Michael Pinkus Wine Review - Newsletter #226 - All the News You Need to Know

Newsletter #226 - All the News You Need to Know - World View

03 Apr 2014

Details: Category: Newsletter Archives

OntarioWineReview Newsletter 226

April 2014

OntarioWineReview: All the News You Need to Know - World View
Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: 3 Whites, 3 Reds, All Very Good
Bi-Weekly OWR Updates: Wine Videos, Blog Additions and more
Wine Event Spotlight: Music and Moseying around

OntarioWineReview: All the News You Need to Know - World View

Lots of little tidbits from around the wine world cross my desk every day; here I share the ones that have interested me:

North America …

von Mandl Family Estates to Purchase CedarCreek Estate Winery ...
“CedarCreek owns some of the Valley's most desirable vineyards in Kelowna and Osoyoos. CedarCreek was not up for sale, however when approached by Anthony von Mandl, the Fitzpatricks saw another family with a shared vision for the Okanagan Valley who would continue their family legacy for generations to come.” (Full Story here)

Bordeaux's Taillan buys full control of Osoyoos Larose …
“Groupe Taillan, owners of Château Gruaud Larose, paid an undisclosed sum to joint venture partner Constellation Brands to acquire 100% of the project’s brand name, stocks, viticultural and winemaking team, and 32 hectares of vineyards planted to Bordeaux varietals in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.” (Full Story here)

Sorry Canada, Starbucks not bringing booze to stores …
“Before you get excited about the possibility of a Spanish coffee at your neighbourhood Starbucks, the coffeehouse giant says it's not planning to bring alcohol to its Canadian stores.” (Full Story here)

Quebec brewery's offensive beer names spark 'disgust' …
“With names like “The Hooker” and “La Tite Pute” — the Little Slut – Le Corsaire’s seasonal beers are not a favourite with women's rights groups.” (Full Story here)

U.S. Declares Finger Lakes Wine Country A "Disaster" Zone …
“Cornell University researchers conducted tests suggesting that up to 50 percent of the region’s Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc vines showed bud damage from the brutal freeze brought on by what weather forecasters called the “polar vortex”.” (Full Story here)

Winter Inflicts Damage on Cool-Climate Wine Regions …
“"I don't know about you, but it's been sunny and 70 up here most of the winter!" joked Tom Higgins, owner of Heart & Hands Wine Company in New York's Finger Lakes. As residents of the Northeast and Midwest know, it's been anything but in recent months as temperatures reached repeated lows below zero, even as low as -29° F in some growing areas. The weather severely tested vines in cool-climate wine regions. Some areas suffered nearly 100 percent bud damage on vinifera vines—a potentially disastrous loss in crop.” (Full Story here)

California Vines Age Prematurely …
“California has the image of a place where people want to stay forever young. But for grapevines, it seems to be a state where they get old in a hurry – maybe that's because they drink too much. Water, of course.” (Full Story here)

Which U.S. State Drinks the Most Wine? …
“At 25.7 liters – about 34 bottles, or almost seven gallons – per head, Washington D.C. is way out in front of the pack and knocking it back at more than twice the national average, which the Wine Institute estimates is 2.7 gallons per head per year.” (Full Story here)

Accused Wine Counterfeiter Rudy Kurniawan Guilty in Landmark Case …
“Rudy Kurniawan did something unprecedented in the world of rare wines in 2006. An Acker, Merrall & Condit auction of his wines raised $24.7 million, the largest total ever for a single consignor. On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Kurniawan set another precedent. A federal jury pronounced him guilty of fraud for selling counterfeit wines and defrauding a finance company, making the 37-year-old Indonesian the first person tried and convicted for selling fake wines in the U.S.” (Full Story here)

South America …

Argentina winemakers facing difficult 2014 vintage …
“Unhelpful weather at different times in the growing season, including frost and late season rain, means Argentina's 2014 wine grape haul is set to drop by around a fifth versus last year, according to the country's National Institute of Viticulture.” (Full Story here)

