache and carignan from the Languedoc, the palate is but elegant, with spicy blackcherry, licorice, mineral and dried herb flavours'. We had this with friends on Thetis the other night, and it paired well with the lasagna, and was a big hit with everyone at the dinner table. This wine is solid value, and a good wine to have on hand when your grown up children arrive for dinner, and it appears to be readily available.

Domaine du Tariquet Sauvignon 2007, France
Price: $15
UPC: 3359880123314
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'The nose is a mix of bright 'sauvignon' fruits - kiwi, passion fruit, lemon and limes with floral mineral notes and crisp acidity'. We enjoyed this wine with the girls and some of their friends the other night with fresh steamed manila clams...a fabulous white wine...

A quick reminder that I post all of these on my blog. www.winerush.blogspot.com and welcome all followers. Also, if you do not want to receive these notes anymore, just send me a note back...

Best Regards and Enjoy.

Keith

Keith Rush

Get Outside Trips
Cell: 604.889.5357
Off: 604.913.3192
keith@getoutsidetrips.com
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Wine Course at Thetis Island and Easter wines...Apr 4th, 2009

Easter Greetings;

I had the privilege last Saturday of putting on a two hour wine presentation at the Thetis Island Community Hall. It was part of what we call on the Island a 'Neighbour to Neighbour' series. Thanks again to Bev Greene, of Thetis Island, for suggesting the presentation and for all her work to set it up. We had a great turn out of about 25 folks...including Kelsey, and her boyfriend Rafael, and Monica, with her boyfriend Eric. Ellen was a great assistant, running the PowerPoint presentation.

It was a very enjoyable and fun afternoon, please see attached PowerPoint presentation.

One of the highlights was pealing a grape and eating the flesh first and then the skin...and noticing the acidity (in the flesh) and tannins (in the skin). Then, by comparison, we tasted a whole grape and got a sense of the 'balance' of grapes.

But that wasn't near as much fun as the wine tasting part. The group was just clamouring to get on with the tasting, and were mortified when I told they could not swallow any wine until all of them had been tasted. Yes, we all had little spittoons to spit into.

We tasted a New Zealand Riesling, a Spanish Rosé and a California Zinfandel. Please see the notes below...but before you read that...

Here are some Easter dinner wine ideas...Red: Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot; White: Viognier, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer...

Villa Maria Riesling Private Bin 2006

Price: BC $17.95

UPC: 9414416216077

Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'The fruit comes from two distinct regions in Marlborough: the higher plains of the Awatere Valley and the old river bed of the Wairau Valley. Lime, floral, smoky slate, green apple, peach pit aromas. Round, fresh, crisp, moderately dry and elegant palate. Slate, lime, green apple skin, guava, light diesel and nectarine flavours. Good intensity, aftertaste, balance and very good value'. This was a great start to the tasting...the apple and peach flavours jumped out of the glass. This would go very well with your Easter dinner.

Torres De Casta Rosé 2006
Prices: $12.99 (I managed to get it on sale at $9.99)

UPC: 08410113002020
87/100
Remarks: 'The Torres pink is masterful blend of garnacha tinta and cariñena begun in 1941. The nose is clean and fresh, bursting with black raspberry and cherry scents. On the palate it is agreeably round and crisp with the perfect touch of sweetness. Floral raspberry fruit flavours hold your interest throughout. Perfect with a salade niçoise or corn on the cob'. Once I showed everyone how to cleanse their 'nose', by smelling their shirtsleeves, (no not under your arm, but the crook of your sleeve) we were off on the second tasting. A delicious 'pink' wine that is very affordable.

WINGNUT ZINFANDEL 2006, CALIFORNIA

Price: $19 Available at Everything Wine...

UPC: 894509005105

Score: 88/100 (for the '05 vintage)

Remarks: 'The ’06 version is much like the ’05 if not a touch fresher and maybe a bit glossier. The fruit is spicy and warm with mixing black cherry jam, cedar, sweet plums and vanilla with a dusting of tobacco in the end. A fun hedonistic style that offers fair value'. This was the third wine served and almost everyone really enjoyed it. I even heard some folks say it was the best of the day. A good bet for that Easter turkey.

Remember, if you do not want to receive these notes anymore, just send me a quick note back...

