Jul 9, 2012
In keeping with a summery theme, this month I’ve chosen a few wines suitable for the classic summer picnic at the park, beach, backyard, pool deck… whichever you may find yourself on. Picnic wines, (like their first cousins ‘patio pleasers’), offer appealing and refreshing character, but must also provide a little more; a touch more structure, texture or subtle savoury notes to enhance the food affinity, bringing out the best in your food and drink.
Las Brisas Blanco – clear, pale straw in colour, with young moderate aromatic notes of flower blossom, white tree fruits, and tropical citrus. The palate is dry, quite fruit forward with moderate acidity, ripe follow up fruit character with slightly candied pear and delicate green herbal hints. This Spanish white makes a match for oysters, mussels and clams or a fruit plate by the beach with a little chevre.
Domaine Nizas Rose – clear, beautiful rosy pink in colour, with a youthful aromatic character offering rose notes, apple skin, delicate red berries, and sweet herbs. Light to medium bodied and dry, with complex orange peel acidity, delicate hints of tangy cherry, strawberry and garden shoots. A great partner for lighter fare from the grill, Gazpacho soup, or an array of salami, ham, Proscuitto and other charcuterie.
Laudun Chusclun Cotes du Rhone Blanc – clear and very pale in colour, with crisp youthful aromas on the nose offering fresh flowers, citrus blossom, and subtle hints of melon, and honey. The palate is dry and medium full bodied, with balanced juicy acidity, subtle richness in the mouth feel and hints of melon, delicate white fruits, and mineral. A terrific wine to have with leftover fried chicken, a fresh summer salad, or grilled turkey sausages.
So, pick your picnics carefully and don’t forget the wine!
Jun 24, 2012
In an attempt to hasten the arrival of the summer weather I am dedicating this to some local BC white wines, well-suited to sipping in a warm comfortable spot in the sun. Wines of refreshing, aromatic, fruit driven character that maintain suitable balance and acidity to keep the palate wanting just one more sip!
Stoneboat ‘Chorus’ White – is a suitably named harmonious white blend including varieties such as Kerner, Schoenburger, Viognier and more. The blend here accentuates the layers of fruit both on the nose and palate with ripe melon, tropical citrus, and hints of honey and mineral. It brings forth a touch of sweetness but retains an excellent crisp refreshing finish.
Stag’s Hollow ‘Con-Fusion’ White – this is another field blend white that tends to vary year by year depending on the vintage. A little more delicate on the nose with light floral white citrus, green apple and stone fruit notes. The relatively dry palate provides ripe follow up fruit, and a thirst-quenching freshness.
Hester Creek Trebbiano – the only BC version of this classic Italian white that I have ever come across. Mid-weight and juicy with warm weather compatible flavours of sweet grass, lemony citrus, and apple-pear notes. A very subtle hint of richness on the palate, and persistent juicy finish make it a perfect picnic wine.
Forbidden Fruit ‘Earth Series’ Sauvignon Blanc – this beauty is made from a clone sourced from Sauternes, and offers an enormous bowl of fruit on the nose. Grapefruits, melon, apricots, guava, and orchard fruit, followed by a palate that is slightly less intense, but remains crisp, and just a touch off dry and will seduce and surprise. Think of it as the anti-Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc!
So once the sunshine gets here, or anytime you need a refresher, try one of these patio pleasers, and sip with a smile!
Apr 26, 2012
I recently had the pleasure of meeting and tasting with John Corcoran from Grgich Hills Estate winery, a winery I have not tasted in a few years, and I was very pleased at the outcome. Grgich Hills is located in Rutherford in California’s NapaValley; and was founded in 1977; one year after winemaker Mike Grgich won the infamous Paris tasting with his 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. They are currently self-proclaimed stewards of the land, and since 2003 produce wines grown exclusively in their own estates. The estate vineyards are certified organic and Bio dynamic, and they operate the winery on solar power.
The wines of Grgich Hills are obviously from California, yet they maintain an interesting, somewhat ‘old world’ style. Limited use of oak, elegant fruit profiles, and consistent acidity and structure all add to the quality, and the expression of the terroir or sense of place. I tasted the Fume Blanc, two vintages of Chardonnay, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and their Yountville Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. My impressions are as follows.
Fume Blanc 2010: delicate youthful aromas of lemongrass, hints of under-ripe melon, slight citrus and green apple notes. The palate is dry, with very crisp acidity and light bodied white citrus, spicy minerality, and grassy notes with a juicy finish. A great wine for light seafood, shellfish or anything with lots of chevre on it.
Chardonnay 2009: mild, youthful bouquet of vanilla, floral, leesy spice notes, with subtle hints of toast, ripe citrus and orchard fruits. The palate is dry, with juicy acidity, medium weight with a slight rich feel. Flavours of citrus, green apple, lees notes, light oak, and a lemony finish make it a match for Brie cheese, pasta in cream sauce, or crab legs and garlic butter.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008: moderate, youthful aromas offer red and black currant, cherry, light sweet oak, licorice, cedar, and delicate leafy notes. It is dry on the palate with moderate balanced structure, juicy acidity, ripe black cherry, cassis, tangy prune and cocoa flavours with a slight toast in the finish. Enjoy with a grilled steak or rack of lamb.
