Summer Wine

Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood - Summer Wine (1967)

Trivento Syrah

Not sure why I've waited this long to review my favorite little Argentinian whippersnapper, Trivento Syrah. At $13, just go out and get it, and then drink it. It will make you feel nice inside.

Mixes well with late-night riverside bicycle rides, acoustic guitars, vintage yellow sectional sofas, and My Bloody Valentine songs.

And oh - here's something : try it Augustside over ice, with a touch of apricot brandy and just a kiss of San Pellegrino. Add fresh fruit to taste. This is not a sissy drink. This is the Smile album in a glass.


13.8 alc. / vol.
750 ml - $13

Rating: 4.0
Feels like: 4.25

**not exactly as pictured. but close.

Barbaresco 2003 (Italy)

Barbaresco Ricossa 2003

Italy

$21.99

13.5% alc./vol.

Taste : Do I taste …Nebbiolo grape ?? ,matured in …mmm mmm, …an oak barrel ? yes, yes I do now. Low acidity with cherry notes.

See: poured from a brown bottle it is a rich tapestry of reds and maroons.

Smell: smells like ‘mello-jello’

Location: rose side on my veranda over looking english bay.

Accompanied by: Mrs. B33PhD1P

Music : this will destroy you (recommended listening btw)

I recommend you enjoy this with tasty meat dishes. hey ...hey ??

at a mouth day spa

you haven't seen us in a while....

mrs.b33phd1p and i have not tasted any wine is some time.

why ?

well, we are on a 'palate cleanse', and our tongues are busy doing 'yogalates'. this is a rigorous, yet calming boot camp for the mouth, and it will enable us to critique some important up and coming wine tasings with some frightening accuracy.

...see you soon

Winds of Change

A pinotage/shiraz blend from, once again, South Africa. Winds of Change is a somewhat geopolitically-charged red wine:

- Certified Organic (Control Union Group of The Netherlands)

- Certified Fair Trade (label is registered with Fair Trade Canada)

- Winds of Change is an official participant in South Africa's BEE - Black Economic Empowerment.

- The sale of Winds of Change will bring a direct benefit to the village of Sonop.

Wow, after I read all that I was feeling so good about myself I almost forgot to drink this sassy little number. But the extremely cheesy brand name brought me back around in a hurry.

Politics aside, this is a nice one. A blackberry and wild currant nose gives way to smooth textures and a complex follow through extending through pepper, berry and nutmeg undertones. A vanilla and black licorice afterlinger will keep you company until the next swallow. It makes me feel nice; the buzz is sweet and lowdown.

Organic. Free trade. Feel-good. Politically correct. But tasty enough that I'd still buy it from a Malaysian sweat-shop baron.


13.5 alc. / vol.
750 ml - $15

Rating: 4.0
Feels like: human rights.

Peter Lehman of the Barossa's Clancy's Legendary Red

From the vineyards of Peter Lehman of the Barossa in Southern Australia springs Clancy's Legendary Red, somewhat of a shit-mix of Shiraz, Cab Sauv and Merlot. The sweet, rich depth of a good Australian Shiraz is prompt and present, tempered by the alcoholic sharpness of a fresh Cab Sauv. The Merlot, however, is lost in the shuffle entirely, at best tasting like Andrew Wilson calling up Owen and Luke to borrow some cash. Or maybe the gelfing-faced girl in Bananarama asking for more "face-time" in their Venus video. Or perhaps the drummer in ZZ Top. You get the point.

I will probably not buy this wine again, only because there are so many out there like it. But since I did drink (am drinking) it, it bears reviewing. But truthfully, the most remarkable thing about this wine is the length of its name.


14.5 alc. / vol.
750 ml - $15

Rating: 3.0 of five
Feels like: 3.0

Sex and Divorce

Szekszardi Voros Hungarian, I've been drinking this one for years, not the smoothest but dry, I'm glad all you journalists saved this one for me. Excellent value at $11.99 per litre. A loved one turned me on to this and I am biased. Looks like wine, smells like wine, it IS wine... This wine is for drinkers, I'd really like to know what you think. -J. Floorburn

 

Pompous and Sweaty

I had the lovely opportunity to sample wine at the Granville Island Brewery for a co-workers ten year "see ya later" party.

Peller Estates. Gordon Campbell's table wine. Something that says "F-you" to the working man.
The cab-merlot smelled yeasty like raw, proofing bread dough. Didn't taste much better.
I moved on to the merlot, it was sort of OK, for a merlot.
I ate dinner and out of desperation tried the chardonnay-- completely mediocre thus blowing the reds out of the water. Is it me? Is it B.C.?

