Château Rochecolombe Côte du Rhône 2009, Rhône, France

Deep violet colour, this Côte Du Rhône is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. This wine opens up with aromas of blackberry, dark plum, black olives, spices, toasty oak and espresso notes. On the mouthfeel medium to full bodied with alcohol at 14.7 %, balanced acidity and gritty tannins. The finish is medium length with dark fruit, pepper and toasty oak notes lingering. This is one of those wine I don’t get, I don’t smell Grenache at all, it smells more like Mourvèdre to me. What I am not fond of is the mouthfeel, it’s a little to rustic and to much toasty oak characteristic for my palate. It is not a bad wine for $15.00, but this is not something I would want to revisit. Score 86 points.
  
This wine was purchased December 10, 2011 LCBO New Release at $14.95.

Pairing wines with turkey – Holiday Wines

It is often at this time of the holiday season that I am asked for suggestions on what to pair with a Christmas turkey dinner, or a few suggestions on a more expensive wine to purchase for get-togethers over the Holidays. I thought I would give you a list of suggestions both red or white which may work for you.  Some reds go well with turkey and expensive is not always the best unless they are ready to drink now (great question to ask at point of purchase).

There is always a lot of flavour happening on a Christmas dinner plate; the turkey, gravy, stuffing with dry fruit, nuts, rice, bread or citrus fruits, potatoes, vegetables, bread or biscuits and tourtière. This is without including dessert and appetizers.  My recommendations are wines (both red and white) with as little sugar as possible, low alcohol and dry.

White Wines;  My suggestions for white wines are Chablis (Chardonnay grape, from Burgundy France), Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc with no oak or very little oak ( you want a wine with food friendly acidity) like these;

• Montes Classic Series Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Chile (159954) at $12.95 13.5% Alcohol (General list wine)
• Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from New Zealand (35386) at $16.95 13.5% Alc.
• Domaine De Vaugondy Dry Vouvray 2010 from France (189142) at $14.95 12.5% Alc. (Vouvray is a Chenin Blanc wine)
• Winery of Good Hope Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc 2009 from South Africa (739995) at $14.95 13.5% Alc.
• Château Des Charmes Old Vines Riesling 2008 from Ontario (277228) at $16.95 12% Alc. (This wine is medium dry)
• Domaine Bernard Defaix Côte de Lechet Reserve Chablis 1er Cru 2008 from France (017541) at $34.95 13% Alc. (Chablis is made out of Chardonnay grape)
• Inama Vin Suave Classico 2009 from Italy (949768) at $17.95 13.5% Alc.

Red Wines; What you should be looking for is a lighter wine with low tannins and alcohol, good acidity with more fruit than oak. During the holidays I usually recommend Beaujolais (Burgundy 2009 vintage), Pinot Noir, a Sangiovese based wine, Zinfandel and mature Rioja like these;

• Duboeuf Beaujolais Brouilly 2009 from France (277228) at $16.95% 12.7% Alcohol
• Masi Campofiorin 2007 from Italy (155051) at $17.95 13% Alc.
• Macrostie Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 from California (012740) at $38.95 14.2% Alc.
• Valiano Poggio Teo Chianti Classico 2006 from Italy (250563) at $17.95% 13.5% Alc.
• Volpaia Chianti Classico 2008 from Italy (953828) at $21.95 13.5%
• La Montesa Rioja 2008 from Spain (10556993) at $20.05 13.5% Alc. (This wine is available at the SAQ in Quebec)
• Ramon Bilbao Gran Reserva 2004 from Spain (244715) at $29.95 13.5% Alc. (Reviewed on this blog Dec 19)
• Château Ségur de Cabanac 2004 from France (243287) at $39.95 13% Alc. (For those who would prefer a full bodied Bordeaux ready to drink and reviewed on this blog Dec 12)
• Elderton Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2008 from Australia (976423) at $39.95. 14.5% (Also reviewed on this blog on October 13)

Have fun and remember to ask the product consultant at your local wine shop what your looking for.  Trust your tastes and enjoy.  Happy Holidays.

