10 posts tagged “adventure”

Last weekend we went to the Gordon Ramsay book-signing in Burlington, only to find out it was a wristband only affair. I really wish Indigo would have posted that on their website. Oh well, we had gone to Niagara on the way so it wasn’t a total loss.

There will be many posts on our Niagara trip. Two restaurant reviews….I wish both were here...and many wine reviews. It seems really good up there and the wine, well lets say that it is very very good.

I am taking a break from prepping for tonight's Meritage derby. The suave and sophisticated one and I tweaked our methodology so it will be totally blind. The combatants are arranged side by side on the top shelf of my wine fridge and will be decanted and aerated by Myles, therefore we will not know what we are drinking. Only variable will be the carafes as I don’t have 5 the same.

I was speaking with Pete the Elder last evening. He was wondering why I always like the wine I review. He wasn’t aware that I buy all my wine for review, therefore, I buy what I like. That is why Baco Noir, Zwiegelt, Vidals et al seem to be missing. If I was given a bottle to review, and yes I have gotten 3 total, I will give an honest review and will say what I think. If I was to review, say Colio Bianco Secco that bad review would be forthcoming, but since I drive a diesel and no longer have a carburetor to clean, that wine will not grace my table.

There is my bad review.

I also am giving my best wishes to our soon to be departing friend, Pete the Younger aka Allan Park Pete. Seems he just wants to be a cowboy and looks to be heading for Calgary. Good luck and watch out for them thar cow-pies. I bet he’s got his hat already and the country music to boot. YEEEE-HAWWWW!!! I give him a month before he buys a big ol pick up truck with steer horns on the hood.

 

If my memory serves me well I try to give my highlights. These are in no particular order btw.

 

Smith and Wilson: I don't know how they do it but they've added a new red wine and it is quite nice. It is reasonably priced and is called “Clearly Red”. Have no fear there is still Double Barrel available so life is still good.

 

Moving west from Blenheim is Mastronardi.When I was there they were rightfully proud of their Ice Wine winning the World Championship. Tso loves their ice wine and simply put: if I ever get into real trouble, I'm heading there to get some...I think it could get me probation for almost any offense. They have also introduced a Gewürztraminer which was simply excellent.

 

Heading back toward the thriving metropolis of Cottam is Aleksander, who are doing such a nice job. Also good to see is that they seem to be planting grapes anywhere they can. We purchased some Pinot Gris and it went magically with the pickerel we bought from the “fish nazi”. I know I am stealing this from Seinfeld, and I don't even like his humour, but this fellow is the fish equivilent of the soup guy.

 

Well over to Harrow and the Muscedere brothers have a lot going on. The Riesling is sold out it seems and this is real sad, but they have released the Canadian Oaked Chardonnay. This wine is superb and is special as it is one of the very few that uses Canadian Oak and if this is what it can do, methinks it has a good future. A full review is coming and this one is a winner.

 

At Erie Shores things seem to be going very good. The are introducing their new wines and are getting a Rose out very soon. This doesn't replace Summer Sun but complements it. I'm looking forward to that one.

 

If we were there and I didn't mention you, or haven't been there lately, there's nothing personal, I either forgot or in the case of another, heard that wines were sold out and we are waiting for the new ones.

 

Congratulation to Mastronardi and Muscedere for their recent victories. I mentioned Mastronardi's Ice Wine previously and Muscedere had 2 victories last week at the All Canadian wine competition here in Windsor. A Baco Gold and a Bronze for the Cab Franc. These were all Canadian awards so that is good. So here are 3 award winning wines made here by new wineries and this wasn't everybody wins something type of competition. I see many more awards heading down this way.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to meet Izabella Benben of Aleksander. Trust me she is the rising star and she is just so cool. She is optimistic and simply glows when she talks about her wine.