Have a great weekend...

Keith

Keith Rush

Get Outside Trips

Cell: 604.889.5357

Off: 604.913.3192

keith@getoutsidetrips.com

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The Three Types of Wine...Mar 2nd, 2009

Greetings.

Today, I would like to share with you some information from my recent wine course.

In this complex world of wine, wine can be broken down into three types wine, light, sparkling or fortified. These three types are further broken down by the style of wine, such as red, white or rosé...then either dry, medium or sweet, and finally light, medium or full bodied.

I have selected a sample of each type for you to try.

The first type is LIGHT WINE: The majority of wines fall in to this category. These are what you normally think of when someone says 'wine'. They are still, that is not sparkling or fizzy, and are between 8 - 15% alcohol by volume. Many light wines are named after the region they are produced in; such as Bordeaux and Burgundy from France, Rioja from Spain and Chianti from Italy. New world wines from countries like Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and Canada are often labelled with the name of the grape, such as Chardonnay or Syrah.

Chono Reserva Syrah 2006, Elqui Valley, Chile

Price: $18

UPC: 07804606220229

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'Good intensity and balance with a smooth finish. Attractive style'. To me, this is an outstanding Syrah, soft round and supple on the pallet, good acidity and the tannins were not overpowering. We had it with BBQ chicken, which was a fantastic pairing. I have seen it in Nanaimo and West Vancouver. An example of a dry, full bodied red wine.

The second type of wine is SPARKLING WINE: These are wines where bubbles of carbon dioxide gas have been trapped in the wine. Often seen as the wine of celebration, it's best known (and usually most expensive) example is Champagne from France. Other examples are Cava from Spain (see below) and Asti from Italy (which, by the way, is sweet), but sparkling wine is made all over the world. My first encounter with sparkling wine came when a group of us from Howe Sound Secondary School went to Expo 67 in Montreal...no one seemed to mind selling 'Champagne' to 15 year olds, which was fine by us...

Segura Viudas Lavit Rosado Brut Cava N/VPenedès, Catalunya, Spain

Prices: $17.99

UPC: 033293653004
Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Consistent year after year with an attractive coppery salmon colour. Fresh cherry, red apple, toasty, mineral fruit notes with nutty streak. Serve at most any occasion with or without food'. We had this with Ellen's brother and sister in law on Valentines Day as an aperitif with brochette and cheese done in the oven. Fabulous. An example of a dry, medium bodied rosé.

The third type of wine is FORTIFIED WINE: These are also known as 'liqueur' wines, which means that the wines have had extra alcohol added to them and there for have higher alcohol levels of 15 - 22%. Examples of fortified wines include Port from Portugal (see below). With Port, the fermentation of the wine is halted with the introduction of alcohol part way through, so it remains sweet. Sherry from Spain on the other hand is fermented out to dry and then has the alcohol added. Hence, you can get either dry or sweet Sherry.

Warre's Warrior Special Reserve N/V, Douro Valley, Portugal

Price: $21.49

UPC: 5010867100336

Score: 91/100

Remarks: 'Warre's Warrior Special Reserve is the oldest mark of Port having been shipped continuously since the 1750s. It's still being made the same way - aged in seasoned oak casks for four to five years before being drawn off and bottled following a light filtration. Like all the wood ports in this category Warrior Special Reserve is ready to drink sans decanting. Look for dark, intense ripe prune fruit and a strong cocoa powder flavour. Not as sweet as the Graham's and not as dry as the Dow. A pleasing fireside sipper — break out the toasted walnuts'.

We had this with a delicious cheese cake and dark chocolate. The pairing of the Port and the dessert was exquisite...An example of a sweet, full bodied red wine.

I hope that you enjoy these wines...

Keith

Keith Rush

Get Outside Trips

Cell: 604.889.5357

Off: 604.913.3192

keith@getoutsidetrips.com

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Odds and Ends...My wine course, New Releases, and Sulphites...Feb 11th, 2009

Good morning everyone,

A few odds and ends that I didn't have room for in my last note...

