Domaine Huet, Le Mont, Sec, Vouvray AC, France, 2011, 13.5% abv. US$30

Posted on April 18, 2016 by winellama

DSCF2863Do a quick search on this site and you’ll find five other reports on Huet wines that I’ve enjoyed over the past several years, as well as an accounting of our trip there in June 2014.

One of my favourite Loire Valley wineries, Huet is famous for it’s adherence to the biodynamic method and the benchmark quality of its Chenin Blanc wines – even since The Takeover (although some will argue against that).  These are the Chenin Blanc wines other producers aspire to make.

I brought this wine out to share with several foodie and wine friends when we vacationed together recently.  On the eyes, it’s pale gold with those gorgeously classic aromas of sweet apple, wet hay, honey and barnyard. After it warms a little, the anise hits.

The palate is dry with medium plus acidity and flavours of honeyed, red apple, significant green leaf, and hay, hay, hay with wet wool – wet wool as in, there are literally sheep hanging around in the rain just outside the door.  Seriously.  The finish lingers.

WSET Very Good plus – this wine is complex, layered, balanced and evolved over the course of the evening.  Truthfully, I opened it early; it could last until 2020.  It went perfectly with Castellano and goat cheese with red pepper jelly and slices of apple.

Photo credit, Mike Woods Photography

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Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Au Bon Climat, Santa Maria Valley, California, 2014, 13.5% abv, US$25

Posted on April 10, 2016 by winellama

So, there I was, standing in the American wine aisle at Tamura’s in Lahaina, Maui.    DSCF2859-1

I know what you’re thinking – “Who goes to Maui to buy wine!?”  I hadn’t really intended to, but there I was, trying to find something other than ubiquitous, crappy Kim Crawford to drink.

Thank god for Tamura’s.  They have the best, not-to-be-missed selection of wine and craft beer I’ve seen on the island.  They also have a daily selection of ten different types of fresh poke.  But that’s a whole other post. Yes, you need to visit them next time you’re there.

As the course of the vacation wore on, I stuck to readily available highballs and local craft beer – the wines available at most restaurants and bars being of, ah, dubious quality.  I didn’t around to enjoying this bottle until we got home.

I’d been to Santa Barbara and tried several ABC (Au Bon Climat) wines in August 2014.  This is Jim Clendenen’s 60% Pinot Gris and 40% Pinot Blanc blend.  Pale lemon on the eyes, it shows aromas of light citrus, pear juice, flint and nut.

Dry with high acidity, the palate has flavours of lime cordial, Granny Smith apple, leaf and almond with more crushed flint.

WSET Good plus – Precise and crisp, but with a rich mouthfeel from time spent on the lees in barrel.  Nicely balanced, it would have gone fabulously with that poke.

Picture credit: Mike Woods Photography

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Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC, Superiore, Stefano Mancinelli, Morro d’Alba, Italy, 2013, 13% abv. C$35

Posted on April 8, 2016 by winellama

DSCF2857To say this wine is intriguing would be an understatement.

Producer, Stefano Mancinelli is widely acknowledged as one of the best producers of Lacrima di Morro d’Alba wines.  Made from the Lacrima grape, I had to search hard for information about it.

This is one of literally thousands of native Italian varieties that are now being nursed back by winemakers and growers eager to literally return to their roots.  There are only about 200ha planted in total and Mancinelli has about 24 of those.

Of course, lacrima is Italian for tear.  So, there are more than a few hypotheses about the name of the wine and the grape – including that it is tear-shaped and has extremely delicate skin which breaks easily (and as it bleeds, it’s said to ‘cry’).  Others claim it makes such incredibly fragrant wine that it will make one tear up.

Mancinelli has planted his vineyards in Ancona about 10km from the Adriatic coastline (go to Siena and travel due east to the coast).  I know, you’re thinking as I had initially – Alba equals Piedmont where Barolo is produced.  Nope,  it’s located on the east coast in Ancona.

His winery boasts an olive oil mill (from 1500 trees) and a distillery producing Grappa di Lacrima and Grappa di Verdicchio. If this doesn’t sound perfect enough, the family also has a B&B overlooking the vines.

Upon decanting, this wine opened up its substantial aromas and flavours.  On the eyes, it’s a medium ruby with full on persistent and fragrant aromas of gardenia, lavender, satsuma,  bright red cranberry and baking spices.  I know, right!?  It’s a head turner.

