Barolo has been called the “king of wines,” and the “wine of kings.” Ceretto’s 2008 Barolo “Zonchera, Today’s Wine Pick.

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The Wine Ladies www.thewineladies.com Daily Wine Pick: Thursday, June 13th, 2012

Ahh…. Barolo has been called the “king of wines,” and the “wine of kings.” It is regarded as one of the world’s best wines and is made from only the very best Nebbiolo grapes, grown in Italy’s Piedmont. We had the pleasure to sample an array of Barolos at a recent tasting in Yorkville at One Restaurant. One of our highlights was meeting Federico Ceretto, charming and passionate about the family owned Ceretto, that has been making wine for more than 80 years. Located in the Langhe region of Italy the family is most well known for being among the first to produce single-vineyard wines beginning in the 1970’s.  The Ceretto name has become synonymous with estate-grown produced wines and has set a benchmark for quality among both Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Today we celebrate Ceretto’s 2008 Barolo “Zonchera”.

Please see our short interview with Federico Ceretto as we tasted this delectable Barolo.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgLGIEuc0co

Made from 100% Nebbiolo, this wine is considered one of the family’s historic labels as it was first produced by Riccardo Ceretto in 1962, fifty years ago. A classic Barolo, harmonious and velvety, with good balance, acidity, approachable now but with a lifespan of upwards of 15 years. A real treat, fit for a “king”!
Ceretto 2008 Barolo “Zonchera”, classic, harmonious, velvety, delish.

Available in Ontario through Halpern Enterprises  http://www.halpernwine.com

Multiple layered Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Hunter’s Jane Hunter Sauvignon Blanc 2011. Our wine pick for today.

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The Wine Ladies www.thewineladies.com Daily Wine Pick: Saturday, June 9th, 2012

Enjoy the multiple layers of flavour coming through with this Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough. Hunter’s Jane Hunter Sauvignon Blanc 2011 delivers big and bold with citrus and ripe tropical fruit flavours, including guava. Concentrated witha lingering finish. Hunter’s is a family owned boutique vineyard with Jane Hunter being the most acclaimed and awarded woman in New Zealand’s wine industry. Established in the 1970’s Hunter’s www.hunters.co.nz is the only Marlborough vineyard to still be owned by its original family, more than 30 years after being founded. The dog on the label by the way, is that of the Hunter clan of Scotland, but visitors often associated the logo with Commodore, gigantic, but affable St Bernard and then Jane’s gregarious Clumber Spaniel, Paddy. Ernie was the founder of Hunter’s and Jane’s husband of 3 years. Ernie passed away at the age of 37 and Jane courageously took the reins straight away. She is an incredibly accomplished woman and super winemaker.
@TheWineLadies @hunterswines
$19.95 in Ontario.

Bravo! This “heartbreak grape”, soothes the soul and caresses the palate! La Crema Pinot Noir 2010 from Sonoma.

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The Wine Ladies Daily Wine Pick: Friday, June 8th, 2012

Bravo! This “heartbreak grape”, soothes the soul and caresses the palate! La Crema Pinot Noir 2010 from Sonoma. Great buy at $29.95 (Ontario) with loads of varietal character, elegant, good acidity, mid-weight with red cherry and cranberry, floral notes and good oak integration. Pinot Noir, often referred to as the heart-break grape is “risky business”, for the winegrower, winemaker and wine drinker, or at least more so with this grape than most others. This thin-skinned berry is very fickle and demands the utmost attention from the vineyard to the cellar. Says one famous California winemaker Tchelistcheff of Pinot Noir “God made Cabernet Sauvignon whereas the devil made Pinot Noir” That’s why Pinot Noirs are usually a little pricier than other reds. We really enjoy this one, on its own or with most dishes including duck, on our plates last night. @TheWineLadies @LaCremaWines

Kaboom! Taste explosion! 2009 Cotes du Rhone Villages Foncalieu La Reserve du Crouzau

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The Wine Ladies Daily Wine Pick- Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

Kaboom! Explosion of rich plum, black currant, raspberry and OMG, spice… and hints of chocolate! That is the 2009 Cotes du Rhone Villages Foncalieu La Reserve du Crouzau from the appellation of Saint-Gervais in the southern half of the Rhone Valley in France. A super deal at $14.95 in Ontario market. http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=Foncalieu+La+Reserve+du+Crouzau&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN Full bodied, hint of spice, yummy!

