By Gaby Israel Here are the top 5 wines that would be hard to resist. Most of them have at least 2 of the 3 triple “winning elements” – Price, quality and cellaring potential: 2009 Montebuena – $12.95 This $13, 100% Tempranillo from Rioja received 90 by WS and RP. Natalie MacLean gave it 86. Worth trying and seeing which score better represents your palate. The Tempranillo grapes for this wine were hand harvested. Expect the typical Tempranillo in a flavored concentrated package. Potentially, a great house-wine for day-to-day consumption. Here is something untraditional – try it chilled – I was […]
Month: April 2012
LCBO Vintages May Classics Catalogue Includes Premium Bordeaux, Champagne, Riesling
Sponsored Post: LCBO Vintages Classics Collection: Ultra-premium wines available in small allocations. The mandate of the LCBO Vintages Classics Catalogue is to offer the highest quality in fine wines and premium spirits from the best producers and regions in the world. Vintages buyers seek out a wide variety of products that meet their rigorous standards of excellence. The deadline for pre-orders is Tuesday May 1, 2012. The following wines from Trialto Wine Group Ltd. are now available to order in extremely limited quantities. You can order your wines online here. Chateau Teyssier “Le Dome” 2006 St Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux […]
Dog Point Chardonnay, Andrew Rich Pinot Noir, Sister’s Run Shiraz: Best LCBO Wines Vintages Release April 28
Here are my top picks from the April 28 Vintages Release. You can also get all 74 of my Best Value Wines and Top Rated Wines for red, white, rose, sparkling and dessert wines that encompass many price points, styles and regions. I’ve also already posted my picks for May 12 Vintages Release. You can also add my wine picks to your shopping list by clicking on the little shopping cart icon. You can also create a custom list just for this release that will be saved in your account. Print a text-only version of the reviews. Call it […]
Summer Wines and Seafood, Barbecue, Picnics – Sommelier Sheila Person
In this interview, I chat Sheila Person who at the time was sommelier and manager at Eight Wine Bar in Toronto. Sheila has since moved back to Calgary, Alberta, where she shares her passion for wine at Crowfoot Wine and Spirits. We chat about spring and summer wines, including great bottles for the cottage and pairings for her favourite books. Fun! What first got you interested in wine? Growing up in small town Alberta, I wasn’t exactly immersed in wine culture. Sure, my parents drank it, and my dad even made fruit wine, but it was actually the tools that […]
Wine and Food Book Award Nominees – Taste Canada
This news just arrived in my inbox this morning … nice way to start a Friday! Taste Canada hosts the awards ceremony for Canada’s food and wine Oscars every year. I’m delighted that Unquenchable is among such an august list of nominees — congratulations to all the authors!
Best Ontario Sommelier Competition and Gala Dinner – April 22nd Toronto
Best Ontario Sommelier Competition and Gala Dinner The Fifth Restaurant, Toronto, Ontario April 22, 2012 There are only a few more days to get your tickets to the CAPS Best Ontario Sommelier Competition Gala Dinner and Celebration Party, being held at The Fifth on April 22nd! The evening of celebration follows a full day of competition at The Fifth, with a great line-up of sommeliers competing for the title of CAPS Best Ontario Sommelier – 2012. The ticket price for the Gala Dinner and Celebration Party is an excellent value and includes the following: a cocktail reception, a three […]
Wine Quotes: Funny, Philosophical and Philandering
Round #3 of those wine-soaked sips of wisdom … you’ll find round 1 and round 2 here if you’re thirsting for more. As you can see above, well-dressed, attractive people in a bar somewhere are enjoying them. Cheers, Natalie In beer there’s strength; In wine there’s wisdom; In water there’s bacteria. You haven’t drunk too much wine if you can still lie on the floor without holding on. ~ Dean Martin Nothing makes the future look so rosy as to contemplate it through a glass of Chambertin. ~ Napoleon Gentlemen, in the little moment that remains to us between the […]
Ritz-Carlton TOCA Sommelier Lorie O’Sullivan on BBQ wines, restaurant wine lists
In this segment of Tasting Notes, I chat with Lorie O’Sullivan, sommelier at the Ritz-Carlton’s TOCA restaurant in Toronto about wines for barbecued meats and veggies. She also shares tips on choosing great bottles from a restaurant wine list. This interview was originally published in the luxury lifestyle magazine Homefront. Where did you study to become a sommelier? In 2006, I took the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers course at Niagara College. The course was held on Sundays, which was great because at the time I had another full time job in another profession. Two years later, I went to […]
Catena Chardonnay, Spier Creative Block 3, Rioja Bordón Best Cellar Wines in LCBO Vintages Release April 14
By Gaby Israel Great Whites under $20 Here are 3 different white wines. Two from France that are more similar in their Old World style and one from Argentina that is more modern. All three are perfect for the spring. 2010 Catena Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina – $19.95 2009 Michel Picard Chardonnay Bourgogne, A.C., Burgundy, France – $17.95 2009 Saget La Perrier Marie de Beauregard Vouvray – $17.95 Great Reds Under $20 From Italy to France and Spain and all the way south to South Africa, some great reds for the spring and summer. All of these wines received very supportive […]
Canoe Restaurant Sommelier Will Predhomme Tips for Tasting Wine
In this interview, I chat with William Predhomme, Senior Sommelier Canoe Restaurant + Bar in Toronto about winter wines and pairings. This interview was originally published in the luxury lifestyle magazine Homefront. What’s the best thing about being a sommelier at Canoe? The variety of wines and spirits that I get to sample on a daily basis. I’m fortunate to taste from the weird to the wonderful and everything in between: this is my job every day. I also love the wine regions I’m invited to visit around the world. What’s the most expensive bottle in your collection at the […]
