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Napa Tasting!




Went to a Napa Tasting Downtown, Very impressed, wish they had bread with the cheese pfft who doesn't serve bread with a cheese platter. Vinsanity...I know your reading and I know you work in Napa any of these wineries?

I must say after this event my Tongue was shot.... way to much Tannins but I did go to a tasting the next day [notes to come later]


TASTE NAPA VALLEY [VANCOUVER, CANADA] - Fairmont Hotel, Waterfront (10/29/2009)

Trade Tasting, Lots of Chardonnay were Over Oaked, but like one wine maker said thats what the American Palate likes and it sells. Not to me tho. Cabernet Sauvignon I found a lot better this year then last [maybe my palate] Felt like less Oak.

White Wines


Red Wines


Overall Impressed, tho the Price means I can not afford any of the wines really

Posted from CellarTracker

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Globe in your Glass Tasting 2009








Well lets see how this post works trying something new from Cellartracker...well new just to blog posting. Went to a Wine Event sponsored by Vincor Canada called "Globe in your Glass" wines were ok.

I must say this is the first Time I have done a wine tasting at night where I am drinking its way different then a trade tasting.  I must say the trade tastings are a lot better.  Just different Atomsphere but neither is bad maybe Im just not use to be out that late or something way pass my bed time har.
Posted from CellarTracker

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Italian Wine Tasting 2009



Was held at the Terminal City Club, a Private Club you know for people with money to make connections mostly Professionals.  I know the Vancouver Club is more Lawyer based or I think they are.  Terminal City has a nice room very nice inside. Thumbs up

It was Italiano Day, Prosecco, Barolo, Sicilians, Amarones, Muscato D'Asti and everything else.
Lots of Good wines, lots of Ok wine not to many bad wines so thats good.  Tho it is depressing when you ask how much the wines Cost in Euro's and find out a 3.50EURO wine is selling for $17 in your Liquor Store, I know paying for shipping is a part of the cost but ugh taxes

Continue....

Argentina & Chile



This should of been written and posted like 3 weeks ago. That being said now I have some time and motivation.  Both were at the same place here in downtown vancouver at the Sutton Place Hotel, really a nice place in the heart of downtown there room for the event was bigger then what I expected they had in the building. Now to the events


Oct18Dinner_007


Oct18Dinner_007, originally uploaded by Weston3220.

Hey This Test should work better

Flickr

This is a test post from flickr, a fancy photo sharing thing.

Pictures of Yesterdays Dinner [Oct 18/09]




What I learned I need a Flash, with Diffuser.

That being said here are the pictures

October 18/2009 Dinner

Dinner Party tonight 4 Courses 6 people.

Images to Follow Later I hope

Amuse

Ahi Tuna Rolls

2008 Chateau de Chasseloir, Sur Lie, Muscadet Sevre et Maine

Sable

Braised Puy Lentils, Sauteed Cabbage

2008 Laporte, Les Duchesses, Pouilly-Fume

Squash

Carnival Squash Soup, Cinnamon Apple, Paprika Oil

2006 Vincent Girardin, Vieilles Vignes, Puligny-Montrachet

Beef

55F Grass Fed 'Empire Valley' Rib Eye Steak, Creamy Leek and Thyme Polenta, Red Wine Butter Sauce

2004 Domaine de Beaurenard, "Boisrenard", Chateauneuf Du Pape

Pear

Sous-Vide Pear, Almond Cake, Vanilla Bavarois

Ceylon and Assam Blended Loose Leaf Tea


Rhubarb Schnapps


Inspired from the Bookbook "Foie Gras and Black Pudding"

I decied to make Rhubarb Schnapps, Rhuarb Booze. My grandma being British always has rhubarb growing in her back yard and it was time to make it with Gin. Simple Really Rhubarb, Sugar and Gin puree, precook if you want. Let sit in Cool Place for 6 weeks shaking daily. Then Strain.

It will not be done till Nov 1st, but if it turns out like my Blackberry Port it will be tasty [Blackberry, Bottle of Zin, Bottle of Brandy, Sugar]

Beau Charles



My New Company.

Its basically be doing Private Chef work with a Major Push to wine pairing dinners.

