Wine Show Preview

The annual NLC Wine Show is only a couple of weeks away, and activities and excitement are beginning to pick up already. It’s still possible to get tickets, and agents are busy promoting their wines for the show. There are a few pre-event dinners and tastings being offered (I will report on one of those next time).

I have already attended a tasting by Collingwood Spirits and Wines in which they showcased the wines they will be offering at the Show. You can even preorder their wines to avoid the line-ups at the event itself, and to ensure you get what you want! Below are some of the wines that I found to be particularly good, or good value, or both. (Note that I was not able to taste the entire range available.)

White Wines

There were a couple of great value white wines that should be in high demand, as well as other good buys. I have also listed a few expensive bottles, but they were so good they are worth it!

The first is the Pagadebit, DOC Romagna from Italy ($18.30) which is a blend of 90% Bombino Bianca with a splash of Sauvignon Blanc. It shows lots of wonderful aromatics, both floral and citrus, and comes with delicious acidity. Score:15/Very Good.

Another great value, one of the rare offerings locally of wines from Languedoc-Roussillon, and made from the unique Picpoul de Pinet grape variety is the Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet 2014 ($17.28). This wine has a wonderful mouthfeel to go with the tropical fruit and citrus zest of the aromatics. Let’s hope this wine makes it from the Show to be a regular listing. Score:15/Very Good.

All my other white wine recommendations are Chardonnays. A couple of lovely Burgundies lead the way, although they would be classified in the premium price range (> $25). These wines stood out from the rest in the expression of their qualities – exceptionally well balanced, delicate use of oak, delicous aromatic complexity, and long pleasurable finish.

Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin, AC Chablis ($33.57) – fresh and intense – Score: 16/Very Good

Vincent Girardin Savigny-les-Beaunes 1re Cru 2011, Les Marconnets ($51.89) – quality white Burgundy at a price worth considering – Score: 16.5/Very Good.

The Roost Chardonnay ($40.68) from Mendocino County, California is also a well made wine, definitely in the New World style with more overt baked apple fruit, creaminess, and texture. Score: 16/Very Good.

For the more price-conscious New World style drinker we have the Bonterra Chardonnay ($18.81) which is also from Mendocino County. This wine shows tropical fruit as well as lemon citrus, with elements of cream and toasted nuts. Score: 15.5/Very Good.

Red Wine

There were a few Pinot Noir wines in the tasting, but the one I both liked the best, and offered the best value, somewhat surprisingly, was the Pelee Island Pinot Noir Reserve, VQA Ontario ($16.50). This is frankly a great price for a wine which shows all the best characteristics of the variety: sweet cherry with a touch of earthiness on the nose, followed by sweet ripe fruit in the mouth, and no bitterness. Medium-weight, good acidity, good finish. Score: 15/Very Good.

There were a few heavy hitters with equally weighty price tags, but they are so well done that they need to be listed anyway. These are all New World style wines with emphasis on perfectly ripe fruit and big flavours.

The McNab ($61.04) is a blend of Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a touch of Malbec from the epynomous vineyard in Mendocino County. Sweet red and black fruit, herbs, spice, and chocolate are amply displayed, but this wine also shows finesse and a silky finish. Score: 16/Very Good.

The Concha Y Toro Terrunyo Cabernet Sauvignon ($40.68) from the Maipo Valley in Chile is a quintessential “cab” – black currant fruit and pencil lead aromas, evident but smooth tannins, and a long finish. Score: 16/Very Good.

The 1000 Stories Zinfandel 2013 ($35.61) from Mendocino County is rounded out with some Petite Sirah and Syrah, as well as being aged in Bourbon oak barrels to add additional complexity to what might have been a simple fruit bomb.Raspberry and blackberry flavours are evident, supported with spice and herbs, to make this quite enjoyable. Score:15.5/Very Good.

My list concludes with two more good value buys, the first, from Mendocino County once again (with some Lake County), the Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon ($20.06). This is good New World Cab with solid fruit, good balance, and structure. Score: 15/Very Good.

My final wine returns to France, this time the Southwest corner where we have a Malbec from Cahors, the Haute Côt(e) de Fruit ($20.33). The name is a play on the local name for the grape which is Côt. Old-fashioned Cahors was very tannic and needed lots of aging, but Argentina changed the perspective on Malbec with softer tannins and more fruit. This wine falls somewhere in between, with smooth drinkable structure, and perhaps more finesse and elegance with the fruit. Score: 15/Very Good.

Next Blog

I expect to have more wine show previews next week.