30
Dec
2011
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
This was an all-day affair hosted on the 2nd floor of Morton’s Steakhouse (on Avenue Road). Four seminars all dealing with South African wine and their many ilk.
Seminar One – Chenin Blanc (10:30am) … We were here to taste some 39 wines starting with the (once and future) king of South African whites, Chenin Blanc, described as the Cinderella grape. Years ago the South Africans called it “Steen”, which means brick, because the bunches come off the vine in a seemingly heavy brick form … but recently the proper name for the grape is being used to market the wines outside of South Africa. Originally this noble variety was planted as a Brandy grape, but many winemakers have taken it under their wing and decided to make more serious wines from it. South Africa has the largest production area of Chenin, double its nearest competition for the grape’s affection, the Loire Valley in France. The reason for its popularity is simple: 9 out of 10 years the majority of regions of South Africa can ripen all their grapes. It represents 50% of all white production, 20% of all wine production, and 55% of all Chenin vines in South Africa are 15+ years old. We tasted 11 Chenins, with vintage dates ranging from 2006-2010 here is my top three: (To read about my tops wines tasted during all four seminars, click here)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
28
Dec
2011
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
You might have heard that Ontario hosted the world to a Cool Climate Chardonnay weekend in July: dinners, music, events all surrounded around the most popular white wine grape on the planet. But one of the regions that made it extremely popular was not in attendance, and I'm not talking Burgundy; the reason that California was not in attendance was that much of the state is not considered "cool climate" - though there are some parts that could qualify.
Today, on one of the hottest days and evenings of the summer, Tawse winery hosted the world of Chardonnay in a massive tented area that stretched in a curve around the vineyard behind the winery. Tables were set up and, wouldn't you know it, in the grand tradition of Tawse doing thing BIG, Murray McLaughlin performed on stage ... the big question: was he paid in Chardonnay? (Only Murray, or is that Moray, Tawse, knows).
54 wineries were in attendance, including 26 from Ontario the others from France, Oregon, New Zealand, Austria, Italy, Chile (?), South Africa (?) New York and British Columbia. What follows is a list of the top international Chardonnays I tasted (in alphabetical order by winery) ... you can find Ontario Chardonnay reviews on my website (OntarioWineReview.com). If there was one thing I learned for certain on this day: France still has the touch when it comes to Chardonnay ...
Ataraxia Wines 2009 Chardonnay (South Africa) - smooth and creamy with good balancing acidity (****+)
Chateau de Meursault 2008 Meursault 1er Cru (Burgundy) - ****
Domaine de la Vougeraie Vougeot Clos du Prieure White Monopole (Burgundy) - ****
Domaine des Deux Roches 2009 Saint-Veran Domaine des Deux Roches Vieilles Vignes (Burgundy) - delicious, creamy and smooth, balances vanilla with caramel apple. (**** 1/2)
Domaine Laroch 2007 Chablis Grand Cru, Les Blanchots (Burgundy) - ****
Josef Chromy Wines 2006 Zdar Chardonnay (Tasmania) - **** 1/2
Maison Alex Gambal 2008 Puligny-Montrachet (Burgundy) - ****
Maison Roche de Bellene 2009 AC Montagny 1er Cru (Burgundy) - ****
Maison Roche de Bellene 2009 Meursault 1er Cru Charmes Dessus (Burgundy) - ****+
Mission Hill Winery 2009 Family Estate Perpetua (British Columbia) - ****+
Mission Hill Winery 2009 Family Estate Reserve Chardonnay (British Columbia) - sweet fruited with vanilla, pear and melon notes. (****)
The Millton Vineyard 2009 Opou Chardonnay (New Zealand) - ****
Vie di Romans 2009 Chardonnay (Italy) - ****
Two of the more interesting Chardonnays from Ontario were from two very different places. The 2008 Cuvee Dix-Neuvieme Chardonnay from the low-profile Pearl Morissette was wonderful, but with no retail space I can't tell you where you can go to get this wine, a restaurant near you might be one of the lucky ones to have snagged some of this limited edition wine. The other Ontarian making wine is a name you should all be familiar with Thomas Bacheldar, winner of the Ontario wine Awards winemaker of the year. Thomas made his name, amongst other places, as the man behind the wines of Le Clos Jordanne ... now we find he has struck out on his own to make his favourite wines (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) in his three favourite places in the world: Burgundy, Oregon and Ontario. Here he showed off his Ontario version (Bacheldar Wines 2009 Niagara Chardonnay) that should find its way to Vintages shelves in the new year.
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
