Saturday Night – Good Friday, Better Saturday – Part 2

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A couple of weeks ago we reviewed two new Champagnes but I had actually picked up three new ones.  The 3rd one was a non-vintage Heriot Brut Souverian which I really wanted to try.   As we were doing a Champagne, I did a bacon blue cheese dip with crackers to go with it.

 

The nose was big and easy to find with aromas of yeast, pumpkin spice, vanilla birthday cake and fresh-baked bread.  Tasting the wine, lime, grapefruit and vanilla bean are the three most noticeable ones.  Structure-wise it had good acidity but also had a really nice creaminess to it as well.   It really worked as a good pairing for the bacon blue cheese dip but as it sat for a bit and warmed up it wasn’t as nice.  Initially I really liked this wine but after finishing dip and just drinking it on its own it quickly began losing that appeal.  Thankfully we had finished most of it when it was paired with the dip so not a big deal.

 

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 89, Mark – 89, Kathy – 86, Amy – 88, Overall – 88.

 

Here is the LCBO information on the wine -

HENRIOT CHAMPAGNE

 

VINTAGES 959643
750 mL bottle
Price $ 59.95
Made in: Champagne, France
By: Champagne Henriot
Release Date: Dec 7, 2013
Wine, Champagne, White
13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Rich & Complex
Varietal: Sparkling - Dry
Sugar Content: 9 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

 

Tasting Note  -  Well-structured and powered by firm acidity, this offers notes of glazed apple, black cherry, candied lemon zest and toasted brioche, with a lingering hint of mineral. Clean finish. Drink now through 2015. Score - 92. (Alison Napjus, winespectator.com, Dec. 15, 2012)

 

For dessert Mick and Amy brought over a Limoncello cake which finished the evening off nicely.

 

It was a bit odd having a dinner that didn’t have a main course but the wide selection of appetizers was a lot of fun and I don’t think anyone left hungry. 

Cheers!

 

Mark

Saturday Night – Good Friday, Better Saturday – Part 1

It was my turn to host this past Saturday night’s dinner and the wines were the driving factor behind the food this week.  The evening turned into a big appetizer night just so I could pair the 3 wines I wanted to drink.

 

I had my last bottle of 2009 Robert Mondavi “To Kalon” Fumé Blanc on the rack and knew this needed to be drank soon.  So the first course Mick did spicy shrimp and I made the mint sauce to go with it.  We have reviewed this wine a number of times and it is the second highest rated white wine in the Zippy Sauce Top 10 Whites so I won’t be reviewing it detail.  It was very good and I’m very sad as that was my last bottle of this wonderful vintage.

The second course was a 2012 D’Arenberg “Hermit Crab” Viognier which I picked up on a recent trip to the LCBO.  We have tried earlier years of this wine but haven’t had it in a bit so I thought I’d be fun to see what the latest release was like.  I did hummus and pita and a tomato feta and basil salad to go with the wine.

The nose on the was fresh with aromas of Irish Spring soap, candy cane, lilies, sea breeze, artichoke and some tropical fruit in the background.  Tasting the wine, orange zest with a touch of celery were the main flavours to the wine.  The wine at times had a slight oily texture to it but could also come across as very dry depending on what foods you were having at the time.  The wine structure-wise came across big and smooth.  It was a very strong pairing with the hummus but was a little odd with the tomatoes and feta salad.   This wine was a real Chameleon at times as the nose, taste and mouth-feel were always changing to something new; if you like dissecting a wine you will love it, if you aren’t a fan of doing this you will probably not be a fan as that always changing nature could be something that turns people off.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 89, Mark – 90, Kathy – 86, Amy – 87, Overall – 88.

 

Here is the LCBO information on the wine -

 

D'ARENBERG THE HERMIT CRAB VIOGNIER/MARSANNE 2012

 

VINTAGES 662775
750 mL bottle
Price $ 19.95
Made in: South Australia, Australia
By: D'Arenberg Wines
Release Date: Mar 29, 2014
Wine, White Wine
13.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Aromatic & Flavourful
Varietal: Viognier/Marsanne
Sugar Content: 5 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

 

Tasting Note - Winemaker Chester Osborn has a terrific reputation for his shiraz and cabernet wines, but this white blend of Viognier with 32% Marsanne is fantastic! Not a lot of oak, but it combines with the fruit vibrancy to create an intriguingly rich and delicious wine. Aromas of apricot and white flowers with a dash of spice on the finish. Perfect for light to medium spice dishes. Viognier Marsanne food pairings: lemongrass chicken. Score - 92. (Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com, December 9, 2013 )

 

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Saturday Night – Miso Hungry – Part 2

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Mick’s main course was Yakiniku beef, white rice and homemade pickles.  He served it with two dipping sauces – a Miso based one and a sweet ginger one.  His pairing for this course was a 2011 Chapel Hill Shiraz.

