What I’m Tasting This Week
November 28, 2015 § Leave a comment
I won’t necessarily provide a review this week of each of the following wines, but I thought I would let you know what I’m tasting over the week ahead.
Hester Creek Cabernet-Merlot 3L – Okanagan, BC
Hester Creek Pinot Gris 3L – Okanagan, BC
Wolf Blass Grey Label 2012 McLaren Vale Shiraz – Australia
Wolf Blass Gold Label 2012 Barossa Shiraz – Australia
Blue Grouse 2013 Quill White – Vancouver Island, BC
Blue Grouse 2014 Gamay Rosé – Vancouver Island, BC
If there is something that you would like me to taste and review, let me know by dropping me a line – dorkuncorked@gmail.com
The Entertainer 2012 Red Blend
November 26, 2015 § Leave a comment
What makes some people incredible
accountants, lawyers, plumbers and entertainers? I don’t have the answer, but I do know that everyone who is fantastic at their jobs brings a special quality. Let’s face it every task can be broken down and learned, but some people just inject a little bit of
inspiration and magic in each step. In the wine world one of the great entertainers was Wolf Blass.
If could be argued Wolf Blass is introduced the beauties and simplicity of wine to more people than anyone else. First he crafted very easy to enjoy wine. Then he made himself available to anyone who wanted to learn more. Finally he tirelessly entertained consumers around the world and made wine approachable to everyone.
When I saw this wine I read the back label and found that it is an homage to Wolf Blass himself and so I jumped at the opportunity to try it.
Hopefully it entertains the palate as much as he entertained the world.
Price: $17-18
Notes: The wine pours into the glass a dark purple with cherry red hues. The nose betrays the juicy, fruit forward, hedonistic wine this turned out to be. Aromas of juicy red and black berries, pastry and hints of smoky
pepper join a rich, textured palate to make a very enjoyable glass.
I would highly suggest this wine for a romantic comedy movie night or when you have friends over for light and enjoyable evening. It speaks well to fun loving nature of Wolf himself.
Score: 7.5/10 ~ Over Delivers
It pairs really well with mild cheeses, hot dogs, grilled chicken and
mashed potatoes, and plenty of comfort foods.
Section: Australia
If you have the opportunity to try this wine, please let me know your thoughts.
Cheers
Dork UnCorked
Episode 5 – In The Shadow of Stardom, Beaujolais Nouveau, Carmenere
November 21, 2015 § Leave a comment
Episode 5 – Link to Podcast
Show Notes
Segment 1: Beaujolais Nouveau
The first wine of the vaunted 2015 vintage. Critics are saying that 2015 is the vintage of a century no matter if the wine is from BC, California, or Europe. This years Beaujolais Nouveau is a harbinger of the wines to follow.
Beaujolais is a region in France and is the southernmost area of the famous Burgundy Appellation. All the red wines from the region must be made of 100% Gamay Noir and all the grapes must be hand harvested.
Recommended Wine: Georges DuBoeuf Paper Label ~ $18.49
Segment 2: In the Shadow of Stardom
It’s really about basic economics of supply and demand. Those regions that are world famous only produce so many bottles but have huge demand. Regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Napa Valley have no trouble in selling their wines at top dollar each and every year. However there are many more regions and wines around the world that exist in the shadows of stardom.
Recommended Regions for Value:
Italy – Umbria, Sicily, Marche, Puglia, d’Abruzzo
France – Languedoc, Provence
Other Europe – Portugal, Croatia, Hungary, Greece
California – Lodi, Paso Robles
Other World – South Africa, Chile, Argentina
Other BC – Similkameen, Kamloops
Specific Wines Mentioned – Periquita (Portugal), Painted World (South Africa), Masia F (Spain)
Segment 3 – Carmenere
Thought to have vanished from the world after phylloxera destroyed thousands of acres of vineyard in the Europe in the 1860’s, and one of the original 6 Bordeaux grapes, Carmenere was only recently rediscovered as being alive and well in Chile.
In the late’s 90’s Alvaro Espinoza noticed that certain vines in the blocks of Merlot were consistently ripening later each year. He had the DNA analyzed and it was found that the mystery vines were indeed Carmenere.
Recommended Wines – Falernia Carmenere ($17.99), Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Block 12 Carmenere ($34.99), Terra Andina Carmenere-Syrah ($9.99-$10.99)
Segment 4 – Best Buy of the Week
Rio Madre 2012 Rioja Graciano
November 21, 2015 § Leave a comment
One of the things I truly love about my journey through the world of wine, is having my ‘knowledge’ challenged. It seems that as humans, in order to form an opinion we must collect a few seeds of ‘solid’ knowledge on a subject. From these seeds grows our beliefs of what is true. This was my introduction to the grape Graciano. It was early on in my journey and the seeds planted were from the proprietor of Rioja based winery.