Europe …

UK offers first postgraduate course in winemaking …
“A university in southern England has announced that it was to offer a postgraduate course in viticulture and oenology, capitalising on the country’s booming sparkling-wine industry.” (Full Story here)

Did Europe Waste Billions On Vineyard Reform? …
“The 2008 European wine reform was introduced in a bid to reduce wine supply and improve competitiveness of European vineyards in the international market. A key goal of the legislation was to stabilize the supply and demand imbalance by assisting growers to eliminate vineyards.” (Full Story here)

Other News …

NZ wineries import Sauvignon Blanc to cope with demand …
“New Zealand Winegrowers European marketing manager Chris Stroud told Harpers.co.uk at ProWein in Dusseldorf earlier this week that since 2012 shortages, some wineries have been importing Sauvignon Blanc form elsewhere in th New World to place into lower-priced brands for the domestic market.” (Full Story here)

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Are Ruling the Wine World ...
“Since 1990, Cab Sav and Merlot have doubled their share of hectares under production, making them the top cultivated varieties in the world. The Spanish varietal Airén has slipped into third place from the top spot it once enjoyed, while Tempranillo and Chardonnay have more than trebled their areas of cultivation to move into fourth and fifth place.” (Full Story here)

Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: 3 Whites, 3 Reds, All Very Good

Fielding 2012 White Conception - $18.95 (W)
www.fieldingwines.com
With the popularity of Red Conception you just knew there was going to be a white counterpart. This is a more unique white blend than many of the white mixes you see these days: Chardonnay, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, each showing a piece of its character in the glass. There are buttery notes from the Chardonnay, melon from the Viognier and grassy elements from the Sauvignon Blanc … the mouthfeel has both weight and finesse, which is a tough combination to achieve … acidity keeps a hold on the tongue yet still shows restraint. Price: $18.95 – Rating: ****

Foreign Affair 2011 Dream - $29.95 (W)
www.foreignaffairwinery.com
“Dream” is a right bank Bordeaux blend with a Veneto twist: 44% Merlot is backed by 30% Cabernet Franc and 13% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot aged 14-16 months in a combination of oaks with 25-30% of the grapes being of the naturally dried kind. Nose is anise-filled with blackberry and black cherry fruit, chalky mineral and some notes of mocha. Palate keeps that chalkiness, adds cocoa and cassis, keeps those beautiful blackberries and black cherries from the nose and gives it all an excellent length of finish. Price: $29.95 – Rating: ****

Huff Estates 2012 Chardonnay – Unoaked, South Bay Vineyard - $21.95 (W)
www.huffestates.com
Recently I have been trying unoaked Chardonnay and have been, for the most part, relatively disappointed. To me unoaked Chardonnay is almost as bland and boring as many Pinot Grigios I taste. So I like to jump up and down and holler from the rafters when I find a good one. This Huff version spends 6 months on lees which gives it some depth on both the nose and palate: subtle vanilla, grapefruit, melon rind and apple on the nose. Palate shows a little pineapple with vanilla, lime pith / zest and Bosc pear skin. Nice acidity carries it through the palate to a nice lengthy finish of spiced-baked-vanilla apple. Lovely. Price: $21.95 – Rating: ****

Kacaba 2011 Syrah, Terrace Vineyard - $24.95 (W)
www.kacaba.com
Of the 2011 Syrahs I have tried from Kacaba this one really floats my Syrah boat because it’s exactly what I’m looking for in a good Syrah: the dark fruit sings on the palate in the form of raspberry, strawberry and cranberry mixed with plenty of black and white pepper; there’s also one of my favourite lunch meats that makes an appearance: Montreal Smoked … the finish is a meaty-black cherry mix that shows this wine has got the goods: actually it’s stuffed with goodness. Price: $24.95 – Rating: ****+

