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Showing posts from 2016

From Sicily, an Italian syrah plenty of fruit and personality

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Cusumano Syrah 2015 Terre Siciliane IGT Italy SAQ Price: $ 14,45 Coming from the Mediterranean lands of Sicily, I would like to introduce you to  this pleasant Syrah of great personality. With many of the characteristics that remind me of the new world wine style, this Italian wine offers an overflowing bouquet of ripe fruits such as cherry and plum, with notes of cinnamon and pepper. On the palate, it has a moderately light body, but is very intense in flavor. It is a purely fruity wine, without any wood at all, which makes it a young wine with much to offer. Ideal to match with all kinds of pasta or roasted beef with well-seasoned sauces. Something else has caught my attention in this bottle: a special mention to its top or cover, which is neither cork nor synthetic cap. It has a delicate and novel glass stopper that perfectly preserves the freshness and joviality of this fruity Italian wine, elegant and easy to drink. For its price-quality ratio, it is an interesting Italian

Villa Conchi: a very seductive cava, new in the market

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Cava Villa Conchi Brut Selection The Grand Wines DO CAVA - Spain SAQ Price: $ 16.75 A delicious sparkling wine that adds color to these white Canadian landscapes! A new cava available in the market to enjoy in Christmas season, the Villa Conchi Brut Selección is an excellent value for money. Created in honor of Conchi, a woman in love with bubbly wines, this cava is a tribute to all the women of the world. With an attractive label design, it is a bottle that does not go unnoticed. This delicious cava from the mountains of Monserrat, in the heart of Catalonia, is a carefully selected blend of native grapes such as Xarel.lo, Parellada and Macabeo, to which is added a 10% of Chardonnay to give to the wine some notes of fruit and elegance. Fine bubbles, delicate flavor, generous aromas, the sparkling wines are the kings in the celebration. And I am happy to know that we can enjoy all its charms with cavas like this one that I am introducing you today, of great quality and th

WHISKY: A WORLD CITIZEN WITH EXQUISITE REFINEMENT

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With its infinite palate of flavours, whisky has captured the hearts of spirit lovers worldwide. We all know it can be enjoyed as an aperitif or a digestif, but did you know it is also great during a meal? Source: Fortune Lounge Club Contrary to popular belief, the Irish—not the Scottish—were first to make this grain-based spirit which would later become the whisky we all know today. The Scottish soon followed step with their Celtic neighbours, dominating the market in the early 20 th century. Other countries then jumped on the whisky bandwagon. Today this spirit is enjoyed all over the world. Whether from Scotland, Ireland, the United States, India, Japan, or elsewhere, whisky must always be made of water and grains, with an alcohol content of at least 40%, and be aged for at least three years. However, in practice, production and ageing techniques vary greatly, thus yielding an endless palate of flavour that definitely holds its own against wine! TASTING WHISKY

Pater Sangiovese: a delicate and affordable wine from Frescobaldi

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Pater Sangiovese IGT Toscana 2014 Frescobaldi SAQ Price: $ 15.45 I often like enjoying these wines from centuries-old wineries, considered classic, unique and prestigious.  My humble pocket does not allow me to procure the best and most expensive ones, but generously these wineries produce some affordable wines so that all of us can have access to, in order to enjoy a little bit of the magic and the emblematic know-how.  Coming from the beautiful and captivating region of Tuscany, this Sangiovese of Frescobaldi is a real delight. It is a seductive and delicate wine to love all palates.  On the nose is a harmony of red fruits such as raspberry, strawberry and cherries, added to notes of mint and tobacco that give a very special refreshing touch.  On the palate, this wine is well balanced, elegant and smooth. The fruit seduces us again and leaves us a very delicate and enveloping finish. To accompany pasta with soft tomato sauces, or to enjoy it just as an aperitif, si

Great Chardonnay from Aconcagua Valley!

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Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay 2014 Viña Errazuriz Aconcagua Valley - Chile SAQ Price: $ 22.95 We are used to taste chilean wines of great character and intensity. Well, this chardonnay of the Aconcagua valley is a magnificent exponent of the "terroir" and this specific grape variety. In the nose, the wine has an aromatic explosion of flowers, white fruits and toasted bread. In the mouth, it is unctuous, enveloping and overflows flavors of honey, nuts and butter. Its huge body make of this wine the ideal company for exotic and spicy dishes, such as Asian, or Indian food. It has the structure and the freshness necessary to sustain with sharpness the most intense flavors in our palate. If we want to discover the peculiarities of the chardonnay grape in the southern hemisphere, this wine from Errazuriz is an excellent option available in Quebec. The Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay is an elegant, friendly and easy to adopt wine. I even dare to define it as "a cla

