Michael Vaughan's Weekly National Post Feature

LIVE WINE LINK
www.winefind.ca
(CLICK ON THE NAME - All listings are automatically linked to the LCBO database)
If there is a product that interests you, just click on the name below and you will instantaneously connected with the LCBO database. The product will appear in blue and all you have to do is click on the name again and then the next screen will provide details along with the store search. Just click on store search. The number of bottles in each store is updated nightly. Call the store first to see if stock still remains (each store phone number is listed).

With Spring in the air, the proliferation of apple and cherry blossoms always makes me think pink. Two under $10 “kick ass” rosé best buys in today’s release represent rather divergent styles. Both come from South America and are made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. At one of the spectrum from Argentina is the slightly drier, reddish pink, Bodegas Trapiche 2004 Rosé Mendoza (655217) at only $8.95 (12.5% alcohol). The nose is gently honeyed with ripe plum fruit. It is very dry and refreshing on the palate, which is surprisingly well structured - a bit reminiscent of a good Tavel - with fine plum flavours and a very tangy finish.

Only a few hundred miles to the west comes Viña Santa Rita 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé (266502) at $9.95 from Chile’s Maipo Valley. This distinctive effort has an eerie day glow pink colour and a honeyed, gooseberry, spicy, red currant nose. It is very crisp on the palate with gooseberry-cranberry flavours, which show good versatility and are ready to enjoy with ham or perhaps turkey (13.5% alcohol).

With the celebratory wedding season coming up, the proliferation of various bubblies available boggles the mind. While one might retreat into one of those terrific non-Champagne values, those compelled to serve the real thing are faced with a quandary because the cheapest thing on the general list at $39.95 a pop isn’t all that good. Indeed, the best value general list Champagne is Piper-Heidsieck Brut (462432) at $44.95.

Thankfully, Vintages comes to the rescue with the remarkably delicious Georges Gardet Cuvée Saint Flavy Brut Champagne (924654) a best buy at only $37.95. This classic has a light yellow colour and fine, bright, ripe lemon nose. It is very dry on the palate with good structure and a fine mousse. The excellent, gently toasty, ripe lemon flavours linger perfectly. Alas, only 194 cases of six are available - so act quickly!

Those feeling a bit of déjà vu will, in fact, have seen Cuvée Saint Flavy in Vintages twice before. This blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Pinot Meunier and 10% Chardonnay comes from 30 vineyards throughout the Champagne. To maintain freshness, it is only disgorged (a process removing the yeast deposit) just prior to shipping. This means each shipment is a bit different. In this case the bottling lot number (L10J 1514H) is printed on the capsule.

Talking about change, the current California shipment of the Vintages Essential Cline 2002 Syrah (733758) at $17.95 is definitely on a roll - certainly tastier than what was sampled last Fall. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any identifiable bottling code. Look for a deep intense purple colour and a spicy, juicy, ripe black cherry nose with hints of sandalwood and cedar. The attractive, bright, juicy black cherry flavours make it an instantaneous BBQ winner.

This month’s highest Vintages California rating goes to another Essential, Beringer 1999 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (352583) at $44.95, which is from the unique volcanic soils of their Napa Knights Valley vineyard. The nose shows good complexity with slightly spicy, stewed black cherry, vanilla and herbal notes. Solid, dry and fairly extracty, the ripe plum and dried red cherry flavours are complemented with a lingering, cedar tinged finish - a perfect partner for steak.

The grapes for the 1999 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon were picked between October 28th and November 6th, as each block developed the maturities and full flavors. As individual lots came into the winery, winemaster Ed Sbragia and winemaker Laurie Hook, kept them separate through vinification to maintain their unique characteristics. The wine was aged in small oak barrels (30 percent new and mostly French) for 20 months and is in prime condition for current consumption.

For dessert, we have an Austrian sweetie from the Neusiedlersee region just southeast of Vienna. This half-bottle of Lenz-Moser 2001 Trockenbeerenauslese ‘Prestige’ (729657) fetches a modest $18.95. The German word Trockenbeerenauslese (also known as “TBA” or totally botrytis affected) means that the grapes are completely affected by ‘noble rot’ that concentrates the flavour and natural sugars – sort of an icewine without the ice. Look for sweet orange marmalade on the nose and rich, creamy, honeyed palate.

Coming up

On Sunday, April 17th, Alis Arrowood presents her portfolio and answers any wine-related questions at a winemaker's dinner at Hemispheres Restaurant & Bistro (lobby level Metropolitan Hotel at 110 Chestnut Street). Reception kicks off at 6:00 p.m. and tickets are $175 per person (plus taxes and gratuities). To see the menu click here. For reservations, please call 416-599-8000.

On Monday, April 18th, the 2005 California Wine Fair takes place at the Fairmont Royal York. The trade-only tasting will be held from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and is strictly for invited trade persons only. The invitational consumer tasting takes place from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm. There are no ticket sales at the door ($55 for wine club members or $60 for guests). Contact the California Wine Institute at 1-800-558-2675. To see the wine list click here.

On Wednesday, April 20th, is the Annual Austrian Wine Event. This trade-only event will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Contact the Birgitta
Samavarchian at the Austrian Consulate General at 416-967-3348.
To see the wine list click here.

2001-2002-2003-2004-2005 Tasting Note Database
Our tasting note database from December 31, 2000 to February 2005, covers every Vintages release product for the past 50 months. There are more than 9,000 notes in the database data. Just enter the name of the product, supplier name or CSPC number. Or you can search by type of wine, country of origin, even wine agent! Nothing could be easier. Also you can get information on the agent by clicking on the agent’s name, as well as current LCBO store inventory by clicking on "Check LCBO Availability", which will automatically tell you the number of bottles at LCBO as of last night.

To use our winefind.ca Tasting Notes Database: click here

** For All Visitors **
Vintages May 2005 Release
To see the complete list of upcoming 199 products click here (sorted by date of release). It includes the number of cases, which wines were presented by the LCBO, our agent ID for every product,
as well as, the 29 “In Store Discoveries” for May.
You can also see it sorted by agent click here

Copyright Food & Beverage Testing Institute of Canada 2005
Prior written permission is required for any form of reproduction
(electronic or other wise) and or quotation.
Contact Michael Vaughan at
mbv@total.net