November 26,2014
Wine writer Chrisopher Waters from the Toronto Sun writes
“A well made rosé can be one of the best matches for the classic holiday feast of turkey, cranberry sauce, and all the fixings.”
November 24,2014
I recently tasted some relatively inexpensive Bordeaux wines at the Bordeaux Under One Roof tasting in New York City. There were many standout wines from Bordeaux for fair value.
This wine first caught my attention for its name and not for any fancy attention getting label design. You will note that there are no pictures of red sox on the bottle. The label is plain and to the point.
2008 Chateau Boston from the AOC of Margaux, Bordeaux has a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. This 2008 was ready to drink and is delicious. At a SRP of $34 this is a fair deal.
November 20,2014
Today November 20,2014 is Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2014.
The first wine of the season is upon us from Beaujolais region of France. Just weeks after harvest Beaujolais Nouveau wine is bottled and ready for sale. Each third Thursday in November is celebrated in France marking Beaujolais Nouveau Day.
Beaujolais Nouveau wine is from the Gamay grape grown in the Beaujolais region of France.
The wine is made using the carbonic maceration method which results in juicy fresh fruit filled wine that is easy to drink. However, this wine is best drunk sooner than later as it loses its freshness within 8 months.
Lets pop that cork and celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2014.
Here are a couple of names you should try
Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Nouveau ERP $9
Despres Domaine de la Madone Beaujolais Nouveau ERP $12
November 12,2014
As Thanksgiving is approaching the plans are being made for the feast with the turkey being the centerpiece.
We all have our own traditions for what we will serve with the juicy turkey and we all have that person that we entrust the carving knife with. But we fret about what wine do we serve.
Lighter bodied wines are the best choice with Beaujolais Nouveau becoming the word of the day.
Thanksgiving is an opportunity to enjoy some more dry rosé wines from Provence. These wines are fresh and elegant. The great structure of these wines make them enjoyable with all the Thanksgiving Day flavors.
From the book Provence Food and Wine: The Art of Living, we find a recipe perfect for this Fall season and Thanksgiving Day.
November 10,2014
Bordeaux -There Is So Much to Discover
The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) has just initiated a new advertising campaign to continue their “Bordeaux of Tomorrow Strategy”.
This campaign re-imagines the classic Bordeaux wine to reflect the young, innovative and environmentally conscientious wine makers of today.
Bordeaux represents 25% of Frances AOC wine region with its estimated 6,800 wine makers producing red, white, rosé, sweet and sparkling wine,
Bordeaux not only offers an infinite number of possibilities, both accessible and affordable, but with it are a world of stories from the people who transform grape to wine to bottle.
Let’s start tasting to find our Favorite Wine from Bordeaux.
Truly “There IS So Much To Discover” just in Bordeaux.
November 7,2014
What a winemaker like Thomas Brown and a rock star team can do for your wines.
Robert Parker gave extraordinary reviews last month to the wines of Schrader that included words of praise for the 2012 Schrader RBS of “a killer full bodied, super duper, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon”.
The good news continues with preliminary 2013 barrel scores with several expected to achieve that prized 100 point rating.
Congratulations and good drinking.
September 30,2014
Hold the dosage (sugar) please. This is the first time since 1974 that the Louis Roederer champagne house has created a new cuvee. With the warmer weather in Champagne over the recent years the wines were needing less and less sweetening.
The thinking for producing a no dosage champagne started in the very warm year of 2003 in Champagne. Since the champagne house must maintain the house style, his was no small feat for the chief wine maker Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon to create.
The Roederer champagne house is known for its high-quality, age-worthy, and mainly non-malolactic cuvées with minimal oxygen influence during wine making which results in balanced and soft Champagne.
In 2006 for this champagne the grapes were picked when riper than the grapes would normally be for making a brut version. As a result of the lower sugar level the wine making process was altered. 50% of the wine was aged in 9,000 litre oak casks and the pressure was reduced to 4.5 bars vs 6 bars of pressure.
Another effect is that the no dosage also creates earlier oxidation to the wine. Sugars acted as an anti oxidant.
This is a small production cuvee with 60,000 bottles produced. The next warm year to expect a no dosage cuvee will be the release of the 2009 vintage.
September 9,2014
My favorite restaurant in Saint Emilion, France, that is if you are the Bouard de la Forest family is Logis de la Cadene. It is now one year ago that their favorite restaurant is part of the Château Angelou’s properties.
Alexander Boumard is their Chef. Using seasonal local produce he creates for us his elegant versions of French cuisine.
Does Agneau,selle farcie, en croûte d’herbes, fèves et petits pois à la française ( lamb stuffed and crusted with herbs and served with beans and small peas french style get your attention?
And now from the wine list, how does the 1955 Château Angelus in a magnum sound to you?
This could be your favorite wine.
August 28,2014
DOC Trãs os Montes
Vinho Regional Transmontano
Trás os Montes translates to “Beyond the Mountains”.
Trás os Montes is the wine region located in the northeastern corner of Portugal next to the 
Vinho Verde region and above the Douro region. Beyond the Mountains they are. The mountain ranges create a break from any coastal influences and provide its own influences. Many wineries have their vineyards at altitudes of 1,150 to 2,300 feet above sea level. The soils of this region are mostly granite and schist. With the mountains and valleys there are many micro climates but in general the climate is continental with very cold winters and dry hot summers.
Trás os Montes has three sub regions where Vinhi Regional Transmontano can receive 
the denomination of origin status.
1) Planalto Mirandés
2) Valpacos
3) Chaves
The main grape varieties grown in Trás os Montes region are
White varieties: Côdega de Larinho, Fernão Pires, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, Síria and Viosinho.
Red varieties: Bastardo, Marufo, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira.
August 25,2014
The Távora Varosa region borders the Douro to the north and the Dao region to the south.
In Távora Varosa the vineyards are planted in granite and schist soils at 1600 to 2600 feet above sea level. The climate is continental with very cold and wet winters and hot and dry summers. With the vineyards at the altitudes of 1600 to 2600 feet above sea level there are much cooler nights allowing the grapes to maintain their acidity and fresh fruit flavor. With such qualities, the grapes are best used to produce sparkling wines.
The main grape varieties grown in Távora Varossa region are:
White varieties: Bical, Cerceal, Chardonnay, Fernão Pires, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Pinot Branco
Red varieties: Aragonez, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca
