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Hard Work!





Ok well not really, but yesterday was the big old IVSA tasting, and well its the biggest in the city with way to many wines to really taste, plus beer and hard liquor, which I try to avoid.  Now with the IVSA I never take notes anymore because its so big and not worth it...Until well I wanted to tell someone about a wine I tried from Hawkes Bay, a Chardonnay well Since I did not write any notes down, I have no idea what the wine is.

So in a sense I did not to my job properly, but the real hard work came with the massive tasting, plus the fact that after that was the WSET class, and man trying to concentrate on those 6wines after your palate has been distroyed by wines, is really hard work.

So in Conclusion I need to drink more, er taste more.


Oh btw Had a 2007 Sancerre that smelled and tasted of Dill Pickle Chips a Fantastic Hungaria Sparkler for 12.99 Canadian [aprox 5$USD], some Over Oaked Chardonnays from Napa. Really lovely entry level Italian Stuff.  A to finish the tasting off Forty Creek Canadian "Bourbon"/"Rye" more Bourbon-esque but really good

Have a good night~

On Deals, plus Review NZ Pinot





So with this Recession happening world wide we all know the prices are dropping/going on sale, especially in the wine world.  Lots of article on the sale of $50+ California wine not really moving at all. And the start up of Cinderella Wine we can see what type of deals are out there and what wines are not selling well.

In BC here we are under a government run liquor board, agent import but can't discount too much its just illegal [max 30%] but the LBD can do what they want.[well they are government they always do what they want].  Via Twitter I found out that one of the Stores had a bunch of clearance wines up to 50% off, one being a NZ Pinot Noir I had at a tasting which I loved, 2008 Delta Vineyard Pinot Noir.  So I got down there as fast as I could, found out it was '06.  I was a little bummed since I had not tasted the vintage, but bought 6 bottles anyways [Regular 27.99 on for 19.59 which btw if you are not from BC is Cheap] Plused grabbed a Valpolicella, and a Reserva Spanish 2000 vintage.

The Stats:
Delta Vineyards
2006 Pinot Noir

13.0%
Marlborough, New Zealand
100% "New" Dijon Clones
Grown on Clay Soils, 5 Day Cold Soak

The Eye:
Medium Plus Intensity, Ruby,

The Nose:
Day 1
Dark and Rich off the bat, Some Kirsch Liquor, Stawberry, Milk Chocolate
Day 2
Now opening up with Stewed Strawberry/Rhubarb,  Mild Pepper, Sweet Mushrooms

The Mouth:
Day 1
Red Fruit [Cranberry/Strawberry], Floral, Fungal, Dash of Creaminess
Day 2
Stewed Strawberry/Rhubarb

Overall/Reflection:
I like this wine, I really have a soft spot for New Zealand Pinot Noir, Marlborough and Central Otago, I did find this a touch on the "big" side for me but still delicious and am glad I have two more bottles to savour

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)

Fleur du Marquis





I was craving some Cheese, so I naturally I had to buy some, which by the way never turns into one piece, or type, but I did limit myself to two, so we are all good.


Its always nice to try new cheese, and 'ash' ripened cheese is something that does not crowd the cheese fridge at most places, I mean it says Ash kinda of weird.  And this Fleur du marquis, well it got what looks like twigs [rosemary] and blue, like its moldy [which It probably is] also has Juniper.  But this cheese so good, made with Sheeps Milk from Corsica, and I didn't realize Corsica was french who knew.  My only problem with this is that there is all this rosemary, dried loose rosemary, I personally don't like rosemary, and sure as hell don't like eating twigs, once scrapped off pretty good.

Smells so good with a hint of rosemary, rich. Taste, Creamy, mild pleasant rosemary taste but with a little aged notes not amonia yet but good, twigs of rosemarry kinda of sucks but hey its rustic french cheese pairs very nice with this Vin D'Pay D'Oc Viognier

I give this 90pts!

Another Test...





Another Test

Testing...Double Post



Well we shall see if this double posts

Trade Tasting - Small Venue - PreOlympic




Asked one of the reps if this was a buy before the olympics, and if they plan on selling out of certain wines, we shall see its going to be one crazy gong show, but these wines were good

TRIALTO TRADE TASTING - Cibo Restaurant at the Moda Hotel [Vancouver, Canada] (1/6/2010)
Three Wine Agents Showing a Small Selection, getting ready for the Olympic Madness
Calibrium International
From the Portfolio of Calibrium International
  • 2008 Sperling Vineyards Pinot Gris - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA
    A: Peach, Floral, Giving off that Alsacian Richness

    T: Med Acid, Round not what the nose was giving, it was Sur Leed so that would do that

    Conc: The taste was a let down coming off the nose (87 pts.)
  • 2008 Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
    A Typical NZ Sauv Blanc good, Greenness check, Zippyness check. All around what I would except from NZ and a good QPR (88 pts.)
  • 2008 Waterbrook Mélange Blanc - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
    A: Floral, that Muscat Fruit is singing through

    T: Off Dry, Good Floral Notes, Acid there my type of wine.

