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February 18, 2012 • 7:15 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Gallic flavours

These three French wines in today’s Vintages release deliver classic Gallic flavours at bargain prices. Find them via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Domaine des Richards Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2010  
$16.95  (90 points)
This lightly fortified dessert wine from the Rhone Valley is made from muscat grapes. The bouquet is fragrant with blossoms, grape and orange peel, which carries through on the palate. Medium-full bodied with orange marmalade flavours balanced by good acidity, this is great on the rocks as an aperitif or chilled for after a meal.

http://www.winealign.com/wines/22831-Chateau-Saint-Roch-Chimeres-2009
$18.95 (90 points)
From Côtes du Roussillon-Villages in southern France, this is the fourth release of this popular red. Grenache noir based with 30% syrah and 5% carignan, it’s ultra smooth with ripe, rich berry flavours. It sees no wood but has some spiced, savoury notes from its terroir. Perfect for venison or duck breast.

Chateau de Fontenelles Cuvée Notre Dame 2008
$15.95 (89 points)
A gold-medal-winning blend of syrah (55%), grenache, carignan and mourvèdre from Corbières, this dark purplish garnet wine is medium-full bodied with lots of fruit concentration. Smooth with velvety tannins and good depth, it has flavours of ripe berry, savoury spices and cedar. With its firm, dry, earthy finish, it goes well with red meats.

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January 28, 2012 • 6:48 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Easy to drink bottles

These easy-to-drink wines are ultra friendly and affordable.  Find them via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Grooner Grüner Veltliner 2009
LCBO No. 168625; $13.35 (87 Points)
Despite its kitschy label, what’s in the bottle is pleasing, cheerful and easy to enjoy. From the Lower Austria wine region (Niederösterreich), this white is fresh, fruity and medium-light bodied with crisp apple and hints of white peppercorn typical of the varietal. It’s versatile: have as an aperitif, with salads, vegetarian dishes, light meats or fish.

Fairview Goats do Roam Red 2011
LCBO No. 718940; $12.95 (87 Points)
Winery owner Charles Back claims the Goats do Roam blend (syrah, cinsault, mourvèdre, carignan and grenache) represents their goats’ favourite vineyard picks when his son let them out one day. It’s a smooth, slightly spiced Rhone-style red with a medium body, berry fruit and some oak notes (gained from inner staves). Value priced with spot-on commercial appeal.

Apothic Red 2009
LCBO No. 234369; $15.95 (86 Points)
Apothic Red, which launched nationally across Canada in 2011, has reinvigorated the California “red blend” category. A bold blend of syrah, zinfandel and merlot, it fills the mouth with tastes of sweet raisiny fruits, dark chocolate, brown sugar and mocha. Rich, plush and off-dry with soft tannins, it can accompany hearty braised dishes, Asian spiced meats or even chocolate desserts.

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December 30, 2011 • 10:38 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Bubblies

Margaret Swaine

Margaret Swaine

There are good bubblies available to ring in the New Year whatever your budget.  Find these sparklers via www.WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

 Codorniu Brut Classico Trio Pack  $10.95 (86 Points)

This trio of 200mL bottles are all about fun and value. From Spain, made in the traditional ‘champagne’ method, this bubbly is fresh, medium bodied and fairly dry with decent soft fruit flavours. The twist open top is easy to pop off for a swig while dancing. Or use to make individual sparkling cocktails by adding a splash of fruit liqueur to a flute before pouring.

Cuvée Catharine Brut LCBO $29.95 (90 Points)

A medium full bodied blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, this dry sparkler made in the traditional method has spent 30 months aging on the lees. There’s a nice touch of toast throughout and good depth of fruity-citrus flavour with mineral notes. Have with caviar or oysters as a special treat. Or add a dollop of cabernet franc icewine for a pretty and festive all Canadian Blushing Kir.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut  $49.95 (91 Points)

Made in a lively, elegant style this true Champagne brand was first created in 1785. The House style has always been crisp yet approachable with charm and focus. Lightly toasty, medium bodied with a fresh floral and apple bouquet, there’s a good tang of citrus fruit on the palate. The overall impression is delicate, fresh and quite light on the palate with intriguing secondary flavours that keep you returning to the glass.

