5 posts tagged “wine”

If you have drawn the name of a wine lover for Christmas, allow me to give you some ideas.

1) wine well this is a no brainer but fraught with danger. Give a white lover a red and you could be expelled from Christmas dinner. Give a big red lover a Grand Cru Alsatian and you will just get a puzzled look and a mumbled thanks. Try to not get too far from their comfort zone. I mean really close. If they like Yellow Tail....well get them a real wine. But you’re eukered as a real wine has taste so well ...don’t bother.
  Try a better bottle of the type they like or something similar. Big Reds..well try a local Meritage or maybe Bird Dog from Sanson. Or maybe to give them a mind**** get them a bottle of D’Angelo Pinot Noir. That will mess them up as they will go “oh a Pinot..isn’t that nice (oi a foofoo wine)” then when they open that monster...hahaha!!!!! jokes on them. For white wine drinkers it is easier. There doesn’t seem the snobbery so I may suggest one of the local oaked Chardonnays.

  Actually a better choice would be bubbly and if you want to give a good one get some Mastronardi...its fabulous and it will surprise them and make you look like a connoisseur.

2) gadgets if you are buying for a guy go for a gadget. We just love em...

  corkscrews-  I may have too many, but there are some really cool ones. You can get antique reproductions that have all kinds of moving parts and brushes, brass ..nice..or that one that looks like a torture device

   bottle sealers-  you get a pump and some nifty caps with valves....multi parts valves pumps....what else do you need, I never seem to need to recork a bottle but someone may

  cooling sleeves- give the joy of advanced thermodynamics to you friends and allow them to keep their white wine cool. There are many styles and I find that yes they do work well. Not a great present but one that they will find useful

  thermometers- a wine bottle thermometer does nothing for me...don’t give it

  drip rings-  I was given one a while ago and soon lost it...I found it again and do find it useful....when I can find it.
3) books  here is a good idea. A nice wine book makes it look like you really care about your friend’s hobby or it can actually try to help your friend if they drink Yellow Penguin....think of it as a kind of intervention

4) glasses this one is another good one. Buy some expensive glasses and then every time you go to the home.....check the glasses to see if they are used or if one is broken. This will give you loads of guilt ammunition and if used properly can get you banned from both gift giving and the family...both good things to me.

Well there you go. I’ve given you my best advise. Have a Merry Christmas!!!!

Right now I am drinking an 2004 Cabernet Franc. On my first visit (about a week after they opened) I didn't see it but anyhow it was really nice to find.

Last night Tso and I grilled some lamb chops( it wasn't that cold) so I had the last two tonight with some asparagus risotto. The lamb worked out pretty good and warmed up quite well.

Music is from a wonderful Canadian singer, Holly Cole. I remember her from when I lived in Toronto and she always seemed to be playing the Senator. There was no way I could afford going there so I've never seen her yet I've enjoyed her talent for years. She can be described as a “torch singer” which seems to have come into vogue, yet she was doing this in the 80's. She's recorded a lot of music and just like most east coast musicians, she is diverse and adventurous in her music.

Now the wine. When I smelled it I was immediately hit with fruit. To me I smelled raspberry and a hint of vanilla. I see that the oak was used very sparingly as it just doesn't stand out but I am sure its there. Like all Cab Francs it isn't a big wine but has a lovely color that this grape gives.

The taste is where it shines. I was a little worried pairing it with lamb as I hit it pretty hard with Herbes de Province prior to grilling, but as the Muscedere Cabernet Franc Reserve did last night this wine held up quite nicely. Again, drink what you like with food. There are some basic no no's, like perch with a Barolo but within reason its much better to like what you are drinking.

This wine is very good. Simple I could quit here. This region produces so many good Cab Francs and this one is right there. I really like this as it has the fruitiness and complexity that I like. There is no hint of any harshness and the flavor just hangs in there. Not overpowering, but really nice. I am not sophisticated enough to break down all the tastes but they its all here. As with all Cab francs, this wine isn't heavy. It is not a huge wine but as with any good wine it is there. Even if you 'must have' Australian Shiraz ( oi matey its really sirah) try this as you need to explore more. Like all local wine I find it to be a bargain compared to imported wine. All in all, this wine is a testament to the wine makers ability.

It went so well with the lamb and the music. Holly Cole is mellow and the wine just works with this and the food. I would happily drink this wine with friends sans food or serve it with a meal. Head to Colosanti's and just cross the street you will find yourself in a great spot for wine.

 

I figured that I may give you some ideas for the holidays. I am a reformed Christmas Hater. For years I just hated the holidays and needed a little help from Mr. Daniel's to face Christmas dinner. Needless to say I was a great person to be around but it was funny and gave the family things to talk about. Enter tso and the yute and things have gotten better, much better. Now, I'm regarded as the wine guy rather than that drunken idiot. Definitely a step up.

