Sunday, November 16, 2008

Report from ... Le Sommelier portfolio tasting - November 12, 2008 (3:00 PM) – Part 3 of 3

Finally, it was off to the Niagara Street Cafe (Niagara and King, west of Bathurst) for the Le Sommelier portfolio tasting. In a small room upstairs, 21 wines were poured. Instead of making notes about all 21 this is a list of my top seven selections (in tasted order) ...

(Austria) – Nigl 2007 Gruner Veltliner ($20.95 – vintages) – fruity and crisp with plenty of citrus to go around.

(Alsace) - JM Sohler 2006 Grand Cru Winzenberg Pinot Gris ($28.94 – consignment) – owner Bernard Stramwasser told me that this is the wine that inspired him to be a wine agent. A beautiful wine with peach, talc and green apple notes, a touch of sweetness on the tongue and a nice long finish ... only 72 cases are made ... Interesting to note: this wine is aged 23 months in barrels that have been in use since the 1886.

(Australia) - DogRidge 2006 the pup Chardonnay ($20.95-consignment) - the nose is pineapple and vanilla by the palate has green and Mac apple with a bit of butter on the finish – there’s also real good fruit concentration here.

(Portugal) - Fita Preta 2006 Sexy Rosé ($15.75 - consignment )- a pleasant and appealing rosé that's nice and dry with flavors and smells of raspberries and strawberries, there’s also a touch of plum and spice. Sleek sumptuous and indeed very sexy. Vintages will be carrying the 2007 vintage of this wine in June, 2009.

(Australia) - DogRidge 2005 Cadenzia Grenache ($31.50 – consignment) - raspberry, strawberry fruit smells, follows with sweetness on the mid-palate with full-on fruitiness.

(Australia) - DogRidge 2005 the pup Shiraz ($20.95 – consignment) - tasty Aussie Shiraz, jammy and juicy with a touch of pepper, plum and blueberry … did I mention the juiciness? I'm sure I did.

(Italy) – Fanti San Filippo 2003 Brunello di Montalcino (~$74.00 – consignment) - nice rich, black fruit, cedar, cinnamon and a dusty dark cocoa powder finish - you'll also find some dried raspberries in the mouth.

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