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December 24, 2011 • 7:49 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Last-minute gifts

Grab these wines as a last minute gift – they’ll also be great as part of a turkey dinner celebration. Find them via www.WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

 Kir Royale  $16.95 

Kir Royale is a classic bubbly cocktail made by blending sparkling wine with blackcurrant liqueur, invented by Canon Kir mayor of Dijon in the 1940’s. It’s festive, pretty in appearance and tasty. This ready-to-drink version does the mixing for you with just the right amount of blackcurrant added to give terrific berry flavour throughout. Serve in champagne glasses as an aperitif or match with turkey and cranberry sauce.

Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicello 2009 & Pinot Grigio Gift Pack 2010 $37.95 

Tommasi is a terrific producer in the Veneto area of Italy. This red and white offering is a duo of flavour and elegance. The Ripasso is medium-full bodied with cherry-kirsch tastes delivered with class, power and a pleasant tannic uplift. The Pinot Grigio, also medium-full bodied is plump, peachy with balancing acidity and lots of great fruit and personality. Both could be served with turkey that has a fruit riddled stuffing.

Stratus Icewine Duo 2008 Gift Set  $79.90

Wow what a pair. Our icewines are world famous and this red and white duo showcases two distinct styles beautifully. The white, a blend of riesling and semillon is intense, dense and full bodied with apricot jam and tropical fruit flavours balanced by tangy acidity. The red, a blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and syrah is ripe with tangy wild strawberry jam flavours in a nice structure. Have with dessert or add to a dessert.

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December 9, 2011 • 10:19 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Made in Ontario

Margaret Swaine

Margaret Swaine

Impress your visitors from away with these three well-priced, made in Ontario beauties. Find them via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Flat Rock Riddled Sparking 2008
LCBO No. 187377; $29.95 (91 Points)
Made from grapes grown in Niagara’s Twenty Mile Bench area, this sparkler boasts a modern, non-traditional crown cap. A great Champagne alternative for a lot less money, it has a toasty biscuity bouquet taht carries through on the palate. Medium bodied with good fruit, it’s a refreshing way to start a meal.

Chateau des Charmes Old Vine Riesling 2008
LCBO No. 277228; $16.95 (91 Points)
Its wins — Ontario Wine Awards white wine of the year, best in show at Toronto Gold Medal plates — are well deserved. This riesling from the winery’s most mature vineyards is forward, fruity with great minerality and a touch of classic fusils. Its tangy lemon, lime and mineral flavours are rounded nicely by a bit of sweetness. Perfect for Thai, Indian or other exotic spiced dishes.

Inniskillin Winemaker’s Series Montague Pinot Noir
LCBO No. 997353; $24.95 (90 Points)
Inniskillin’s Montague Vineyard pinot noir is an excellent value, well-made red that rarely disappoints. Grown in Niagara’s Four Mile Creek area, it’s medium bodied with supple tannins. Cherry aromas and flavours, well-integrated oak and a fine acidity make it an all-round pleaser for lighter meats, duck or goose.

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November 26, 2011 • 6:28 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Celebratory bottles

Today marks my 200th wine column for the Post and the launch of “our finest” in Vintages today. Find these celebratory wines for gifting or getting via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
$119.95
This expresses California ripeness with verve. Aging well, it drinks beautifully now but still has plenty of life for further cellaring. Full of character and flavour, it has a lovely cassis bouquet and layers of spiced berry elegance with good concentration and acidity. Among the best Beringer has produced, it has power and balance.

Henschke Mount Edelstone Vineyard Shiraz 2005
$99.95
Henschke makes iconic Australian reds and Mount Edelstone is their ultimate expression of superb shiraz. Concentrated yet not overpowering, lots of ripe berry and dried fruit are in the terrifically complex bouquet and taste. Elegant and layered, it’s intense with formidable length. Best to sip slowly and savour every drop.

Quintarelli Rosso Ca’ del Merlot 2002
$84.95
Giuseppe Quintarelli makes some of my very favourite reds of Italy. His wines are hand-crafted with extreme skill and dedication. This single-vineyard merlot is full bodied and supple with a lovely savoury, cedary, ripe berry nose that carries through on the palate with additional notes of cocoa, dried fig and hints of underbrush. Yummy, concentrated and layered.

