Another Great Week!

One interesting wine tasting week after another! Spain, Provence, and Scotch were the main features this week, including Robbie Burns birthday of course. A couple of more Wine Fest wines are on the list as well, along with a South African label from Opimian.

Starting with Spain we have the Montgó Old Vines Monastrell 2015 (NLC $17.99) from Wine Fest, one of my Good Value picks from the show. The Monastrell (also known as Mataró elsewhere in Spain and Mourvèdre in France) is usually a grape with deep red fruit flavours, earthy aromas, and strong tannic support. It is an important part of the GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) blends common to Mediterranean France and Spain. This wine is a good example of the grape, and retains my recommendation as a good value. There are a handful of these bottles left in the province. Score 15/Very Good.

The next two Spanish wines rank in a higher quality category. Monasterio de las Viñas, Gran Reserva 2005, DO Cariñena is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, and 10% Cariñena. Over a decade of aging has evolved wonderful tertiary fruit flavours which are supported in a silky tannic structure. Score 17/Excellent.

From DO Ribera del Duero we have an Opimian selection, Loess Inspiration 2015, which is 100% Tempranillo. In contrast to the Monasterio, this wine shows its youth in its vibrant fruit and hearty structure. Although it can be enjoyed now, it will benefit from cellaring for at least a few years. Score: 17/Excellent.

Neiss Pinot Grigio 2016, Pfalz, Germany (NLC $19.98) and Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Darlington Hills, South Africa (Opimian) were white wine selections this week. The Neiss showed an unusual rosemary-like accent in its white fruit aroma. Score: 14.5/Good. The Groote Post is closer in style to the Loire than Marlbourough. Lime and similar citrus flavours are on display in this medium body label. Score: 15.5/Good.

Two events finished up this delicious week. Robbie Burn’s birthday was celebrated with a tasting of Scotch, and the traditional haggis, at the Officers’ Mess at CFS St. John’s. Each of the sips was exceptional, including: Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask, Auchentoshen 21 Year Old, Highland Park Dark Origins, Bowmore Vault Edition No 1, and Highland Park Fire.

My favourite of the night was the Laphroig Cairdeas 2017 Quarter Cask. The distinct peat aromatics came with iodine and smoke components. There was an amazing explosion of complex flavours in the mouth: wheat, dry fruit, bread, nuts, and vanilla were the most readily identifiable. For honourable mentions I would list the Auchentoshen (tangerine citrus, light straw, honey, dry fruit, caramel) and the Bowmore (medium peat, iodine, salt, citrus, and dry fruit).

Hungry Heart Café put off a delicious multi-course menu inspired by the cuisine of Provence. Although we started with the Condes de Albarei Albarino, DO Rias Baixas, Spain (NLC $22.54), we picked an actual Provence white wine: La Vieille Ferme, Côtes du Luberon Blanc (NLC $16.30) for the main meal. For red we picked an AC Côtes du Rhône, the closest we could get to Provence: Château Saint-Jean 2016 (NLC $22.99). The Albarino was fresh, lively, and inviting. Score:15.5/Good. The Luberon was fruity and aromatic with good weight in the mouth as a food wine. Score: 15/Good. The Saint-Jean was brilliant with juicy red fruit and soft tannins. Score: 16/Very Good.