Il Falcone Riserva 2010: a powerful specialty wine from Puglia

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Il Falcone Riserva 2010  Castel del Monte DOC Azienda Vinicola Rivera Apulia – Italy SAQ Price: 24,35$ Sometimes it is quite interesting to visit the specialty gondolas in the SAQ stores to discover some elixirs that at the end are very accessible to our pockets. In the price range of between 20 and 30 dollars we can find truly sublime wines! It is the case of this wine from Apulia, a wine region that I follow closely for two reasons: besides being the cradle of my family origins, wines from this area are of an intense and very seductive character. They are well introduced in the international markets, they have a personality difficult to describe, but also impossible to forget. Made in 70% with Nero de Troia (native grape of great character) and 30% of Montelpuciano, Il Falcone is a wine that gives us strong notes of leather, fruit like ripe plum, and some smoky and underbrush hints. On the palate, its still marked tannins assure us that it is a wine with poten

THE SYRAH: POWERFULLY FLAVOURFUL AND FULL-BODIED

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The violet-scented Syrah of controversial origins has enormous ageing potential. Today this variety is grown all around the world, producing fabulous red wines as well as some of the most exquisite rosé wines. The mystery surrounding the origins of the Syrah grape was unlocked only at the turn of the millennium. It was long believed to have been from the Middle East. In 1998, DNA testing showed that the Syrah variety was a cross between different varieties grown in France. Who would have thought that the Syrah would one day become one of the six most grown varieties in the world? In just over 30 years, Syrah acreage has experienced a fifteenfold expansion, now representing 4% of vineyards throughout the world. The Syrah is grown in France, Australia, Argentina, South Africa, California, Chile and Italy, among other countries. The Syrah has an unmistakable violet aroma, with undertones of fully ripe berries such as blueberries, cherries or cassis berries. With its excellen

Leva: a bulgarian white wine to discover and adopt!

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Leva Winemaker’s Selection Chardonnay, Dimiat & Muscat 2015 Vinex Slavyantsi Bulgaria SAQ Price: 11,35$ What a pleasant surprise was to taste this Bulgarian wine! A regional white wine from the Roses Valley elaborated as a blend of Chardonnay, Muscat and a more native variety, the Dimiat. This wine is absolutely versatile and delicious. On the nose, I have been captivated by its very pleasant aromas of fruit such as pear, peach and mango. In the mouth, it is this fruity character that returns with elegance, with subtle notes of honey and a dry end and strong and very balanced. A wine that I invite you to discover, with an unbeatable price-quality ratio from a little-known wine region that has much to offer and nothing to envy. A mention also important is to say that is a "Fair for Life" wine: this certification guarantees that human rights are respected at all levels of production and that the producer and his employees enjoy the best working conditions.

An Italian name for an Italian Zinfandel!

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That’s why this  world-renowned Apulian Zinfandel has changed its name from «Why Not?!» to «Perché No?!» Nothing has changed except for the label since Perché No?! is the Italian translation for Why not?! and inside the bottle you’ll find the same fascinating wine you’re used to, a powerful Zinfandel from the beautiful Salento wine region, in the deep south of Italy. Bright red in colour, with an enchanting ripe red fruits aroma and hints of dry fruit and spices, it feels soft and balanced on the palate due to the good acidity and soft tannins. A great accompaniment to savoury first courses, roast or braised red meat, game and mature cheese. Source: Casa Vitivinicola Tinazzi

Maureen Downey & Everledger Join Forces to Combat Counterfeit Wine with the Introduction of the Chai Wine Vault

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LONDON, November 18, 2016 - Set to transform provenance tracking in the wine industry, authenticator Maureen Downey and emerging technology company Everledger are today introducing the Chai Wine Vault. A first of its kind solution in industry, the Chai Wine Vault ensures the value and protection of fine wine investments. The vault secures fine wine’s provenance and authenticity in an immutable digital ledger, powered by blockchain technology. A demonstration and further explanation of this complete solution to protect the provenance of fine and rare wine will take place on November 25 th , at 67 Pall Mall, London. “We’re starting to see the industry waking up to the impact of counterfeits in market but to date there hasn’t been a solution that could adequately verify a wine’s provenance,” says Maureen Downey, owner and founder of Chai Consulting LLC and world renowned authenticator of fine wine. “Wine certified on the Chai Wine Vault has a guarantee of authenticity, ensur

Sushi and alsatian Pinot Gris: both great and affordable!

