What We’re Drinking Now!
With only a few weeks before the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration comes to Niagara, we’ve focused on a Chardonnay for a good portion of the reviewed wines, but if you still want more, check out our blog on i4c and the Chard recommendations we’ve listed there.
Flat Rock Cellars “The Rusty Shed” Chardonnay, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Pennsula, 2010
$24.95 Vintages 1552
This is a terrific example of what Ontario can do with Chardonnay. 2010 was a warm vintage, and the results are clear in the glass: powerful and rich with flavours of butterscotch, Golden Delicious apple, pineapple and ample toasty oaky notes. Try with grilled swordfish, seared scallops and bacon, roast Cornish hen.
Cono Sur Organic Chardonnay (Unoaked), San Antonio Valley, Chile, 2011
$11.95, LCBO 230565
Before we first tried this, we had our doubts, but to say this over-delivers for the price is an understatement. This has great structure with zippy, balanced acidity and nice mineral notes. Look for flavours of lemon-lime citrus and some peach notes. Enjoy well chilled with raw oysters, mussels in white wine sauce or grilled vegetables.
Jordan Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California, 2009
$42.60 Halpern Wine
Rich and creamy with flavours of tropical fruits like mango and pineapple, roasted almond and a slightly minty note on the finish. Enjoy with pasta carbonara, roast pork tenderloin with mushrooms or grilled chicken breast with black bean – mango salsa.
Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2011
$21.95 Vintages 10421 (released June 23)
Sauvignon Blanc lovers take note: this will hit Vintages this weekend, and will likely not last too long. Astrolabe consistently produces top rate Sauv Blanc’s that have the focus and energy expected from this zippy white, but with added complexity. Look for flavours and aromas of fresh lychee, lemon-lime, mandarine orange and some herbacious/vegetal notes. Great buy, so stock up.
Maycas Del Limari “Reserva Especial” Syrah, Limari Valley, Chile, 2008
$19.95 Vintages 269423
When this was released last year, it was greeted with such fanfare, we picked up a case. If memory serves, it was a few dollars cheaper, but no matter, $20 is still a great deal for this classically styled syrah that is more similar to the Rhone Valley than the New World. Flavours of black cherry and cassis, stoney minerality, black olive and dark chocolate make this an ideal match to grilled lamb, barbecued ribs, and sausage.
Giacosa Fratelli Madonna Como Dolcetto D’Alba, DOC Piedmont, Italy 2010
$15.95 Vintages 268557
This Dolcetto is surprisingly dark and dense, a complete departure from the usual easy drinking, food-friendly Dolcettos we encounter. This is still an enjoyable, if surprising, wine with flavours and aromas of blackberry, coffee, smoke, plum and meaty notes come out in time, but this definitely needs decanting or even a bit more time in the cellar to loosen up.