In Qebec & Montreal a couple of months ago, Canadian wines were like hens' teeth. Clearly the Quebecois prefer French!
Little ole wine drinker me (us?)
- Thread starter Joey Shabadoo
- Start date
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In Qebec & Montreal a couple of months ago, Canadian wines were like hens' teeth. Clearly the Quebecois prefer French!
Gwylan
Veteran
- Location
- All at sea⛵
Sorry "yellow tail" is wine code for ICI!
Or some other mass production industrial chemical company
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Always have done! But I imagined in these more enlightened times with the plethora of ON and BC wines on the SAQ site, you might have found some - clearly not.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Red meat for supper called for a nice red to drink and could not resist delving into the recent auction purchase.
2020 Artisan Wine Co. Our Story Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
More than acceptable. Good fruit, classic cassis/blackcurrant, lacking a little grip, not overly tannic. Worth buying at C$ retail prices, not quite worth my average bottle cost. However, as this is the cheapest retail, I'm looking forward to the rest!
2020 Artisan Wine Co. Our Story Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA
More than acceptable. Good fruit, classic cassis/blackcurrant, lacking a little grip, not overly tannic. Worth buying at C$ retail prices, not quite worth my average bottle cost. However, as this is the cheapest retail, I'm looking forward to the rest!
Good price £11-12 on a Google search.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Nearly one third of the year gone and its very quiet in here so time to let you know what's been going down. Literally.
#1.
Aganis Pinot Grigio, Friuli: an excellent example of pinot grigio (PG). Most PG found in UK is from Veneto and is nowhere near as good as from the region of Friuli Colli Orientali. PG found in supermarkets is mostly from Veneto and lacks anything to write home about, like flavour. This was refreshing, good as an apero yet had good flavour and body to go with food.*
Aldi Specially Selected Encruzado: Encruzado is the grape variety and this was superb, a very pleasant surprise. If all of Aldi's 'Specially Selected' wines are as good as this, then you will not be disappointed. Perfect apero, like the PG, refreshing and full of flavour. A bargain if around £7 to £9 mark.*
Vina Cubillo, Rioja: note the year, 10 years old when consumed. Perfect. Had forgotten how good this wine is. It is the junior version, i.e. crianza, of the Reserva from Lopez Heredia that I mentioned last year. This is better than most producers reservas. Very old school, lots of subtle earthy and spicy notes, soft american oak. That may sound odd but with food it all blends together beautifully. Wonderful with pork, lamb, chicken and any spanish veggie dish. Saw it in a shop recently at £25! I paid only £15 a few years ago. Sadly, I only have one bottle remaining.
*I picked these up at auction so paid much less than full retail.
#1.
Aganis Pinot Grigio, Friuli: an excellent example of pinot grigio (PG). Most PG found in UK is from Veneto and is nowhere near as good as from the region of Friuli Colli Orientali. PG found in supermarkets is mostly from Veneto and lacks anything to write home about, like flavour. This was refreshing, good as an apero yet had good flavour and body to go with food.*
Aldi Specially Selected Encruzado: Encruzado is the grape variety and this was superb, a very pleasant surprise. If all of Aldi's 'Specially Selected' wines are as good as this, then you will not be disappointed. Perfect apero, like the PG, refreshing and full of flavour. A bargain if around £7 to £9 mark.*
Vina Cubillo, Rioja: note the year, 10 years old when consumed. Perfect. Had forgotten how good this wine is. It is the junior version, i.e. crianza, of the Reserva from Lopez Heredia that I mentioned last year. This is better than most producers reservas. Very old school, lots of subtle earthy and spicy notes, soft american oak. That may sound odd but with food it all blends together beautifully. Wonderful with pork, lamb, chicken and any spanish veggie dish. Saw it in a shop recently at £25! I paid only £15 a few years ago. Sadly, I only have one bottle remaining.
*I picked these up at auction so paid much less than full retail.
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OP
OP
Joey Shabadoo
My pronouns are "He", "Him" and "buggerlugs"
For the last few months I've been getting a bottle of this a week from Tesco. It's consistently nice if a bit too easy to quaff the bottle. About £10
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
#2.
Merwida Chenin Blanc, South Africa: the south africans can and do make decent chenin and you will be unfortunate if you find a poor example at any price range. Typical green apple, some weight to it so works well with food. 12.5% abv.