To quote b33phd1p: Vomit Juice.

Rating: 1.9

Feels like: Christmas office party

-J. Floorburn

welcome world

this site has gone public now.

Goats Do Roam

Legend has it this is a take off on Cotes Du Rhone and the french winery sued, and some international court sided with the South African. Cotes is $twenty something (so I haven't reviewed it yet), although I believe I tried it back in the 80's or so. I'm sure it was fine.

This stuff is well rounded. Smells like a warm blanket and eventually becomes one. On second sniff I was suprised to find a peppered rare beef but quickly became suspect I hadn't washed my mustache recently. I still hadn't noticed that Monsieur Orange was frying his second batch of eggs and cheese with some mexican hot sauce.

It tastes dusty, rich, boozy, low end all the way through, I approve.

Goes good with: rain, Charles Mingus, solitude, Morrisey, nostalgia, Bruce Springsteen.

Goats Do Roam, South Africa, $15.99, 2006

-J. Floorburn

Good Night

<3

TEAM DARE...CAN YOU BREW ?!

So we know how to buy, drink, and speak in tongue...

But,   Who can Brew their baby of choice?

Anyone care to challenge Wango in "Who Can Be The Next Top Wino !?" 

As, a professional wine making queen, I have flopped and have won new friends over with my ability to be cheap, creative, an alchemist and of course .....a professional & a *%$@! DRUNK !

All you need to start is: 

• A 5-6 gallon bin...i like to go with the cheapest garbage pail with snap on lid (garbage bag will suffice) available at fine Canadian Tire Stores.
  
• One long large spoon 
• thermometer
• one glass carboy ( you can go plastic if you dare)
• one bung
• one airlock to fit your carboy
• one meter or so of hose for racking
• potassium metabisulphite 
• sodium metabisulphite
• diversol for sanitizing

You can purchase whole starter kits for around $65

LAST BUT NEVER LEAST:

• your careful selection of the kit to be brewed

...this is my choice for brew (which 'I" am only allowed to brew), if anyone cares to take me on for the challenge...

Citra Montepulciano

Citra Montelpulciano D'Abruzzo 2006
Denominaxione di Origne Controllata

Citra Vini !

Italy

1000 ml - $9.99
13% alc./vol

A rare find... it is the elusive and little talked about Citra Vini. Tonight we will delve (shortly) into it's mysterious allure.

The very fact that, on this bottle of wine, there is NO indication of which variety of grape was used, beseeches the drinker to dream into the night of endless explanations and possibilities. It's grand format is generous enough to provide that time to reconsider all the wines you could have enjoyed.

'come'-hither tones:
pepper
black current

'go'-hither tones:
alcohol
iceberg lettuce

size : M ml.

that's right, M !

3.95 of 5 cheers for this one.

Langhorne Crossing

First, let's get one thing straight: I left work an hour early so I could get home, uncork, decant, and hopefully do a little e-cializing with our wonderful Many Wines contributors. And as it turns out, Monsieur Orange met the challenge (as is his wont) with not one, but two wonderful new pieces. Bravo and fondest regards, my time-honored orange comrade. A relaxed chat with loved ones, indeed!

47% Shiraz, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot, Bleasdale Vineyards' Langhorne Crossing succeeds in several taste measures, while keeping a considerably high taste vs. cost ratio. Bleasedale's experience (founded 1950) and aging processes (13 months in neutral oak barrels) are both on intimate display from nose to afterlinger. An easy drinker with legs that go on forever. A juggling unicycle clown wearing dark ruby lipstick stolen from Molly Ringwald's considerable purse. Effortless. Fluent. A diamond in the smooth.


14.3% alc./vol.
Rating: 3.9 of 5
Feels like: 4.0

PALATE-BALL?

Syrah VS. Cab Shiraz

POST-WORK GLASS #1

Sandhill Syrah
B.C. 2006

One really can't expect much from the Railway in the way of a red, other than a mere decent showing among table wines. I knew before I even climbed those stairs what to expect. For $8.75, they pour the wine from the bottle into one of those silly stainless steel decanters, and then into the glass. The Syrah was clean on an initial nasal probing, but had a very acidic start and an extra-medium dry follow-through. May I: shooting blanks? This wine is a disappointment, and gave my ten-ish minute experience the sensation of a twenty-four hour flu. This would be an insult to a veggie corn chili, but perhaps, might be welcome alongside a Flying Wedge slice of potato pesto pizza. Boring either way, and a probable white choice as key-ingredient for a lower class sangria. This wine hurts right under the ribs a little.




