Michael Pinkus Wine Review - From the Cellar

Sparkling Wine Friday + Chardonnay (Ontario / Chile / British Columbia)

30 May 2018

Details: Category: Uncorked Tonight

Tawse Sparkling 2013

(December 2, 2016) ... Another sparkling wine Friday / Chardonnay night and the wines were an excellent array of subtlety and voluptuousness.

Tawse 2013 Limestone Riesling (Ontario) ... great way to kick off the evening with a bubble that wears its acidity on its sleeve while showing off green apple and lemon flavours.

Cono Sur 2015 Chardonnay, Quebrada Alta (Chile) ... a young version of Chardonnay from Chile that shows lots of fresh white fruit and a gorgeous hit of vanilla cream.

Sandhill 2010 Chardonnay (British Columbia) ... my limit for older Chardonnay is about 7-8 years (with some exceptions), this six year old Sandhill is still a beauty with aromas of peach, vanilla, and bruised apple; on the palate, it was creamy yet with good acidity for balance and finished off with green apple, peach and pineapple on a finish that seemed to go on for days.

3 Reds and Short Ribs (California / Chile / France)

30 May 2018

Details: Category: Uncorked Tonight

(November 19, 2016) ... one of my favourite meals as we head into the winter months in Canada are short ribs, I have tried countless recipes to find the perfect one and I also love to pair them with some big wines, this was tonight's offering: Liberty School 2003

Liberty School 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (California) ... dried blackberry, cassis, and sweet dark fruit on the palate with gentle spice and pepper notes - still very drinkable and quite possibly the best wine of the night; looks good on Liberty School, was not sure what to expect, but I got a lot more than I bargained for.

Santa Carolina 2008 Reserva de Familia Carmenere (Chile) ... brambly dried dark fruit and pepper, but there's also a slight oxidation here ... it was the third best wine of the night, and that's not saying much in a grouping of three.

Chateau de Segure 2013 Vieilles Vignes Fitou (France) ... minty, blackberry, smoky-vanilla and black cherry (all things I would have expected from the Chilean wine, so what are they doing in France?) This one opened up quite nicely through the coarse of the evening and gave us a second wine to drink after the Liberty School.