Te Pa Pinot Noir, New Zealand: not great but not bad. Pale garnet, light-ish body, nice red berry fruit, no sign of oak. Not sweet, which often afflicts inexpensive pinots. £10 from Tesco. I would not buy again. I struggle with inexpensive pinots and although nothing really wrong with this it did not get my juices flowing. Need to pay more for decent pinot IMO. 13.5%
Cantodoro Riserva, Sicily: excellent. Rich, weighty, fruity with earthy and woody flavours. Blend of predominantly nero d'avola (one of THE red grapes of Sicily) and 'international varieties', according to the label. Most likely to mean cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Probably in £12 to £15 region - good value if you find it at this or less. I picked it up for £7.40 ! 13.5%
Valdecuevas Verdejo, Spain: lovely. Verdejo is the grape variety and well worth trying. This was aged on lees and in french oak for 3 months provides wight and body. Serious wine, not just a quaffer. Excellent with any fish dish. Or chicken or pork. Went superbly with fish pie last month. Bottle # 7,556 of 7,620. 13.5%
As an aside, the bottle weighed 880g. Crazy...the spanish are particularly bad for using overly heavy bottles, however, I am prepared to give them a little slack as it is almost 3 years old. Producers are starting to use light bottles. The other 3 bottles total weight was only 1550g.
Merwida Chenin Blanc, South Africa: the south africans can and do make decent chenin and you will be unfortunate if you find a poor example at any price range. Typical green apple, some weight to it so works well with food. 12.5% abv.
Te Pa Pinot Noir, New Zealand: not great but not bad. Pale garnet, light-ish body, nice red berry fruit, no sign of oak. Not sweet, which often afflicts inexpensive pinots. £10 from Tesco. I would not buy again. I struggle with inexpensive pinots and although nothing really wrong with this it did not get my juices flowing. Need to pay more for decent pinot IMO. 13.5%
Cantodoro Riserva, Sicily: excellent. Rich, weighty, fruity with earthy and woody flavours. Blend of predominantly nero d'avola (one of THE red grapes of Sicily) and 'international varieties', according to the label. Most likely to mean cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Probably in £12 to £15 region - good value if you find it at this or less. I picked it up for £7.40 ! 13.5%
Valdecuevas Verdejo, Spain: lovely. Verdejo is the grape variety and well worth trying. This was aged on lees and in french oak for 3 months provides wight and body. Serious wine, not just a quaffer. Excellent with any fish dish. Or chicken or pork. Went superbly with fish pie last month. Bottle # 7,556 of 7,620. 13.5%
As an aside, the bottle weighed 880g. Crazy...the spanish are particularly bad for using overly heavy bottles, however, I am prepared to give them a little slack as it is almost 3 years old. Producers are starting to use light bottles. The other 3 bottles total weight was only 1550g.
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Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
#3.
A trio from South Africa, 3 different grape varieties. The Backsberg Chenin was excellent as was Asda's Chardonnay and the Boschendal Sauvignon was very disappointing. Backsberg is a good, known producer so no surprise there. The chardonnay was a surprise, I'm not familiar with Asda's products. This retails at around £6.50 and is a bargain. If the rest of Asda's 'Extra Special' range is as good as this, you should be happy. Boschendal is another good producer I'm familiar with and yet this was rubbish. No flavour whatsoever, let alone any sort of sauvignon-ness. I hope the chardonnay of theirs that was in the same case is better! However, as I only paid £4.25 for each of these bottles, I still think I'm ahead. Cheers!
A trio from South Africa, 3 different grape varieties. The Backsberg Chenin was excellent as was Asda's Chardonnay and the Boschendal Sauvignon was very disappointing. Backsberg is a good, known producer so no surprise there. The chardonnay was a surprise, I'm not familiar with Asda's products. This retails at around £6.50 and is a bargain. If the rest of Asda's 'Extra Special' range is as good as this, you should be happy. Boschendal is another good producer I'm familiar with and yet this was rubbish. No flavour whatsoever, let alone any sort of sauvignon-ness. I hope the chardonnay of theirs that was in the same case is better! However, as I only paid £4.25 for each of these bottles, I still think I'm ahead. Cheers!
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Last weekend's aperitifs:
Casa de Santar, Dao: grape variety is encruzado, again. Fruity, elegant, long. Pleasantly surprised, good. 13% abv.
Quintas de Borba, Alentejo: blend of indigenous grapes. Fresh and crisp, fine as apero. According to interwebby, inexpensive. 12.5%
Prova Régia, Bucelas: arinto is the grape. Very good, good body. One of Sogrape's many, many wines. (Sogrape is responsible for Mateus but also Barca Velha, one of Portugals' most famous and pricey wines). Very happy to find it on the wine list in an excellent little restaurant in Lisbon last week! 13%
Very happy with these and look forward to the other 9 better quality bottles from an auction Lot costing me only £8.45 a bottle.