Keint-he Winery 2011 Pinot Noir, Portage - $25.00 (W)
www.keint-he.ca
They refer to this one as Portage because they have to travel to all four vineyards to get the fruit for it, then they age it for 12 months … but it’s not overly oaky or earthy, in fact it is amazingly approachable right from the first pour. Lightly coloured with sour cherry, spice and subtle earthiness that turns into white-peppered strawberries by the finish. The acidity helps keep it fresh. This is a Pinot that could turn non-believers to Pinot-lovers … it’s just that tasty. Price: $25.00 – Rating: ****+

Rockway Vineyards 2012 Chardonnay, Small Lot – Wild Ferment, block 12-110 - $19.95 (W)
www.rockway.net
3 years ago the thought of Rockway getting the score you see below was as remote as getting blood from a golf ball – but new winemaker David Stasiuk has brought this winery’s wines to new heights and they have a new lease on life. This Chardonnay is a new pinnacle for them. The nose delivers peach, vanilla, apple and Bartlett pear but it’s the palate where this wine kicks buds … it screams vanilla, caramel apple, peach and pear. The fruit and barrel elements meld beautifully together, each leaning on the other without taking over. It’s sip inducing in a good way – powerful yet pleasant. The finish is long and luxurious: creamy with elements of pineapple and vanilla crème brulee. Price: $19.95 – Rating: **** ½

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

Sparkling Wine Week
Video #65 – Leaning Post 2012 Chardonnay
Video #66 – Fielding Estate 2012 Gamay

NEW – Quench By Tidings … #Wine Wednesday (see them all here)
Bourgogne for All
You'd Be a Fool to Pass These Up

On the Road with the Grape Guy
(Trips, tours and tastings – join me as I review the highs, and sometimes, the lows)
Nothing New This Week

Lost and Found (blog):
(Wines that got "lost" in my cellar - some are Treasures others Trash … Find out what happened)
Nothing New This Week

Taste it Again Grape Guy (blog)
Find out what has happened to some of my favourites over the years
Hillebrand 2004 Late Harvest Vidal

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)
March 29 release report
April 12 release up NOW

Advertising

The date for the 8th Annual Six4Six has just been announced
Legend has it that this event was thought of over a barrel tasting between Huff winemaker Frederic Picard and Chef Bryan Steele.
While tasting the same grape through various barrel vintages they came up with the idea to match particular dishes with various
barrel samples of chardonnay and pinot noir, Six Barrels for Six Chefs was born.

Book your tickets now for one of the best food and wine events in Ontario.
Friday July 11, 2014 at Huff Estates in Prince Edward County
Find all the details here

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Wine Event Spotlight: Music and Moseying around

2014 Jackson-Triggs Amphitheatre Summer Concert Season ... the season has been announced with performed such as Sam Roberts, Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea, Jesse Cook, Colin James and the return of Chantal Kreviazuk (plus others) this concert series is one of the highlights of the summer in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tickets went on sale yesterday and some shows sell out quick so now's the time to check out whose coming, when and grab a couple of tickets. See the complete line up here.

Get Fresh in the Valley ... Join the wineries of the 20 Valley as they celebrate spring in Niagara’s Twenty Valley Wine Country. The Get Fresh in the Valley passport entitles you to sample new vintage and aromatic wines paired with fresh spring inspired dishes at 24 Twenty Valley wineries. As an added bonus, collect a recipe card at each winery to assemble the Get Fresh Spring Cookbook. April 5 & 6, 12 & 13 or 26 & 27 - Passports: $40.00 plus HST - here's all the details.

Graze the Bench is Back ... Each spring, 8 wineries celebrate the Bench by pouring new and favourite vintages, inviting their favourite chefs to create inspired dishes, and adding some live bands into the mix. Graze the Bench has quickly become one of the most popular events in Niagara Wine Country, and they're thrilled to share the bounty of the Bench with you again June 7-8, 2014. Find all the details here.

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.

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