Our Wine Shopping List for February 22
You ask. We answer.
So many of you ask us at our tastings, cellar consultations and plain old conversations what you should buy, what you should drink now and what you should keep for later.
So we thought a regular feature based literally on what we are buying, how many bottles we are buying, and for what intended purpose (stocking the cellar, guzzling now etc.) may help you out.
This is a list of the wines we would – and do – buy to drink or cellar at home.
This week there’s a good number of whites to look forward to drinking in the summer, plus some weighty reds that you can drink now with a bit of decanting or cellar away for a few more years.
Drink Now(ish)
Morgadio da Torre Alvarinho, Vino Verde, Portugal 2013
$17.95 Vintages 960955
Alvarinho, with it’s refreshing acidity and bright citrus and mineral flavours, is a favourite grape for fun summer sipping either on its own while lounging in a hammock with a good book, or as a brilliant accompaniment to fresh seafood dinners.
This one starts to tip the scales in the price department (a few years ago a favourite Alvarinho that has yet to return to Ontario was only about $13 or so), but it seems this example is a very fine offering indeed. The plan is to pick up a few bottles to be on the ready when the temps finally hitting the double digits above zero.
Purchase: 2
Chateau des Charmes “Old Vines” Riesling, VQA Niagara on the Lake 2012
$16.95 Vintages 277228
A top producer of exceptional Ontario Riesling, this is a bottle, produced from estate vines planted back in the 70’s, not to be missed. A quick search on the winery’s website shows the 2012 is sold out (though 2013 has just been released), so it may be a good idea to pick up an extra bottle or two from the LCBO as that’s all that is left. Riesling is a great white for long term aging, though we prefer the fresh brightness of the grape, so we’ll happily guzzle this now with cheese platters, seafood tempura, and even richer cassoulets.
Purchase: 3
Quails’ Gate Chardonnay, VQA Okanagan Valley 2013
$21.95 Vintages 377770
We’ve been big fans of Quails’ Gate since our first visit to the winery nearly a decade ago. It’s one of the more present BC wines in Ontario, but it still only comes in waves. Consistent year after year, we know this Chardonnay is approachable but still complex and at a decent price.
Purchase: 1
Drink Later
Bricklayer’s Reward “Block 7” Cabernet Sauvignon, VQA Lake Erie North Shore 2012
$19.95 Vintages 406124
2012 was an exceptionally warm vintage in Ontario, and Lake Erie North Shore enjoys the warmest temperatures and longest growing season in the province. Additionally, winemaker Lawrence Buhler is bringing his magic touch to the vineyard and working hard to create a portfolio of notable wines of style and substance. This particular bottle is raising some eyebrows, having won double gold at the All Canadian Wine Championships and additional accolades from critics. With very good aging potential, and a very good price, this would be fun to pick up a few bottles and open one every year to see how it develops.
Purchase: 3 (one for now, the other two for later)
Fontodi Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy 2011
$34.95 Vintages 933317
A returning favourite of ours, Fontodi is something we look forward to and snap up when it comes to Vintages. It’s gone up by about $5 over the last few years, which is a bummer, but such is life.
Purchase: 3