Canadian Thanksgiving

Hey, fellow winos, it’s Ryan

I’m sitting here in my parent’s backyard in Kelowna, British Columbia. It’s a beautiful sunny fall afternoon but you can definitely tell the cold weather is slowly moving in. The sun is shining, the sky is blue but the leaves are starting to turn that beautiful golden colour. It’s Thanksgiving weekend.

I thought that since we are having Canadian Thanksgiving, let's choose a selection of Canadian wines that I think would be perfect for your family’s table this weekend. Sure I could recommend some Beaujolais from France or some Gewürztraminer from Germany but let’s drink local this weekend and celebrate our nations finest. 

Everything I'm recommending below pairs well with chicken, turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, and into dessert... you name it-I'm pairing it. 

N.V. Henry Of Pelham, Cuvée Catharine Rosé Brut, Niagara Peninsula, Canada at $29.95
"Pale salmon colour with fine beads; enticing aromas of brioche, wild strawberry and lemon curd; extra dry, medium bodied, with flavours of biscuits, strawberry rhubarb pie, fresh apples and a creamy textured mousse." Says the LCBO. 

2017 Closson Chase K.J. Watson Vineyard, Pinot Gris, P.E.C. Canada at $22.95
"Honey-dipped pear, apricot and exotic spice aromas are precursors to a luscious balanced and beautiful gusher of racy lemon curd and pineapple interwoven with tingly spice on the palate and a dry, lip-smacking finish. This is medium weight and unoaked with plenty of creamy-smooth mouthfeels and mouth-watering, mineral-laced aftertaste; it's crisp, clean and refreshing," says Vic Harradine from winecurrent.com. 

2015 Charles Baker Picone Vineyard Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Canada at $37.20

"... only very recently bottled ... and done entirely up with a wild, indigenous ferment. Youth calls out as the understatement in where this sits ... Citrus never had it so good in Picone and aridity is a five letter word. That word is not yet written but should see to utterance and put to paper in a year or so. For now, this needs some fat in your diet, like pork belly or some particularly sharp charcuterie" says Michael Godel from winealign.com 

2015 Culmina Dilemma Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, Canada at $47.95

"Reminiscent of a lightly browned galette, Dilemma envelops the senses with pronounced baked apple, pear, mineral, and fresh green cardamom pod aromas. Integrated fresh tree fruit flavours follow, girdled together by stone, classic oak toast, and caramelized butter characters. A surprisingly firm acid backbone carries the generous palate through to the long, briny finish." as per producers tasting notes. For the nerds out there (like me) oak use was 35% New French Oak 35% Used French Oak 30% Stainless Steel. 

2016 Tawese Gamay Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Canada at $19.95 

Five years deep the Tawse Gamay continues down a (Côte de Brouilly) Beaujolais cru road with a consistency of style, making use of one-fifth new oak for eight months. The fruit darkens to variegated inflections of blackberry and black cherry with a decidedly toasty char. A silty streak of mineral salts runs through this meaty gamay like a vein of sapid caramel in a roll of bresaola. There is quite a bit of gastronomy in the '16 so it should be both food versatile and develop further character for two to three years. I see some licorice, porchetta in its not too distant future." says Michael Godel from winealign.com 

P.S. Don't forget to chill this one, at least a little bit. 

2016 Closson Chase Vineyard, Pinot Noir, P.E.C. Canada at $34.95

"Bright red fruit, cherries, smoked meat, earth and white pepper are displayed in the nose. The fruit carries through to the palette, dried cheery skins, beets, spices and the minerality that defines the County is all there. Floral nuances, cedar and those tea like tannins round out the finish." says Closson Chase. 

P.S. - This is a staple in my home, year after year! 

2015 Stratus, Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula, Canada at $38.65

"With fourteen different blocs dating back to 1986, barrel and bloc selection always result in distinctive, complex and age-worthy Cabernet Franc from the Stratus vineyard. Aromatics of cassis, white pepper, steeped tea, black plum, oak char, and herbs de Provence crescendo into a well-structured and nicely balanced wine on the palate. The cool climate vibrancy of acidity and tannin is beautifully supported by ripe, sweet red and black fruits that echo throughout an ever-evolving finish." says Stratus. 

