Fast Facts:
Bottled 2009
Origin: Canada, Ontario, VQA Niagara Peninsula VQA
Bottle size: 750
12.5% Alc/Vol.


Rose Hill Chardonnay, what could be said about this wine? It's an under-toned, subtle creatures with little in the line of panache and almost no flamboyance. It's not to say that this wine is without character, but it's as outstanding as pasta; sauceless, spiceless, cheeseless, pasta (on a white plate, served in a white room, clad in white drapes and inhabited by an albino guy who was tragically born without a personality... and whose name is Ross.)


So I'm not really doing this wine justice, maybe I'm just a little biased. I am a fan of reds that tackle you soon as the cork is pulled. I believe a good Riesling should grab your tongue and perforate it vigourously with pins and needles... and I trust a Chardonnay to hit me with a buttered branch from an ancient oak! It would seem that times have changed a lot since the days of a Char that could stand up to the rest of the whites and brag about it's times on the inside. All those months stuck behind slabs of oak; casked away to return one day, thicker and with more character... unlike this wine which presents itself with all the character of a bottle of Evian...


Todays Chardonnays sport labels of "UnOaked", "Clean", and my personal favorite: "Inox" (This is short for Inoxidable which is French for "Stainless"...might as well call it Chardonnay flavourless, part from that hint of Pinot Gris but less flavourful. It's not to say that these Inox Chars don't hold a place in the world of wine, but they don't exactly stand out much. I'm going to attempt to be unbiased and treat this wine with respect and admiration. Let's start with the nose:


Smell of dried lemon peel and wet limestone come through initially. The smell is entirely a local smell, and if you've ever taken a hike through the trails of the Niagara Escarpment on a rainy summer day you know the smell I'm thinking of. This wine envelops itself in its terroire. Picking up the scent of it's surrounding and its calcium rich soils in the Markham region. The scent is a distinct Chardonnay aroma and easily classifiable as a benchmark for what a basic Char should smell like. If I were teaching someone what a Chardonnay was, I would start here.

The taste is equally subtle with little to brag about. Flavors of citrus fruit and a hint of ale make this a subtle wine deserving of a place on a dinner table clad in bland fish and white rice. This wine would make a nice addition to a meal, but it wouldn't bring much, literally, to the table. I would almost suggest serving this wine as an aperitif, to entice someone's salivation (and to encourage their mind to expect flavour and anticipate something else. 


Overall the wine is acidic and cleansing, not that the pallet really needs to recover from much. The wines finish is pleasant with an almost hop-like after taste. With the body being sweet enough to feel, but not enough to call it sweet, this wine is medium bodied with a pleasing mouth-feel. This wine was first tasted at 8 deg. C. but was subsequently sipped at 12, 14 and eventually room temperature. We desperately tried to get this wine to speak out and have some character, but it just got more and more sour.


Verdict: The wine is pale, in colour, in feel, in taste and in comparison to many other Ontario whites. This wine does not have the character of an oaked Chardonnay, nor does it have the presence of a sharp Riesling. To call it a boring wine gives it too much of our attention. I would only recommend this wine to a very entry level wine drinker who isn't ready for any intensity. I wish I had better things to say about this VQA, but there it is. Ordinary in every way possible. For the 10 bucks the bottle sets you back, you won't feel ripped off, but you'll be left wondering what the other bottles on the shelf would have been like... This is really a "Private Edition" they should have kept for themselves


Cheers to every wine having its place, even if you have to tantalize your taste buds separately. 


-D-

Fast Facts:
Bottled 2005
Origin: France, Cahors (Chateau du Gaudou) AOC
Bottle size: 750
13% Alc/Vol.



Just outside the Bordeaux region in France sits a small growing region known as the Vallée du Lot where the grapes are grown on very gravel-rich hillsides. In this valley is the AOC region of Cahors; a unique and pleasant Chateau known to world as Chateau du Gaudou (Shaw-t-o dew go-do).


On this estate winery they produce a rarity in French wines, it's not the grapes themselves that are necessarily unique, but the labeling practices are. You see, in more French regions wines are simply named for their geographical area. Laws on grape growing are very strict in France and quite often labeling wine as "Bordeaux" is enough to indicate what varietals are present. In Cahors, wines are sold with different blends of red grapes and they often have a break-down of the wine on the label. 


