Category Archives: Wine

Tragically Hip: Great Band But the Wine That Bears its Name?: Canadian Rock n Roll Wine!

Record sales certainly aren’t what they used to be. It is concert revenue and merchandising that bring in the revenue. In this case the Tragically Hip has lent their name to a brand of wines hoping to cash into their name. They may be great musicians but what do they know about wine? Marketing doesContinue reading “Tragically Hip: Great Band But the Wine That Bears its Name?: Canadian Rock n Roll Wine!”

A Couple of Portuguese Reds: Never Ending Quality?

The first one is a Terra Lenta Premium 2018 from the Alentejano region in Portugal. It is a blend of Trincanderia, Aragonez and one of my favourite blenders Alicante Bouschet. On the nose concentrated black cherry with some blackberry and blueberry. There is a bit of red plum and the tiniest bit of cinnamon. NotContinue reading “A Couple of Portuguese Reds: Never Ending Quality?”

Sardinian Wine

We don’t exactly receive an abundance of Sardinian wines on the Liquor Control Board of Ontario shelves. So here is one to try. It is a Cannonau di Sardegna Chuèrra. In colour transparent ruby. As far as aromatics cherry, cranberry and loganberry jam. Playful. On the palate mildly tannic. Compact and light footed sweet redContinue reading “Sardinian Wine”

A Couple of Italian Whites

From Campania we try a Vesevo Beneventano Falanghina 2019.This platinum-colored wine has aromas of lemon, lime, pear and custard. On the palate pear, vanilla and tangerine. Although dry it does have character and is not like some of the flinty dry whites with the personality of Mike Pence. Moderately long finish. It must be thoseContinue reading “A Couple of Italian Whites”

Is it Worth it to Get More of Tom Gore?

$19.95 for a California Cabernet Sauvignon? I think its possible if you stay away from Napa, Sonoma and the Russian River Valley. I this case the Tom Gore label says it is a California Cabernet Sauvignon which means all the grapes can come from all over California. So it pays for Mr. Gore to knowContinue reading “Is it Worth it to Get More of Tom Gore?”

Romeo Romeo Where Art Thou? Excellent Value Spanish Wine

“Romeo Romeo Where art thou?” Not from Verona in this case! Well Romeo is from Jumilla in Spain. Ruby coloured. On the nose blackberry and black cherry rule the roost. There is also a bit of smoky tobacco and a tad of blueberry. On the palate minimal tannins making it a decent sipper. On theContinue reading “Romeo Romeo Where Art Thou? Excellent Value Spanish Wine”

Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015

Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) from the Douro is consistently excellent and attractively priced. Well it is not the Vintage Port at the top of the pyramid but dollar for dollar it gives Vintage Port a run for the money. The usual decadent lush blackberry, cherry, prune and chocolate aromas. On the palate ultra richContinue reading “Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2015”

Calabrian Vino: A Welcome Break from Tuscany

Here in Ontario our Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) seems to have a love affair with Tuscan wines and then gives token recognition on its shelves to the many other regions of Italy. What a colossal disservice to wine drinkers looking for something more than Sangiovese! I think Campania has an arsenal of winesContinue reading “Calabrian Vino: A Welcome Break from Tuscany”

“Dig Our Roots” : Wineries of Niagara-on-the Lake Annual Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2021 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake ‘Dig Our Roots’, the Annual Celebration of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Wine Appellation, is back! NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON- Wineries of Niagara on-the-Lake is ready to welcome back VQA wine lovers to safely taste exceptional wines grown in the heart of wine country. During the ‘Dig Our Roots’ weekends in April,Continue reading ““Dig Our Roots” : Wineries of Niagara-on-the Lake Annual Celebration”

A Couple of Reds From Israel

I can’t complain about Israeli wines but we receive such a slim inventory here in Ontario a general statement that they are generally good wines might be taken with a grain of salt. I was offered a media trip to Israel a few years ago but it conflicted with an important wedding so I neverContinue reading “A Couple of Reds From Israel”