Saturday Tso and I got to spend a few hours with Fabio and Rob Muscedere. Not only was the conversation both uplifting and educational, they let us barrel taste. OH MY GOD!!! that was cool. Let me just say that the future is very bright for them. What they have coming down the pike is simply fabulous. They're Pinot which is over a year away is better than a lot I have had and their Baco just is excellent too. They needed a big wine to round out their stable and here it will be. It was very fun.

That night Tso and I made some veal(you know I just hate buying crummy veal and I got some) and attacked my Pinots. I really didn't notice until today. The point to that was we had 2 Burgundies and one Konzelmann. The Konzelmann was the most expensive and really really big for a Pinot. It was really different but still very good. Its glad we can compete with the French when it comes to Pinot. What was amazing was the variation of the 3 bottles. Night and day differences but all good. Such a problem.

Well what can I say. Meeting these people has really improved my life. I work in an industry which is 24/7 despair and talking to people who just see opportunity is wonderful. I may spend a lot on wine but its cheaper than a shrink. Thank you all.

 

Well, I have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this winery. I have heard everything from there are 23 wines available to all wine will be over $40 a bottle, to it'll never open.

All these rumors were wrong.

 

Lets start with the pricing. Relax; it is in line with the other wineries. Prices are all below $20 with most in the mid teens. Whoosh, that took a load off me as I find it hard to justify expensive wine when there are so many cost effective ones out there.

 

Varieties: there are quite a few but not as many as I had heard. It was rather adventurous to open with a lot of varieties, but what I tasted was quite good.

 

Like Sprucewood, I will review later but give impressions on what I had. Remember they aren't allowed to serve too many so I only tasted the ones that interested me most.

 

White Wines

 

Auxerrois--now nobody else makes this and it tasted rather nice. If one of my league of gentlemen colleagues hadn't waxed philosophically about drinking it with the winemaker at Chateau des Charmes years ago when it was still in a barn, I would have known nothing about it. It is slightly spicy and is really nice. It reminded me of Gewürztraminer in a way.

                        Bought some

 

Chardonnay-tso liked this on

 

Riesling - I had this one (gee who'd a thunk I'd have the Riesling) and it was ok. I really want to try this one again. I felt I had ‘missed' something when I tasted it

                        Bought some

 

Pinot Grigio - had this at the wine fest with La Cuisine's mussels and it was rather good. At that time I thought it was $25 - 30/bottle so I was harsh on it but its 15 so it's a good value for the money.

 

Red Wines

 

All the reds we tried had a wonderful nose. Not wimpy, not too strong, just right. Congratulations.

 

Cabernet Merlot-didn't try it

 

Cabernet Sauvignon - didn't try it

 

Cabernet Franc-huge nose for a Cab Franc. A lot of body too and I really liked this one. One of the best in the county.

                        Bought some

 

2002 Cabernet Franc - even better than the'04. it was much more refined, nicer nose and wonderful taste. This one was only available for tasting and that makes me sad. Will wait to get some when more is available.

 

2002 Pinot Noir-BRILLIANT!!! Was that woody, purply color and smelled wonderful. I cannot wait to open a bottle. Nuff said

                        Bought some.

 

Now the winery is very nice. The architecture is not at all what I expected and when it is 100% decorated I'll probably warm up to it more but again it is a really nice building. There is a huge demonstration kitchen with a beautiful view. The view, the view, its great from the retail store also. Had an eagle fly by too!!

 

I suspect that this will end up being the destination winery we really need down here to make this region go. They will be offering the extras that the city folk will need to come down from Toronto and it will be a great place for a reception.

 

All I can say it was worth the wait. Another excellent winery to raise the bar down here to higher level.

 

Under no pretence am I implying that I will not consume imported wine. this is extremely far from the truth. We just can't seem to grow a lot of grape varieties nor should we limit ourselves. Italian reds: these simply exist in their Italian-ness, they are what they are due to the nature of the Italian people interacting with their environment. That is why a California sangiovese isn't a Tuscan no matter  how good it is.