I have had a few inquiries about the wine course that I was taking. The course finished up last week and it was fantastic. I would highly recommend it. It was a five session introductory course held at the Art Institute in Vancouver. Here is the the website. http://www.winecollege.ca/

I did the level 1, Foundation in Wine and Spirit service. One of the things I learned was just how much I didn't know about wine. It was quite humbling...The instructor was super enthusiastic and the classes were fun. Every class we tried different wines, for example, at our first class we tried a white, red and rose, a learned how to write a tasting note. As we tried each wine, we were not permitted to swallow the wine, as it destroys your pallet for the next wine. We had to spit into the spittoons, which was totally OK...in fact I found I could detect more nuances through smelling the wine than putting it in my mouth. We spent a lot of time on food and wine pairing which was very intriguing. I have a whole new appreciation for that part of wine/food enjoyment...More on that with each edition.

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I wanted to get the next two picks out in a timely manner as they will be in select LCB locations at the end of the isles' for the next two months. A good bet is any location with a good selection of wine. Park Royal, Prince George, Nanaimo, and Victoria will likely have them. So far I have only tried a couple of them, and I think you will enjoy them...

Michel Torino Cuma Organic Torrontés 2008, Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley, Salta, Argentina

Price: $13

UPC 7790189040074

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Roses, jasmine and nectarine skins assault the senses'. A very interesting white wine at a good price. Floral notes on the nose, with plenty of fruit. Young bright and aromatic, CUMA means 'bright and pure', both viticulture and winemaking at Cuma meet certified organic guidelines. Good value even for all of my younger followers...

Graham Beck Shiraz - Viognier 2006, Coastal Region, South Africa

Price: $15

UPC 006004867000917

Score: 88/100 and also 88/100 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards

Remarks: 'Smoky, resin, peppery, sausage meat mixed with ripe fruit'. Blackberries on the nose as well as leather notes. This is a big full bodied wine with 15% ABV, so it goes well with 'big' meat dishes (this is pairing the weight of the wine to the weight of the dish), and will benefit from some aeration or splashing prior to drinking. This was even enjoyed by my Chardonnay only girl.

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On another note, I have been asked on occasion about sulphites in wine. I pulled all of the below from Lisa Shea's website,(http://www.wineintro.com/glossary/s/sulfites.html ) because all that I know about sulphites is that back in the early 80's when I made wine, I always used a sulphite solution to sterilize our carboys, wine jugs, and bottles prior to bottling...and still managed a first place prize at the world famous Cowichan Valley Fall Fair for my Zinfandel wine. An interesting read...especially the part on dried apricots, which we have around the house always...

What Are Sulphites?
Sulphites are a naturally occurring compound that nature uses to prevent microbial growth. They are found on grapes, onions, garlic, and on many other growing plants. No wine can ever be "sulphite free", since they come in with the grapes.

The easy way to see if sulphites are a problem are for you is to eat a food high in natural sulphites - say, dried apricots. On average, 2oz of dried apricots have 10 times the sulphites as a glass of wine does. If you eat those apricots and have a reaction, now you know it's time to talk with a doctor.

Why Add Sulphites to Wine? Winemakers have been adding additional sulphites to wines for millennia. The Greeks and Romans used sulphur candles to sterilize their wine barrels and amphorae. Sulphur protects damage to the wine by oxygen, and again helps prevent organisms from growing in the wine. This allows the wine to "last longer" too, which lets it age and develop all of those complex flavors we all love and enjoy so much. If you didn't add sulphites, the wine would turn into vinegar in a matter of months.

What's the Problem with Sulphites?
Sulphite allergies are a problem for some wine drinkers, just like some people are very allergic to peanuts. Humans can be allergic to just about anything. For people who have a sulphite sensitivity, the sulphites can lead to serious headaches. White wines have more sulphites than red wines, so this can be a way to determine if sulphites might be the problem. Sulphites, used improperly, can also give a rotten-egg smell to a wine. There is no consensus on any other problems caused by sulphites.

What's Different about a Wine Without Added Sulphites?
A wine without added sulphites might be drinkable by those with only a mild allergy to sulphites. These people might be OK with the "natural sulphites" but have a reaction when they have a wine with "added in sulphites". Remember that a wine without added sulphites cannot last long, however. Usually 18 months is the longest a sulphite-free wine would survive. This includes the time the wine spent at the winery, at the wine shop as well as in your basement! So while no-sulphites-added is fine for "drink young" wines like Chardonnay, it would not be good for a "drink in a year" wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon.

