Tuesday 17 December 2013

Eos Estate Petite Sirah 2009, Paso Robles

Petite Sirah.
California, USA
$19.95 at LCBO

Dark plum color in the glass with pinkish rim.
On the nose aromas of cherries, cedar, blackberries.
On the palate  dry, medium to full body. Smooth tannins and and acidity.Black berries, mint, mushrooms on the palate. 
medium finish.
Good everyday wine.

Friday 29 November 2013

Virtual travel and tasting-Loire Valley.






 The Loire River Valley stretches from central France to the country‘s west coast.
Every region is unique and there is diversity of wines, grapes and styles.
The climate of the region ranges from Maritime to Continental.

   I want to start in the place where Loire river reaches Atlantic ocean.  The rolling countryside around the city of Nantes is devoted to the farming of the Muscadet grape variety. This simple white grape thrives in the Maritime climate and the gravel and sand soils of the area.
  In the 17th century, Dutch wine merchants laid the foundation for the Muscadet style by encouraging the villagers of Nantes to plant the early ripening Melon de Bourgogne grape.
Some wines may also be labeled ―Sur Lie if they have been aged on their lees over the winter following the vintage. These popular wines are classic companions to local oysters because of their high acid, light body, neutral flavors, and occasional spritziness, courtesy of dissolved carbon dioxide in the lees.

And to taste

Domaine De L’ardennerie Muscadet Sèvre & Maine 2010, Ac, Sur Lie 

. Light straw color with a little tint of green.
Mineral aromas with a little bit of fruit, citrus. On the palate dry, crisp with acidity. Wine is asking for oysters! Nice, fresh finish.

and pair this wine with oysters, of course!:))



we clean them




 And enjoy with wine!





 Cheers!




Wednesday 20 November 2013

Wino 4 Life: Too Hot? Too Cold? Just Right? Temperature Does Ma...

Wino 4 Life: Too Hot? Too Cold? Just Right? Temperature Does Ma...: Imagine going on a well deserved vacation to a beautiful beach side resort. You grab sunscreen, a towel, your favorite swimwear, sunglasses,...

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Deutz Chamagne tasting.

I had another great experience thanks to Natalie Maclean!
This time I was at vertical Deutz Chamagne tasting!
It was amazing experience!
Champagne Deutz was found in 1838.
They are located at 200 hectares(490) acres, among best Champagne crus.
Vines are about 50 years old.

We were presented 6 finest examples of the Deutz Champagne.











Deutz Champagne Brut Classic

$64.95
in the glass-golden, straight small bubbles.
Aged on the lees.
On the nose briosh, floral,marzipan,
On the palate nice, soft mousse, very elegant, fresh. Long finish with mineral notes.

 

Deutz Champagne Brut Rosé

$79.95
pink in the glass with small bubbles.
On the nose floral, perumy, raspberries, redcurrants.
On the palate dry, delicate mousse, pomegranate, cherries. Very balanced, long finish with strawberries flavour. 

 

2006 Deutz Brut

$94.95
Golden yellow in the glass.
On the nose bread, floral.
On the palate dry, fresh, backing spices, pear, floral notes. Fruity finish


Deutz Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2007

Desgorged 2012
$109.95
in the glass yellow straw, small straight bubbles.
On the nose, subtle, opens to floral, mineral aromas.
On the palate dry, crisp, fresh. Nice finish with citrus aromas.

 

Deutz Cuvee William Deutz Brut Champagne 2000

$199.95
60% Pinot Noir
30% Cheardonnay
10% Pinot Meunier

in the glass golden yellow, small bubbles.
On the nose brioche, floral aromas,very complex. Sweet fruit, pear.
On the palate dry, full body, sweet bread, , complex, gastronomical wine.
Elegant and balanced.
Finish with citrus notes.



2005 Deutz Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne, France

$229.95
minimum 7yrs on the lees.
in the glass clear, healthy, golden, delicate bubbles.
On the nose very aromatic, roses candy, cooked stone fruit.
On the palate, dry, elegant, complex. Soft mousse, floral aromas, roses, citrus.
Long finish with fruit flavours and touch of minerality.







Cheers!

Nominating wines.

On the Natalie Maclean website we are nominating wines. Please, vote for me!:))
If you like my choice!
http://www.nataliemaclean.com/holiday-wine/#competition
Just press the category and find me-Nina Syas.
I am in all categories.
Thank you!
Cheers!:))

Thursday 17 October 2013

Amarone tasting.


Another wonderful experience I had, was Amarone tasting! And again because of Natalie Maclean!
Located in the Beautiful Ontario Art gallery, it was very classical and tasteful.

Great Amarone producers in a spacious room full of light.
Also there was a lot food! great Italian food and no shortage of it!








Italian wine can be more appreciated  with good food, to find balance and taste.








Amazing experience! One wine from Veneto, so many personalities!
And personality in wine.



I love Amarone! Unique flavour, unique wine!
Cheers!

