by Zoltan Szabo
Look for the wines in selected LCBO Vintages stores on Saturday, December 11. Click on the inventory numbers to check which stores will carry these selections.
2006 ‘Mukuzani’, Teliani Valley, Kakheti, Georgia – Vintages # 0181271 $14.95
Made from 100% indigenous Saperavi grapes from the Kakheti region of Georgia. Black fruits, beet root, oak smoke and earth – mineral. Medium weight with great freshness, soft tannins and lingering finish. A neat red wine, well made, oaked yet balanced and much enjoyable. Try with Khachapuri or a rustic meat stew gypsy – style.
2009 Dolcetto di Dogliani, Minella, Piedmont, Italy – Vintages # 0189811 $13.95
Shiny ruby – light purple. Aromas of blue fruits, floral and exotic spice. Light to medium bodied, fresh and pleasantly – softly tart with a long spicy cherry – flavoured finish. To be enjoyed with rare duck breast, ostrich or vegetarian risotto.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada – Vintages # 0530576 $19.95
This is a fairly complex and well composed red with a bouquet of wild berries, oak spice, smoke, licorice root and sage. Full bodied with an accentuated yet balancing tannic vibe to it and a very long, fresh and fruity finish. Give it some protein, bison tenderloin with blueberry – mint preserve – dark chocolate – red wine reduction.
JUST RELEASED: 2009 Pinot Gris ‘Legacy’ Bruce Nicholson, Inniskillin, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada – available at the winery only, www.inniskillin.com
Bouquet of pear, tangerine, quince preserve, pineapple, lavender honey and white blossoms. Medium plus bodied and viscous, richly textured and so flavoursome with outstanding acidity supporting its weight, giving it a fresh and very long, ripe, sweet tropical fruit – driven finish. After it warms up a bit in the glass, mineral and spicy notes surface also on the nose and palate as well. 14% alcohol well integrated. A lovely Pinot Gris. I tried it with Didier Leroy’s Foie Gras torchon with Belgian endive, French green beans in lemon – tangerine emulsion and aged balsamic, and the match was sheer perfection. Only 130 cases made.
NEW DISCOVERY: 2008 Pinot Noir, Exultet Estates, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada – available at the winery only, www.exultet.ca
Exultet Estates is a centuries old farm and orchard formerly producing milk, cheese and apples, now nurtures vineyards producing wine which is 100% from estate grown grapes. This is a light, fragrant, delicate and delicious Pinot. Pomegranate, red currant, red cherry, savoury – spicy – mineral nuances on the nose. Very fresh over the palate with silk – soft tannins and cranberry flavour and spicy – white pepper finish. I am not sure of its oak regime, but it’s not really obvious. I look forward to tasting the other wines this winery produces. To go with classic duck confit.
Read more of sommelier Zoltan Szabo at zoltanszabo.org and follow him at twitter.com/zoltanszabo.
