New grapes on the block

This tasting note is about two grape varieties that we don't see often, if at all. I was excited to try wines made from them. We're so used to Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay dominating the shelves, it's refreshing to try a little something out of the ordinary. I chose the title "New grapes on the block" as a tribute to my recent sighting of New Kid on the Block member Donnie Wahlberg. He was on one of my most recent flights back to Toronto from LA. I wonder if he'd enjoy these wines...

Marechal Foch - a red grape variety that survives winters well and ripens early. This grape was grown widely in the Loire Valley of France but is now popular in Canada and New York. It is a French hybrid grape which means that it was bred using one parent from an American vine species and one parent from the European Vinifera (the most common species of vine to produce grapes for wine) vine species.

Mencia - a red grape variety grown widely in the north western part of Spain. It is the same grape as the Portuguese grape Jaen. It was once thought to have been related to Cabernet Franc but DNA tests (sounds very CSI) disproved that theory. Generally produces a light, fragrant wine best for early consumption but the quality of grape growing and winemaking have increased the quality of the wines that this grape produces.


Malivoire Albert's Honour Old Vines Foch 2008 (Ontario) $24.95

I was pleasantly surprised with this wine! It had great body and flavour with a really smooth taste and great fruit flavour. The tasting note on the Malivoire website says:

"Dark purple in the glass, the nose infers plum jam, raisin, juniper, spice box and autumn leaves. Silky smooth on the palate, intense flavours point to, dark roast coffee, wild blueberry, and vanilla, leaving a characteristically long, savoury finish. "

http://www.malivoire.com

I'd have to agree. The fruit is from vines aged over 30 years.  I was hesitant to try this wine only because from my past experiences, I never really liked wines made with the hybrid Marechal Foch grape. Well, I'm drinking my words now. This wine has been aged in American Oak, some of which were new barrels.

Gaba do Xil Mencia 2008 (Spain) $15.95

This wine has been really popular in the tasting room at the Summerill LCBO. I didn't love it but I did enjoy it for what it was. It's just easy drinking wine. It's dry and fruity and has pronounced acidity which livens up the mouth. It's filled with black cherry, strawberry flavours with some spiciness. Ole! I think for the money, you're getting some good wine that is an overall crowd pleaser. This wine is from the Valdeorras region in Spain which more is inland than the cooler climate of Rias Baixas (home of some fabulous whites made with the Albarino grape). This region is also influenced by the effects of the Atlantic Ocean.  The red and white wines from both Rias Baixas and Valdeorras are light and crisp. Perfect for spring and summer patios and BBQs! Which reminds me, I should really lighten up on the wine tasting if I'm going to try to fit into that bikini this summer. :)

A nice reward

After a great workout on the ice and nicely centered scratch spin, I decided to reward myself. I went to the Summerhill Tasting Tower to see what was on the menu tonight. To my delight they had some new wines to taste!

Milton Vineyard Te Arai Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2007 (new zealand) $21.95
A wonderful expression of this grape variety. I just love the Chenin Blanc grape. You see many wines coming out of South Africa but New Zlealand has some great wines made from this variety also. This is one of them. It was delicious. I was introduced to this wine producer at the New Zealand Wine Fair last year. They make some fantastic wines from Pinot Noir to Chardonnay to Viognier.  On the website, it says that this wine is certified organic. This means that the everything from the growing, processing and bottling of the wine was made using non-toxic/chemical methods. A white wine with great vibrant fruit and good acidity, it'll be a hit at your next spring soirée.

Finca Sobreno Crianza 2006 (spain) $17.95
I really enjoyed this wine this evening. It was much better than I expected only because a product consultant at my local LCBO had me try this wine last week from a bottle that had something horribly with it. Bleh. It was awful. It was a good exercise to try a corked wine. When I tried this wine tonight, I loved it. There was nothing corked about it.  It was smooth with an enjoyable finish. I loved the aroma. Having been aged in older casks of American oak for seven months, it had a really fragrant nose of black fruit and cedar. This wine comes from the Toro region of Spain. It's made with the grape variety Tinta do Toro, which is another way of saying Tempranillo.

More spring sippers...

Going through this release of Vintages featuring Spain, I was so happy to see one of my favourite whites to come through again. When you think of Spanish wines, you'd probably think of only red wine but Spain has some amazing white wines to offer as well. The first two wines below were one of the first ones posted on the yummygrape.com when the blog was first created. I'm going to post them here again because they're just that yummy! 

Leira Albarino 2008 (Spain) $16.95   

This is one of my favourite whites at this price point. It's just fabulous! Always a crowd pleaser.  It's crisp, dry with lots of pear and floral notes. What I love most about this wine is the texture. It's very smooth and almost creamy. It leaves your mouth feeling alive and fresh! Ok, maybe I went to far with the "alive" part. I will definitely stock up on this wine for the up-coming summer months. The Albarino grape variety thrives in Northwestern Spain in the region called Rias Baixas. The Albarino grape likes the cooler, wetter conditions.  Being that Rias Baixas is influenced by the Atlantic ocean, the location seems ideal for this grape.

Bodegas Lan Reserva 2004 (Spain) $19.95

This is always a wine that I enjoy. I'm happy to see it back at Vintages! I always enjoy the Tempranillo-dominant wines from the Rioja region. Made 80% from the Tempranillo grape variety (other varieties are Mouvedre and Grenache), this wine has lots of black plum, licorice and smoke (from aging for 1 year in both American and French oak). Reserva means that this wine has seen some extra aging. It has spent an additional time aging in the bottle before being released. The website says an additional 24 months! In total, this wine was already 3 years old by the time it hit the store shelves. It's a wonderful Spanish wine for just under $20. Be careful, it's just too easy drink.

Aveleda Vinho Verde Fonte (Portugal) $7.95
This white wine is from Portugal. It was being sampled at the Summerhill LCBO along with roasted halibut fish with artichokes and lemon (are you salivating yet?). Made from the Portuguese grape variety Vinho Verde, this wine was fresh and very fruity. You can't go wrong with this wine for this price. Enjoy it with seafood or as an aperitif.

Spring!

Spring has sprung! It's about time.  Figures...the weather is beautiful outside and I'm in bed with a serious cold writing this post. Before I acquired this "plague", I had some wonderful whites that definitely put a spring in my step. Hello patio!

R. Pouillon & Fils Cuvee de Reserve Brut Champagne $48.95

Yummy! I've tried much more expensive Champagnes before and I can tell you that I didn't enjoy some of them as much as this one. This was a delicious dry sparkling wine. It doesn't leave you trying to dissect the complexity of it because it's just really easy to drink. Perfect for any day of the week. If you have a cold, I prescribe this to cure your ailments.

Momo Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $18.95 

Fantastic dry Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. I just love the name - Momo. A dear friend of mine from France calls me "Momo". :) What I love most about this wine is the texture and the finish. It has a great creamy finish that lingers in your mouth. This wine is not your typical fresh-cut grass type of Sauvignon Blanc. It has lots of passionfruit and other fresh fruit aromas and flavours. mmm mmm.

Once I battle this cold, I'll be putting up more tasting notes so stay tuned. What kind of wine goes well with chicken soup? Ahhhchooo!