Casa de Santar, Dao: grape variety is encruzado, again. Fruity, elegant, long. Pleasantly surprised, good. 13% abv.
Quintas de Borba, Alentejo: blend of indigenous grapes. Fresh and crisp, fine as apero. According to interwebby, inexpensive. 12.5%
Prova Régia, Bucelas: arinto is the grape. Very good, good body. One of Sogrape's many, many wines. (Sogrape is responsible for Mateus but also Barca Velha, one of Portugals' most famous and pricey wines). Very happy to find it on the wine list in an excellent little restaurant in Lisbon last week! 13%
Very happy with these and look forward to the other 9 better quality bottles from an auction Lot costing me only £8.45 a bottle.
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Lisbon is wonderful. Apart from the hills.
Adam, you really should be a bit more adventurous when on holiday in wine-producing country!
Olives look good!
Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Adam4868
Legendary Member
To be honest the house Reds in Lisbon are more than good enough for me.I was adventurous with the Port...a little too much perhaps !
Great city I've been quite a lot when younger,used to work on a cruise ship for a few years so got to know the city....this time it was for my partner.She was on a pilgrimage to see St Bridgets skull,half a day finding it and she was a happy ! The rest was eating and drinking in equal measures.You need the hills to walk it off.
Great restaurant if you ever get back...
Lisboa Tu e Eu 2 https://g.co/kgs/D5MQceA
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Shadow
member
- Location
- edge of the south downs
Next up, a couple of excellent summer reds and a canadian white, oh joy.
Les Terrasses St Nicolas de Bourgueil, Cabernet Franc, Loire 12% abv: a very pleasant surprise; many lesser known Loire wines in general, especially reds, are underrated and underappreciated in the UK. Cab Franc is the main red grape of the Loire, providing structured, leafy wines with good acidity to go with food. For such a light wine, it goes remarkably well with a whole range of food, including garlic marinated steak kebab. Brilliant summer wine as it is good slightly chilled. Do not bother if your only preferred red is a massive aussie shiraz! £11 @ Tesco. (Often cheaper if using Clubcard or on 'offer').
Taste the Difference Marzemino, Trentino 12.5% abv: another pleasant surprise. Marzemino is the grape, Trentino the region, both not hugely known in the UK. Lovely cherry fruit, medium bodied, feels light, light tannin, noticeable acidity - all of which means it goes well with food, not just the mushroom risotto stated on back label. Can also be chilled. £9.75 @ Sainsburys (Often less on 'offer').
Closson Chase Chardonnay, Prince Edward County, Ontario 12.5% abv: a very high quality wine. If tasted blind, I would have guessed from S Africa or possibly Macon. One of the pioneers in this 'new' region, making super stuff. Great balance, great length, not too oaky, often over used in north america. Makes me very happy, except I only have one other bottle. One from auction, only £9.50! RRP C$45 (approx £26).
Les Terrasses St Nicolas de Bourgueil, Cabernet Franc, Loire 12% abv: a very pleasant surprise; many lesser known Loire wines in general, especially reds, are underrated and underappreciated in the UK. Cab Franc is the main red grape of the Loire, providing structured, leafy wines with good acidity to go with food. For such a light wine, it goes remarkably well with a whole range of food, including garlic marinated steak kebab. Brilliant summer wine as it is good slightly chilled. Do not bother if your only preferred red is a massive aussie shiraz! £11 @ Tesco. (Often cheaper if using Clubcard or on 'offer').
Taste the Difference Marzemino, Trentino 12.5% abv: another pleasant surprise. Marzemino is the grape, Trentino the region, both not hugely known in the UK. Lovely cherry fruit, medium bodied, feels light, light tannin, noticeable acidity - all of which means it goes well with food, not just the mushroom risotto stated on back label. Can also be chilled. £9.75 @ Sainsburys (Often less on 'offer').
Closson Chase Chardonnay, Prince Edward County, Ontario 12.5% abv: a very high quality wine. If tasted blind, I would have guessed from S Africa or possibly Macon. One of the pioneers in this 'new' region, making super stuff. Great balance, great length, not too oaky, often over used in north america. Makes me very happy, except I only have one other bottle. One from auction, only £9.50! RRP C$45 (approx £26).
