Sediment Trapping Bottle

Many red wines, as they age, produce sediment in the bottle. That’s why we decant them, leaving it behind. However, Spanish Chef, Martín Berasategui, has come up with a new bottle design that captures sediment in the bottle at the bottom. Its odd shape is pinched close to the base, adding a sediment capturing chamber. Many wineries using the bottles are abandoning the filtering process, claiming that the wine remains purer and filters naturally in the bottle. The Chef even claims that the bottle shape actually acts as a decanter, aerating the wine, as well. This bottle would certainly make the time-honoured tradition and ceremony of decanting defunct. Could revolutionize fine wine drinking!

Macho Wines

Okay guys, it’s time to come clean. I can’t believe what I’m hearing from some of you about wine selection. Apparently, you would rather undergo a prostate examination than order some wussy wine in a restaurant. You think wine with a pretty flower or cutsie animal on the bottle makes you any less of a man? Pinot Grigio is too fluffy for you, Gewurztraminer rather perfumey, Gamay awfully bubble-gummed and Merlot much too identity-challenged? Well listen up. What you sip is definitely not a reflection of who or what you are. Choose wine this way and you’re missing out on a lot of great sippin’ because of ridiculous machoism. This is the 21^st Century, for God’s sake. Get over it.

Sale Wines at the LCBO

Ever notice cases of wine at reduced prices at your local LCBO and wondered why and whether you should chance buying them? Well here’s the scoop. Generally, product is reduced to create warehouse and shelf space for other wine, especially new vintages. These products include too much of something that doesn’t move fast, seasonal stuff, obscure varietals or wine styles that the public is not familiar with, overpriced items and licencee orders that were not picked up for one reason or another. Occasionally, a specific region’s inventory must be trimmed down. All good buys, however, be aware of product that is reduced because it is getting old or stale. Just buy one to try. If OK, then stock up.

Ontario Wine Awards

Ontario wines are better than ever and only one competition focuses solely on recognizing them. The Ontario Wine Awards is the brainchild of renowned wine scribe Tony Aspler and will be celebrating its16th anniversary this year. It is judged in March by well known, seasoned wine authorities, including myself, with an awards banquet in June. To coincide with the banquet, the 3^rd week in June is officially Ontario Wine Week, as declared by the provincial government back in 2005. It includes exciting festivals, winemaker dinners, restaurant promotions and more. What a great venue to distinguish, appreciate and celebrate excellence in world-class Ontario wines!

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc is Cabernet Sauvignon’s less famous cousin. Similar to Cab Sauv, with cassis, violets and raspberries, it possesses much more of an herbaceous edge. I call it the Sauvignon Blanc of Cabernets because of its leafiness. Better known as one of the blending grapes in red Bordeaux, it’s at its best in France’s Loire Valley where it is bottled straight up. Great with grilled and roasted red meats, stews, casseroles, medium cheeses and vegetarian dishes, it ages well too. If you haven’t tried Cab Franc from Niagara, you’re missing out on something special.We do a fab job with it here. In fact, I believe it does better in our terroir than Cab Sauv. So check it out for a real treat.

Champagne Sweetness Codes

Last week I addressed Champagne styles. This week…sweetness codes! The extremely driest of all Champers says Brut Nature on the label. Extra Brut is very dry. Up next is Brut, dry. Then it gets confusing. Extra Sec, meaning extra dry in French, really isn’t. It’s off-dry. Sec, meaning dry, is not at all. More like medium-dry. Demi-Sec, meaning semi-dry, is hardly that. It’s medium-sweet. And Doux or Rich is just that…sweet. Again much of this terminology spills over to other bubbly. Don’t fret though. Most of what we see here in Canada is Brut and occasionally Extra Brut or Extra Sec. We really don’t seem to have a palate for sweet Champagne. Uncork a bottle and enjoy!

Champagne Styles

Valentines Day is just around the corner and no vino says “amore” like Champagne. Several styles exist. Non-Vintage has no year on the bottle and is a blend of many years. Vintage is a blend of many wines, all from the same year, wearing that year on the label. Rosé utilizes some skin contact from red grapes for colour. Blanc de Blanc is made from white grapes only while Blanc de Noirs is made only from dark grapes. Single vineyard means the fruit came from one property. Cuvee Prestige or Grand Marques is the best wine a house produces. Grand Cru means the fruit came from the best, highest rated vineyards and Ier Cru, from vineyards 2^nd best. Much of this terminology spills over to other bubbly as well.