Beau Charles Wine & Food Consulting

Why Beau Charles? well its my Middle names put in reverse order... Weston Charles Beau [Last Name] Can't give out to much info on the internet might get some weird stocker or weird stuff! They might steal my Credit Card Numbers!!!!

First Gig Oct 18th. My dad is Invoice Number #00001

A 'Cheap' Bottle of Wine

So I am doing this dinner for 6 people, and the one course the main has Grass Fed Northern BC Beef which I am pariing with a red wine sauce. So I need a bottle of red wine, went to the Booze Store to grab a cheapy but something that wasn't terrible. Finally decied I was going to go Argentina since there beef is Grass Fed. Don David Cabernet Sauvignon 16$ [Inexpensive by Canadian Standards so like 6-10$ American]. I must say I opened the bottle for the sauce tasted and kept half the bottle for myself and used a half bottle of my 2005 Bordeaux I had to make up the full bottle.

Also going to post in the next couple of days my experience from the Chile and Argentina Wine tasting, hopfully Sonoma if I can find my notes



Blogging Format Tasting Notes

The Stats:
Michel Torino
Don David Reserve
2007
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cafayate, Argentina
100% New Oak

The Eye:
Dark in Colour

The Nose:
A hint of Greenness / Coffee on the Nose, and some good fruit

The Mouth:
Coffee, Good ripe red fruit, Good Tannins and Acidity Structure. The Oak was very balanced and not becoming that over oaked "saltiness" that I get with most over oaked wines


Overall/Reflection:
Score: 88

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)

Naramata Wine Ass. [Okanagan, East Lake, on Bench]

Naramata Wine Associations Presents there twice? Annual Event. These are Okanagan Wines trying to Distinguish themselves from the rest of BC, Which I find cool and I think they are doing it. You could call this the "Napa" of BC wines, but being a cooler climate... Really good wines coming out of the area


The quality on all these wines were pretty high. Definitely the best of the Area as a group.

BC [Okanagan Namely] VQA Trade Tasting.

Twice a year the VQA [Vinters Quality Assurance] sponsors these events to try the new releases, Fall being more reds, spring being more whites. I must say that the quality of wine is really progressing a lot more being "drinkable" meaning I would pay money for them. Some that Jancis Robsinson Raved about I didn't find to be that "awesome" they were good But I found them to be too one dimensional.

Tasted A lot but these are the ones that stood out. Also helped out the old friends from the Restaurant.

Random Pictures, including after events har har.....to much to drink


Some Standout Wines and Wineries

8th Generation [German Wine Maker / Grower]
Pinot Gris 2008 [Really Nice Acidity Thumbs up for me]
Rose 2008 [Fantastic Sold Out and 2009 has a waiting list from my understanding]
Merlot [Don't know Vintage But really nice]

CedarCreek Winery
In Generally All Wines Doing pretty well
2007 Merlot [Big Wine, Big Tannins, Good purity of fruit]
Plantium Chard 2007 [Oaked for sure in French Oaked I generally Don't like Chard or Oaked Whites heh]

Chandra Estate Winery
Chardonnay "Yue" 2006 [A Chardonnay I liked, Hint of Oak very nice Good value too]

Clos Du Soleil Winery
Never heard of this Winery, Had a good looking blond pouring so OF Course I had to try the wine.
Red 2007 [Man what a fantastic wine it actually made me stop and think about it, did some research after the event seen its good some good reviews from local wine critics defintly a buy]

Garry Oaks
Really Impressed with there Wines
Pinot Noir [Red Fruit, Spice good purity of fruit tho Cranberry, Strawberry ,Rhubarb]
Pinot Gris [Love it good Acidity]

Mission Hill
Compendium 2006 [Drinking Nicely, smooth touch of fruit, dark chocolate]
Quatrain 2006 [A merlot Syrah blend, Syrah very syrupy coming through smooth creamy, fruit]
Oculus 2006 [BIG MASSIVE WINE, almost not drinkable, no point in opening this anytime soon the Tannins are just massive good fruit coming through tho]

Poplar Grove Winery
The 2005 Merlot and Legacy showing very nice currently [Just opened a 2004 Merlot which was Fantastic, you can ask Kim and Vibemore about it!]