Rioja is a region in the north of Spain and is certainly world renowned. The wines are governed by the rules of Denominacion de Origen Califcada (DOC) and at the time to be called Rioja the wine must be a blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano, with Tempranillo making up at least 60% of the blend. Graciano traditionally made up a fraction of the blend. Why? Well as the proprietor told me Graciano on its own “tastes like wet woolly socks at worst and dry wooly socks dipped in plum juice at best.” It has been almost 20 years since then, but I have continued to hold true that Graciano was nothing to get excited about. That was until last week.
I was happily walking through one of my local stores looking for the unusual, the lesser known, because my experience has always told me that this is where you find the best deals. A very nice staff person that I trust to point me in the right direction suggested that I try the Rio Madre 2012 Rioja Graciano.
Price Paid: $14.99
Notes: Pleasure is part of the fabric of being who we are and thus as our lives weave the tapestry that will be our story, different things provide pleasure. I have spent the last couple of years shedding the shackles of the expected and making a living by changing longstanding truths and behaviours. In other words life has been a wild, fully flavoured ride. As good as this sounds, a wild ride doesn’t always meet ones needs or desires.
I pulled open the cork and let the wine breathe for about 15 minutes and poured a generous glass – it had been a wilder day than normal – and I immersed myself in the aromas. There is indeed a wildness to the wine, but also a timeless, natural beauty. Aromas of black fruits, plums and floral tones blend with the untamed spicy essence of drylands.
The body of the wine is rich but balanced. As the wine washes over your tongue you will get the sense of wild fruit like blackberries found in the back woods at the end of a long dry summer, combined with refined layers of plum, spice and a hint of hickory.
I really really enjoyed this wine and highly recommend it to others, especially those feeling a glint of excitement from the wild side of life.
Rating: 8.25/10 ~ Over Delivers
Purchased From: BC Liquor Stores
Section of the Store: Spain
If you happen to try this wine, please let me know what you think, and if you have any questions or want a specific wine researched, drop me a line.
Cheers
Dork UnCorked.
Episode 3 – The Wonderfully Colourful History of Liquor Laws in B.C. Part 1 – Show Notes
November 7, 2015 § Leave a comment
There has been lots of talk about the recent changes in Liquor retailing and laws in B.C. Have you ever wondered how we got here? It is a very colourful history and beautifully told in two parts by storyteller Chris Mathieson. Here are the show notes for Part 1.
Link to podcast: The Wonderfully Colourful History of Liquor Laws in BC Part 1
How to get a hold of Chris…
Facebook – Chris Mathieson
Twitter – @cogno
Website: Old Grist Mill & Gardens
Best Buy of the Week: Borsao Garnacha
Coming up next week – Part II
DYK (Did You Know) that Australian Shiraz is the same as Syrah? The terroir & climate insure that the Australian expression is unique in the world of Syrah, as such it didn’t seem right to call it Syrah, so the powers that be in Australia decided to call their expression Shiraz after the name of the town in Iran where the initial clippings of Syrah were found.
Thanks for being a part of the Dork UnCorked, see you again next week.
the Dork UnCorked
Tinto Negro 2012 Uco Valley Malbec
November 6, 2015 § Leave a comment
Wine is not a commodity. I know this isn’t a revelation but there seems to be a lot of people who assume that every 90+ point wine is going to blow their hair back or that a 90+ point wine priced at $15 is better than a 90+ point wine priced at $25. The reality is that your mood and the scenario within which you will be tasting the wine play a huge role in your value judgement of the wine. With that in mind I have decided to another nuance to my reviews, that being motivations.
Motivations: It’s been a hard week and its a dreary wet, chilling Friday. I could either go with something that is moody, a little stormy, heavy and brooding, or exactly the opposite; something bright, vibrant and juicy.
Dinner is a Turkey casserole the recipe of which came from a neighbour as a great way to enjoy Turkey leftovers. So the wine will have to work well with Turkey, gravy, stuffing, peas, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce.
Decision: Moody & Stormy – Tinto Negro 2012 Uco Valley Malbec
Price: $17.29
Store Section: Argentina
The Wine: The Uco Valley is one of my favourite regions in the world. It isn’t that far away from other wine growing areas surrounding Mendoza in Argentina. The wines offer amazing complexity and layers while being priced as well as others, and the Tinto Negro is no different.
The nose shows dark fruit with violets, hints of smoke, spice and cured meats, while the palate is full, multi-layered and round. The finish shows off the richness of the fruit along with subtle spice and floral tones. Overall this wine is a great wine for a slow moving, dreary evening and brooding, heavy mood.
Value: 8.7 – Over Delivers
Added Value: This has added value when paired with Movie Night, Comfort Foods, and dark misty nights.
Purchased At: BC Liquor Stores
Episode 2 – Podcast Link & Show Notes
November 2, 2015 § Leave a comment
In Episode 2 it is all about Halloween- what wines & beers pair with classic Halloween fare (from the Candy/Chip Bowl), a Halloween Punch, some great conversation with our Craft Beer and Cocktail Correspondents, and, of course, the week’s Best Buy.
