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.

Wine Access Awards and Odds 'n' Sod's, November 16th, 2009

This Month's Pic's:

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 Wine Access International Value Wine Awards (IVWA), Red Blends Category Co-Champion...

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/

Odds 'n' Sod's
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:

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...

Coming Up Next Month:

• More excellent buys from the International Value Wine Awards.

Remember my blog is at: http://www.winerush.blogspot.com/

Keith

Keith W. Rush, RPF

keithrush17@gmail.com

Cell: 604-889-5357

Thanksgiving wine, some thoughts on cellaring and family update...

Good evening folks;

I hope this note finds you well and looking forward to some family time this coming weekend. Both girls with their B/F's will be with us for dinner as will our 'third' daughter Nicole and her husband Jason. So...I wanted to get these selections out to you prior to the Thanksgiving weekend. The Viognier and Zinfandel featured below will pair particularly well with your turkey or chicken.

BELLINGHAM SAUVIGNON BLANC CHARDONNAY 2008, COASTAL REGION, SOUTH AFRICA

Price: $16

UPC: 06001506001984

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'The perfect summer sipper on the patio or at the table'. I have been on the hunt for this since early May. It has shown up recently at many LCB locations. It was well worth the wait. First off, it is a wine that both Ellen and I enjoy, and its fresh lively citrus and tropical fruit flavours with a dollop of pineapple offer a great weight and length in bright fresh style. With a screw cap...even better.

BODEGA LURTON PINOT GRIS 2008, VALLE DE UCO, TUNUYAN, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Price: $12.50

UPC: 00635335320211

Score: 87/100

Remarks: 'Year after year, this presents continued good value'. A fabulous Pinot Gris. This is one of my new favourite 'go to' Grigio/Gris wines. Good availability in the lower mainland.

STORK'S TOWER SAUVIGNON BLANC-VERDEJO 2008, SPAIN

Price: $15

UPC: 0084159002115

Score: 88/100

Remarks: 'A fresh, aromatic white wine with a sense of harmony and balance'. An flavourful blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. We had this with cold BBQ'd chicken and a great big garden salad. Delicious, and very good value.

PAUL MAS VIOGNIER 2008, L'HERAULT, LANGUEDOC, FRANCE

Price: $13

UPC: 3760040420127

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'This is a blend of viognier fruit from cool and warm sites using young and old vines with relatively low yields with fewer bunches per vine to better concentrate the flavour of the grapes. On the palate, peach and honey mix effortlessly with a creamy lees character. Very serious value'. I brought this to a recent birthday gathering that featured roast beef. It was a great match and will go really well with your Thanksgiving turkey. Availability appears to be good. Killer value. Other Viognier's to consider: Anakena from Chile ($16) Yalumba Y Series from Australia ($18), Clay Station from California ($20), Cono Sur Limited Reserve from Chile ($11).

TERRA D'ORO ZINFANDEL SHR FIELD BLEND 2006, AMADOR COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Price: $22 (above my limit, but I love Zin)

UPC: 009460000124

Score: 89/100

Remarks: 'Field blend is a mix of different grapes in the same vineyard. Look for fresh liquorice, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, earthy, peppery aromas in a supple forward style'. We tested this at a small family gathering and got a huge thumbs up. It will go well with your Thanksgiving turkey, or any grilled meats...or cellar for a couple of years. Availability is a question mark. I have only seen it at the Park Royal LCB...but check other signature stores. Other Zins to consider: Wingnut(about $20); Painter Bridge (about $14); Shenandoah an organic wine (about $20); Cline (about $20); 7 Deadly Zins (about $27), all from California, and all readily available in BC.

From time to time I get asked about cellaring or aging wine. Here are a few things to consider. Generally speaking almost every bottle of wine will get better in the bottle. So it doesn't hurt to rest a bottle for a few weeks or months in a cool quiet place to allow the wine to recover from the shock of being bottled, shipped and bounced around in its early life. Again, generally speaking, red wines keep longer than whites, and most whites keep longer than rosé. Having said all this, many wines are not made to be aged, and will not improve no matter how long you leave them. For example, the rosés that we looked at earlier in the summer are meant to be consumed now, while it remains fresh and its primary fruit flavours are distinct. Similar rules would apply to most dry aromatic whites like chenin blanc, gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc and unoaked chardonnay. According to gismondionwine, price can also be a guide; few wines under $15 are designed for aging. Those that may improve with age would be red and contain large amounts of cabernet, syrah, mourvedre, possibly malbec and/or zinfandel, along with rich tannic varieties from France and southern Italy. As red wine is fermented on its skins and often aged in wood, red wine contains tannin and when combined with the right amount of acidity and alcohol, all in balance, it can live a long life...a decade or more for the top vintages. If you enjoy drinking red wine young, you will see significant improvement in mouth feel and texture if you age everything three to five years. The better the producer, the wine and the vintage the longer you can wait. Remember that all wine was made to drink sometime. I for one need to heed that advice...

The newest Mr. & Mrs. Mattson. Brother in law Darcy and new sister in law Debbie (along with ring bearer Toby) tie the knot on Mt Washington, September 29th, 2009. Fabulous wedding. Congratulations Darc and Deb, it went without a hitch, you did a fantastic job.

I thought I would include a brief family update. Kelsey and Monica (who just turned 23) are back at school at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. Kelsey is pursuing a degree in Global Studies where she is in her third year. Monica completed a diploma in Tourism and now is working on a degree in Graphic Design where she is in her second year. Ellen and I are spending a lot of time on Thetis these days. Ellen has just started a course on 'Color' at Vancouver Community College which is part of the Interior Design curriculum, which she is thoroughly enjoying.

I have started to look for contract work or a project to work on where I can make a contribution. My 'default' place to look is the forest sector and the safety file. I would welcome any feedback, suggestions or ideas from any or all of you.

As always, I really enjoy your comments and updates...and you can find any back issues on my blog site: www.winerush.blogspot.com

Best Regards...and Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving...

Keith

Keith W. Rush, RPF

keithrush17@gmail.com

Cell: 604-889-5357