Quails Gate Estate Winery
Heard Lots of good things about there Pinot Noir, they were pouring both of theres
Definitely a new World style play
Pinot Noir 2007 [Raspberry Coulis very nice]
Pinot Noir 2007 Reserve [Same profile as regular but a lot smoother]

Road 13
Viognier Rousanne Marsanne 2008 [Really Impressive]
Jackpot Syrah 2007 [Jancis Robinson Liked this wine, has those Rhone Qualities minerality fruit]

Summerhill Pyramid Organic Winery
Both Bubblies I love Blanc de Blanc really good
Cipes Brut NV
Organic Cipes Gabriel Blanc de Blanc NV

Not to Shabby all in all

Bordeaux 2006 Notes on 10 Wines


First of all sorry for no posts just have not been feeling it, that I checked my gmail account and I find its all screwy not forwarding emails to my normal account but just half of them. Weird stuff anyways I think its fixed now [which means it isn't fixed BUT hey that's the internet/computer for ya]

So I bought tickets to a 2006 Wine Tasting for Bordeaux, it was for a 9am Sunday Morning Figure it would be good not a lot of people and taste wine in peace. Show up 10mins early. And there is a line up outside the front door! Really at 9am?! Are these people mad? I know I am.

So in all I enjoyed all the 2006 except for the one that was totally over oaked.

I use the term Game, tho its not like Rhone game but it is earthy, game like that for my palate.

2006 Chateau La Tour Carnet, Haut-Medoc
A: Tobacco, Ceder
T: Acidity Present, Fruit Hidden, Creamy, getting little Cassis now, Pomegranate Finish

2006 Chateau Cantemerle, Haut-Medoc
58CS, 33M, 6PV, 3CF
A: Game, A nice Syrup nose coming across Black Pepper
T: Red Fruit, Tannins Present, Creamy, spicy finish

2006 Clos de l'Oratoire, St Emilion
A: Pretty Floral Nose, little Game
T: Tight nose, fruit not ready to drink [tho one wine note said drinking now...]

2006 Clos du Marquis, St Julien
A: Pepper
T: Good Tannins, "light body" [one critic called this Full Body, it was the lightest of the 10 and noticebly light] a interesting Juice flavour

2006 Chateau Clinet, Pomerol
A: Game
T: Good fruit, good tannins, "low acidity", spiciness

2006 Chateau Lascombes, Marqaux
A: Coffee Ground, Cocoa, "A Diaper Plastic Smell maybe I am thinking of the perfume they put in it?"
T: Good upfront fruit, med body, nice tannin. a solid wine

2006 Chateau Clerc-Milon, Pauillac
A: Game, Bordeaux Classic Nose, Spicy Pepperiness
T: Med Body, Red Fruit, Cranberry, Creamy

2006 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron, Pauillac
A: Vegatel Celery, Oak Creamy Vanilla
T: Coffee Ground, Acidity Red Fruit, Big Big Tannins, Nice Big Body, Creamy
*Not a Fan lots of Oak used in this

2006 Chateau Montrose, St Estephe
A: Interesting Nose (Good Way)
T: Good ripe red fruit, menthol
*I was going to buy this, didn't know if they were pouring it, it was good/ok, but I spent an extra 20$ and got a Pontet-Canet

2006 Chateau Pape-Clement, Pessac
A: Big game nose reminds me of a Burg, good nice fruit
T: Big Tannins Good Fruit
*Don't let the notes fool you this was the best red of the day hands down

Sauternes / Barsac

2006 Chateau Coutet, Barsac
A: Lovely Nose, Perfume, good tropical dried canadied Papaya nose
T: Honey Consistency, Minimal Acidity

2006 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes
A: Dried Papaya Candy, Touch of Petrol
T: Good Acidity, "oak", papaya dried


Edit: All the wine were drinking nicely after 2 hours of open bottle, 2-4 hrs decant good, tannins there but not "bad" that they need to hide in the cellar for a couple of years

All said and done bought for me and my dad

x2 Chateau Cantemerle
x2 Chateau Suduiraut, Sauternes The other Sauternes was good but this was rated the best on CT.
x1 Chateau Pontet-Canet

My Major Liquor Store is releasing most of these wines for 20-30% Less, So I am most likely going to buy couple more bottles of these wines. Which starts this Saturday So Time to go Broke