Author Topic: The Wine Thread (Read 10844 times)

canehdianJ · « **on:** September 30, 2011, 01:40:29 pm »

Hey,

So I adore wine, and since we have a beer thread, I figure we need a wine thread as well. Here are some of my recent favorites

2009 Pascal Toso Malbec Reserve - Argintina - ~18$ a bottle - Smooth, fruity and easy drinking red
2009 Township 7 Sauvingon Blanc - Naramata Bench BC - 22$ a bottle - crisp with a dry short after taste, and light citrus
2007 Township 7 Chardonnay oak barrel - Naramata Bench BC - 24$ a bottle - caramel and citrus
2008 Cave spring Chardonnay CSV - Niagra Escarpment On - 29$ a bottle - its been a while since i have found a bottle of this, i tasted it at the vineyard and loved it. It was a bold Chardonnay
2010 Elephant island Black current - Naramata Bench BC - 20$ a bottle - this one is odd, its tart and fruity and pairs well with salty things.
2009 Elephant island pear - Naramata Bench BC - 20$ a bottle - light and crisp summer sipping wine
2008 Hillside estate Cabernet Franc - Naramata Bench BC - 30$ a bottle - Very bold Franc that needs decanting and pairs well with red meat, similarly to their Shiraz

Looking forward to recommendations

The haul from this year (2012)

8 bottles of elephant island black current
1 bottle of elephant island casis
1 bottle of elephant island crab apple
3 bottles of elephant island pear
1 bottle of elephant island blackberry
1 bottle of lake breeze pino nior
1 bottle of misconducts big take
1 bottle of cab franc from hillside estates
3 bottles of lang vineyards farm reserve reisling
5 bottles of township seven cab sav blanc
1 bottle of township seven reserve oaked chardonnay

Drank one of the black currents out of a gatorade bottle on the beach in penticton paired with sea salt and vinegar kettle chips and downed the crab apple at the campsite. the black current is godly. but the crab apple was just, ok. couldnt taste it at the vineyard so i had to buy a bottle. same goes for the blackberry

YvanF · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2011, 02:02:39 pm »

Nice. You seem to have many Canadian wines. Way to support locally, thumbs up.

Im no wine connaisseur but I love red wine.

My favourite red wine grape variety is pretty much any Cabernet Sauvignon from Southern Australia, Chili and France... yes I know, Cab Sauv is VERY strong but I love it. Its an acquired taste, just like coffee, beer, many high end cheeses and.... well.... anything that is good.

My second favourite is the grape variety of Malbec. After spending some time in South America, I realized that when I want something that is a little "lighter" to drink compared to a Cab Sauv but still maintains good flavour, is a Malbec from the region of Mendoza. Basically any brand/vigniard of Malbec wine that is from the Mendoza region in Argentina is great.

For cheap good Cab Sauv, I always grab a bottle of Wolfblass or Lindeman. Hmmm, might grab one tonite actually.

Zaider · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2011, 03:18:15 pm »

Definitely into wine.. but not a connaisseur.. just enjoy a nice glass.

I recently took my girlfriend down to Napa, Ca to spend some days doing wine tours and tastings... if you're a foodie, you'd also enjoy it there.

Basically went from Winery to Winery and drank wine until I couldn't taste the difference.. then kept drinking.

A few of my favourites:
Three Pears by Mason Cellars (Cali) - Really nice white... full of flavour, very fruity
Dona Paula Los Cardos (Argentina Malbec)
Castillo de Montserrat (Spain, Ganache)
Anything from the Phelan Vineyard, especially the Cab Sauv

A.J. · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2011, 03:42:45 pm »

I definitely love the red wine as well.

A couple of my favourites:

Fetzer Merlot - Napa California - Very nice easy to drink, goes with anything red wine.
Malbec - Argentina - Haven't tasted an Argentinian Malbec that I haven't loved, The one that the Gf and I have been getting lately is Trapiche (or something like that).