Yountville Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2007: produced in very small quantities, this offers a full nose of youthful sweet hay, toast, prune plum, cassis, savoury sweet pepper, tobacco and delicate woodspice. Dry and full bodied, with a ripe upfront fruit note. The balanced elegant structure, slight grip to the tannins, and chocolate, cherry, cassis, violets, prunes and spice lead into a lingering finish. A match for prime rib, osso bucco, or roasted game.
Nov 24, 2011
There is something very alluring about Scotch whisky, and in particular Single Malt Scotch. It is an aura of mystique, tradition, and the sense of place that true single malts provide. All the great drinks of the world have it. It keeps single malts among the most in-demand of spirits, as well as maintaining its luxury status. The ability to evoke emotion; whether it’s a fond memory, a thrill of excitement as you tantalize your senses, or even the drowning of sorrows, is the calling card of something special. And the whiskies of the Glenfarclas Distillery are something special.
One of the few remaining family-owned and operated highland distilleries, Glenfarclas has been headed by the Grant family for generations, not the Grant family of William Grant’s brand, but another Grant family, (all of them named either John or George). Nestled along the banks of the SpeyRiver in the Highland district, they have been busy distilling since 1836, and continue to create beautiful single malt whiskies to this day. Using premium select barley malt and highland spring water, Glenfarclas whiskies are painstakingly milled, mashed, fermented and batch-distilled in small copper stills and then carefully aged, and finished in oak barrels 60% sherry cask finish and 40% new oak.
The Glenfarclas whiskies are of varying ages and character ranging from 10 year old to 40 year old, as well as special bottlings and a line of single vintage whiskies by year dating back as early as 1953! But one trait shared by all of them is an elegant aromatic character. By using no peat in the malting of the grain, the intense, sometimes bitter, smokey note is not present and so the whiskies become a touch more perfumed and delicate on the nose, enhanced by the influence of the sherry barrels. On the palate these are classic Speyside style single malts. Smooth, and layered with light fruity malt notes, spice, caramel and a lingering warmth, perfect for sipping by the fireplace.
Although not all of the Glenfarclas whiskies are available in British Columbia, my favourites include: the 8 year old which is brilliant as younger single malts go and has a fresher, slightly rustic malty character; and the 15 year old which is a decadent drop that has a seamless profile from start to finish offering dried fruit notes, nutty, toasty caramel, and baking spice that just drifts on the palate. So, if you find yourself in the vicinity of a comfortable spot, ready for some well-deserved luxury, pour yourself a glass of Glenfarclas and enjoy.
Cheers!
Michael Kompass
Nov 24, 2011
There is something very alluring about Scotch whisky, and in particular Single Malt Scotch. It is an aura of mystique, tradition, and the sense of place that true single malts provide. All the great drinks of the world have it. It keeps single malts among the most in-demand of spirits, as well as maintaining its luxury status. The ability to evoke emotion; whether it’s a fond memory, a thrill of excitement as you tantalize your senses, or even the drowning of sorrows, is the calling card of something special. And the whiskies of the Glenfarclas Distillery are something special.
One of the few remaining family-owned and operated highland distilleries, Glenfarclas has been headed by the Grant family for generations, not the Grant family of William Grant’s brand, but another Grant family, (all of them named either John or George). Nestled along the banks of the SpeyRiver in the Highland district, they have been busy distilling since 1836, and continue to create beautiful single malt whiskies to this day. Using premium select barley malt and highland spring water, Glenfarclas whiskies are painstakingly milled, mashed, fermented and batch-distilled in small copper stills and then carefully aged, and finished in oak barrels 60% sherry cask finish and 40% new oak.
The Glenfarclas whiskies are of varying ages and character ranging from 10 year old to 40 year old, as well as special bottlings and a line of single vintage whiskies by year dating back as early as 1953! But one trait shared by all of them is an elegant aromatic character. By using no peat in the malting of the grain, the intense, sometimes bitter, smokey note is not present and so the whiskies become a touch more perfumed and delicate on the nose, enhanced by the influence of the sherry barrels. On the palate these are classic Speyside style single malts. Smooth, and layered with light fruity malt notes, spice, caramel and a lingering warmth, perfect for sipping by the fireplace.
Although not all of the Glenfarclas whiskies are available in British Columbia, my favourites include: the 8 year old which is brilliant as younger single malts go and has a fresher, slightly rustic malty character; and the 15 year old which is a decadent drop that has a seamless profile from start to finish offering dried fruit notes, nutty, toasty caramel, and baking spice that just drifts on the palate. So, if you find yourself in the vicinity of a comfortable spot, ready for some well-deserved luxury, pour yourself a glass of Glenfarclas and enjoy.
Cheers!
Michael Kompass
