mostly wine stuff

[Uncle-A]

Today is Derby day and my girls have started early.

One down and one to go.

They like Italian white wine. I guess it is good I have no plans for this today.

 

[Uncle-A]

Friday evening and a glass of red for the guys and the ladies want white.

 

[Jilly]

First full weekend at the cottage....+30C, Leaf hockey on Sportsnet...

 

[skibob]

First full weekend at the cottage....+30C, Leaf hockey on Sportsnet... View attachment 169169

Me, to myself: What the hell is leaf hockey? These canucks will play hockey with anything, but how the hell do you make a leaf move like a puck?

Me, to myself, many seconds later: Toronto. Maple. Leafs.

 

[Tony S]

I keep hoping I'm going to make an educated stumble across that affordable wine that I can't wait to buy a case of, knowing that I will enjoy every bottle without getting bored.

Unfortunately this one isn't it. However, it is perfectly executed and certainly worth the $20. Very clean, very balanced, very clearly chardonnay, very Burgundian. I'm enjoying it a lot. It's just ... short on defining idiosyncracy or concentration.

Do others here remember when hill town wines like St. Aubin were cheap?

 

[skibob]

I keep hoping I'm going to make an educated stumble across that affordable wine that I can't wait to buy a case of, knowing that I will enjoy every bottle without getting bored.

Unfortunately this one isn't it. However, it is perfectly executed and certainly worth the $20. Very clean, very balanced, very clearly chardonnay, very Burgundian. I'm enjoying it a lot. It's just ... short on defining idiosyncracy or concentration.

Do others here remember when hill town wines like St. Aubin were cheap?

View attachment 170496 View attachment 170497

I can remember buying early 2000s vintages for 9.99 floor stacked at my neighborhood wine shop. Exact same wine.

 

[Uncle-A]

I went with the red tonight with dinner and this was very pleasant.

 

[Tony S]

I should NEVER have opened this bottle.

Did you ever do that thing where you touch the terminals of a nine-volt battery with your tongue to see if it's dead? And it's not? This wine is like that. Coiled up so tight with acid and fruit it makes your whole mouth buzz. Crazy.

I took it out of that Burgundy ballon, btw. Wasn't working. I might as well have put it in a red Solo cup.

It's been a couple years since I had a Bouland Beaujolais. (That one was a Delys which, in hindsight, might have been the best Gamay I've ever tasted.) They're scarce. On the price front they're not the most expensive, but are still pretty dear for Beauj. ($30)

Anyway, this bottle convinces me that Bouland is the top producer in the region. Internationally he is right up there. So I ask you this: How many wines from the absolute top tier can you buy for under fifty bucks?

Run, don't walk, to score a bottle of this man's wine before the billionaires discover it.

 

[pete]

ohh, I love cab francs, doing an Inkblot from Lodi, another love is simply Lodi wines. Nice full wine for a first bottle, may swap over to something light next.

house is Covid ridden (2/3) so we're hunkered down but I've avoided or just symptom free.

Anyhow, plate of cheese, crackers, Baguettes, and wine .. life is good given nothing serious symptom wise.

sent the cheese image to my other 2 in other rooms to fetch, sorry for fuzzy pic but cam is off kilter and I need to have a repair.

 

[Uncle-A]

Went to a family gathering today and we just had a few glasses of wine.

 

[cantunamunch]

 

[Tony S]

View attachment 171535

What's that?

 

[Tony S]

I've been reading about this dolcetto for years. For example, it's a multi-time tre bicchieri winner with Gambero Rosso. Last night I had it for the first time. I'd say it's pretty much as advertised.

It's modern and international in style, with a deep black raspberry color, tons of fat juicy fruit, and noticable alcohol. That said, it's not anyone's boring clone of anything, given its striking bitter almond or quinine notes, and well judged nebbiolo-like tannic finish.

If I wanted to sell this I'd say it's a great stepping stone if you're new to Piedmontese wine and wanted to navigate your way there from Napa cab or contemporary Bordeaux. Alternatively, if you are already a dolcetto fan, this bottling is a must try, if only to see how well a multi-racial marriage, so to speak, can work out.

As for the dish, look for my upcoming rant on the uselessness of ground turkey.

 

[cantunamunch]

What's that?

It's an Arneis except done in a super-oxidized style. Yes it's meant to be orange. Kinda the Piedmont's answer to Georgia.

 

[pete]

Doing a Daou reserve, really smooth and fairly reasonable price i found at $21, low for its reg price.

But mostly in that I heard Daniel Daou talking about his love of wine.

Anyhow, really nice and could cellar well, but great young.

 

[Jilly]

So about a year during Covid, my university alumni did a virtual wine tasting. I was doing an industry related 3 day Zoom class and this was being presented during one of the days, during the evening. Had a great time trying some new wines from Niagara. So a couple of week ago, since this is alumni week, time to do it again. Tonight was a different winery, alumni again....Which wine did I like best??

 

[mdf]

So about a year during Covid, my university alumni did a virtual wine tasting. I was doing an industry related 3 day Zoom class and this was being presented during one of the days, during the evening. Had a great time trying some new wines from Niagara. So a couple of week ago, since this is alumni week, time to do it again. Tonight was a different winery, alumni again....Which wine did I like best??
View attachment 171899

Ummm.... the one you're saving for later?

 

[cantunamunch]

Tonight was a different winery, alumni again....Which wine did I like best??
View attachment 171899

Interesting - everyone seems to be into skin-fermented white grapes now. I kinda like the idea for Vidal - the citrus/chalk thing gets old quick.

 

[Tony S]

So about a year during Covid, my university alumni did a virtual wine tasting. I was doing an industry related 3 day Zoom class and this was being presented during one of the days, during the evening. Had a great time trying some new wines from Niagara. So a couple of week ago, since this is alumni week, time to do it again. Tonight was a different winery, alumni again....Which wine did I like best??
View attachment 171899

Ya, Merlot, even without the astute observation from @mdf . It's the red version of cougar juice, after all.

 

[Jilly]

Sorry - @cantunamunch that Vidal is going down the drain or something. Not impressed with Vidal to start with and skins in the wine are really throwing me off.

The Riesling was off dry, just the way I like it. The Merlot was smooth. Just enough oak. Order a case of 6.