Update

Updated the Blog, I like this might be some more updates later we shall see

Also, Doing a dinner on tuesday Will post menu tomorrow and stuff. Menu is almost set but you know I'll change minor details when I feel like it. Its nice to have the freedom for dinners where I can just say what the Protein is "Scallops", "Sable + Lamb", "Foie Gras"

[Un]expected,ly Good

So had the day off to do some running around shopping, you know running to Mikuni Wild Harvest to buy you know regular stuff BLIS Bourbon Aged Maple Syrup, Blis Sherry Vinegar. Buying Qualicum Bay Scallops, Sable Fish etc etc.

Anyways the major reason was to drop off some wine at the downtown wine storage facility.
[3 cases of Loire and a Burgundy] was told they were doing some Brunello Tasting. So I made sure I was down there when they were being poured a free tasting is a free tasting.  Just so you know I am not the biggest fan of Sangiovese grape. Just something about it. Started the tasting and noticed they had some Barolo's going on too! Now that I do like and I think by far my favourite of the day.

Started off with an Italian White it was Fantastic no notes or name, Just rememberd it being honeyed and Muscat like very very good.

2004 BRUNELLO, 2005 BAROLO - Downtown Vancouver (11/26/2009)
Tasting of 2004 Brunellos and 2005 Barolo's by Luigi Einaudi

• 2005 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  A: Had something big about it but yet it was muted.
  
  T: Nice red fruit, very good (90 pts.)
• 2004 E. Fuligni (Cottimelli) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  A: Typical Sangvioses Nose, Spice and Darkish Fruit plums/prunes
  
  T: Rose, Perfume, Floral, Sour Cherry but a Sweet Sour Cherry VERY SOLID
  
  Conclusion, the nose kinda of turned me off as I am not a Sang fan, but the taste just fantastic (91 pts.)
• 2004 Fattoria di Sant'Angelo (Lisini) Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
  A: A Burgundian Nose i was feeling, warm ripe sour cherry, something very Burgundian, this is the nose is where I can see people falling in love with Brunello
  
  T: Tannins, Mild [Double Decanted] Acid Medium, Good solid fruit, more to this wine then the notes very solid (92 pts.)

• 2005 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Barolo Terlo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  This was Double Decanted, then in bottle for 3hrs
  
  A: Licorice Strawberry, Twisters, Beautiful
  
  T: Really good ripe fruit, acid was a medium, tannins nice
  
  Conclusion: My type of wine, maybe too new world, but also I don't know how long this will "age" in the acid department maybe the tannins will keep it together but its drnking so good right now (92 pts.)
• 2005 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Barolo Nei Cannubi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  This was Double Decanted, then in bottle for 3hrs
  
  A: Twisters Awesomeness, like Gary V says Gourmet/High Class Twisters, I mean just beautiful
  
  T: My notes were blank because it was so good, Acid was amazing. It was acidic yet it wasn't like "oh hey its acid" more like hey why is this acid so "Sweet"
  
  Conclusion my type of Barolo (94 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

At the end of the day I think I love Barolo, tho these were top end ones so Its almost like you could not like them.  I am excited about my 98 in the cellar I am going to open up soon, just waiting on my venison

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)

Rhubarb Schnapps Pictures

As Mentioned, it is completed.  Fantastic and Delicious.  Yes I did drink some for research purposes.

Enjoy...well I will anyways!

Hakkasan Restaurant Located in the Industrial Area of Richmond, Richmond being the home to a lot of Asian Restaurant. A lot of Chefs came from Hong Kong I guess in the 80/90s

It is Hakka Cuisine, so that in itself makes it stand out from other such standbys as dim-sum.  From my understanding Hakka being A Nomadic Tribe, traveled around took recipe from the area moved on etc etc so they have a range of food styles. They have some Szechuan Style, which I enjoy they are great for those cold days.  As you can tell from the Images they are warm foods, Beef Curry Brisket, Eggplant and Chicken Chili/Garlic, and Fried Green Beans yummy.  There traditional dish is the Salt Baked Chicken.

A Must eat at place, and fantastic deal for lunch, but Usually order off the dinner menu for myself.

CHEESE REVIEW!!...?!?!

Well this Cheese Review (?) us brought on by ... Wine[3 bottles plus Woodbridge Reserve Sweet Mash Bourbon between 2 peoples] and some cool cheese, they are all Canadian too!

Gorts Extra-Aged (2yr) Gouda, Salmon Arm, BC
This Cheese is something else the age just makes it evolve in your mouth one bite and just let it taste, and to think I have never heard of this BC Cheese.  Not for the Faint of Heart[93pts~]

Le 1608 Lairterie Charlevoix Baie St-Paul, Quebec [Raw Cow's Milk]
This is the house cheese at Mount Pleasant Cheese, fantastic creamy yet Flavourful.  Really Good [91pts]

Grey Owl Ash-Ripened Fromaserie Le Detour, Bas-st-Laurent, Quebec [Pasteurized Goat Milk, Rennet Free]
This Cheese makes me want to make a Cheese Cake with it, Creamy yet Acidity like a good goat cheese, definitly a young cheese but tasty as a ....[90pts]


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)

Trust your BCLD Consultants

So for those of you not living in BC.  We are basically run by the British Columbia Liquor Board.  They have a Master of Wine buying French Wines [If im Corret]. They have signature stores, which have Product Consultants.  Basically they are knowledgeable staff who drink wine and like wine.  They are using the ones are the trade tasting finding new product for there Signature stores.  They are there and are passionate.

SO I was looking for a Hunter Valley Semillon. Well that didn't go well at all. They had a Barossa Semillon, and lots of Semillon / Sauvignon Blancs. All Good but not what I wanted. So I asked what he recommended for a Semillon / Sauv Blanc from France (Bordeaux) showed a couple and landed on a 2007 Chateau Janon from Entre-Deux-Mers.  Like he said Inexpensive wine, from a unknown wine isn't going to be pricing and talking about how the MW was just at Vinexpo.  Must of been one of her choices, that and it has a Medaille D'Argent from Paris.  All Good! So far.


The Stats:
Chateau Janon [Blanc]
Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc

11.5% Alc
Entre-Deux-Mers
$15.99 [Canadian/British Columbia so its like Cheap]


The Eye:
Pale Straw.

The Nose:
What jumps out first is the Nuttiness from the Semillon. Some 'freshness', and a little Rubber going on. I really like it

The Mouth:
Acid Acid Acid. Red Delicious Apples, but super Tart if that makes any sense.  Grassiness coming through.  Lemony Acidity.  Very Refreshing Also my type of wine, finish with a touch of bitterness. Medium (-) Body.


Overall/Reflection: So this wine I really do enjoy, maybe the score does not indicate that, its a great QPR. Its light and refreshing my type of wine you can drink this whenever with some nice fish or maybe a salad with a good acidity vinaigrette, toasted nuts, chicken or maybe fish.  Its not super complex which is where I would give higher scores.
Score: 85

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)