 

What I am saying that local food , local wine make for better living. Do we make wine at a level of say, opus one?? Nope but our wines can be bought at an attainable price and are real world.

 

Well Saturday tso, they yute and I went out to the country and through our travel bought some tomatoes, basil plants (mine had gone yuckky) cukes, melon corn beans all on the cheap. On top of that we met a wonderful older lady at the fruit stand who was just so nice. Well what did it get me?? Grape tomatoes that we ate like candy. They still had dirt on them (we cleaned them off by the way). These were so different from the dreck one gets at the supermarket-they just tasted of tomato properness. Well we took the full size which were nowhere as good as the grapes and made a boccacinni, basil(purple from my garden) tomato salad. Well 2 of 3 ingredients were local and by the way - why ain't there no artisinal cheese makers in the county??????????? Olive oil- well good Spanish. But here we are this was good. I could have bought store basil (ok but too expensive) or the basil in a jar but this was soooo much better.

 

I mean we owe it to the farmers bakers et all to support them. If their quality isn't there yet they will improve if we push them a wee bit. Same with the wine. I served a fine red from Smith and Wilson with a roast we turned on the grill. It did a wonderful job and tasted great. And besides I think smith and Wilson could use the sale a lot more than Gallo. The money stayed local and will help keep our economy going.

 

Well I finally found Erie Shores. Well I bought some more rose. As you know I really like it and it's just a fun fun wine. when I got home I found some Konzellman rose - opps such a problem. I wished I had those everyday.

 

I was happy to find a new winery, Colchester Ridge, but it was closed. Its about 3 miles east of Erie and should be across the street from Viewpoint ( John- get it done so I can get some pinot - I just keep hearing good things and its been a long time since I first heard about it from you at the Boardroom before a game ). It looks really nice and I am just awaitin to do a tastin.

 

So I headed west along 50 to see the other winery- Sprucewood Shores: a birdie told me it was run by engineers so its gotta be good. But alas it won't be ready till next year but boy do the buildings look really nice.

 

Then I got really lost. I saw wheat and other green stuff. Man, where am I??? Are there bears around here??? I've seen the video of Churchill Man. and I would be a nice tasty treat for ol smokey. I was sweating  until I found Holiday Beach: bad memories from childhood. Now I'm really lost with bad flashbacks. This ain't good. Hold on a grape sign. yes I'm still in Kansas and behold-D'Angelo . good good I like that place. Didn't have to do a tasting as they are about ready to get their new wines out. He ages his wine a lot so it is quite different from the other wineries and he's won alot of awards. I like his cabernet and pinot (though I've only bought it from his library stock). As I am writing, I am drinking a 96 cabernet from his library that is wonderful. I rarely get to drink mature wine and it was good before aerating and after it was great! Had it with a new york which I covered in/marinated with herbes de provence before I grilled it. Magnifique.  D'Angelo also makes a real neat daily- it's a baco franc and its cheap and after aeration its really quite a bargain - I used it for a party and my snooty friends liked it. Good enuff for me.

 

Being the great geographer, I knew Sanson was just down the way so there I went. I really hate how they changed the street names to county roads. Well finding Sutton Creek golf club, I knew I was close but too far - oi, where was I. I could have called tso but she would have made fun of me so I guessed. Well there was the red barn. Good, I'm there and they're still open. New wines since the last time I was there too. I just love late harvest wines and their Late Harvest Vidal is no different. Sweet( bout a 2), fruity, round and just classy. These vidals just do it for me. Try one. They are so good and are a value. Face it the grapes are really for ice wine but down here the vidal just works really well. There's a certain red I won't talk about cos I want it all for me. But the shiraz is really nice and doesn't taste overdone like they can be - reminds me more of a syrah rather than shiraz and that's a good thing. I gotta get some lamb to make with it. Just think- some lamb racks smothered in herbs de provence, grilled to perfection( only like I can do) and accompany it with their shiraz - just like in the Rhone Valley- that would be a cool meal. Dessert: add some fresh fruit over good vanilla ice cream, doused with black pepper then drizzled with some fine balsamic - ouch , even I would be attractive to la bella femina.