I'll add more as I find them, but I'm no connoisseur, so don't expect reviews like Jeff's from me

canehdianJ · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2011, 06:42:57 pm »

I've toured the Naramata bench and the Niagra Escarpment, the bench 5 times and Niagra once so that's where my love of Canadian wine comes from. Canada makes amazing white wine, but if I want a red usually I go abroad, Italy, Argentina and France.

canehdianJ · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2012, 08:48:06 am »

Gonna bump this back up and see if anyone has found anything new and interesting.

EDJ picked me up a bottle of Elephant island Cabernet Franc and a bottle of Black current. looking forward to trying the Cab Franc as its winning awards and is supposed to be fantastic.

Im keeping my eye out right now for a nice bold peppery shiraz, and looking for ideas. not found one i like yet.

Zaider · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2012, 08:54:03 am »

If you're looking for a really nice white wine, try Kung Fu Girl by Charles Smith Wines. Also really nice is the Liberty School Cab Sauv (09)

canehdianJ · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2012, 09:49:19 am »

Quote from: Zaider on April 10, 2012, 08:54:03 am

If you're looking for a really nice white wine, try Kung Fu Girl by Charles Smith Wines. Also really nice is the Liberty School Cab Sauv (09)

will do. available at any local liquer store? what country are these from?

THE EDJ · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2012, 09:56:21 am »

Had a bottle of the Elephant Island Black Current last night with some fatty, salty pork; very nice pairing. I've never really been into fruit wines before, but that stuff is something else. Also picked up a bottle of Township 7's Reserve 7 Meritage 2008. Seeing as how I'm moving down to Penticton at the end of the month, this thread will probably be seeing a little more of me as I learn about wine and figure out what I like.

hands..off · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:11:46 pm »

Im a complete wine noob, but I know what tastes good, and am a bigger fan of red than whites.
Lately Ive only been drinking three:

KennyB · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:31:04 pm »

The significant other is a bit of a wine snob and has cultured me a little. Went to a few wineries around Kelowna when there a few weeks ago and got schooled a little in the process. I'm definitely a bigger white than red fan, even tho I'm told "real" wine drinkers drink red, I'm okay with that lol.

My favorite so far is 2010 Gewurztraminer from Summer Hill Okanagen BC

hands..off · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:38:06 pm »

Oh, oh! Side note...
Has anyone toured the Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna? I'll be in that area in Sept and am wondering of its worth it, what to look for, what to do, etc.
Thanks! (sorry for partial thread hijack!)

teacherman · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2012, 06:55:35 am »

I can't help but levitate towards wines created in the motherland (mine that is!) Some standbys that always make me happy:

Rosemount Shiraz or the Shiraz/Grenache blend
Bin 555 Black Label Shiraz
Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Cab Shiraz blend - drink this one by the gallon

Then a kick assay California drop called J. Lohr. I think that's a Cab Sauv blend, very yummy.

canehdianJ · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2012, 07:59:30 am »

Quote from: KennyB on April 10, 2012, 10:31:04 pm

My favorite so far is 2010 Gewurztraminer from Summer Hill Okanagen BC

brave man. Gewurztraminer is my least favorite. Far to sweet. Also the hangover is murder.

Hound · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2012, 08:13:02 am »

I'm on a Canadian wine kick at the moment. My favourites are Jost Marechal & Seyval Blanc, See Ya Later Ranch Rover & Gewurztraminer, and Sumac Ridge Pipe.

Zaider · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2012, 08:46:43 am »

Quote from: canehdianJ on April 10, 2012, 09:49:19 am

will do. available at any local liquer store? what country are these from?

Kung Fu Girl is a Riesling from Washington
Liberty School is from California
Both should be available at any liquor store that has a nice wine selection.

The fiancee and I went down to Napa last year (and got engaged there) and did a bunch of wine tours around there. Some great stuff but my fav was the Phelan Cab Sauv. I could drink that all day. I definitely drank more white while I was down there because it was 38 degrees during the day and when you're sitting in a courtyard in the shade of a tree overlooking vinyards... well... a nice chilled white really hits the spot.

