Weekend Wine

CASA SILVA GRAN TERROIR DE LA COSTA SYRAH 2016

An elegant, full bodied, expression of Syrah from the Chile’s Colchagua Valley (blended with 3% Viognier to give it some aromatic lift). It pays homage to the home of this style, the Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhone, where small amounts of Viognier are often co-fermented with Syrah. It has nuanced aromas and flavours of black and red plum, blueberry, blackberry, vanilla, smoked meat, eucalyptus, leather, and black pepper. It works nicely with robust meats and game.
★★★★½ (out of 5)
Vintages $19.95

ANGELS GATE GEWURZTRAMINER 2019

This wine may be hard to pronounce, but it is great to explore. Its ancestral home is Alsace, but a number of Niagara wineries have this grape in their vineyards. It is often made in an off dry style, but this version is dry with lots of body. In the glass, this wine is quite aromatic showing typical spice, lychee, and rose on the nose. The flavours follow the nose adding in citrus and an attractive Niagara minerality. Serve it with some mild curry or Thai food.

★★★½  (out of 5)

LCBO $13.95 (sale price until November 8)

La Celia Reserva Malbec/Cabernet Franc 2017
This medium bodied wine is from Mendoza, one of the best areas in Argentina for producing Malbec. What makes it interesting is the introduction of Cabernet Franc that lifts the aromatics by adding some red currant, red cherry, and pleasant herbaceous black currant leaf to the typical Malbec dark fruit. It’s dry with soft tannins and would be a good accompaniment for meats with a pesto pasta side.
★★★½ (out of 5)
Vintages $14.95

Tedeschi Valpolicella Capitel Nicalo 2016

Loved the tart red and black cherries, plums, and soaring acidity of this wine. Paired it with tortellini in a pancetta tomato cream sauce

Paul Jaboulet Aine Cote Rotie Les Jamelles 2005

A beautiful 2005 for the first BBQ of the season. Elegant wine with blackberry, black plum, black pepper, and cedar with leather and earthy forest floor. Still has tannic grip and good acidity. Paired with medium rare beef tenderloin.

The Roost Silk Purse Sparkling Red NV

Red sparklers are rare and this one from The Roost Wine Co in the Town of the Blue Mountains, Canada is amazing. It has dark fruit blackberry and cassis, but they dance across your palate lightly since this is sparkling. If you want to get some, you can order this online from them. Enjoy as an aperitif.

Famille Cattin Pinot Gris 2017

Alsatian Pinot Gris is such a different wine compared to Pinot Grigio even if the same grape. It’s rich, unctuous, off dry, brimming with stone fruit, pear, honey, apple, and citrus. Good pairing with chorizo, but would be a great pairing with Thai curry.