POST-WORK GLASS #2

Long Flat Cab Shiraz
Australia 2006

Still recovering from the Syrah/contemplating beer, my drinking partner bought the Long Flat for $6.75 a glass. Left the full-bodied Syrah in the dust with initial vinegar and an annoyingly strong finish. Could be an OK table wine if you're already drunk. The royal tanninbaums were higher than the Syrah, and would unarguably demolish any of the possible flavours in a Zoo Stick. Black currant has never been such a spectating group of older men. I looked at the bottle and it said "there's nothing like a relaxed chat with loved ones". Like hate ones.

something completely different

From Monty Python's Flying Circus, Eric Idle as an Australian "Wine Expert":


A lot of people in this country pooh-pooh Australian table wines. This is a pity as many fine Australian wines appeal not only to the Australian palate but also to the cognoscenti of Great Britain.

Black Stump Bordeaux is rightly praised as a peppermint flavoured Burgundy, whilst a good Sydney Syrup can rank with any of the world's best sugary wines.

Château Blue, too, has won many prizes; not least for its taste, and its lingering afterburn.

Old Smokey 1968 has been compared favourably to a Welsh claret, whilst the Australian Wino Society thoroughly recommends a 1970 Coq du Rod Laver, which, believe me, has a kick on it like a mule: eight bottles of this and you're really finished. At the opening of the Sydney Bridge Club, they were fishing them out of the main sewers every half an hour.

Of the sparkling wines, the most famous is Perth Pink. This is a bottle with a message in, and the message is 'beware'. This is not a wine for drinking, this is a wine for laying down and avoiding.

Another good fighting wine is Melbourne Old-and-Yellow, which is particularly heavy and should be used only for hand-to-hand combat.

Quite the reverse is true of Château Chunder, which is an appellation contrôlée, specially grown for those keen on regurgitation; a fine wine which really opens up the sluices at both ends.

Real emetic fans will also go for a Hobart Muddy, and a prize winning Cuivre Reserve Château Bottled Nuit San Wogga Wogga, which has a bouquet like an aborigine's armpit.

Let's be french and serious

Here we have a french pinot noir by Maison Maurel Vedeau that I cellared (or drawered, rather) for a gruelling and pregnant 27 hours. Having upstaged my regular budgetary cap of $14.50 for a three-quarter litre bottle I dug deep and shelled out the $14.99 required to obtain this piece de resistance.

For this review I will attempt a graphic point form. Also I have coined a term for sampling avec foodstuffs, i.e. cheese, fruit, herb(s), etc. I call it palate-ball. Today I use: sharp cheddar, brie, and dried figs. May the best flavours win, cheers!

Nose

-Sweet and smoky
-Deep black cherry syrupy
-Almost a swedish berry or turkish delight

Mouth

-Very, very juicy

-Tart rather than dry

-Long alcoholic finish

Palate-ball

-Sharp cheddar enhanced smokiness

-The alcohol in the wine reacted disagreeably with the brie on the tip of the tongue

-The figs compete

Overall the sharp cheddar marries well.

-J. Floorburn

Citra Montepulciano Re-Visted

Hi der again,

B33PhD1p and WANGO here on this one,

    ... apologies for the late post, but it was not until 10:45 pm tonight did we finally sell that xbox on craigslist.

    so here we are, ...picture us two content individuals who have just visted  the BCLS at  Thurlow & Alberni.

Tonight we are re-reveiwing Italy's Citra.  2 x 1000ml bottles.  low cost attraction of $9.99 ($9.49 @ Davie location) .

Tonight our palates are late out the gate, giving these race hungry dogs a thirst for what ales them.

We gave them what they deserved (could afford).

Now it's best to let sleeping dogs lie.

once again....

One Thousand Millilitres.

and a real photo of the bottle.

Box & Fine

Thank you all for having me and nice to see you again! Special love B33PhD1P! Is been a lovely first day. I'm about to watch Jim Floorburn drink/blog. When's the first annual?

Whoever buys/blogs a boxed wine first, gets to come to my house for wine !

PPS. I had 2 glasses on the way home and wrote long-hand. Will type/post tomorrow morning!

Night Harvest Merlot

A young, misguided braggart of a merlot, hailing from one of the best, and worst, places on earth: that old dog California.

I'll tell you the truth, as I see it: like American cars, American wines suck the big one. But in this case I'll be the first to say "it's not you - it's me". But secretly I know it's you.

Night Harvest was the bass player in Mamas and the Papas. Everyone knows that. Ripoff city.