There's also a new winery that people should try if you're passing through the Shuswap area. Its just off the highway between Kamloops and Salmon Arm. Sunnybrae winery. They've got a couple of amazing whites: SIEGERREBE and ORTEGA
http://www.sunnybraewinery.com/
They've just opened their tasting room last summer and I think they were going to open a patio to serve wine and cheese. Definitely worth the side trip. I think we're gonna order a few cases for the wedding.

bigdl · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2012, 09:40:59 am »

Quote from: teacherman on April 11, 2012, 06:55:35 am

I can't help but levitate towards wines created in the motherland (mine that is!) Some standbys that always make me happy:

Rosemount Shiraz or the Shiraz/Grenache blend
Bin 555 Black Label Shiraz
Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Cab Shiraz blend - drink this one by the gallon

Then a kick assay California drop called J. Lohr. I think that's a Cab Sauv blend, very yummy.

You and my sister would get along well, she loves her Australian Shirazs

Zaider · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2012, 09:56:03 am »

Quote from: bigdl on April 11, 2012, 09:40:59 am

You and my sister would get along well

[shifty-eyes]

Murray Peterson · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2012, 10:40:17 am »

Wines under $20 that I regularly buy:

Sandhill Cabernet-Merlot blend (Superstore liquor store)
Vieux Brandon (J. Webb)
Heartland Shiraz (J Webb)

canehdianJ · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2012, 09:33:41 am »

couple bottles drank saturday

we destroyed a bottle of the elephant island black currant. Looks like ill be bringing a case of that home in the next two weeks. I LOVE THIS WINE

we also took care of a Italian Franchescobaldi that was interesting, it was tart and strong. Pretty nice but i dont think ill buy it again.

We also took care of a nice cabernet franc from elephant island (cant remember the name) but it was pretty good. I was actually not a huge fan. I think it needed red meat.

Shopping list : (plus whatever else i decide to buy)

2009 Township 7 Sauvingon Blanc - half case
Elephant island black currant - half case
Elephant island pear - 3 bottles
Elephant island cab franc - 3 bottles

Claw · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2012, 01:26:17 pm »

Joie Farms (BC) Noble Blend is good. After having a few bottles of their stuff I did some research into the winery, turns out I went to school with the proprieter. Funny how that works.

Another good BC wine is Blue Mountain Pinot Noir, but is difficult to find here in Edmonton.

canehdianJ · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2012, 01:47:02 pm »

Quote from: Claw on May 28, 2012, 01:26:17 pm

Joie Farms (BC) Noble Blend is good. After having a few bottles of their stuff I did some research into the winery, turns out I went to school with the proprieter. Funny how that works.

Another good BC wine is Blue Mountain Pinot Noir, but is difficult to find here in Edmonton.

virtually all wines from bc are hard to get in alberta. the good ones anyway. i found its mostly ontario wine they send us... and most of it is really not that good.

Hound · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2012, 04:01:49 pm »

Quote from: Claw on May 28, 2012, 01:26:17 pm

Another good BC wine is Blue Mountain Pinot Noir, but is difficult to find here in Edmonton.

I can't even find it in Connect Logistics. http://www.liquorconnect.com/

I guess you can only order it from the winery direct or find it in restaurants.

THE EDJ · « **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2012, 06:00:41 pm »

canehdianJ, have you been to Misconduct Winery out here before? The dude who runs it is super rad and they have some great reds. I really enjoyed "The Big Take", a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv. Absolutely friggin delicious with BBQ.

canehdianJ · « **Reply #24 on:** May 28, 2012, 08:52:04 pm »

Quote from: THE EDJ on May 28, 2012, 06:00:41 pm

canehdianJ, have you been to Misconduct Winery out here before? The dude who runs it is super rad and they have some great reds. I really enjoyed "The Big Take", a blend of Merlot, Cab Franc, and Cab Sauv. Absolutely friggin delicious with BBQ.

MUST. GO. TO. THIS. VINEYARD