Tasting with Finca el Origen

Last week I had the privilege of attending a tasting and luncheon with some of the talented bloggers of WineAlign.  The tasting featured the wines of Argentinian winery Finca el Origen. We were lucky to have winemaker and General Manager, Gonzalo Bertelsen, to have joined us at the table. Being such a small group, it was an excellent opportunity to learn more about this country's booming wine industry and to try some of its fine exports.

Gonzalo Bertelsen

Owned by Chilean wine company Santa Carolina, Finca el Origen started selling under the label in 2002. Santa Carolina was actually the first Chilean winery to invest in Argentina. Finca el Origen now exports 90% of its production to 37 countries. The winery specializes in grape varietals such as Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Torrontes.



"We are not a boutique winery but we think like one" - Gonzalo Bertelsen, Winemaker and General Manager at Finca el Origen.

At the foot of the Andes
The stunning vineyards of
Finca El Origen

Mendoza is the main winemaking province of Argentina. With the highest altitude vineyards in the country, leading to unique growing conditions, the sub-region of Uco Valley is approximately an hour south of the city of Mendoza.

A dry climate, low-fertile soils and wide temperature differences between day and night can often produce wines that are well-structured and ideal for aging.

I enjoyed a delicious lamb burger so thankfully this wasn't a liquid lunch. Otherwise, I would have been speaking Spanish fluently!

2010
Chardonnay
Reserve
$10.95
(LCBO 269993)

2010 Chardonnay Reserva $10.95 (general list)
2011 Reserva Malbec $15.95 (in Vintages early next year)
2011 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon $15.95 (private order)
2010 Gran Reserva Malbec $21.95 (private order)
2009 Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (private order)

We started with the 2010 Chardonnay Reserva. Every person at the table agreed that this wine was a more cool-climate approach to the Chardonnay grape. We were all stunned at the price. Retailing at $10.95, the 2010 Chardonnay Reserva is available at the LCBO through General List, meaning that it's highly available at many locations.  This Chardonnay is one of those finds where you gets lots for little! Great value. Even at 14% alcohol, the wine displayed clean, fresh fruit notes with good acidity.


Argentina boasts a wealth of natural resources and areas of great scenic beauty, including high summits and plains, lush forests and absolutely arid deserts, woods and steppes, glaciers and waterfalls. Any landscape you may imagine, you can find somewhere on Argentine soil. - www.winesofargentina.org

Argentina is famous for Malbec and tango. I'm definitely better at drinking Malbec than dancing the tango. I think Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape variety that should be watched closely from this country. Both of the Cabernet Sauvignons that I tried made a lasting impression on me. What I loved about the reds tasted was the level of extraction and soft, integrated tannins. The wines of Finca el Origen were, in my opinion, approachable yet affordable.

www.fincaelorigen.com

Thank you to Charton Hobbs and WineAlign for having me out for such an enjoyable afternoon!

If you would like to read more about the tasting, you can view the excellent articles written by other WineAlign bloggers:

Tyler Philp
Dan Trcka
Jennifer Hart

Land Of elements: Mendoza from Wines of Argentina on Vimeo.

Meeting Alvaro Palacios

Alvaro Palacios 

Sponsored by Woodman Wine and Spirits, the latest WineAlign event featured the wines of Spanish winemaker, Alvaro Palacios. The evening was held at the Spoke Club, located in the trendy downtown Toronto King West district.

The flight - get ready!

This was a more formal structured tasting of ten wines from three regions of Spain, followed by a tapas reception. We were in for a treat because Alvaro himself conducted the tasting. He kept all of us eager vinophiles engaged as he explained, in great detail, the wine history of Spain and his journey towards becoming a winemaker. Afterward, the reception provided an opportunity to meet the charming winemaker and other WineAlign members. While chatting with Alvaro, I discovered that he and I share an affinity for wine books (mine is really an obsession). Being the wine-book nerd that I am, I lugged my most recent purchase to the tasting and had him sign it. He gladly did with a sparkly silver marker. By the end of the night I found him sitting at a table flipping through the book admiring the pictures. Ah wine books...I just love them! If only I had time to read them all. In the meantime, they look very scholarly sitting on my bookshelf...

