Tasting Notes - Nov 15, 2009

This week I didn't really do any formal tastings but I did have some enjoyable wines, two of which happen to be wines that I've been meaning to try anyways. Lucky day!

St. Francis Chardonnay 2007 $19.95
I discovered this wine from Sonoma last year which would have been the 2006 vintage release. I loved it...people loved it. The cases were flying off the shelves at my local wine shop. This year, the wine is just as good. However, it does have a heavier oak flavour than last year. If you love that big, buttery, oaky California Chardonnay then you'll enjoy this wine. The grapes were sourced mostly from the Russian River valley and the wine aged in both French and American oak. This wine is full-bodied, creamy and feels like golden butter going down. But don't let the oak scare you. It's not so full of oak that you can't enjoy the fruit.

Pierre Amadieu La Grangeliere Vacqueyras 2007 $21.95
This wine is from the Southern region of France, specifically, the Rhone. I think this is one of my favourite wine regions. Vacqueyras is located not to far from the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape village. I find that wines from Vacqueyras and Gigondas are nice alternatives to the more expensive Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Although, Gignondas wines can be a bit on the expensive side nowadays. This wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. 50% of the wine was aged in new oak and you can really tell by the intense aroma.

Amity Vineyards Pinot Noir $23.95
A friend of mine opened this for us girls during a small house-warming get together. Let it sit for a few minutes just after opening and you'll be delighted. It's a nice Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Too bad I accidentally knocked over a glass. I hope the floor enjoyed it. This wine is medium-bodied with all those flavours typical of a Pinot Noir such as strawberry, cranberry and cinnamon spice. Oregon is known for their fabulous Pinot Noir. Next time you're in your wine shop, see if you can find something from this region. I don't think that you'll be disappointed.

Organized Crime and the Foreign Affair

On a visit to the Twenty Valley, my favourite wine region of Ontario, I decided to try a new (well, new for me) winery called Organized Crime. I have to admit that I've driven past this winery a few times and have never bothered to go in. Well, that was certainly my loss and I will never make that mistake again. Lesson learned: never make a snap judgment because you could be missing out on something good. Organized Crime is a small boutique winery located what's known as the "Beamsville Bench" of the Niagara Peninsula. The tasting/shop area is small but very cozy, with a nice display of the wines and various pieces of artwork on the wall. It was just my luck that the winemaker himself happened to be there! It was fate. The wine gods wanted me to continue my adventure of fine-wine drinking. It also happens to be that he's Polish, as are the owners, of the winery. What a coincidence...that's a part of my heritage! The wines were smooth, soft and delicious. Each variety of wine was labeled with a part of the Organized Crime story. The winemaker also makes wines for another winery called Foreign Affair. He took us there for some more tastings after our visit at Organized Crime.

The name of the winery is from local history. Sometime in the 1900s, there were two Mennonite churches who were in an argument with eachother over the acquisition of a pipe organ. When the one church acquired the musical instrument, the members of the other church stole it and tossed it down an embankment. Needless to say, the organ was destroyed. The winery has a very diverse portfolio with wines made from varieties such as Pinot Gris, Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Sryah just to name a few plus two blended reds that are just fantastic. Some of the wines have interesting names such as "The Download" which is their signature red.

http://www.organizedcrimewine.com

The consultant winemaker for Organized Crime, Andrzej Lipinski, also makes the wines at Foreign Affair. The wine labels of Foreign Affair are also like small pieces of artwork. Each label features an animal such as a moose or a polar bear. What's interesting about both winery bottle labels is that the labels are textured and feel neat when running your fingers over them. An interesting fact with the production of these wines is that they are made in the Apassimento method (grapes that air-dried after harvest). This gives the wines body and lots of flavour. Shazam!

http://www.foreignaffairwine.com


Back in September, Andrzej was in Toronto pouring his wines at a tasting event at the Fine Wine Reserve on King Street. I think he brought almost every single wine in the Organized Crime portfolio! After spending some time with him over a couple of dinners and more than a few bottles of his wines, the passion that he has for his craft is inspiring. The way that he describes the wines and the various methods that went into their production, make me appreciate them even more. It's interesting to hear him talk about his past and the path taken to where he is today. Having stumbled into winemaking has proven to be a treat for anyone who drinks his wines! I am a huge fan.


A great article about Andrzej Lipinski:
http://www.snooth.com/articles/commentary/canadian-wine-people-o-andrzej-lipinski

Twenty Valley consists of the areas of Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan. There are some fantastic wineries in this area that are definitely worth visiting. The area is before Niagara-on-the-Lake and only about an hour from Toronto. For more information on the Twenty Valley:
http://www.twentyvalley.ca

I love the NightLife

Last week, I attended a wine event (I know, shocking!) brought to you by the iYellow Wine Club (a free wine social club in Toronto so sign up!). This event featured wines from Napa, California. The night started off with a bang as I acquired a head injury even before entering the event. My head made friends with a large metal door. A perfect way to soothe a head bump is wine of course and I certainly was on my way to the right place. The event took place in the historic Great Hall, on Queen Street West. I love this area of Queen Street. There are so many galleries and interesting stores...not to mention good restaurants.

http://www.thegreathall.ca

I love the way the Great Hall was decorated for the evening. Dj Dinamo and Dj Sam EfSharp Flemming were playing some good tunes (as usual, I busted a move on the dancefloor after a few...um...samples). There were 20 wineries sampling their wines at this event. I have to say that the wines that stood out for me this night were the Syrahs and the Sauvignon Blancs. Of course, there was plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon to go around! No California wine show would be complete without the great King Cabernet Sauvignon.

The setup for the evening was one which had all the wineries along the perimeter of the hall, allowing people to freely mix and mingle. There were tables in the center, along with tasty bites to eat. Angela, the lovely lady behind the iYellow Wine Club was sporting some great boots. I love her sense of style. Great taste in wine and fashion go a long way in my books.

The picture to the left is one of Angela and myself showing off our boots at the end of the event. Below is yours truly taking a break from dancing. This time I had some fellow wine tasters join me!


For myself, the wines that stood out were:

Chimney Rock Elevage Bordeaux Blend
This wine is made in the tradition of wines from the right-bank of the Bordeaux region.
www.chimneyrock.com

Peju Sauvignon Blanc Persephone Vineyard 2008
Interesting fact about this wine is that the grapes are harvested in three stages of ripeness to create a complex blended wine.

Peju Cabernet Sauvignon Persephone Vineyard 2005
www.peju.com

Cuvaison Pinot Noir 2007 Los Carneros
One of the only few Pinot Noirs of the night, but always a pleaser.
www.cuvaison.com

Frias Syrah 2006
I have a bottle of the 2005 in my wine rack. I can't wait to drink it. The 2006 was also super.
www.friasfamilyvineyard.com

John Anthony Syrah 2006
The winemaker himself was pouring the wines and I enjoyed tasting each of them!
www.javwine.com

Toronto is fortunate to have dedicated organizations like the iYellow Wine Club to bring these types of events to the city. I love California wines and the NightLife event provided a way to showcase the region.

For more information on Napa Valley:
www.napavitners.com

Maybe one day I'll be blogging from Napa! I can't wait.

Event Alert!
The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is coming up in a few weeks here in Toronto. It's always a lot of fun. Sadly, I won't be pouring wines this year. I'll be on the floor tasting! :)
For more information: http://www.foodandwineexpo.ca

Purchase VIP tickets with the iYellow Wine Club and save money on the VIP evening:
http://www.iyellowwineclub.com/2009/10/gfwe-iyellow-vip-green-room.html

This year, the wines of Portugal will be featured. See you there!