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November 19, 2011 • 7:12 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Vintages treasures

Last Saturday’s Vintage release had so many treasures. These are three more I feel are irresistible. Find them via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Asolo Extra Dry Prosecco 2010
LCBO No. 262881; $16.95
It’s easy to be charmed by good Prosecco. There’s even more reason to love this one, the first offering from Canadian restaurateur Franco Prevedello. Lively with some florals, fresh citrus and white peach flavours, it’s well made with good length and finer fizz than the average.

Burrowing Owl Syrah 2008
LCBO No. 73072; $41.95
Burrowing Owl in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley continues to produce stunning full-bodied reds, such as this one from syrah grapes. Velvety textured with dark chocolate, spiced black berry and kirsch tastes, it’s like a liquid Black Forest cake without the heavy sweetness. Big alcohol (15%) with a year of barrel aging, it will cellar for several years or have it tonight with pepper steak.

Chateau Seguin 2008
LCBO No. 245837; $47.95
Good red Bordeaux is always a classy accompaniment to a fine meal. The trick is finding quality without high prices. This flavoursome blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon with merlot from Pessac-Léognan hits the right notes with elegance and structure. From a sleeper vintage, it’s medium-full bodied with classic flavours of underbrush, minerals, blackberry and cassis. Still firm on the palate, it will age well.

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November 5, 2011 • 5:30 am 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Value offerings

These new general listings offer incredible value at different price points. Find these bargains via WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

Caldora Sangiovese 2009
$8.95
Caldora Vini, a new Abruzzo winery in the Terre di Chieti IGT, is a partnership between a leading Italian winery and the region’s largest growers co-
operative. Made from 100% sangiovese grapes in a modern polished style, it has a forward sweet berry nose, which follows through in the taste. Light in tannins, with a touch of spice and residual sugar, it’s ultra easy to quaff.

Campo Maccione 2008
$12.95
From Scansano in southwestern Tuscany, this Morellino di Scansano, produced at Rocca delle Macie’s estate in the region, is medium-full bodied with a ripe savoury berry flavour. It has richness and warmth without losing the Italian elegance. Flavourful, it would be great with osso buco, spaghetti with meatballs or a simple pizza.

Ogier Heritages Cotes du Rhone 2009
$14.95
Largely grenache with 25% syrah and a touch of mourvèdre, it has a yummy ripe, spiced berry warmth in the bouquet and taste. Medium-full bodied with silky tannins, its hints of dark chocolate and mocha add further lip smacking appeal. Have with cassoulet, lamb, meat stews or game.

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October 21, 2011 • 2:55 pm 0

Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Classic vintages

The new vintages of these long-standing favourites in the LCBO are more appealing than ever. Find these classics to stock up on via winealign.com/margaretspicks.

Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2010
LCBO No. 326728; $18.95
This expressive white from New Zealand has an attractive toasty oak bouquet from seasoned French barriques. On the palate, the oak is balanced nicely with tangy fruit and just the right amount of acidity. Medium bodied and fruit forward with a creamy texture, it’s distinctive and elegant — good with poultry, cheesy pastas, black cod.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011
LCBO No. 304469; $29.95
This iconic sauvignon blanc was sourced from four sub-regions of the Wairau Valley in New Zealand. Medium-full bodied, it’s a connoisseur’s style of white with layers, complexity and subtleties. There’s a refreshing acidity, lots of ripe peach and other stone fruit character. Lush, succulent but not over the top, it intrigues to the last drop.

Negrar Amarone della Valpollicella Classico 2007
LCBO No. 44784; $29.95
This Italian red from Veneto suffered a setback when some crook sold poor knock-offs of the previous vintage. You can buy the authentic, always delicious version at a $5 reduction until Nov. 5. Robust, velvety, quite full bodied, it’s a solid, well made, hearty and satisfying wine. Perfect for meats, braised dishes and strong cheeses.

Filed under: Appetizer, Featured Articles, Wine, ,

October 16, 2011 • 11:00 am 0

What women want — at the bar, at least

Fotolia

My wife is an intelligent woman, despite having arranged to host a stagette party at our place — twice. The most recent, which took place last Saturday, found me handily provisioned with two new products that appear to be geared to female drinkers. I offered them up to the goddesses of night and got the hell out of there, intending to ask about the reaction later. Read the rest of this entry »

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