 

The nose on this wine was big and easy to find with aromas of blackberry, black licorice and black pepper.  Tasting the wine the dominate flavours were strawberry and eucalyptus.  The structure on the wine was decent as acidity and tannin were nicely balanced and it didn’t come across as hot from too much alcohol but the fruit was lacking.  The lack of fruit made the wine come across very dry.  This wine could best be described as “House Red”, as there was nothing offensive about it but nothing stood out about it either; which is a shame as touch more fruit and a slightly longer finish and I think this wine would have been something very special.  It was however a decent pairing with the food.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 86, Mark – 86, Kathy – 86, Amy – 86, Overall – 86.

 

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

CHAPEL HILL SHIRAZ 2011

VINTAGES 743989
750 mL bottle
Price $ 25.95
Made in: South Australia, Australia
By: Chapel Hill Winery Pt. Ltd.
Release Date: Mar 15, 2014
Wine, Red Wine
14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Full-bodied & Smooth
Varietal: Shiraz/Syrah
Sugar Content: 3 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

Tasting Note - Luscious black plum aromas on this Australian shiraz, with an amazing acidic zing on the palate for food. Full-bodied and supple. Perfect for diehard hedonists. This wine was designed for steak. Blackberry and vanilla smoke on this finish. Highly recommended. Shiraz food pairings: gourmet burgers, mutton with mint and coriander, pizza, barbecued beef, pork. Score - 93. (Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com, March 15, 2013)

The main course was very good and I was a big fan of the savory Miso sauce with the beef and the rice and am very glad Mick went to effort of find Miso paste to bring this dish to life.

For dessert Mick picked up a selection of cupcakes which was a fun way to finish of the evening.

Thanks to Mick and Amy for hosting and to Mick for all his hard work in making three wonderful courses.

Cheers!

Mark

Saturday Night – Miso Hungry – Part 1

Mick and Amy were hosting this past Saturday night’s dinner and Mick has a Miso theme going on.  The last time Mick did the Yakiniku beef, the recipe called for Miso paste for the dipping sauce but Mick couldn’t find any and went with a different sauce.  Mick earlier in the week found a market that carries Miso paste so decided to do Yakiniku beef again but this time did it with the right dipping sauce.

For the starter Mick did grilled scallops and scallions with a Miso and orange glaze and served it with a side salad.  The pairing was a bottle of 2011 Chateau St. Jean Fumé Blanc from California.

The pretty nose consisted of acacia, wet stone and nectarine aromas.  Tasting the wine it started with sweetened pink grapefruit with a creamy vanilla mid-palate and finished with a lemon/lime bite.  The structure was very balanced but was missing that usual bite of high acidity that you would expect to find in a Fumé Blanc.  It was a very drinkable wine and was good as a pairing with the food but even better just on its own.  It wasn’t the greatest example of a Fumé Blanc but as a white wine this wine had a lot of enjoyable qualities to it.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 88, Kathy – 87, Amy – 88, Overall – 87.75.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

CHÂTEAU ST. JEAN FUMÉ BLANC 2011

VINTAGES 537639
750 mL bottle
Price $ 19.95
Made in: California, USA
By: Treasury Wine Estates
Release Date: Mar 29, 2014
Wine, White Wine
13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Aromatic & Flavourful
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Sugar Content: 7 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

Tasting Note - This almost clear colored Sauvignon Blanc opens with a mild wet stone and gentle lime bouquet with a touch of herbaceousness. On the palate, this wine is light bodied, acidic, and mouthwatering. The flavor profile is a mineral infused lime with hints of green pepper and green apple. The finish is dry and nicely prolonged. The panel suggested pairing this good value wine with grilled mahi mahi or shrimp scampi. Enjoy! Score - 89. (Ken Hoggins, kenswineguide.com, May 21, 2013)

For $20 this wine is a heck of a value and I would love to try this with Greek food or some Hummus as I believe it would be an exceptional pairing.

The Miso Orange Scallops were really good; the flavouring was subtle and didn’t take away from the scallops and Mick grilled the scallops perfectly.

Click here for Part 2

Saturday Night – Bubble Wars – Part 2

Click here for Part 1

 

The other contestant for the night was the non-vintage José Dhondt Champagne.