 

Anyway, let me share some sage advice:

 

a)         Don't waste your good stuff on Christmas dinner. Uncle Bob and aunt Martha probably drink Mad Dog 20/20 when nobody is looking. They don't know red from white and basically will think everything is too dry. So get something nice. Forget about matching food as nobody will notice. Trust me on this one. Rose, or Vinho Verde. Both are a wee bit foreign to uncle Bob but they both are fun and that's the idea. This is all doodoo if you have a family of wine snobs... but they will get it too.

 

b)         If you have a Single Malt person in your buying group DO NOT buy him/her any scotch that they don't already drink. The last thing I want is a $200 bottle of Highland Park ( I'd force myself to drink it though). Its good but its not my style. An expensive MacAllan would make me very happy. The Highland Park is very good but a wee bit rugged for my refined tasted. I prefer a sherried single to be specific. The Glen Breton from Cape Breton Island would be nice too. It's like real good Glenfiddich.

 

c)         Now with wine you can go wild. Wine drinkers are much more open. Try a Tokay from Hungary, Ice wine,  those funny sounding German late harvest wines with the noble rot, or a Barolo. They are all good.

 

d)         and finally avoid two things regarding the mashed potatoes. Simply do not, I repeat do not throw up or pass out into them. People just wouldn't understand or let you forget.

 

Well again have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

 

I got some more Sprucewood Riesling as I thought it had promise, and tonight I am having some.

 

As usual the music. A Canadian gem, Oliver Jones: who was taught piano by one, Daisy Peterson, Oscar's sister who trained Oscar. If you like Oscar Peterson, you'll like Oliver Jones. The funny thing is that this man toiled on cruise ships for years and only got his due in the last 15-20 yrs. I kinda met him in Toronto and can vouch that his is a quality individual which is really nice these days. So buy some of his cd's (or vinyl which is better) to allow this man to retire as he's just worked too hard.

 

I made teriyaki chicken on the grill with some basmati rice with a tomato/green pepper salad with a Riesling vinegar and oil dressing. Fitting eh!!! Lets just say that it held up to the food nicely though I tended to hoover the food tonight but it did well.

 

Now back to the wine. A very pleasant aroma with citrus note. All what a Riesling is supposed to be. The color is a nice light gold with a nice clear look. This wine definitely smells and looks appealing.

 

The taste..... when I was there I was speaking to the patriarch of the family and the wine is what he described it as. Not too acidic but crisp with a wonderful fruity taste. It's not flabby at all (though I love Rieslings which flirt with disaster and just approach flabbiness). I really like this wine. To me I would describe it as the California school rather than Alsace, but a good California. By golly even  APP like this one and he ONLY likes Alsatians. That says something. Like any good Riesling, I taste the fruit and that in reality is what we should be tasting. Its really nice and all those great hints are there.

 

With food I see this going great with salmon. I bet it'll work well until things get either too spicy or oily/heavy sauced. It lacks that acidity to cut thru the gunk, but hey I don't like gunky food so this one is a keeper.

 

I really enjoy this one and would happily serve this one to my friends. Think Christmas dinner. This would be a good one with turkey or ham... yum yum.

 

I had one of these experiences on Friday. I had some time, so I decided to go to Harrow and see what is happening and well maybe get some wine.

 

I visited the usual suspects and on the way back home I decided to stop somewhere where I usually wouldn't.

 

Well, I stopped in at Colio. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a whole lot. My memories of Bianco Secco are not the best, but I just knew that Carlo Negri could make a good bottle of wine; he wins tons of awards; he is just too talented. So I figured, give it a shot.

 

So when I explained to the wonderful lady in the store that I wasn't exactly a fan, but decided to give them another chance; she took the absolutely correct  tack. She calmly looked at me and then said "tell me what you like and you'll see".  A challenge you say. Well to the field of honor, the tasting bar.

 

She first parried by finding what I liked then employed a Gewürztraminer as her opening salvo. So I tried it and it was.........good. Yes I said good. I actually like this. Then she struck again with a Riesling and yes this isn't bad either. I rather enjoy this. I was feeling rather embarrassed at this point and I really think she was enjoying my pain. Then a Cabernet Franc: now this grape is really hitting for me now and this one was very good. Then reality set in, she went to the well one too many times and tried to get the home run. Merlot: just like the fellow from "Sideways" I really have issues with Merlot, and well it was ok, but if she was a major league hitter she would be getting about 15 million a year.

 

What is the lesson here??

Personally, I have just been taught a little lesson to keep my mind open, forget preconceptions and take life with open eyes, kinda like a child.

For any company: employ people like her, that really believe in your product, take an interest in improving the brand image. She spent a lot of time with me and won me over. A wonderful and impressive job and kudus to you. Just tell Carlo that I demand he gives you a raise.

 

So in the end  she managed to sell me four bottles: Gewürztraminer(tso liked it too), Cabernet Franc(I am really looking forward to this one), Gamay Noir(a Bourgundian grape so its my Pinot light and well I like Pinots and I grew up on Beaujolais so this one is for my misspent youth) and a Late Harvest Cabernet Franc(yummy!!!!). Overall, the wines exceeded my expectations, the service was exemplary and to quote Arnie "I'll be back".