The Yummy Grape meets
Alvaro Palacios, one of Spain's most
respected winemakers

If you want to read more about the event,
David Lawrason and John Szabo have a great article: blog.winealign.com/tag/alvaro-palacios

David Lawrason of WineAlign
introducing the wines of
Alvaro Palacios

After studying oenology in Bordeaux, and training under Jean-Pierre Moueix at the renowned Chateau Petrus, Alvaro returned to Spain and helped revolutionize Spanish wine.  He credits his experience in Bordeaux for much of his winemaking philosophy.  It showed him the “importance of great wines” and provided him with a key reference point for his own endeavours.  His wines have won him cult status and are highly respected by the wine press.  The Wine Spectator has called Alvaro “Spain’s Most Exciting Winemaker”, in 2003 Wine & Spirits Magazine named him their “Winemaker-of-the-Year” Decanter has called him “Spain’s most talked about winemaker”. - www.woodmanwineandspirits.com

Alvaro Palacios
www.winesfromspain.com

About Alvaro Palacios on the Decanter website:

www.decanter.com/people-and-places/wine-articles/483732/alvaro-palacios-spanish-wanderer

Rioja
us.riojawine.com

Rioja
From the influence of the Romans thousands of years ago to the innovations brought by Bordeaux, present day Rioja is the region most synonymous with Spain. Here, the Tempranillo grape is king of the reds and Virua exists as queen of the whites.

Priorat
www.online.wsj.com

Alvaro Palacios
Camins del Priorat

Priorat
This region become famous only recently. Old vines and steep terraces not only give way to picturesque views but the wines, modernized and re-invigorated by a group of young winemakers a couple of decades ago, are now highly sought after. Red wines are Grenache-based and often blended with Carignan. The use of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon is often used as well in blending.

Alvaro Palacios, son of the Rioja family of the same name, was the most successful one of a group of pioneers who planted vines on the inhospitable slopes around Gratallops in the late 1980s. In doing so, he helped to change the perception of Priorat's wines forever. - Eyewitness Companions "Wines of the World"

Bierzo
www.winesfromspain.com

Bierzo
Situated in the northwestern part of Spain, this is one of the hot upcoming regions. The rugged landscape and high elevation suit the red Mencia grape which is often found on very old vines.

This wine comes through
Vintages so keep
an eye out

Wine Spectator Top 100 Most Exciting Wines of 2011 #26 
Petalos 2009

Alvaro Palacios built his legend on the stunning wines he has crafted from the farthest reaches of Spain, from Priorat to Bierzo. Palacios’ latest project features another rising star — the obscure Mencía grape. In the Bierzo appellation, perched in the Northwest corner of Spain, ancient Mencía vineyards emerge from the steepest of hillsides, their roots deeply set into unique, mineral-laden soils. Under the skilled hands of Palacios and his nephew, Ricardo Perez Palacios, the forgotten black grape (believed by some to be a cousin of Cabernet Franc), has achieved new heights. The 60- to 100 year-old vines yield less than one ton per acre, resulting in a most concentrated, unique expression of this variety and of the Bierzo terroir. - www.woodmanwinesandspirits.com

www.winealign.com

I urge you to join WineAlign. With excellent reviews by both critics and consumers, it's a one-stop resource for all present and past wines at the LCBO. Plus the articles and videos are cool too! www.winealign.com

             Me encanta el vino!

Check out the great portfolio of Woodman Wines and Spirits, including the wines of Alvaro Palacios: www.woodmanwinesandspirits.com

"Meet the Winemaker" on the DebraMasterofWine YouTube channel

This episode features Alvaro Palacios 

Video about Alvaro Palacios and Priorat

Worth watching for the ariel shots (in Spanish)

Dinner with South Africa

www.spiceroute.ca

Last month I attended a small tasting event hosted by WineAlign and RKW Wine Imports. Located at the trendy Spice Route on King Steet, this intimate tasting featured the wines of Charles Back, a pioneer of the South African wine industry.

On a cold day in the middle of winter, I couldn't think of a better way to spend an otherwise drab Tuesday evening. The evening highlighted five wines from the three properties of Charles Back: Goats Do Roam, Spice Route and Fairview.

