About four months ago Adam (a co-worker) and I formed a Wine Club at work. Wine Club consists of 11 people (including myself) who each pay $25 per month for six months. Each month we get in a case of wine, split a bottle eleven ways in a tasting and then everyone takes a bottle home with them. We take turns bringing in food to go with the wine. Depending on the cost of the wine we may also pick-up a single bottle or two to try at the tasting as well.
We have also set a goal to never repeat a grape or a region in the six months.
This past Thursday was the fifth meeting of Wine Club which I'll cover in my next post. Here is a write up of the wines and food we have had so far.
1st Meeting -
“The Hermit Crab” 2005 VIOGNIER/MARSANNE by D’Arenbreg
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 662775
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 16.95 ($16.75 + $.20 deposit)
Made in: South Australia, Australia
By: D'Arenberg Wines
Release Date: Apr 14, 2007
Tasting Note: A blend of 70% Viognier and 30% Marsanne, the lovely 2005 The Hermit Crab exhibits notes of honeysuckle, apple blossom, and litchi nuts in its medium-bodied, dry, exuberant, even flamboyant style. It also displays some restraint and elegance. Drink it over the next 1-2 years. Score - 90 (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2006)
This was paired with Hummus and Pita and Wendy(another co-worker) brought in Fried Wontons and Guacamole. The Viognier on first taste was smooth and easy drinking, but the wine was amazing with the food, the fruit in the wine just came alive. The 2005 is sold out at the LCBO as of a couple of months ago but the 2006 has just been released recently. I have picked up two bottles of it and can't wait to try it.
2nd Meeting
“Casillero Del Diablo” CARMENERE by Concha Y Toro
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 620666
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 12.65 (+ $.20 deposit)
Made in: Chile
By: Concha Toro S.A.
Release Date: N/A
Tasting NoteDeep ruby coloured; aromas of ripe red berry, toasted wood, smoke and capsicum; medium-bodied, silky and ripe, it offers flavours of ripe fruit and hints of tobacco, smoke and wood.
Serving Suggestion: Beef roast with red wine reduction, barbecued ribs
I had a bottle of Carmenere on the rack from Concha Y Toro and donated it to Wine Club so we could see what the difference between them were.
LCBO Information
CONCHA Y TORO WINEMAKER'S LOT CARMENÈRE 2005
VINTAGES 30957
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 18.95
14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Wendy brought in some BBQ ribs and chicken to go with the Carmenere and I brought in some aged cheddar and St. Agur Blue Cheese. The biggest difference between the two wines was smell... the Wine Maker's Lot had a good bouquet great straight from the bottle where as the Diablo's was flat. The Diablo after about 20 minutes 'opened up' and at that point it was difficult to tell the two apart. The wines were ok with the Chicken and the Cheddar, good with the Ribs and really good with the St. Agur Blue Cheese. The St. Agur cheese was the hit of the meeting.
3rd Meeting
FLAT ROCK CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2004
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 681247
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 16.95 ($16.95 + $.20 deposit)
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Flat Rock Cellars
Release Date: Sept. 15, 2007
Description: Flavours of fresh herbs and green apple are balanced by a rich mouth-feel and a hint of mild oak. These elements, coupled with mouth-watering acidity make this classic, cool-climate Chardonnay an ideal food wine. Try pairing it with rich fish dishes like poached salmon with a creamy herb aioli. It is also an excellent example of Ontario's ability to produce good-value-for-the- money Chardonnays.
FLAT ROCK CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2006 (NON-OAKED)
Is not available via the LCBO, and it only available from Flat Rock directly. See website for directions: - http://www.flatrockcellars.com/index.html
CATHEDRAL CELLAR CHARDONNAY 2004
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 328559
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 14.95 ($14.95 + $.20 deposit)
Made in: South Africa, South Africa
By: KWV Wines
Release Date: Dec 9, 2006
Tasting Note: To date, all showy, powerful. 04 has wealth of flavours, from intense ripe fruit, generous oaking: toffee, dried peach, bread & butter pudding; with house-style silky texture, making for irresistible drinkability. 8 months new French [oak]. Score - **** (out of 5) (Christine Rudman, John Platter South African Wines 2006)
I brought in Smoked Salmon, with Cream Cheese, Bagel Crisps, Red Onion, Cucumber, Capers and Lemon wedges as this is one of my favourite food and wine pairings on the planet. This wine was chosen by Adam. He and his family went to Flat Rock Cellars and tried the Oaked and Unoaked Chardonnay. He picked up a case of the Unoaked as that was the preferred and 1 bottle of the Oaked. The Cathedral Cellar was a bottle I picked up as it was the favourite white in a recent Calgary wine tasting competition. All three wines were very different but all were great with the Smoked Salmon. The Flat Rock Unoaked was crisp and had a nice hit of citrus while the Flat Rock Oaked was filled with green apple and pear and a touch of oak. The Cathedral Cellar was a big buttery Chardonnay. Everyone's opinions on the wines were all over the place and there wasn't a clear winner.
4th Meeting -
“Gimblett Road” MERLOT by C. J Pask
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 9134
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 14.85 (+ $.20 deposit)
Made in: New Zealand
By: C.J. Pask Winery Limited
Release Date: N/A
“OKANAGAN” MERLOT V.Q.A. by JACKSON-TRIGGS
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 543876
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 14.50 (+ $.20 deposit)
Made in: British Columbia, Canada
By: VINCOR INTERNATIONAL INC. - B.C.
Release Date: N/A
Tasting Note: Deep red violet; rich vanilla, cooked cherry, peppercorn and spice aromas; dry, medium-full bodied, lush, with fine balancing tannins and flavours of ripe berry, vanilla and toast; long finish.
Serving SuggestionRare beef, grilled steak or lamb.
“FOUNDER’S ESTATE” MERLOT by Beringer
LCBO Information
Stock Number – 534255
Volume - 750mL
Price: $ 19.95 (+ $.20 deposit)
Made in: California, United States
By: BERINGER VINEYARDS
Release Date: N/A
Tasting Note: Ruby garnet colour; red berry aromas with light oak notes; dry, medium-bodied palate with fine tannins on the finish
Serving Suggestion: Beef stroganoff
The CJ Pask Merlot was the winner in the Merlot catergory at the Calgary tasting that recommended the Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay, so we picked up a case of it. I also purchased a bottle of Jackson Triggs Merlot from BC as I'd been reading good things about the Okanagan region. The Founders Estate Merlot is a personal favourite so I added it to the tasting. Merlot is such a diverse grape and I was hoping to show that with the 3 different bottles. Monica (another co-worker) prepared a Tomato-based Pasta and I brought in some store bought Chocolate Fudge cookies that my wife and I tried earlier with a bottle of the CJ Pask Merlot that went really well with them. None of the Merlots were amazing with the Pasta which is funny as usually I've found Merlot and Pasta to be a pretty good pairing. The only Merlot that worked with the cookies was the CJ Pask. The Jackson Triggs Merlot from BC was crap.
Wine club has been a ton of fun and it has been exciting to try a number of value priced wines from many different countries. I'm finding even if I'm not blown away by the wine, it is still been a great experience at each meeting.
Cheers!
Mark
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