• LAILEY ALL IN ONE

    par | Fév 9, 2009

    By DEAN TUDOR

    The Time and Date: Thursday, November 27, 2008 3PM to 7 PM
    The Event: a 2007 Futures offering from Lailey Vineyard in Niagara on the Lake (below)

    Derek Barnett is the winemaker, Ed Haddon is the sommelier.
    The Venue: The Fine Wine Reserve Inc. 800 King St., West Suite 801. Toronto, tel.: 416 593 9463 (593 WINE)
    The Target Audience: private clients.
    The Availability/Catalogue: Three of the 2007 vintage wines are already in bottle (Counterpoint, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay), the remaining 7 are barrel samples. Pinot noir and Chardonnay are to be out in February, the balance in April. Futures orders were taken on site.
    The Quote: Derek has had a long association with Lailey, buying fruit from them when he was a winemaker at Southbrook. In the fall of 2001, he moved to NOTL and joined Lailey as a winemaker and business partner.
    The Wines: it was hard to taste the reds since they were barrel samples. The Pinot was the most advanced. (suite…)

  • FRENCH WINE CONNECTION

    par | Fév 9, 2009

    By DEAN TUDOR

    The Event: The French wine connection… Wines from France.
    The Venue: Artcore Gallery, Distillery District, 55 Mill St., Toronto, tel. 416 920 3820.
    The Time and Date: Monday, November 24, 2008 1:30 PM to 5 PM
    The Target Audience: Wine trade.
    The Availability/Catalogue: ostensibly, all of the principals were seeking agents. Somehow, except for one, they already had signed on.
    The Quote/Background: “Good food to go with the wines.”
    The Wines:
    **** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
    — Louise Brison, Champagne Brut 2003 (Eurovintage)
    — Domaine de la Saveuse Cuvée Carolle Rouge 2007, Côtes de Provence (Rouge et Blanc)
    — Domaine de la Saveuse Cuvée Philippine Rouge 2006, Côtes de Provence (Rouge et Blanc)
    — Domaines Piron, Morgon 2006 (Wine Guy)
    — Relais de Durfort-Vivens 2005 Margaux – La Passion des Terroirs ($55, Connoisseur)
    — Schoenheitz Gewurztraminer Linsenberg 2007 ($31.50, Lamprecht)

    (suite…)

  • LA BAJA CALIFORNIA MEXICANA MERECE UN VIAJE

    par | Jan 29, 2009

    LUíS VICENTE ELíAS PASTOR

    Una página que tiene autores viajeros y lectores enamorados de los recorridos por zonas enológicas mundiales, apreciará un consejo. Es de un extremo egoísmo no compartir las experiencias de un viaje.

    Ruta Del Vino Picture Loading...

    Los vinos de la Baja California mexicana bien merecen una excursión, que además nos proporcionará paisajes de desierto, océano pacífico pero intensamente azul, arquitectura colonial… y aprenderemos a degustar los mejores vinos mexicanos.

    Con casi 3.000 hectáreas de un abanico de variedades de uva, y con su centro en la ciudad de Ensenada, podremos recorrer las zonas vitícolas de Valle de Guadalupe, Santo Tomás, San Vicente, Uruapan y Ojos Negros; cada territorio con características diferentes.

    Para los amantes de lo exclusivo: vino de la antigua uva misión y de garnachas más que centenarias.

    Y no se olviden de un paseo por el Mercado Negro de pescados y mariscos de Ensenada, para combinar con los blancos de Zinfandel, ¿más exóticos donde???

    Luisvi

  • MONTEPULCIANO SI, MA… D’ABBRUZZO

    par | Jan 28, 2009

    By PATRICK DU GÉNESTOUX

    pdug2 Most of you know the Montepulciano from Tuscany, a DOCG surrounding the medieval city, producing the « Vino Nobile » from a sangiovese clone, the prugnolo gentile.

    I recently went to explore exclusively the Abruzzi, a region planted with montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a red grape able to match all degrees of quality, including superb wines.

    Here is my story.

    About a year ago, Kieran Falconer wrote in the Daily Express-on-line about Abruzzo’s extraordinary views after having travelled around with his camera through breathtaking landscapes and ancient hamlets. He ended his journey drinking deceptively soft red wines in a baron’s 17th- 19th century palace. This « deceptively » soft drink was precisely Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. (suite…)

  • A LOOK AT ‘MARINA CVETIC’ WINES (ABRUZZO)

    par | Jan 28, 2009

    Here is a short note about the vineyard of Masciarelli in Semivicoli in Abruzzo (see previous article by Patrick du Génestoux) 50 miles east of Rome now owned by Marina Cvetic after her husband’s sudden death last summer.

    Gianni Masciarelli (left) was one of Italy’s finest winemakers and he has done much to improve Abruzzo’s wines. In 2004 he purchased the ancient baronial palace and undertook a careful restoration until he suddenly died last summer at 53. Stone, wood, iron have resisted time. Tasteful modern touches add to the uniqueness of the building rooms and furniture. Gianni had decided to open the place for wine and food seminars, concerts and events. In 2009 the 12 rooms and suites provide guests with a top quality level. He was also a shrewd businessman and succeeded in under two decades in doing what others have failed to achieve in over two centuries. (suite…)