2016 Cave Spring, Indian Summer Riesling, Niagara Peninsula, Canada at $24.95
"This sweet wine offers aromas and flavours of apples and honey. It is balanced enough that it could be paired with spicy Asian noodle dishes, as there is ample acidity to curtail some of the sweetness. It is finished with 75 g/L residual sugar." says Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast. 

Serve chilled in tiny glasses to sip and savour with dessert. 

Jackson-Triggs Reserve Vidal Ice Wine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada at $34.95"Nectar-like in both flavour and texture, this Icewine boasts delectable notes of honey and vanilla, which are perfectly complemented by bight green apple and citrus zest. The lush and creamy mouthfeel is perfectly supported by a vibrant, fresh acidity, while flavours of lemon candy linger on the finish," says Jackson-Triggs. 

Happy Sipping,

Ryan 

4 wines under $20 - Vintages Release Saturday April14th

Hey Fellow Wino's

Spring is here...ok who are we kidding, it's rainy, cool and miserable outside with a chance of freezing rain over the next several days.

Miserable weather = Indoor dinner parties, if possible, by the fireplace with lots of wine.

2015 Viognier, I.G.P. Pays d'Oc (South of France) at $14.95 
This pleasantly floral wine will offer a rich smooth honeycomb/waxy texture to its ripe peaches, mango and applesauce flavors. You should chill and pair with taco's, pulled pork sandwiches or if I was pairing this, Hawaiian pizza! Viognier is famous from Condrieu in the Northern Rhone, and while this wine will not be as complex and well structured, it's great Taco/Pizza wine at a great price!

#SommTrick = The ripe tropical fruit notes in the wine will match, wait for it, tropical fruit.

2015 Syrah, South of France at $17.95

Syrah or Shiraz, same thing! Well, Shiraz is the term the Aussie's use down-under for their peppered fruit forward wines and the French use the term Syrah, more earth and harmonized fruit with pepper flavors. Shiraz is a loud motorcycle on a quiet neighborhood street and Syrah is like a Porsche on the old streets of Montreal...somehow it just works better. 97% Syrah, 3% Grenache with half aged in large concrete eggs and the other half in French barrels for 9 months. This is not Cote Rotie or Hermitage from the Northern Rhone (best place for Syrah), but for the price, I say turn up the BBQ, toss on some ribs and slurp up some warmth in a glass.

#SommTrick the pepper nuances of the Syrah grape will match the bold, spicy BBQ sauce. 

2015 Fleurie, Beaujolais at $19.95

Fleurie is one the 10 Cru's of Beaujolais and with this being from the legendary 2015 vintage, surely a great deal. What separates basic Beaujolais from one of the 10 Cru's (10 plots of land) is that these wines are more structured (acid, alcohol, body)  and age-worthy than simple generic level Beaujolais. This wine made from the Gamay grape should be violet colored with notes of violets, ripe red fruit and possibly some dark fruit as well. I would pair this with Coq Au Vin or Boeuf Bourguignon and a fireplace, or at a minimum, the fireplace channel on Netflix. 

#SommTrick - Not all red wines should be served at "room temperature" 15C-18C. This wine could be served closer to 15C i.e. a tinge of cool. Side Rant - never serve any wine at 21C or whatever your home temperature is! #15MinFridge 

2015 Barbera d'Asti, Piedmont at $19.95

Piedmont Italy is home to Barolo and Barbaresco, legendary, amazing, long-lived seductive and tannic beautiful wines that can haunt your soul for days. The problem is that those wines come with a price, which leads most people who live in Piedmont to drink Barbera, this one from the town of Asti.  Is this the finest example, no, but Barbera to me is not a show horse, it's a workhorse, as it is the most widely planted varietal in Piedmont. Perfect for a rich northern Italian stew, roast, pasta or pizza...but not a Bianco pizza, surely! 

#SommTrick - 2015 was a hot vintage, so try and see if you can taste the slightly lowered acid in the wine and riper/overripe fruit notes such as plum, soft blackberry, blueberry. 

Browse some classic recipes like Coq Au Vin and plan a romantic meal with you and a loved one over a nice bottle of wine. 

Happy Sipping 

Ryan