 

Oops, forgot about Baco Noir. I've never been a fan. I have just drank too many bad ones. I can't quantify my issues but it's a musty taste to me kinda. Well lo and behold I'm now finding some I like. Erie Shore's new vintage is sooooo unbaco-y - I just really like it and bought a bottle today. They are really proud of it and I'm going to give it a try. Also Sanson has done the same to me. I tried the Baco Reserve today and it was also so un-baco-y - very nice too. It just shows how far the appellation has come.

 

I'm just so locking forward to the new releases, the 05's should be excellent and all indications are that they will get noticed.

 

It's been really hot down here lately. This makes big reds basically out of the question but there are alternatives. You can have roses and whites but now there is another local alternative: fruit wine.

 

Leave the city and head toward Leamington and you'll soon see what I am talking about. Fruit trees everywhere. Well grapes are fruit too.

 

My travels have discovered three producers in the area. Well two in Essex county and one in Blenhiem. Well that isn't in this appellation, but its close and a real nice drive along the lake.

 

If I miss any please forgive, but I've had fruit wines from Wagner, Aleksander and Smith and Wilson.

 

Lets start with Smith and Wilson as I really like their wines. Style wise they remind me of Sanson wines ( to me a good thing). Their property is also beautiful. It's in Blenhiem and on the lake. Fifty acres on a beautiful slope to the bluff to the lake. What a view. When I talked to the owner, I got the feeling that he is a fruit farmer who makes wine rather than a "winemaker". To me that's great as I fully believe that the wine is made in the vineyard and not the cellar.

 

But back to the fruit wines. Theirs are really classy. There is complexity smoothness and flavors not necessarily associated  with fruit wine. This ain't Boones Farm. They have whimsical names which I find fun. Raspberry is the one that does it for me, but the back current is great too. TSO loves them all except one, which I like. We both think that all their wines are excellent.

 

Different in style is the Wagner product. These exude fruit. Just oodles of fruitiness and Harold is a hoot. He does a variety of fruits and again I like them all. There's apple wine and apple ice wine , black currant and of course raspberry. He's coming up with a cider soon so I'm just waiting for that one. He's a real nice guy and is just coming up with product after product so that's great.

 

Similar in style to the Wagner is Aleksander. They have a raspberry and a peach. Again very fruity but cultured.

 

My best taste test was during an FA Cup game. As I had to pay $20 to watch Liverpool I invited a friend over. Well it was early morning so I brought out an Aleksander raspberry wine. It was wonderful and went over very well. 2nd half and well we needed more, so I opened a raspberry from Smith and Wilson. It was so radically different, like it wasn't the basically same thing. Both were great but so polar opposites: big fruit taste with the Aleksander and smooth class with the S&W. Which is better???? Neither. Both were good in their own way and that's the fun. Its such a drag to always rate things and I would rather just enjoy.

 

And that I guess is why I'm writing this. I'm not going to slag anything and am just going to talk about stuff I like. That is just more positive and just more fun to me.

 

Grab a bottle of Wagner Black Ice and take it to a friend's to drink by the pool. It's not expensive and gives huge bang for the buck. They thought it was great and so did I. If we could only get APP to develop a fruitini then life would be even better.

 

Some yankee friends (syf) came over Saturday to carousel with tso and I. I was kinda disappointed that more were not open but oh well we had enough choice.

 

As usual, I had our tour organized to minimize travel time therefore maximizing the food and drink time. Therefore, our first stop was the German pavilion for food and beer. I wonder what happened to the two Tibetan monks that used to cook for them. This was years ago but man those two guys were good. Strange, #1 we get there and the adult dance troop from the Scottish club were there, deja vous. The major problem was that the tree trunk wasn't there. I had looked forward to it. They have a real old tree trunk where you get three hits to drive a nail. It really can't be done with the baby hammer, but the fun is good. An old German engineer told me that in the old country it's the privilege of the architect to drive the last ceremonial nail. Well being construction guys they would grease the head of the nail so the head of the hammer would just slip off. You would think the architects would figure it out. Well it seemed to be an oldie but goodie. Well real strudel, real beer and a porkfest made this real good: as usual.

 

From there it was to the South Asian Village. TSO  claimed it was her idea to invoke the "go to one you've never been to before" rule so that was that. Walking in was a smell paradise. Now ordering the food was kinda fun so I got a D; mutton curry, tomato curry, roti then some sweets. This lovely lady informed me that I bought the Sri Lanken  platter and smiled. Then I found out why. Man was it hot. Man was it good. May I add here that I had eaten 2 days worth of tandoori chicken before this. My eyeballs were sweating. Boy. did I need a beer, but of course there was none available. The sweets were, ahhhh, rather odd. Not at all what I expected. The dancing on the other hand was really interesting and quite exotic.

 

Next its off to, you guessed it, the Scottish club. And guess who was there, the adult dancers were back. Saw the pipe band again and they did the drum solo. Amazing, simply amazing. I just love pipe bands.

 

We were running out of time so we headed for Jamaica. Just have to finish the night there. Their dancers were , well just so erotic. With the drums and the dancers, wow.

 

TSO and I took the yute Sunday afternoon to the Scottish(I know) and then to the German for food. Well he enjoyed the highland dancers and the pipers. So we headed to the German for food and guess who is there, the pipe band. I was starting to feel like a groupie. Well the Germans loved them and everyone seemed to cry after the encore-Amazing Grace. The sound was just devastating-extremely powerful, but really deja vousey.

 

It just baffles me that more groups do not enter this. Just read the paper and there seems to be so many issues between ethnic groups, but we are just so ignorant of each other. I really feel that if we voluntarily meet, see the food, history, culture we can all find some middle ground. Face it we have to get along and I am just such a fan of the melting pot ideal.

 

In any event,  I don't want this to be a political blog. God knows there are way to many of them. I just like ethnic food and this is just a great way to get a taste.

when i lived in toronto i went to their's but you had to pay and as toronto is so big it was difficult. here its free and luckily it seems alot of the halls are close together.

the best ones have the kids doing the historical dances. tso and i were unbusy last sunday so we headed to the polish and scottish villages. well the scots put on a great show and it was nice to see alot of people who look like me(sad for them but i see the genes are strong). they had the highland dancers and the little ones were so cute. they had the broadswords and could barely carry them. it was just too cool. now the society pipe band playing and marching in the hall was a very amazing experience. very powerful. whats really cool is that they are closing their village with dancers from the south asian village- thats the way to do it -- congratulations-- hope you are sending some highlanders down there too. we won't talk of the 50/50 draw which netted me a bottle of wine-- it was ok as it was erie shores and as you know i like them. if someone from the scottish club reads this offer me a membership and we're square. trust me one meeting of the league of gentlemen held there and you would be in the black, the tso and i would take a little longer.

the polish village is always good. they have their act down quite well and their food is always good. they also feature the youth dancers. i was amazed at the difference in the regional costumes. these must have taken ages to make. the effort of the kids was great the announcers did a great job explaining the regional differences. i feel bad for them as a storm was pending and we ran for the car as the rain started.

i have to mention the greeks and germans as they take the dancing very seriously too which makes it fun-- haven't got to them yet this year and jamaican as well. well they are just soo cool- they have a church next door to their hall and  as it was saturday night there was a mass scheduled-- well they kept cars out of the church lot then as the mass was to start they announced that they would be quiet until mass was over then voila after the people left the reggae restarted -- polite and cool.

if you live down here its got one more weekend so support your favorite ethnic group and go see one that you have no knowledge of. this is a great ways to build bridges. i've got friends from detroit coming over for this weekend so i bet we'll end up at the hungarian hall.