 

The nose on this wine was powerful but not very appetizing as it was very yeasty but more a baker’s yeast than a wine yeast, seawater, loam and even a bit of barnyard in it.  Tasting the wine, things get much better as you are hit with a green apple/dry apple cider flavour.  The balance on this wine was better than the Pierre Paillard as the acid wasn’t as razor sharp and the finish lingered around nicely.  It worked a good pairing with the Sushi as well but Pierre Paillard was a better one.  It did however work nicely on its own and without food I much preferred it over the Pierre Paillard. 

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 85, Kathy – 82, Amy – 85, Overall – 85.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

JOSÉ DHONDT BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CHAMPAGNE
VINTAGES 358408
750 mL bottle
Price $ 53.95
Made in: Champagne, France
By: José Dhondt, Récoltant-Manipulant
Release Date: Dec 7, 2013
Wine, Champagne
12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Rich & Complex
Varietal: Champagne
Sugar Content: 11 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

Tasting Note  -  Bright and creamy, this well-balanced Champagne offers flavors of white peach, pear, candied grapefruit zest and pastry, joined by a briny hint of oyster shell. The firm acidity presents itself as a lively zestiness that is very appealing. Drink now through 2020. Score - 92. (Alison Napjus, winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2011)

The José Dhondt Champagne was better on its own and was a decent pairing but the two issues that were hard to overcome were the nose and the apple cider flavour.  The apple cider flavour was probably the bigger of the two issues as I really like alcohol based cider but at $54 a bottle I want something more than apple cider as I can buy that at $3 buck for a 500mL can. 

The one thing I did enjoy however was how distinctly different these two similarly priced Champagnes were.

For dessert I picked up a new La Rocca dessert – peanut butter cheesecake.  My hope was that the cheesecake would be more savory than sweet so we could keep drinking the Champagne with it but while it wasn’t super sweet it was sweet enough that it threw both Champagnes a loop and neither was a good pairing.  I liked the cheesecake but felt it was missing something; a touch of chocolate might have been nice to break up the peanut butter flavour a bit.

As always it was a fun night with good friends, some new wines to try and some great food as the Sushi was really good and I’m glad my lovely wife Kathy suggested it.

Cheers!

Mark 

Saturday Night – Bubble Wars – Part 1

This past Saturday night it was our turn to host the usual Saturday night dinner with Mick and Amy.  I was struggling on what to make for the night and in the end Kathy suggested ordering in Sushi.  We hadn’t had this in a while and if we went with Sushi that meant Champagne as the pairing so suddenly Sushi was sounding like a great idea.  I was running low on Champagnes on the wine rack so I hit the LCBO and picked up 3 new Champagnes that we’d never tried before.  I decided to go with two of the three Champagnes in a little head to head contest.

 

The two Champagnes were a non-vintage Pierre Paillard and a non-vintage José Dhondt. I will review the Pierre Paillard here in part 1 and José Dhondt in part 2.

The nose on the Pierre Paillard was an easy to find mix of fresh orange, yeast, hay, Brazil nut and vanilla aromas.  Tasting the wine, you will find ginger and lemon flavours with a touch vanilla and star-fruit lurking in the background.  The structure on the wine was interesting as the wine hits your tongue in a big burst of fresh and crisp flavours but quickly fades to nothing on the finish.  I liked the crisp acidity but at times the wine had a slight bite in the mid-palate which I wasn’t as fond of.  It did however work as a really good pairing with the Sushi as the ginger and lemon flavours really popped with the food.

Here is the group rating for the wine - Mick – 88, Mark – 89, Kathy – 84, Amy – 87, Overall – 87.

Here is the LCBO information on the wine –

PIERRE PAILLARD GRAND CRU BRUT CHAMPAGNE

VINTAGES 364737
750 mL bottle
Price $ 49.95
Made in: Champagne, France
By: Champagne Pierre Paillard
Release Date: Feb 15, 2014
Wine, Champagne
12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Style: Rich & Complex
Varietal: Champagne
Sugar Content: 10 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: D - Dry

Tasting Note  -  (60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay; disgorged January 23, 2012): Light, bright gold. Toasted bread, pear nectar and honey on the nose and palate, with a subtle touch of rhubarb adding an earthy quality. Spicy, nicely concentrated orchard fruit flavors pick up a bitter citrus pith nuance with air and show very good intensity. Closes on a smoky, leesy note, with firm grip and lingering toastiness. Score - 90. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Dec. 2012)

I liked this Champagne and feel at its $50 price point it was a good value.  I prefer the Louis Roederer due to its bigger body and longer finish but it is $68 at bottle.   On the other hand the Pierre Paillard was probably a better Sushi pairing than the Roederer usually is so if I was doing Sushi again I’d probably opt to go with it over the Roederer.

Click here for Part 2