13.5% alc./vol.
Rating: American

The Society of Medical Friends of Wine

From what I can gather, a group of wino dentists, doctors and nurses in San Francisco. Here you'll find the menu from their 222nd quarterly dinner:

http://www.medicalfriendsofwine.org/222nd_quarterly.htm

Bruce Sprinsteen has a few songs about milestones. God bless.

The Stump Jump

Tonight, a gracious visit from one of my Australian mainstays. Hailing from the sun-sick McLaren Vale vineyards in Southern Australia, a trusted friend of mine - The Stump Jump. Of a delectible and almost arrogant triumvirate of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre, The Stump Jump pretty much has its hand in your undies by the second glass. Sexy, peppery and responsive as all hell, it almost wiggles while it walks. It really almost does. Almost.

2006. Organic. Screwcapped for your convenience. Enjoy fireside.
14.5 % alc./ vol.
750 ml - $15


Rating: 4 of 5
Feels really nice.

Lindeman's Liquid Lunch

Full-bodied, fruit-forward mediocre party. Medium-tannin, half-glass birthday work lunch w/Alu Mutter, Daal and 2 Kingfishers. Suck it, Business Weeks!

Sexy Wine Retreat

Shall we go??

MY FIRST DRUNK

In 1985, I got drunk for the first time by a whole pile coming in a jug similar to this. I got drunk, kissed someone and then puked. I believe it was called Royal Red, but it could have been homemade. I acquired it for 5 dollars. It was very affordable.

SPANISH FLY

Following Mr. Floorburn's lead, I would like to buy us all a coupla plane tickets over to enjoy the crowded beaches/oranges of Valencia, the proud flamboyance of Gaudi's column(s), men swinging around red blankets, and the neighbouring boot two doors down; all for 9 bones at the BCL. Uncorking a bottle of Almansa-Piqueras Marques De Rojas, one can pretty much already taste the sun. It's a tight pair of white shorts decanting a thirsty Johnson. The sun-kissed torso bent heroically away from crooked legs. A magical carpet ride to an all-inclusive. We have made it! This is the hot seat! Replenish.

a little spanish number

EL TORITO

I wasn't expecting much when I knew I wanted it. Spanish, a tempranillo-garnacha, $8.95, 2006. I had already picked out a french pinot noir and wanted to conrast it with something risky.

So, it is real smooth, has virtually no attack. A hint of bitterness that disappears almost immediately. The aftertaste is a ghost. Then, with a selection of brie, blue, aged white cheddar, and a couple of cocktail olives all trace of that elusive, faint flavour just vanished.

Boring and homely, it is the Perry Como of European Reds, a perfect contribution to dinner at the in-laws. Smuggle this one into the late night showing of the latest Batman movie and I just might come along.

Value: 7.5

Character: 1.4

Overall: A solid 5

-J. Floorburn

Citra

Citra Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2006

Denominaxione di Origne Controllata

Citra Vini

Italy

1000 ml - $9.49

13% alc./vol

Thick, surprisingly strong with a sweet start. Finishes slightly spicy and not-very-dry.

excellent.

Casa La Joya Reserve

Casa La Joya Reserve
Malbec 2007

750 ml - $15

(oooh) %14 alc./vol

Heralding from the 'Napa Valley' of Chile. It is a region known as the Colchagua Valley, ...it is from here, where mighty cool sea breezes provide a unique mesoclimate, offering the finest in Chilean wine for me to discuss with you tonight.

Let me be the first to tell you that this may not be one of the finest of Chilean wines, but it is indeed  very very very good.

Upon decanting this dark dry number, and sniffing at it repeatedly, I was reckoned with a nose full of boozy boozy alcohol. To my surprise it quickly transforms in the mouth to be a very swallowable tasty taste.

Soon into enjoying a or glass or two, my face progessed to a rich, red, hot, glowing, heat-source  ...suggesting that I may have a mild weakness to an allergy from alcohol. I had some spaghetti too.

opening the rating spectrum to 10 this evening, I'll give it a 5.

cheers ...

Chateau Haut Perthus

this is french and cheap. it's dry as a chalk storm in wyoming. only available at a couple of bcl's that i know of. for example alberni and thurlow. i think it's about $8.95.


Well, it's about a month later and b33phd1p, wango, and I finally drank a bottle of this fine stuff. Here's an elaboration and a correction: Firstly, it is now available at Kingsgate mall (also known as the armpit of Vancouver) and is actually priced $13.95, hmmm... Eureka! It's worth it. We pitted it against two other wines purchased for curb appeal (Il Bastardo and Colonia) and all three were notably very dry. This one is miles ahead: the driest, most balanced, smoothest, greatest character. There is a curious faint hint of lime and mint on the nose and a much more believable scent of leather (which can be tasted too). Wango draws accolades and respect from her colleagues by noticing the distinct odour of nail-polish remover, of which I am happy to report does not translate to the tongue. Interestingly, two days later on another visit to the Allen's, I noticed that W. D. had a bottle of this on his rack. Coincidence? Maybe great minds taste alike.