Ramon Bilbao Gran Reserva 2004, Rioja, Spain

Until this year, I had never enjoyed any of Ramon Bilbao wines. After trying their Tempranillo Edition Limitada 2007 I thought I would taste their Gran Reserva 2004. This wine has a complex  sensuous bouquet of wild berries, stewed fruit, Asian spices, cedar and leather. On the palate this wine is medium to full bodied (with alcohol at 13.5%) with elegant smooth texture, fresh acidity and silky tannins. This Gran Reserva finish is very smooth, spicy and savoury. This wine is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano and 5% Grenache, aged 30 months in American oak casks. Once bottled it is further aged 36 months at the vineyards underground facility before release. This is a very aromatic and elegant, mature and sophisticated wine, ready to enjoy on it's own or pretty much any food. I paired this wine with roast chicken with a bacon and mushroom sauce and it was just perfect. Would definitely make a nice Christmas gift. Strongly recommended. Score 91 Points.  

This wine was purchased December 10, 2011 LCBO New Release at $29.95.

Kilikanoon Parable Shiraz 2007, McLaren Vale, Australia

Here is a rich and well structured Shiraz with very intense aromas of black fruit, raisin, pepper, menthol and toasty oak. The mouthfeel of this full bodied wine is powerful and rich, almost creamy due to the ripe and rich fruit, roasted coffee and toasty oak flavours, fresh acidity, grainy tannins and alcohol coming in at 14.5%. Maturation took place in French and American oak for 24 months. Long, spicy and sweet concentrated finish. A big wine for sure, with generous fruit and oak flavours without excess or jammyness. Strongly recommended for lovers of this style. Score 92 Points.  

This wine was purchased November 12, 2011 LCBO New Release at $39.95.

Finca El Origen Gran Reserva Malbec 2009, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Unfortunately this wine's bottle is just as heavy as last year's vintage but thankfully the Malbec inside is just as delicious. This wine opens up with aromas of bing cherry, ripe blackberry, dark plums, cassis, mocha, vanilla and violet notes. Medium to full bodied, alcohol is high at 14.9% but it doesn’t overwhelm the palate as there is plenty of ripe fruit and spices, balanced acidity with ripe and robust tannins. The finish is long, spicy and mocha flavours lingering. This wine is mostly Malbec at 96% the remaining is 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, ageing took place in French oak for 15 months. Very enjoyable. Score 88 points.
 
This wine was purchased December 10, 2011 LCBO New Release at $19.95.

Churton Pinot Noir 2008, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

This wine comes across at halfway between the style of a California Pinot and a Burgundy Pinot with the aromas of wild berry fruit, plum jam, clove, cinnamon stick, soft leather and attractive earthy notes. This medium to full bodied Pinot has a velvety smooth mouthfeel with Pinot characteristics good acidity and grainy tannins. The finish is long, smoky, slightly hot (alcohol at 14%) with ultra ripe fruit flavour. Not an elegant Pinot for sure, but very smooth and enjoyable. Score 88 points.

This wine was purchased September 17, 2011 LCBO New Release at $36.95.

Valiano Poggio Teo Chianti Classico 2006, Tuscany, Italy

This superb single vineyard Chianti Classico (100% Sangiovese grape) has got it all, a beautiful brilliant ruby color and a nose that is very Sangievese with aromas of cherry, plum, tobacco, leather and sweet toasty oak. The mouthfeel is well balanced by good fruit and oak structure, silky tannins and a lovely seam of acidity. A very nice long smooth texture and silky finish with a slight sour notes lingering. This is a very well made wine, well priced and very traditional style of Chianti Classico, strongly recommended. Score 90 points.

This wine was purchased November 26, 2011 LCBO New Release at $17.95