This particular wine is made from 80% malbec, 15% merlot, and 5% tannat. This mix of grapes makes for a very interesting flavour profile. The malbec, being the dominant grape pushes through on the nose. It's distinct aroma of red-peppers fresh from the garden and earthy tones make this wine a great hearty-meal companion. The merlot adds a smoky subtlety to the freshness of the malbec. Merlot is known for it's body and in this wine it doesn't disappoint, adding a structural element that takes the wine away from a nearly bitter taste and mellowing it out on the tongue. The tannat, in my opinion is a filler grape. Much in the way Cabernet Franc is usually treated, the tannat grape is almost always undersold. It's debatable whether or not the tannat really adds much to he character of this wine at this time, but it is certain that it will help it keep it's appeal over time.

Some might call it cheating, using the tannat grape as a preservative. The grape's high tannins makes it a very cellar-friendly addition to this wine. In my opinion this wine was intended for aging; while the label suggests that it "can be enjoyed young" it also hints to it's ability to hide away for years.


Personally I would say this wine is not ready, not ripe. Given another 4-5 years in good conditions it has the potential to be great, but until then it's probably best to put down the corkscrew.


Another unusual feature of this wine's label is the suggested serving temperature of 16 to 18 deg. C. This is just another indication that this isn't a beginner's wine. This is for the red-wine drinking, smoking-jacket wearing, wine-snob type...and at that it will likely not disappoint. I would suggest serving this wine with a very hearty stew or roast, something peppery and heavy. The body is reminiscent of a well-aged port and the finish is...what's the polite term?...persistent.

The Verdict:
This is not a patio wine, keep this one hidden away for a good hearty meal in the dead of winter when you need something to put a little hair on your chest! Best to keep this one in hiding until at least 2015.


Cheers to a wine to age with, lets hope you both fair well,


-D-

Fast Facts:
Bottled 1989
Origin: Canada, Walkerton, Ontario
Bottle size: 750
40% Alc/Vol.

The site is called WhiskyGuyD for a reason! Wines are fantastic and wonderful, but make way! Because whisky takes center stage.


Here's a whisky that you'd be put on probation for mixing with. This isn't you're bottom shelf C.C. Unlike the usual 10 and 12 year old whiskies from this distillery, this small batch amber gem is a full two decades old.


The aroma of oak in this whisky is easily twice that of it's milder cousin the C.C. Premium. The colour is considerably darker too. With a hue of red and gold this delicious whisky is notably one of the best this blogger has ever tasted.


On the palate, this whisky is slightly softer than most. The extended period of oak aging has imparted a honey and butterscotch essence to this young adult.


On the nose, hints of fresh green rye and light smoky aroma dominate. The artificial and nearly medicinal scent that plagues the younger Canadian Club 12 year old are almost completely absent. After a couple sips, returning to the glass for another sniff yields a citrus aroma characteristic of ageing in younger, mildly charred barrels.


The mouth-feel is mild and soothing though not as soft as a malted scotch. The character of Canadian Rye is still clearly displayed making this whisky a quintessential exemplar of Canadian Whiskies. From its spicy entrance, to its long and warm finish, this whisky is to be enjoyed neat. 


It's a popular delicacy in the far-east, particularly in Japan, and it's a prime export from a country that knows its stuff! I definitely recommend this whisky as a special treat to those who are worth it. These bottles don't come cheap and they should be savoured with the best of company.


Cheers to bottles that have seen as many sunrises as I have,


-D-

Fast Facts:
Bottled 2009
Origin: Canada, VQA Ontario VQA, Pelee Island 
Bottle size: 750
13% Alc/Vol.

Neither Gamay Noir, nor Zweigelt are typical varietals found in most regions. These understated grapes are unsung heroes in the world of wine. Full-bodied, tannic, in-your-face reds are the name of the game when you talk about Zweigelt. The origins of this varietal date back to only 1922 when Austrian viticulturist Fritz Zweigelt combined other dark grapes to make this unique species.


Zweigelt on its own is very much a mouthful. Its acidity is quite low and its tannin structure quite high, which makes this a wine to lay down. The Gamay Noir partner bring in a mouth-cleansing acidity that keeps this wine very round and quite delicate in some aspects. The acidity helps break the pucker and helps rush the mouth-feel right along. This turns a couple of rather uninspired wines into a whole experience on the palate.


