Michael Pinkus Wine Review - Newsletter #219 - It's Okay, America Likes Us

Newsletter #219 - It's Okay, America Likes Us

12 Dec 2013

Details: Category: Newsletter Archives

OntarioWineReview Newsletter 219

December 2013

OntarioWineReview: It's Okay, America Likes Us
Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: Wines Perfect for the Season
Bi-Weekly OWR Updates: Wine Videos, Blog Additions and more
Wine Event Spotlight: Look for Open Houses

NB: There will be no PDF of the newsletter this week.

OntarioWineReview: It's Okay, America Likes Us

As Canadians we have a bad habit of judging ourselves by way of an American standard (and I’m not talking the toilet) – if the Americans like us (or it, or them), then we as Canadians are on-board too. Think of many Canadian celebrities, the moment they make it big in the U.S. of A we take ownership of them: “That Michael J. Fox, he’s Canadian ya know!” we’ll say proudly, and the same has been said about everybody from Neil Young to Ryan Reynolds. Well I’m here to tell you it’s time to like something else Canadian, our wine – and it’s okay to; the Americans dig it so it’s time we start taking ownership and pride in it, just like we did of Jim Carrey … the moment he made it big he was more Canadian than maple syrup and Icewine.

And when I’m talking about Americans liking our wine, I’m not talking about Icewine anymore, I mean our honest to goodness, world class table wines. Now, my informal, unscientific study may not be up to snuff in some circles, but I’m convinced that my results would be mirrored in places all over America.

This past American Thanksgiving I spent the day with some friends across the 49th parallel, we drove into New York state for the afternoon’s festivities of football and feasting. We were charged with dessert and wine, and while my wife took care of the dessert aspect, I amassed the wine. My original thought was to pick wines from everywhere around the world; as with many Canadians my first thought is that our wines won’t appeal to the American palate; but then I reconsidered and decided to throw caution to the wind. I packed up 10 bottles of Ontario’s finest: from Viognier, Riesling and Rosé to Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a couple of Meritage blends – and yes I did include an icewine in the show. What went over exceedingly well was the sparkling – it really is true what they say, ‘bubbles bring people together’ – and it does not have to be in beer form. But the rest of the wines also found fans … everybody was open to trying the wines and nobody even questioned where they were from, I didn’t shy away from telling those who asked either; but there was not an empty glass in the place and everybody came back for a refill (or two).

Take Two: I find myself in a New York state hospital with my wife, whose in for a minor procedure, her room is filled with a doctor, a couple of nurses and the rest of the crew waiting to take her in. The anesthesiologist making small talk says, “I see you’re from Ontario. I go there quite often with my wife to bike the wine routes. We love your wines up there.” My wife then introduces us and if it weren’t for her having to be wheeled out of the room we’d probably still be talking wine today – as it was I don’t think my wife was too impressed with me monopolizing her anesthesiologist’s time, on the other hand I think she got better care because the guy wanted my advice on other wineries to visit … I doubt I can win this battle, but who really wants to piss off the wife of a guy who can point you in the right direction of something you love.

So you see, my contact with Americans has been nothing but positive when it comes to our wines, it would seem that Americans love it, so why too can’t we as Ontarians / Canadians show love for our homegrown product. It’s time we get behind what we are making right here at home. Another well-traveled American wine-lover mentioned to me, “I don’t’ understand why more of your restaurants in Toronto don’t carry more Ontario wines; when I visit a country I want to try the local wines, not something I can get back home. I’m a tourist in your town I want the full experience.” That’s another topic for another time – but he does raise an interesting point: why aren’t we more proud of our local wines?

As we cruise into the holiday season I have but one request of you. Usually I tell you to drink more Ontario wine, but this year I want you to serve more Ontario wine, give more Ontario wine, and bring more Ontario wine to wherever it is you are going. The more we expose to Ontario wines the bigger our brand will become and the more we can raise our heads high and say, “I brought an Ontario wine” with less groans and moans from the cheap seats and more, “I’d like to try that” or “I love Ontario wines” being spoken throughout the room. Don’t be ashamed or afraid. We make good wines, world class wines, wines you’d be proud to serve anywhere – and yes, the Americans approve, so we can too.

As my final words of wisdom to pass along before the holiday hiatus of the newsletter till January 9, 2014, let me say this: The best gift of all is a good bottle of wine shared with friends and family ... I sure do hope OntarioWineReview has helped you achieve the first part; which friends and which family is totally up to you. Have a great holiday season and we all see you in the New Year.

Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: Wines Perfect for the Season

Chateau des Charmes 2013-Tasting NV Brut - $22.95 (W, L)
www.fromtheboscfamily.com
For those of you looking for sparkling from home that you can drink every day (alright, maybe that’s a little too decadent) … every second day, then this might be the bubbly you’re looking for. The nose has lovely fruit driven aromas with bready and biscuity notes – and for you traditional sparkling fans you know that’s a good thing. Palate is loaded with apple and lemon-citrus, but it’s the apple that has the most fun delivering a one-two punch of Granny-Smith and mac … there’s also the right amount of sweetness to acidity on the lovely long finish. Price: $22.95 – Rating: ****

Exultet 2011 Chardonnay – The Blessed - $40.00 (W)
www.exultet.ca
Gerry Spinosa seems to have mastered the art of Chardonnay – he has won best Chardonnay in Ontario 3 years in a row (Ontario Wine Awards): and this wine is number three in that line. All these Chardon-acolades are very funny indeed, because Gerry is not himself a Chardonnay fan. This is one Chardonnay I would call “very Chardonnay” - oaky, smoky, toasty with fruit hiding under all those barrel notes. Give it time to open up and you’ll find spicy pear, baked apple and cinnamon spice – all with a long finish and good acid backing. Price: $40.00 – Rating: ****+

Featherstone 2010 Joy - $34.95 (W)
www.featherstonewinery.ca
What a great name for a bubbly: Joy – for 2 reasons – 1) you can’t open a bottle of sparkling when you’re sad (it’s impossible) and 2) even if you try, just the sound of that cork popping should bring Joy into your world. Here you’ll find lots of lovely fruit in the bottle: apple and baked peach – and that’s just the aromas … palate has a pretty mouthfeel and is just so full of flavour you’ll keep sipping just to make sure you taste them all … great bubbly from a winery known for doing right by all the wines they make. Price: $34.95 – Rating: ****+

Fielding 2012 Gamay - $17.95 (W)
www.fieldingwine.com
I’m totally stoked to see another quality Gamay come out of Niagara – this unsung grape is starting to get the notice of wineries and winemakers and hopefully over the next ten years more and more wineries will be taking this grape more seriously. Fielding’s 2012 is full of bright cherry fruit and red licorice notes … the palate mixes in anise and a touch of clove. There’s also a nice balance of acidity on the finish. This one should be perfect to chill next summer, so stock up now. Price: $17.95 – Rating: ****+

Lailey 2011 Syrah - $27.00 (W)
www.laileyvineyard.com
I have learned over the years that if Derek Barnett falls for a grape variety it is definitely one to watch, cause he’ll make it his own. So far he’s a fan of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc … the newest grape on his radar is Syrah – and he’s doing a bang up job with this grape too. This 2011 is truly a Syrah. Nose is full of peppery and meaty notes; palate sticks right to the Syrah playbook of sour cherry, cranberry, smoked meat and white pepper … keep sipping to find raspberry and more pepper – which really began to show around sip six. Price: $27.00 – Rating: ****

Rush Creek Spiced Apple - $13.50 (W)
www.rushcreekwines.com
Rush Creek’s winemaker Kim Flintoff seems to have mastered the art of spiced apple wine – everytime I try it I marvel at the complexity of the nose and the flavours within. Made using Paula Red and Ginger Golden with the addition of cinnamon and clove this wine never fails to remind me of cinnamon apple pie filling … in this version the cinnamon seems to almost bite back, simply lovely and perfect for the holiday season ahead. Price: $13.50 – Rating: ****+

Twenty Twenty-Seven 2012 Riesling - Falls Vineyard - $18.95 (OL)
www.2027cellars.ca
A Riesling that has plenty of peach and limeade notes and a really nice seam of minerality; there’s a sweet side to this wine that’ll ring Riesling-lover’s bell, but there’s also that minerality that helps to downplay it till it’s just a dull roar. Price: $18.95 – Rating: ****

Availability legend: W (Winery) – L (LCBO/Vintages) – OL (On-Line).

Bi-Weekly OWR Updates: Wine Videos, Blog Additions and more

The Weekly Wine Videos
Just as the name suggest … every week I'll introduce you to another fabulous Ontario wine that you've just gotta try – Check out the YouTube Channel Now

Video #47 – Strewn 2010 Terroir Merlot
Video #48 – Casa-Dea Estates 2010 Adamo

NEW – Quench By Tidings … #Wine Wednesday (see them all here)
Gift Giving Should Be this Easy - The Red Edition
Wines for the Holidays - Champagne

On the Road with the Grape Guy
(Trips, tours and tastings – join me as I review the highs, and sometimes, the lows)
Watch for updates over the Holidays

Lost and Found (blog):
(Wines that got "lost" in my cellar - some are Treasures others Trash … Find out what happened)
Jackson-Triggs 2004 Delaine Vineyard Syrah

Taste it Again Grape Guy (blog)
Find out what has happened to some of my favourites over the years
Nothing New this Week

What I’m Drinking Tonight (blog)
When it’s not an Ontario wine, here’s what I’m pulling out of the cellar
New Posts Added

Vintages Release (blog)
December 7, 2013 – Vintages Release Report
In-Store Discoveries – December 7, 2013

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Wine Event Spotlight: Look for Open Houses

Tis the Season ... Open Houses are everywhere, check your favourite wineries website to see what they are doing for the holidays.

OntarioWineReview’s bi-weekly newsletter is devoted to the love, enjoyment and promotion of the wines of Ontario and the wineries that make them.

What can the Grape Guy do for you … Michael Pinkus (Grape Guy) provides a variety of wine related services that you might be interested in taking advantage of: he gives lectures, leads seminars, conducts tastings, sets up tours; consults, selects and judges. He also gives interviews, broadcasts, podcasts and writes. Contact the Grape Guy if you require any of these services or have any questions.

Psst, Pass It On … keep the good wine flowing. Forward this newsletter to your mom in Milton, your son in Smith Falls, or any other family member or loved one that you know needs good wine advice.

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