Saint-Gervais has long been a grape growing area with vineyards, over centuries gradually taking over a huge proportion of the landscape around the village.

Saint-Gervais enjoys a Mediterranean climate with long hot summers well suited to the red grapes Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre that do well and produce fab, full bodied rich wines. Enjoy.

The Wine Ladies Daily Wine Find! Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2009

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Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2009

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

 

 

Feeling the love for the Rhone these days… One stand out wine we just discovered (a superb buy at $15.95 Ontario, just released May 26/12) 

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/searchResults.do?ITEM_NAME=Pierre+Henri+Morel&ITEM_NUMBER=&language=EN

From the Southern Rhone Valley, a blend based on Grenache and Syrah; think and taste plum, raspberry, black cherry… With a lingering finish.Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Cotes du Rhone-Villages 2009 rocks the palate! @TheWineLadies Got a barbeque planned for the weekend with organic sausages, a little duck and grilled veggies dressed with herbs from Provence. Try it… you’ll like it!

The Wine Ladies Daily Wine Find!13th Street Old Vines Riesling 2010

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13th Street Old Vines Riesling 2010

Friday, May 25th, 2012

Friday’s wine find for our grilled seafood is one of Niagara’s signature wines, where the #Riesling grape reigns supreme! Latest discovery the 13th Street Old Vines Riesling 2010, http://www.13thstreetwinery.com with inviting aroma of lime and apple, accompanied by a floral note of roses and touch of minerality. Light-medium bodied, full flavour, good acidity and a slight off dry finish. @TheWineLadies @13thStreetWines ($23.95/bottle Ontario) www.thewineladies.com

 

CHÂTEAU D’AQUÉRIA TAVEL ROSÉ 2011

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Thinking pink…. With couple of warm days ahead, getting ready to chill by the pool with one of our favs, a Tavel rose, Chateau D’Aqueria 2011, http://www.aqueria.com with inviting aromas of strawberry, sour cherry and hint of mineral or earthiness. Will partner with most anything, crisp and dry, with good weight and a good tangy finish. Just released in Ontario $18.95/bottle, http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/details.do?language=EN&itemNumber=712000 will be a staple of ours once again. www.thewineladies.com

 

New to the World of Wine? 5 Tips for Beginners

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Guest Contributor: Leo is a wine writer who can be regularly be found in UK wine shops http://www.spiritedwines.co.uk/ perusing the latest arrivals and giving his taste buds a work out with his favourite Spanish, American and French wines.

If you’re just discovering the wonderful world of wine then a] welcome and b] what took you so long?! Chances are if you’re just finding your feet in wine circles, it will be quite daunting knowing where to begin in terms of your collection, palate and which wines you should be on the lookout for. But, fear not, our 5 top tips for wine beginners should steer you in the right direction when you head to your favourite wine shops  http://www.spiritedwines.co.uk/  in the near future…

…so, let’s get started:

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Watch for new “sweetness codes” for wine labels in Ontario on their way!

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Is this Riesling crisp and dry? New “sweetness codes” for wine labels in Ontario are coming, The old system of sugar code numbering denoting sweetness with a “0”, “1” or “2” for example is being replaced with the following descriptors.
Extra Dry (XD): No perceived sweetness, clean crisp acidic finish.
Dry (D): No sweetness perceived, well rounded with balanced acidity.
Medium (M): Slight sweetness perceived.
Medium Sweet (MS): Noticeably sweet.
Sweet (S): Distinctively sweet.

Also look for redesigned bin tags listing the actual sugar content of grams of sugar per litre.

The LCBO is changing up the system stating “Consumers today are looking for more information than ever before to help their buying decisions and many are choosing healthier lifestyles by being conscientious about the foods and drinks they consume,” George Soleas, senior vice-president, LCBO’s logistics/quality assurance division, said in a release.

“The sweetness descriptors and listing of actual sugar content provide LCBO customers with detailed information to help them find a wine they enjoy based on levels of perceived sweetness and discover other wines that taste similar.” and simple sugar content is not the only variable, the LCBO lab used an algorithm to come up with the descriptors, we’ll leave that to the chemists. The new program will start with LCBO table wines and Vintages and Vintages Essentials as new releases come out, the sparkling, dessert and fortified wines will stick to the old numeric program.