Michael Pinkus Wine Review - Newsletter #231 - Election Day: Change or Stay the Same

Newsletter #231 - Election Day: Change or Stay the Same

12 Jun 2014

Details: Category: Newsletter Archives

OntarioWineReview Newsletter 231

June 2014

OntarioWineReview: Election Day: Change or Stay the Same
Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: New and Noteworthy Wines
Bi-Weekly OWR Updates: Wine Videos, Blog Additions and more
Wine Event Spotlight: 7 Events That Caught My Eye

OntarioWineReview: Election Day: Change or Stay the Same

It’s election time, actually election day, time to make a decision about what direction you want the province to take. The question is, if you are a wine fan … of Ontario wines or imported wines even … which way is your wind blowing? Because if you paid a any kind of attention to this campaign you have no idea what to do.

There are very few in this province that are going to vote based on wine and liquor policy. You’ll vote based on ideology, corruption, anti-corruption, jobs, bad math, over-spending, under-spending, transit and countless other things you heard about, read about or even spoke about … but who spoke about wine, the LCBO, the Beer Store, Ontario wineries, or countless other issues that face the wineries and wines (being made and coming in) of Ontario? The short answer is: no one.

So where does that leave you? Pre-campaign, before the election was called, the Liberals were continuing to lean heavily on the LCBO, not only for ideas but to put those ideas into action. The NDP has never and will never go against the LCBO in any way, shape or form, so they too continue to lean heavily on the LCBO for its action and policy. Now, the Conservatives seemed poised to make it a campaign issue, but then the election was called, the campaign kicked off and the issue seems to have been swept, not only off, not only under, but totally away from the table. No one wants to deal with the hot button issue of alcohol in this province, let alone put it front and centre during an election campaign. After all, we’re all jaded Ontarians, we’ve heard it all before, from the likes of Mike Harris (PC), David Peterson (Liberal) and practically every would-be leader of Ontario has, at one time or another, promised changed in the way we buy alcohol: make it easier, make it more convenient, move it out of the sole hands of the LCBO … but alas where do we still find it today?

The other day I had a heart-felt and fairly in-depth conversation with a fellow writer wine who is “opposed” to a free-market system in Ontario. While I see his point about a totally open market whipping Ontario into a frenzy … the British Columbia model is probably something we should be looking into and has been expressed quite well by the “Pairs Perfectly” movement/campaign spearheaded by the Wine Council of Ontario. Now I rarely praise the Wine Council because, for the most part, they are a useless organization that does little for the wineries besides take their money and publish a map – I have spoken about revamping this organization before and installing a form of pay-for-play (minimal base salary plus bonuses for achievements; think NFL contract). But their Pairs Perfectly idea isn’t new, they’ve taken it from the west coast and adapted it for Ontario; and for the most part they’ve tried their best to get the word out: I did hear it quite a bit on radio, on television and on social media. Did it make a difference during an election campaign that refused to talk about that particular issue? Not really. But it’s not something that should be dropped from our collective consciousness just because the election campaign ends; it should be something they keep pressuring the newly formed government with. This is something that should run much longer than the 6 weeks the NDP, Liberals and Conservatives will sniping at each other across podiums and on the road – it should be a year round educational endeavor to inform Ontarians on just what they are missing out on … it might not be a big issue now, but in time they could make it an issue … they just have to keep hammering it home, and not give up and go away after a measly 6 months.

One thing my colleague and I were in full agreement about was that corner stores are not the answer. And not for the reasons the asinine Beer Store is telling you. Corner stores will not enhance the market, they’ll provide the convenience aspect, but they won’t add to better and enhanced selection in the marketplace – they’ll stock the big brands that sell. Many will seem like reps for Molson’s, Labatt’s, Yellow Tail and FuZion; but will you find a Lailey Syrah, a Big Head Chenin Blanc, or a Ridgepoint Aglianico blend on their shelves? Doubtful. They’ll want fast turn-over of beer and wine and not craft beer and wine that will sit on shelves waiting for that discerning customer. Which brings us back to the small wine shops alongside the big government monopoly stores.

It’s an idea whose time has come, but the timing is wrong, if you wanna get these politicians talking about it you first have to get the electorate talking about it. And I have a theory how we can accomplish that this election:

This province is so anti-change in its boozy ways because, it seems, so many have never even left the province. Few have been south of the 49th to buy wine or beer (or so it seems) to see that I can buy beer and wine beside the frozen pizzas, fresh steaks and potato chips. They’ve never been to a small wine shop overseas (or so it seems), in Italy where the wines of the region take up one wall while on the others are a great selection of cheeses, breads, meats and anything else you could slip in a basket for your romantic picnic lunch. Imagine: all that in the same store. It seems, that on the whole, Ontarians have never experienced the convenience of wine shopping in another country – oh sure they’ve heard about it from friends, but it’s one thing to hear about it, it’s another to actually experience it. So I say vote for the party that’ll cut your taxes and put some money back into your pocket, that way it’ll encourage Ontarians to get out of Dodge (or wherever else they live) and explore the world – they’ll come back to their puritanical province and demand change. Anybody I’ve ever met who has done just that comes back conceding that we live in a land of squares and backward-thinking politicians when it comes to wine and beer, and they want things to change too. The theory is this: the more who explore the more who’ll want to be like everybody else, with the same rights and freedoms – wine and beer-wise anyway.

Now get out there and vote.

Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch:New and Noteworthy Wines

Huff 2012 Gamay - $24.95 (W)
www.huffestates.com
Gamay is known to be pretty simplistic at times and I would have to say this Huff version certainly delivers on simplicity, but also on delicious flavour. The nose is a little odd, but that could be due to limited time in bottle at time of tasting – the palate sings with sweet cherry fruit that zips and zings across the tongue. Price: $24.95 – Rating: ****

Leaning Post 2010 Merlot - $38.00 (W)
www.leaningpostwines.com
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Merlots from 2010 were pretty incredible wines and this Leaning Post is no exception. 25 months in barrel may seem like a long time, but winemaker Ilya Senchuk was not convinced this wine was going to amount to anything more than a bulk sell-off. His wife saw it differently, and convinced him to keep it (happy wife, happy life) and the rest, as they say, is history. The nose doesn’t scream out of anything appealing but the palate more than makes up for that: smoky, blackberry, cassis and pepper with blueberry skin like tannins and a long luxurious finish. As wife Nadia said, “I just like to sit and sip on this one.” Amen sister. Price: $38.00 – Rating: ****

Norman Hardie 2012 Chardonnay, County Unfiltered – $39.00 (W)
www.normanhardie.com
People have been impressed with Norm Hardie’s wines for years now … and while I would put myself in that camp I’m honest enough to say that I think Norm’s fruit (in Prince Edward County) and wines are starting to live up to the reputation of quality he has built. This 2012 County Chardonnay is a perfect example – where in the past the fruit might have come off a little thin and too minerally, the maturity of the vines has started to show off the combination of mineral and fruit, and Norm’s experience, passion and patience with this fruit is paying off handsomely. Buttery yet with mineral notes, plus baked apple, peach, butterscotch, crème brulee and a touch of orange peel on the finish. A really lovely wine worth its price. Price: $39.00 - Rating: ****

Ridgepoint 2007 Merlot, Reserve - $35.00 (W)
www.ridgepointwines.com
For those who like older wine but lack the patience and restraint to hold them in their cellar Ridgepoint has the answer, they’ll hold them in theirs’ until it’s ready; like with this Reserve Merlot that’s already 6 years old. The nose has a nice smoky-licorice note with touches of leather – and while the nose speaks old the palate shows off the more youthful aspects of this wine: blueberry, cocoa, anise along with some leather and spice … this one is ready now, but could still age another 3-4 years. Price: $35.00 – Rating: ****+

Rockway 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon – Small Lot, Block 12-120 - $22.95 (W)
www.rockway.net
Here we have another surprise from Rockway. I hate to say this, but anytime I try a Rockway wine I like I am surprised – that’s what a questionable past will buy you as a reputation; but new winemaker David Stasiuk is changing all that. The nose on this Cab Sauv is a little muted, it’s the palate that really shows off with all its explosiveness: blueberry, choco-cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, medium tannins and high drinkability factor. The finish rides the wave of dark fruit being made up mostly of blueberry and blackberry. The way Mr. Stasiuk is going, in a few years I will no longer be surprised when tasting a good Rockway, it’ll be the other way around, I’ll be surprised if I don’t. Price: $22.95 – Rating: ****

Southbrook 2011 Connect Red - $14.95 (W, L)
www.southbrook.com
Connect Red is the wine meant to connect you with the earth, but first Southbrook had to connect Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, made using organic and bio-dynamic methods in the vineyard and the winery; this wine is made so that you can make a connection to the world around you: human, animal, vegetable or mineral. The good news is, none of the 4 appear in the wine, it’s all fruit. The nose is smoky with raspberry, blackberry, cassis and strawberry notes while the taste doles out cassis, black raspberry, smoky notes and new leather (well I guess in this case one out of four ain’t bad). Good value red. Price: $14.95 – 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

Regular Weekly Videos
Video #79 – Casa-Dea Estates 2011 Riesling
Video #80 – Huff Estates 2012 Unoaked Chardonnay, South Bay Vineyard

NEW – Quench By Tidings … #Wine Wednesday (see them all here)
Wines Lost on My Desk
New Chilean DOs - Don't Miss 'em

On the Road with the Grape Guy (blog)
(Trips, tours and tastings – join me as I review the highs, and sometimes, the lows)
Annual Bouchard / Fevre / Ponciago Tasting

NEW - Taste it Again / Lost & Found (blog): the two blogs have merged
(Find out what happened to some favourites and to those that never were tasted)
A Couple of Wines from the Cellar: Henry of Pelham & Thirty Bench
The Story of Two 2002 Cabernet Francs
and Check out past reviews here

NEW NAME - Uncorked 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)
June 7 release report up now
June 21 coming soon

Words to Live By

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Wine Event Spotlight: 7 Events That Caught My Eye

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.

CiderFest at Puddicombe ... June 20 and 21 - check out the details here

Ontario Wine Awards Winemakers Dinner ... hosted by Tony Aspler and featuring Gold Medal Wines from this year's Ontario Wine Awards: Thursday, June 19, 2014 at Crush Wine Bar, 455 King Street West, Toronto - Only 100 tickets will be sold to this exclusive event: 6:00 pm Sparkling Wine Reception & Hors D'Oeuvres - 7:00 pm Dinner (5-courses including dessert) - Ticket Price: $165, plus HST ... all the details can be found here.

Tawse Summer Soltice … Jim Cuddy returns to Tawse “for another magical evening under the stars” full of music, food and wine. June 28, 2014

The 8th Annual Six4Six - Tickets on sale NOW ... 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, and 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

Wine Country's Favourite Summer Festival is Back! ... Trius Jazz: July 12, 2014 and Trius Blues: August 9, 2014. Trius Jazz & Blues at the Winery has been bringing premier Canadian talent to Niagara's wine country for 25 years. This year marks their 25th anniversary. Choose from a variety of ticket options and experiences that include Vineyard Lawn Seating, Trius Red Lounge, Trius Winery Restaurant Patio Seating and Backstage Pass. Get your tickets and find more info 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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