The palate is dry with high acidity and lightly grippy tannins.  Flavours are extremely floral with berry, black cherry, dried pine and orange-chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg.  The brief finish is the only disappointment on this chameleon.  Mancinelli has aged this in a little wood, but mostly in stainless steel for 12 months prior to bottling and then an additional 3 months prior to sale.

WSET Good plus – the light finish detracts from the initial punch and intrigue.  A challenge to match with food, it would augment either creamy sauces and pasta, or boldly flavoured meat dishes.

Photo credit: Mike Woods Photography

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Viña Tondonia, López de Heredia, Rioja Alta, Spain, 2002, 13.5% abv, C$54

Posted on March 17, 2016 by winellama

Here I sit in the Toronto Pearson International airport because I missed a flight to São Paolo.  It’s St. Patrick’s day, but I’m not drinking green beer with the rest of the traveling masses.  Instead, I’m thinking about friendship, how lucky I am,shamrock and the wine I drank last weekend thanks to a fine friend.

Friends who enable you to enjoy your vices are the best kind.  So, corks off to you, Allen Yee.  Thanks for buying me this precious bottle to enjoy. You knew this is one of my favourite bodegas – as evidenced here, here and here.

Made of Tempranillo 75%, Garnacha 15%, Mazuelo and Graciano 10%, and aged 6 years in 225 litre US oak barrels, this wine is medium garnet and shows its 14 years of age with developed aromas of dried red fruit, sour cherry, cigar box.

The palate is dry with the refreshing acidity you expect from a López de Heredia, medium body and velvety tannins that divide and conquer evenly.  Flavours of dried strawberry, cherry and Japanese plum, tobacco leaf and leather glove are persistent.

Elegant, evolving, nuanced, right on the window of its prime and well within within its drinking window (until about 2018), it’s WSET Very Good plus.  On the third day, it was at its peak with deeply layered dried red fruit, tobacco and leather and an extended finish.  A beautifully balanced creation – kind of like true friendship.

Posted in Graciano, Grenache / Garnacha, Mazuelo, RED, Spain, Tempranillo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ferghettina, Franciacorta DOCG, Milledi, Brut, Lombardy, Italy, 2009, 12.5% abv, C$50++

Posted on March 7, 2016 by winellama

imageBoth sets of ‘rents were over to celebrate our moving back to the hometown.  So, out came this sparkling wine from north central Italy for a toast.

Made from 100% Chardonnay in the traditional method and aged for 36 months (just as it would be in Champagne), this vintage product comes in a nifty, square bottle that makes a great water decanter after you’re finished enjoying the wine.

A soft lemon colour, it has a very persistent bead with aromas of ripe citrus and freshly baked bread.

The palate is dry with refreshing acidity and flavours of lemon curd, lime rind, yellow apple and French bread with unmistakeable almond on the back end.  The finish is long and there’s great minerality.

A WSET Very Good wine that offers excellent value for the cost (available at BCLB stores for BC readers).

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Pinot Noir, Knez Winery, Demuth Vineyard, Anderson Valley, California, 2012, 13.4% abv, US$40

Posted on February 27, 2016 by winellama

What a treat – biodynamic Pinot Noir, unfiltered and grown at 500m on the dry-farmed, 30 year old Demuth Vineyard located in California’s stunning Anderson Valley.

Always one of the top US products available, Knez sells out almost each of their small production wines.  Winemaker Anthony Filiberti (through the 2014 vintage) was also the winemaker at nearby renowned Anthill Farms.  The Anderson Valley is located to the northwest of glitzy Napa and known for its unpretentious, down-to-earth businesses, restaurants, B&Bs and yes, wineries. image

A hazily translucent ruby (it’s unfiltered, leaving in all the flavourful intensity), this Pinot has crystal clean aromas of crunchy raspberry, cranberry, dried green leaf, moss and star anise.

The palate is dry with medium plus acidity, ever-so-lightly grippy tannins and delicate flavours of raspberry and blackberry, Five-spice, dried herbs, turned dirt, and dry leaves.

The verdict? Awesome – WSET Very Good plus – complex and layered in the glass.  Many thanks to @Corkzillasf for bringing it from California to Canada.

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Godello, Godin Del Rise, Bierzo DO, Spain, 2012, 12.5% abv, C$18++

Posted on February 18, 2016 by winellama

I finally got around to writing about this wine.