Aromas of blackcurrent and raspberry can be had on the nose, the taste is very similar with dark berry and light oak. Obviously this tannin rich behemoth has been cellared in oak casks to help break it down and this has added a slight buttery taste on the finish. The structure of this wine makes it a workhorse on the dinner table, capable of standing up to the heartiest steak dinner and yet it's subtleties make me confident it would pare well with a lighter rubbed pork as well.


Pelee island is the warmest growing region in Canada, and incidentally it's also the most southern point in the whole country. This is a huge benefit for the growers who can make use of a longer growing season to ripen these warm-climate loving grapes in a country known for snow and polar-bears!


Want to buy and lay? This is a great wine to hide in the cellar only to be broken out on a special occasion. These bottles are going to stand up to another 3 or 4 years of chillen-out, which makes this 12 dollar wine an absolute bargain! Buy a case and forget about them in the good times, break'em out in the bad for a reminder that no matter how hard things get, life is still woven with awesome!


Recommended to those who sip whisky and scotch on the rocks, and those who can handle an upper-cut in a glass. This wine features a flying sugar-glider on it's label, but in my opinion it should be a ragging moose! The wine is not a pungent Merlot, but for a softee it's quite the kick. I can honestly say, for a heavy red, the acidity really brings this one around and makes it fruity and light on the finish. It's sort of like being in a fight with George Forman... not the young one though. This wine will through you a punch, but then turn around and serve you a lovely fat-free grilled burger while wearing your grandma's apron. 


I'm just saying, it's got a soft side... 

Cheers to Pelee Island, proving Canada can produce the heavy hearty reds right along side our delicate Rieslings and Icewines!


-D-

Fast Facts:
Bottled 2008
Origin: Canada, VQA Ontario VQA (Beamsville, Niagara Region)
Bottle size: 750
11.5% Alc/Vol.


The area from which this wine originates is a very special part of the Niagara Bench in Ontario. The awkwardly north-facing slope of the Niagara Escarpment is home to many wineries, such as East Dell. Located on rolling hills are home to many unique species of flora and fauna and the East Dell winery is proud to call it home.

This particular wine, the Summer Rosé, is an iconic wine in the ED line-up. An easy sipping rosé wine with very little tannin-educed pucker and a good amount of sweetness. This wine suffers slightly from a lack of acidity that can make the taste build up on the palate leaving a sweet lingering note in very cull of your gullet. Drink this one young and it will keep its dry and fruity character, otherwise it's sweetness may become tart if cellared. 

For this reason it is recommended to drink this wine at the lowest possible temperature and with light snacks. This wine, by the way, pairs very nicely with mildly spiced dishes of fish or chicken, particularly with use of honey BBQ sauces. 

The most appealing aspect of this sipper must be said to be its aroma. A subtle, yet invigorating scent of strawberry with a hint of rose petal makes this wine a great summer-time, back-patio drink. At 11.5% alcohol per volume this wine packs a bit more of a punch than your Bacardi Breezers so remember, sip slowly.

I very much recommend this wine to anyone with an intolerance for heavy red wines. An outstanding example of what a Rosé wine should be, this one makes the buy-again and again list. Best of all, this bottle is sold in Canada for about 11 bucks, what a steal!

Cheers to chilled wines with chill people, 
-D-

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The taste is roundly berries and smacks of concord grape. Fruity but not terribly sweet, the taste is quickly moved from the tongue and wiped clean by the balance of acids. A note of oak keeps the berries in check and a hint of black pepper presents itself on the finish.

Verdict: This is a great table-wine to be served with crackers and cheese, as many Burgundian wines are. I would recommend  pairing this wine with a bbq-style pork or with shrimps and seafoods served with seafood sauce. The peppery finish makes this wine pair wonderfully with soups or stews that are noticeably salty, but I would avoid serving it next to any spicy dishes. The price matches the quality very nicely and this wine gives a round and colorful drinking experience for the entry-level oenophile, or the light-hearted wine-lovers alike.

I would call this wine average, but recommendable.

Cheers to good wines served in great company,
-D-