-J. Floorburn

a Wine Guide

an easy to use guide to wines around the world ? ...or a big waste of time ?

i found it in my laundry room when i started this blog.

...i guess you could say mine (blog) will prolly become a way better reference ?

Jackson & Triggs Proprieter's Selection Cab Sav

Vomit Juice

Magnum - $17.89

13%alc./vol

rating: 4 of 5

feels like : 2 of 5

It's one of my favorites for volume and price.

Sebeka

Great. Another South African Shiraz? Shut the hell up. Seriously.


13.5 alc./vol
(750 ml) - $13

Rating: 3.0 of 5
Feels like: 3.2

Lindemans ( South Africa )

It is...

Lindemans Western Cape

Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

13.5 alc./vol

Tiny Bottle (750 ml) - $13

I, Luke, bought two bottles, one bottle, of this Lindemans South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 today at the local grocery store , liquor store, because it was on sale. A good choice! The nose is fresh and lively and the taste is bursting with berries. This is a delicious “drink now” wine that requires no cellaring. The taste is fruity and friendly and, as my brother-in-law Bob says, “it drinks good.” The predominant taste is strawberry and the finish is velvety smooth.

I like it. I always have. To tell you the truth after the third glass all 3 wines on the table right now taste the same.

(unable to perform rating)

feels like : 5

Porcupine Ridge

Shiraz
Boekenhoutskloof, S. Africa

14.5 % alc./ vol.
750 ml - $17

An excellent red from the Franschhoek Valley made by a new-wave winemaker. It makes me feel nice. It's a truly handcrafted Syrah, fermented in small open-top tanks, and then aged in wooden barrels. An excellent choice for morning lovemaking; the silky texture and full flavour make it quite a great friend on its own or enjoyed with most red meat dishes.

A warm rich ruby color is looking totally surprised at the sight of you, and the aromatics are dominated by anise, cloves and dark cutesy wootsy berry flavors. The palate is questionably generous with well integrated tannins. I'm drinking well now, and this wine also has tremendous political potential. A wine even Helen Keller could love.

Rating: 3.8
Feels like: 3.8

Koonunga Hill by Penfolds

Shiraz / Cabernet
Southern Australia

13.5 % alc./ vol.
750 ml - $19

Synopsis: signature integration of fruit and oak, with rounded, soft tannins, nicely balanced with a sweet mid palate and well-defined finish. Initial flavours of fresh berries and vanilla merge into a spicy, savoury aftertaste. Oh yes they fucking do now. And - AND...the tannins have a gentle, mouth-coating grainy quality, elegantly framing the traditional style of the wine. A civilized,, contemplative drunk.

Rating: 3.3 of 5.
Feels like: 3.6

monday sept. 22 it's fall.

well, hell.

i'd absolutely would LOVE a glass of red wine right now.

Wolftrap

Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Pinotage (46%), Syrah (6%) and Cinsault (8%)
Boekenhoutskloof, S. Africa


14 % alc./ vol.
750 ml - $14

Well this is rather gorgeous - rich, warming in a new world style and pack with sumptuous flavours backed up with red fruit acidity, soft tannins and a almost smoky, leathery finish. What it doesn't have is that rusty, dry pencil edge that can typify Pinotage or other South African reds. Sweet fruit up-front and a medley of deep berry flavours.

They have packed a lot into the heavy weight and stylish bottle - Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Pinotage (46%), Syrah (6% and Cinsault (8%). Each variety was fermented separately before blending followed by eight months aging in French oak. It is drinking beautifully and will shine with good beef dishes. Alcohol 14.4%. Screwcapped.

The label pays tribute to the early settlers (racist Boer colonists) at Boekenhoutskloof who set up wolf traps - up to today not a single wolf has ever been seen in the valley. Well guess what? Those traps weren't for wolves. They were for Nelson Mandela.

Rating: 3.5 of 5.
Feels like: 3.8

Cono Sur

Cabernet Savignon / Carmenere

Colchagua Valley, Chile

13 % alc./ vol.

750 ml

Organic

synopsis : deep ruby red colour. clean, crisp notes of cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plums intertwine with traces of tabacco and vanilla, resulting from its aging in French Oak barrels.

rating : 3 of 5
feels like : 1.2 of 7