You see, I’ve been a little busy lately. I got a new job four months ago and while the subsequent move, short term rental, never-ending packing and moving company shenanigans led to a great deal of drinking, it was not usually the kind I wanted to write much about.

Lots and lots of gin and tonics.

But, this bottle got swallowed along the way and what a tasty little thing it was.image

Straight from northwest Spain, the Godin Del Rise is medium gold with light legs and has aromas of red and yellow apples with a touch of clover honey.

The palate is dry with good acidity and body and flavours of fall ripened apples, dried grass, light almond and minerality.

This wine is not complex, but it’s well balanced, has a lovely aroma and flavours, and is a perfect accompaniment to food. Grown at 550m on 30 year old terraced Godello vines (an unusual varietal to boot), it is a WSET Good plus wine offering great value for the cost.

Readers who live in BC can buy this at Everything Wine.

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Beni di Batasiolo, Barolo DOCG, La Morra, Piemonte, Italia, 2011, 14.5% abv.

Posted on February 11, 2016 by winellama

This winery, owned by the Dogliani family for the past five generations, has vineyards in four regions of Piemonte – La Morra, Barolo, Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba.10276346t

The Batasiolo vineyard where the Nebbiolo grapes for this wine are from is located on the eastern edge of La Morra, close to famous Castiglione Falletto.

This Barolo is medium ruby and has deep legs with classic aromas of sour cherry, dried rose, truffle and tar with light tobacco.

The palate is dry with high acidity and velvety, light tannins.  Flavours show more rose petal, plum, tar, leather, and sweet tobacco.

Nuanced and elegant, layered and balanced.

WSET Very Good.

This bottle was recycled before I could snap a shot by an eager beaver; photo courtesy of Wine Searcher.

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Blouberg, White Wine, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 11.5% abv, C$8++

Posted on February 4, 2016 by winellama

My good friend asked me to try the Blouberg and let her know what I think about this, her favourite South African product. As I started to look into the winery where this is produced, I realized just how enormous an enterprise it actually is.image

The Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery Ltd. is part of the Distell Group which formed in 2000 and includes the South African company, Distillers Corporation. Distell is enormous, has 5,300 employees, an annual turnover of about 18 billion South African rand, and owns dozens of spirit, wine, cider and ready-to-drink labels including Obikwa, Two Oceans, Nederberg and, believe it or not, Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

So, we’re not exactly talking about a handmade, family owned wine and winery here.

That said, the Blouberg was actually reasonably balanced – not completely, but not crazy out-of-touch – and registers as WSET Acceptable. It’s wine and it’s doing its job.

Pale lemon in colour, the wine has little legs and on the nose, it shows light Granny Smith apple, lemon and echoes of green asparagus.

The palate is (surprisingly) dry with medium acidity and flavours that mimic the nose of yellow and green apple, lemony citrus, yellow grapefruit and some green leaf. The finish is short and the body thin, but the alcohol is astoundingly light at only 11.5% abv.

This wine is a Riesling (which accounts for the decent acidity) blend with Sauvignon Blanc (the green leaf) and appley Chenin Blanc (or Steen as it’s called in South Africa) depending on the vintage.

Fruity, easy drinking and reasonably made considering the bulk quantities in which it’s produced.

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Rosé, Clos du Soleil, Similkameen Valley VQA, Okanagan, BC, 2013, 13.1% abv.

Posted on January 27, 2016 by winellama

Many people think you can’t or shouldn’t drink rosé during winter.  Says who?  Does it make you smile? Does it make you happy?

A perennial favourite of mine, the Similkameen Valley’s Clos du Soleil winery makes many of my go to BC wines, and one of my favourite rosés.   It’s possible that over the course of time, I may have had several of their products…as a quick search of the Winellama database will confirm.  That little button off to the right that says, ‘What do you want to drink?’ will direct you to 5 other Clos reviews. Clos du Soleil 1

Here we have the 2013 version of their rosé made solely from Cabernet Sauvignon.  With a medium shade of pink salmon and aromas of strawberry, rosemary and dried herb, this wine fits in with any charcuterie plate or picnic you can pull together.

The palate is dry with medium plus acidity and light tannins with no grip, but there’s a full body to support the wine.  The alcohol is a little unbalanced, but flavours of more strawberry, light cranberry and red currant burst forward with jalapeño pepper and herbal undergrowth.  The minerality is rocked by a lovely mouthfeel that augments the wine.

Drink it – even in the winter.

WSET Good plus

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