Table is set for a great night

I was excited to try the wines and to meet the recognized winemaker. I was also looking forward to listening to that South African accent! South Africa looks like such a picturesque place to visit.  Located on the trading route with the East, the region has been colonized by many throughout history. Ships would stop in South Africa to replenish supplies which often included fortified wines. With the influence of the Dutch, English and French, it is rich with history, culture and of course, wine. The wines are often a good value but sadly, overlooked by many. I should feature more of them on the blog.  One thing that was very apparent throughout the evening was that South Africans have both pride and passion when it comes to their wines.

Charles Back and
myself

Charles told us some funny stories about his goats at Goats Do Roam and how they chose what grape varieties would be in the final blends by what grapes they preferred to eat. Those super tasters! He also told us how he with many others protested at the French Embassy when the French government was trying to sue him over the titles of the wines. One example being "Goats do Roam". Get it? Cote du Rhone - Goats du Roam? I wonder if goats were included in the protest. Needless to say, his stories had us laughing the entire evening.

Goats are awesome

Other funny wine labels that are a bit close to their French counterparts:

Bord Doe (as in Bordeaux)
Goat Door (like in Cote d'Or Burgundy)
Goat-Roti (similar to the famous Rhone appellation of Cote Rotie)

Ok, I can see how the French would be a bit perturbed but really, I think it's playful and ultimately a sign of flattery to these classic regions.  I love the hommage to the Godfather with ...wait for it...The Goatfather. Classic!

www.spiceroutewines.co.za

Wow...look at that view!

The food and wine pairings for the evening. Prepare to salivate...

Wasabi-Crusted Shrimp

Goats do Roam
White

2011 Goats Do Roam White $11.95

I just love the label. This wine is a no-fuss sipper. A blend of Vigonier, Roussane and Grenache Blanc. Good value.

Togarashi Crusted Rare Tun

2010 Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc $14.95

Spice Route
Sauvignon Blanc

Lovely Sauvignon Blanc. I don't know why I was expecting a Sauvignon Blanc with grassy notes, much like a typical one we've come to associate with New Zealand. This wine had citrus flavours such as grapefruit along with wonderful acidity. Good body and length. Another bang for your buck!

Crisp Tempura Calamari

"Spice Route Sauvignon Blanc is grown on the cool rolling hills outside Darling, on the Cape west coast. These trellised Atlantic vineyards are on deep red oakleaf soils, and are amongst the finest Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in South Africa. " - www.spiceroutewines.co.za

"Darling is increasingly regarded as a prime Sauvignon Blanc growing area in the Western Cape. Spice Route’s vineyards on the rolling hills outside this sleepy town are less than 8km from the Atlantic Ocean and its cooling breezes are instantly apparent if one visits the site." - www.spiceroutewines.co.za

Viet Lamb Chop 

Goats do Roam
 Red

2011 Goats Do Roam Red $12.95

Made with classic Rhone varietals which include Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre. Lots of ripe juicy fruit. A hint of spice with smooth tannins. A good burger wine.

Kobe Beef Burger

Fairview Pinotage

2009 Fairview Pinotage $14.95

What is Pinotage?
This is a grape that is unique to South Africa. It's a cross (having two different parent varietals) between the warmer-climate Cinsault grape and the cooler-climate Pinot Noir. I sometimes  find this grape variety to be a hit or miss.  The Fairview was enjoyable.  With ripe black fruit, spice and hints of coffee (I'd like a slim mocha frap please!), it paired well with the Kobe Beef burger.

Spice Route Shiraz

Sorry, no picture of the food! No room left on my phone. Oops.
Note to self, clean up my phone once in a while.

The food paring was Peking Duck.

2009 Spice Route Shiraz $24.95

This was my favourite red of the night. It had such enjoyable fruit, spice and above all, good acidity that helped tie everything together into a well balanced wine.

Charles Back talking about his goats at Goats do Roam

In the current Vintages release (January 21) you can find the Spice Route Chenin Blanc. Give it a try. The highlights from this tasting, for me, were the Sauvignon Blanc and the Shiraz. I think these two varietals express themselves very nicely in the cooler areas of South Africa.  Thanks to WineAlign and RKW Imports for holding such a fun tasting. Looking forward to the next one. I've included a promotional video on South African wine for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

For more information about the wines of Charles Back:
www.fairview.co.za
www.spiceroutewines.co.za
www.goatsdoroam.com

Check out the WineAlign community!
It's a wonderful resource for wines available at the LCBO, right at your fingertips.
www.winealign.com