Monday 7 October 2013

Wine tasting with profile wine group.

Because of wonderful Natalie Maclean I had an amazing opportunity to taste wines from all over the world with Profile wine group! 







When I arrived there, I was literally lost! So many great wines! So I started from the closest table and moved ahead slowly.:0)
First table presented Miner Family wines. 




 I tasted their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.


Those wines where lovely and elegant. I'll post my reviews a little later.

Then I tasted those wines







After wine from California I moved to my favorite part of Italy-Piedmont!
There was great diversity of wines from this region!






I can't express how interesting it was to taste all those wines and to feel the aromas of the region.
Wines from St. Emilion, France, Alsace. Then I traveled to Chili, Argentina, Spain. And all in one evening!










The experience  was extraordinary!






Everyone and everything that evening was about wine, great wine!





Someone got me in the process of getting ready to taste!:0)

Many wines was presented and one just can't taste them all! So I did the best  I could!
I hope to see those wines in LCBO soon!
 
And thank you again Natalie Maclean and Profile wine group!


Monday 16 September 2013

Le Dauphin De Guiraud 2005, Ac Sauternes, 2nd Wine Of Château Guiraud

Sauternes. Bordeaux.
In the glass golden color, clean, clear.
On the nose very strong aromas of honey, pear confiture. 
On the palate sweet, but with some acidity of pineapple. Some floral tones, sweet apricots, vanilla.
Very nice desert wine! Long finish with exotic fruit aromas.

White wines of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is famous for its red blends. But not  only red wines are famous there!
Dry white wines are made  in many districts of the region, including a few wines from the predominantly red-wine Haut-Médoc area. But most of Bordeaux’s dry and semi-dry white wines come from the following three districts:
  • Pessac-Léognan
  • Graves
  • Entre-Deux-Mers 

     

    White wine from the Graves region  is usually consumed young and will show fresh citrus and grassy flavors. Those white wines are made mostly from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion.
    Some  producers favoring and others avoiding barrel fermentation and/or maturation.
     Wines made in Pessac-Leognan tend to be more expensive. The very best dry white wines of Pessac-Léognan contain about 50 percent of Sémillon
     Most of the wines labeled Entre-Deux-Mers are fresh, fruity, stainless steel fermented, and designed for immediate consumption.

    Most dry white Bordeaux can be enjoyed young, when their fruity, floral aromas are most concentrated. Of all the Sauvignon Blancs made in the world, White Bordeaux  is more citrus and floral vs. grassy and herbal. And the acidity is not very high.


    White Bordeaux is mostly made from:

    Sémillon, Sauvignon blanc and Muscadelle - Typical blends are usually 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon blanc.
     Sauvignon Blanc is native to Bordeaux. 


    Sweet wines

    The sweet wine producing communes of Sauternes and Barsac are located in the southern part of the Graves district along the Garonne River.Humidity is so high, courtesy of mists produced when the small and cooler Ciron River meets the larger, warmer Garonne. These mists, however, are important for the way in which they encourage noble rot in the white grapes grown here—Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
    The sweet wines produced here are noted for their high degree of concentration
    Facing Sauternes AOC, but on the other side of the Garonne River, sit the small AOCs of Loupiac and St. Croix-du-Mont. The wines here are produced in the same spirit as those of Sauternes, but are lighter, less concentrated, and less expensive. Given the high costs associated with the wines of Sauternes, they can make an excellent introduction to the sweet wines of Bordeaux.
    The sweet wines of Bordeaux can only be made with the unique partnership of botrytis. Botrytis is a fungus which  forms on grapes in the fall when cool, humid mornings are followed up by warm, dry afternoons and the grapes are overripen. This fungus sucking out all the liquids from the berries resulting  shriveled, concentrated, raisin-like clusters. This results in a more intense, concentrated final product.
     The secret to sweet Bordeaux wines is careful picking. Grapes are hand picked, pickers may come back more than 5 times selecting only botrytised clusters.

    Food pairing for White Bordeaux.

    White Bordeaux Taste, ginger, gooseberry, lemon, grass, grapefruit











     (picture from Google)

    White Bordeaux is good with vegetable dishes, as well as sea food and fish pairing.
    We have to be careful pairing White Bordeaux with acidic foods that can overshadow the wine.

    Pairing for sweet bordeaux

    The younger sweet wines are more fresher and they are paired with scallops, salmon, poultry.
    Famous pairing for these sweet wines is foie gras.
     The older ( 5-10 years) sweet wines show more  honey, apricot, spice and almond flavors. In older wines the sweetness decreases as the nose of the wine is more subtle. These older vintages taste better with fruit-based pastry, almond cake, creme brulee.

    For my Sauternes
    Le Dauphin De Guiraud 2005, Ac Sauternes, 2nd Wine Of Château Guiraud




    I made Pithivier

    Recipe

    Sweet Bordeaux has to be served chilled!


    I hope You like our virtual travel and tasting!
    See you next time! 
    Cheers!