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By Marina La Forgia Once again I had the chance to eat at Kamikaze Sushi, this simple and friendly restaurant in our neighborhood, and I must confess that I love it because the quality price ratio for this restaurant is unbeatable. The menu is pretty interesting in terms of variety and you can bring your wine! In this occasion, we have decided to bring and taste this fabulous white wine from Alsace. The Pfaff Pinot Gris tradition is a very aromatic and delicate wine, with exuberant aromas of wild flowers and tropical fruits, lavender, peach and mango. In the mouth, is still a bit sweet but also dry and elegant. It matches perfectly with the Japanese food, such as the sashimi, sushi and an unctuous salad with scampi, one of my favourites dishes from this restaurant. Both, food and wine together, were intact in terms of flavours and generosity. Even with the exotic and tasty dessert (fried green tea ice-cream with a coconut coat) the wine was an ideal complement, adding the sw

Gold medals announced for 2016 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

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Following three days of judging over 1,400 wines, 91 gold medals have been awarded in this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards.   Chair of Judges and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich said the most pleasing aspect of this year’s awards was the spread of gold medals across a number of varieties and regions. “Pinot Noir was once again the star performer with 17 golds. Predominantly the wines came from Marlborough and Central Otago, but a Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir was also in the mix.” “The top wines from other categories were exceptional, particularly from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Syrah, and the quality of Hawke’s Bay Merlot and Cabernet-based wines took a big step up this year hailing from strong 2013 and 2014 vintages.” In addition to the 91 gold medals, 268 silver medals and 973 bronze medals were awarded by the judges, bringing the total number of medals awarded across the 17 different classes to 1,332. The ‘best of the best’ elite gold and tro

Welcome to the world of Stobi, unique Macedonian Wines!

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By Marina La Forgia Let me introduce you to these different and still unknown wines from Macedonia. Even if it is a legendary wine region, here in Quebec they are a world to discover. Stoby is the winery that has decided to conquer the Canadian market and I had the pleasure to taste them before the official launch. Stay tuned, they will be seen more often in the market very, very soon! So far, they are available in private imports. Coming from the Tikves wine region, these are wines with a strong personality. Tikves has the same latitude as Bordeaux or Napa Valley, so the Mediterranean climate conditions are more than optimal to grow the vines.  The Macedonian soil and the sunny sky help in order to produce the best quality wines. The grape varieties include both indigenous and traditional types. In term of quality, here in Quebec we can find some of the premium and best wines. These are my favourites!  Stobi Chardonnay Barrique 2013 This is a very interesting chard

Les Bretèches 2013: discovering the lebanese "terroir"

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Les Bretèches 2013 Château Kefraya Bekaa Valley Lebanon SAQ price : 14,95$ It is always fascinating to travel around the world through a wine tasting. It is a pleasure to feel the aromas and flavors of distant lands. Thanks to this wine, I had the opportunity to go to Lebanon! The wine choice from this wine region is becoming more visible in the SAQ stores and they are gaining fans thanks to their excellent price-quality ratio. It is a good exercise to give yourself the opportunity to leave the traditional producing countries to go to the discovery of new wines… Les Bretèches 2013 is a red wine made from Cinsault, a grape traditionally planted in the Bekaa valley. In the nose, its notes are an amalgam of red fruit marmalade with spices such as cumin, pepper and cinnamon. On the palate, I would have liked it to be a little more corpulent, but I also found it very nice, balanced in acidity and elegant. In these days when autumn Québec reminds us with its cooler days and n

A tour around the chilean wines at La Grande Degustation de Montreal

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By Marina La Forgia Chile has been one of the celebrated countries along with Argentina in this last edition of La Grande Degustation de Montreal. It has been a pleasure to me to walk through the Chilean pavilion, to have the opportunity to taste a lot of wines and to deepen my knowledge on them. The Chilean wines are wines with personality and they continue positioning themselves strongly among the preferences of the Quebec consumers. From chardonnay to sauvignon blanc, from syrah to cabernet sauvignon, the diversity the offer is one of the Chilean hallmarks, that makes possible to satisfy with different options this demanding market. Here are my favorites, all very particular wines that I invite you to discover. In my opinion, there are two varieties to follow closely if Chile is concerned: sauvignon blanc and syrah. It is in this South American country that these two varieties seem to have found one of their ideal terroirs... Cheers! Viejas tinajas Muscat 2015 from De M

A different and interesting selection of argentine wines, and all available in Quebec!

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By Marina La Forgia During my visit to the last edition of La Grande Degustation de Montreal , one of the biggest tasting events in town, I had the opportunity to taste some Argentine wines that I consider different to what we are used to seeing in Quebec. Some of them are hidden gems that need to show off in order to move forward with the typical image of Malbec or the "good and cheap" red wines. I have said it on countless occasions: The Argentine wine is a plenty world to discover because of the diverse wine regions we may find in an only country and because we can find almost all varieties from all over the world! In this list, my favorite ones and the reason why I chose them: La Chaya Torrontes Bodega La Riojana My choice: BECAUSE IS A GENUINE TORRONTES "RIOJANO" Martin Palacio, from La Riojana A fresh white wine from the particular Torrontés Riojano variety with a very nice and delicate floral perfume. This is a great white wine, v