    Conc: A Simple Summer Sipper tho I was enjoying it in the middle of Jan (88 pts.)
  • N.V. Pommery Champagne Brut Royal - France, Champagne
    A: Mineral, Rich

    T: Smoke Mineral, Fruit. Charcoal, oh yeah and great acidity

    Conc: my type of Bubbly (92 pts.)
  • 2007 La Posta Malbec Angel Paulucci Vineyard - Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
    A: Light Meaty, Black Fruit, Rich

    T: Coffee, Med Fruit Intensity, Good Acid (87 pts.)
  • 2008 Grant Burge Shiraz Barossa Vines - Australia, South Australia, Barossa
    T: Intense Flavour Profile, A Typical Australian, Eucalyptus, Grape Candy (85 pts.)
  • 2008 Tommasi Valpolicella Classico Superiore - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico Superiore
    A: Meaty, Sweet

    T: Vanilla, Sour Cherry, Light Tannin

    Conc: Easy Drinking can't go wrong with QPR (87 pts.)
  • 2007 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
    Not sure if this was the 2007 or 2006

    T: Sour Cherry, Good Tannins, Nice Acid (87 pts.)
  • 2004 Fontanafredda Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
    A: Closed Aromatically

    T: Cherry Cola, Med Acid, Med Tannin, Candy Cherry

    Conc: Enjoyed this much drinking lovely now (88 pts.)
  • 2005 Brancaia Ilatraia Maremma Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Maremma Toscana IGT
    T: Silky Soft Tannins, Earthy, Good Black Currant

    Conc: This was just rocking today, showing its best, I would drink it now (92 pts.)
  • 2005 Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata - Argentina, Mendoza
    Big Fruit, Good Tasty, Delicious. Little Coffee on there

    Conc: Good yes delicious yes, worth its price no...98pts RP well I do not agree (90 pts.)
Altovin International
From the Portfolio of Altovin International
  • 2008 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
    A: Grassy Just a beautiful Nose really complex a nice ripe style of fruit I like 95pts

    T: High Acid Med Intensiyt, the Flavour let me down on the palate compared to the nose good tho 90pts
  • 2007 Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley
    FYI not a Chard fan.

    A: Med intensity ( - ), Caramel decent not picking up tons of oak good job so far

    T: Oak, Mineral,Ripe Fruit, Good acid

    Conc: A typical for a warm climate Chardonnay that I have had over the pass and I don't like this style but people love it

    If I scored this on my palate 85, but I think for most this is a 90pts easily
  • 2008 Delta Vineyard Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
    My Wine of the Night

    There is something that I love about Marlborough Fruit its awesome

    A: Nice Cherry Fruit, Reminds me of other Tua Tua Bay 2008 same everything

    T: Mineral, Spice, Fruit yummy

    Conc: Could drink this all day (91 pts.)
  • 2007 Telmo Rodríguez Rioja LZ - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
    A: Rubbery, Earth

    T: Very Pleasurable on the Palate, just good gorgerous fruit

    Conc: can't believe the price on this, (90 pts.)
  • 2006 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT - Italy, Veneto, Veronese IGT
    Normall not a fan of the amarone Style Wines this wine is 30% dried out

    A: Sweet Fruit [Amarone]

    T: Good acid good ripe dark/red fruit really dry on the finish, fruit little earth

    Conc: Solid wine I could drink this (91 pts.)
  • 2006 Marchesi Mazzei Chianti Classico Fonterutoli - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
    T: Good tart fruit can taste that Sangiovese
  • 2007 Tenuta di Biserno Insoglio del Cinghiale Bibbona Maremma Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Maremma, Maremma Toscana IGT
    T: Coffee, Soft Tannin, Dark/Red Fruit

    Conc: I actually really enjoyed this especially the syrah it was really good (89 pts.)
  • 2006 Bodega Renacer Malbec Punto Final - Argentina, Mendoza
    T: Good fruit, touch of rubber, brambly fruit, earth, sweet tannins (91 pts.)
  • 2006 Langmeil Three Gardens - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
    A: Earth, Fruit

    T: Aussie Style, Eculypse, Good fruit, Baking Spice, peppery?ginger? (87 pts.)
  • 2006 Greenstone Vineyard Shiraz - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
    A: Minerally [My Grillbrick nose I get from Rhone all the time]

    T: Med Body, Good acid, med tannins, lovely red fruit

    Conc: Not what I was expecting from a Aussie Shiraz, this must be the stuff they keep in australia really good more Rhone then Aussie (91 pts.)
  • 2006 St. Francis Zinfandel Old Vines Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County
    A: Nice Nose, Big intensity, good big fruit but not a fruit bomb.

    T: Good Candied Fruit [controlled], Spice, Licorice the really good expensive stuff, Sweet Blackstrap Molasses

    Conc: This was good I mean this was a big wine I don't know if I could drink more then two glasses but it was pretty good (91 pts.)
  • 2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
    There was only one drop, literally in the decanter, I got to taste it and I could feel the tannins, decent fruit it seemed like a HUGE Wine
Liquid Art Find Wines
From the Portfolio of Liquid Art Find Wines
Overall was a good tasting event, good stuff was brought out
Posted from CellarTracker

Eggnog

I was going to post this last week but I didn't like my Paragraph I wrote, so here I am trying to rethink my thought pattern.

So Basically There is like one main brand of eggnog you see every year and its Dairyland its a big national company.  They make three "types" of eggnog now Light [Blasphmy], Classic and Original.  So I wanted to buy some eggnog and was confused with three "types"/"styles".  But I found out the best way to see which of those three were the best.....CHECK THE FAT CONTENT, the highest wins hah its like good souscream mmm.

But this Review is on Avalon Dairy Eggnog its great and even better then last I remembered, especially since everything I drink now I pay more attention, thanks wine school.  And there Chocolate milk isn't to shabby either.



Now to Review Avalon

The Stats:
Avalon Dairy Ltd
Eggnog
1L? Glass Jug
Alc Content dependant on Rum
Vancouver, Canada
Limited Time, Winter

The Eye:
White Tinge of Yellow, with Specks

The Nose:
A Creamy Nose, touch of spice and almost a "mintyness"

The Mouth:
Rich, Thick Coating [but not crazy thick] A nice Balance of Sweetness, Creaminess and a good spice level as if it were milk+egg yolk+ and Spice Cake




Overall/Reflection:
Score: 92-94

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)