Click here to listen to Episode 2: Halloween
Wine Pairings For Classic Halloween Treats
Sweet
Skittles – Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio depending on how sweet, spicy and crisp you like your wines.
Sweeter/Spicy wine = Gewurztraminer (Recommendations Under $20: Tinhorn Creek, Cono Sur Bicicleta)
Crisp/Full Flavoured = Sauvignon Blanc (Recommendations U$20: Lurton Les Fumees Blanches, Oyster Bay, Casa del Bosque Reserva)
Fresh, Fruit Forward = Pinot Grigio (Recommendations U$20: Mezzacorona, Prospect Winery, Ca’ Montebello [private stores only])
M&M’s/Snickers Bars– Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Grenache/Garnacha depending on how soft, juicy, spicy or silky you like your wine.
Juicy/Spicy = Tempranillo (Recommendations U$20: Masia F [private stores only], Lopez de Haro Crianza [private stores only], Torres Coronas}
Silky = Sangiovese (Recommendations U$20: Giacondi, Gabbiano Chianti, Antinori Santa Cristina)
Soft/Juicy = Grenache/Garnacha (Recommendations U$20: Borsao, Le Paradou [private stores only] Rosemount Grenache Shiraz)
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups – Sherry, Tawny Port depending on whether you favour the nutty side or chocolate side of the Peanut Butter Cup.
Nutty Side – Amontillado Sherry (Recommendations U$20: Emu Amontillado, Alvear Medium Dry)
Chocolate Side – Tawny Port (Recommendations U$30: Penfolds Club Tawny Port [private stores only], Warres Optima)
Candy Corn and Rockets – Prosecco, Chardonnay or Moscato depending on whether or not you prefer sparkling wines, fruity or sweeter lighter alcohol wines.
Sparkling Wines – Prosecco (Recommendations U$20: Nua [private stores only], La Marca, Villa Teresa)
Fruit Driven & Dry – Chardonnay (Recommendations U$20: Grove Ridge [private stores only], Wente Morning Fog, De Martino Limari)
Sweeter & Fruity: – Moscato (Recommendations U$20: The Tapas Collection, Ca’ Montebello [private stores only], Ogio]
Salty/Savoury
Doritos – Barbera, Gamay Noir or Bonarda depending on how heavy, grapey, juicy, floral or spicy you like your wines.
Grapey/Juicy/Medium Bodied – Barbera (Recommendations U$20: Ca’Montebello [private stores only], Ricossa Barbera D’Asti, Briccotondo Barbera D’Alba)
Juicy/Floral/Light Bodied – Gamay Noir (Recommendations U$25: Desert Hills [private stores only], Duboeuf Beaujolais)
Grapey/Spicy/Medium Bodied – Bonarda (Recommendations U$20: Argento Bonarda [private stores only], Tilia Bonarda [private stores only]
Popcorn – Chardonnay or Viognier depending on how fruit forward and unctuous you like it.
Fruit Forward/Creamy/Rich – Chardonnay (Recommendations U$20: Grove Ridge [private stores only], Wente Morning Fog, Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay)
Cheetos/Cheesies – Sauvignon Blanc (Recommendations U$20: Seven Terraces, Oyster Bay, Les Fumees Blanche)
Classic Potato Chips – Sparkling Wine is the best choice and there are lots of great choices depending on your budget.
Over $40 – Veuve Cliquot, Tattinger, Bellavista Franciacorta
$20-$40 – Blue Mountain Brut, Mumm’s Napa Prestige, Paul Zinck Cremant D’Alsace
Under $20 – Jean Louis Blancs de Blancs [private stores only], Cristalino Cava, Hungaria Cuvee Brut
BBQ Potato Chips – Pinot Noir, I guess the good news is that Under $20 there are only a coveted few to recommend.
Under $20 – Simple Life Pinot Noir, Casa Viva Pinot Noir [private stores only], Unduragga Sibaris Pinot Noir
Beer Pairings
Sweet
Skittles – Pale Ale
M&M’s/Snickers Bars- Porter or Brown Ale
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups – Chocolate Stout
Candy Corn – Witbier or Weizen
Rockets – Sour Beers
Salty/Savoury
Doritos – Witbier or Weizen
Popcorn – ESB
Cheetos/Cheesies – IPA or Stout
Classic Potato Chips – Belgian Dubbel
BBQ Potato Chips – Porter
Pumpkin Beer Recommendations – Jami Wood, Craft Beer Correspondent
Lighter Bodied Beer – Nelson Organic Pumpkin Ale
Medium Bodied Beer – Central City Red Racer Pumpkin Ale
Full Bodied Beer – Howe Sound ‘Pumpkineater’ Imperial Pumpkin Ale (available in most liquor stores)
Halloween Punch – Shawn Soole, Cocktail Correspondent
Cocktail Recipe for Fernet Branca – Toronto (What is Fernet Branca?)
Dash of angostura bitters
Shawn’s book Cocktail Culture can be found at Munro’s, Bolen’s and through this link to Amazon.ca
This week’s Best Buy: Simple Life Pinot Noir