How does a Winery Create Wine Without Adding Sulphites?
Again, this is only for wines that will be drunk very quickly. The winery has to make sure to warn people to drink it soon, so they do not get vinegar when they open the bottle. The second issue is that sulphites help to keep wild organisms in the winery from harming the wine. So if a winery isn't going to use sulphites, they have to make sure their winery is *super* clean and sterile.

So the trick is for the winery to prevent contamination from occurring, without using additional sulphites to do this. Some use a layer of carbon dioxide on the wine to kill off oxygen-dependant microbes. Nitrogen gas is used during bottling, for the same reason. Also, sterile filtration is an important step. All equipment involved - tanks, barrels, pipes, must be kept perfectly clean at all times. This is a lengthy and meticulous process for a winery to follow. The bottle of wine then needs to be stored chilled and on its side.

How Free is Sulphite Free?
The ATF, the governing body for wineries in the US, allows wineries to call a wine sulphite free when the levels of sulphites are under 10 parts per million (ppm). This is much lower than many sulphite-rich foods like dried apricots.

Enjoy and you can always look at back editions on my blog: http://winerush.blogspot.com/

Keith

An Eclectic Bunch of Wines to try...Feb 9th, 2009

Good Evening Folks...

I hope you have all had a great weekend...

Some of today's picks are a little different. The Cab from Israel and the white from Portugal come to mind, so have fun.

On another note, I read with interest the Gismondi on Wine article in Saturday morning's paper. Research released by the French wine fair VinExpo, and its UK research partner the IWSR indicates the Canadian wine market is growing three times faster than the world market, in terms of retail sales. The report entitled Current Trends in the International Wine and Spirits Market and Outlook to 2012 was released last week by VinExpo officials. I am not going to let on that it is this wine email that has made the difference...At last count the over 265 subscribers are enjoying high quality wine at very reasonable prices...and it is showing in Canadian wine sales...

Please see additional comments in the Remarks section under each label...

Gail Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Upper Galilee, Galilee, Israel

Price: $18

UPC 00736040014270

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Round, supple, forward style with cassis, plums and olive flavours'. We had this at a friends dinner party just before Christmas. Roast chicken was the main course and it went well with that and was enjoyed by all who had a chance to taste it. This would be a real head turner at your next dinner invitation.

Quintay Cava Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Valle de Casablanca, Region de Aconcagua, Chile

Price: $15

UPC 07804613410019

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Grapefruit rind, mineral, passion fruit aromas with a touch of lemon'. A delicious Sauvignon Blanc. Great for fish dishes, chicken, grilled vegetable salads, or just on its own. Under screw-cap it stays fresh all year long and offers terrific value.

Jean Bousquet Malbec (Organic Grapes) 2007, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina

Price: $17

UPC 0879716000013

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Black cherry, savoury, liquorice, mineral, mocha flavours. Fine value.' An organically grown Malbec. We had friends over for dinner prior to Christmas, and they had this and another bottle hidden inside paper bags...I had to guess what the wines were. I got as far as a Malbec...but that was it. The other was homemade...Anyway I digress, the wine was fabulous...

Mission Hill Sauvignon Blanc Five Vineyards 2007, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Price: $14

UPC 00776545988935

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'Fresh and clean and zippy with bits of kiwi fruit, pear and gooseberry.' A fantastic local Sauvignon Blanc, with good acidity. Acidity is what makes your mouth water, and gives the wine the fresh, clean zesty taste. Excellent as a pre-dinner drink, but also think, white meats, white sauces and white fish. At $14 this is a steal...

Gatao Vinho Verde N/V, Northern Portugal

Price $11.00

UPC 05601129032115

Score 86/100

Remarks: 'Delicate, easy-sipping, apéritif white. Good value'. Ellen and I really enjoyed this light, slightly fizzy, low alcohol (9%) before dinner wine. We had it with crackers and cheese, but it is delicious on its own. It has super green apple and citrus flavours. We served at a party at the girls house in Nanaimo last week and it was a big hit with all who tried it...

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Fond Regards, and Enjoy...

Keith