The Grape Nut

with Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson

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• Going once... going twice...

  As of today, a few of Manitoba's liquor laws will change, although many won't directly affect consumers. You can read about it here, or read the amendments themselves here.Indeed, Manitobans may not be directly affected by many of the regulation changes, and some of the changes are more technical/administrative. There are some new security measures, higher fines for breaking the law, and so forth.There are a few specifics I'm interested in, especially amendment 39(2.2), which states that "A family member of a deceased person or the executor of a deceased person's estate may obtain a special permit that authorizes the holder to sell or auction liquor owned by the deceased person."Another amendment that will directly impact Manitoba imbibers is that the maximum amount of alcohol one person can buy at a time has been changed to 750ml of beer, 500ml of wine, or 85.2ml of spirits or fortified wine (port, sherry, etc.). Essentially, this means one individual can now buy two drinks at once.The impact this might have on pubs could be interesting - Manitobans have long been buying scaled-down pints of beer (about 500ml, or 16 ounces), and could now be offered an Imperial pint (586ml, or 20 fluid ounces). In fact, the Lo Pub (330 Kennedy Street, in the Hosteling International building) is celebrating the change in legislation with an "Imperial Dance March" tonight (if you're on Facebook, check out the details here (warning: some commentors have used profanity on the "wall" of this page).Overall, I think the changes that have been made to the Liquor Control Act are positive. I'm going to spend the weekend looking over the fine details, perhaps over a big pint - nothing goes better with a long weekend and some legalese than a fine lager. I'll report back if anything else of interest pops up. If you go out over the weekend and find things are a bit different because of these amendments, I'd love to hear about it.***Long weekend alert! Manitoba's Liquor Marts will be closed on Monday, August 4 for the long weekend. One exception: the Gimli Liquor Mart will be open from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM to serve those pesky Icelanders celebrating Islendingadagurinn (I DARE you to try Brennivin. It won't put hair on your chest, but it might peel it right off). Winnipeggers can still pick up brewskis at beer vendors, or some vino at private wine stores, as most will be open on Monday (although possibly operating on a holiday schedule). Call in advance if you're not sure.***Coming soon: my book review, a wine blog roll call, and more. Go Bombers!

  View Full Post 08/1/2008 2:38 PM 0

• The Grape Nut goes nuts for Grange

  Remember when I mentioned I had tried a truly legendary wine? I wasn't messing around.A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to taste through a collection of Penfolds wines - many are availble on the market in Manitoba, and a couple were wines produced in limited quality and highly allocated.One such wine is the Penfolds Grange. It's the flagship luxury wine from this extremely consistent Aussie producer, and is next to impossible to find in the local market. For this tasting, I was lucky enough to try the 1998 vintage. Scores from wine critics don't make it or break it for me, but when influential wine writer Robert Parker gives a wine a 99 out of 100, I pay attention. This particular bottle was added to the tasting from a private cellar. Here goes:Penfolds 1998 Grange (Australia - $ hundreds or so, not available)The nose on the Grange (97 per cent Shiraz, 3 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon) is subtle but complex, with aromas of leather, black cherry, cinnamon, and a hint of ash. The fruit component on the nose is bright and concentrated. It's ultra-soft and velvety on the palate, with tannins that are still fairly pronounced but quite supple. There's some great up-front juiciness to this wine, with beautiful cherry and plum flavours. It's an extremely elegant wine - some wine geeks would call this a 'feminine' style, but I've never liked the feminine/masculine descriptors - and the finish is extremely long and smooth. Penfolds' tasting notes suggest drinking between 2010 and 2040, but it didn't seem like this bottled was opened too early. Not as big as some of the other wines we tried from more recent vintages, but a wine loaded with character and finesse. Were I to score it out of 100, I'd probably lean in the direction of about 97-98. It is the complete package.For more thoughts on the '98 Grange, check out these reviews. I'll try and think of some more legendary wines I've been lucky enough to try, if people are interested in hearing about 'em. I'll also try and compile some notes on all the 2007 Rieslings I tried in Germany.Oh yes - I've almost finished writing up a review of Neil Rosenthal's book, Reflections of a Wine Merchant. It's been a somewhat onerous task, not unlike writing book reports in grade school. I hope I pass.

  View Full Post 07/22/2008 1:51 PM 0

• Terr-Weir

  Having covered Wayne Gretzky wines in my last entry, today there's news that Mike Weir's wine affiliations will be changing soon.In this Saturday's dead-tree edition of the wine column, I tasted the Gretzky, Weir and Greg Norman wines. It appears future Weir wines will be substantially different - as in, possibly coming from the Okanagan Valley instead of the Niagara Peninsula. Weir's current wines are made by Creekside Winery Group, but he and Creekside recently severed ties. Apparently, Weir (currently right in the thick of things at this year's British Open) is looking to set up his own Niagara winery and/or partner with an Okanagan winery while creating a golf course in the BC winemaking region.Anyhow, lots more to come in the next few days, including a book review and my notes from tasting one of wine's best-known and majestic red wines. Hint: it comes from Greg Norman's home country...Apologies for the horrible pun in the title... my pathetic attempt at combining terroir and Weir. Again, this is why I don't work writing headlines.

  View Full Post 07/17/2008 2:53 PM 0

• The Great One has arrived

  I just received the latest Sip 'N' Savour e-newsletter from Manitoba's Liquor Marts, and it looks like The Great One is hitting the 'Peg this summer in advance of his Phoenix Coyotes' visit to the MTS Centre this fall.Well, if you count his wine, that is. That's right - Wayne Gretzky Estates wines (from the Niagara Peninsula) are now available in Manitoba. The red (a Meritage blend - that is to say, a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot) will set you back $15.95 plus taxes, while the unoaked Chardonnay is fifty cents cheaper.Gretzky is one of many celebs to lend their name to wine; in Canada there's also Mike Weir and Dan Aykroyd, there's Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Olivia Newton-John from Australia, Ernie Els from South Africa, and many from the US, including Francis Ford Coppola, Motley Crue's Vince Neil, and even Elvis Presley.[note: I'm way too lazy to search for links to each of these wineries - a quick Google search should get you to the websites.]In Manitoba, Gretzky's wines are in the same price range as Aykroyd's (and the Elvis wines), while Norman, Weir and Faldo are slightly more (the latter is available exclusively at Kenaston Wine Market, I believe). Coppola's wines run the gamut in price, and he's by far the most involved in the actual winemaking process - most of the rest simply give their approval or lend their name to wines.Obviously, Elvis has little to say about or do with his wines... OR DOES HE?  I can just see the headlines at the grocery store:"ELVIS SPOTTED PRUNING MERLOT IN CALIFORNIA!"I think I see a celebrity wine blind tasting column in my near future...

  View Full Post 07/9/2008 1:59 PM 0

• Fill 'er up... with wine

  Are wine-powered cars the way of the future? If the future King of England has anything to say about it... maybe.As I mentioned in my last post, Prince Charles has converted an Aston Martin to run on wine. The science behind wine fuel is detailed here. Decanter reports that the English wine community (oh yes, there is one) is up in arms over a comment made by the Prince's personal secretary that the wine was made with surplus English wine. In fact, it's being made using wine that is no longer fit for consumption.At the rate gas prices are rising, maybe it won't be long before I'm filling up my Corolla with unleaded Zinfandel...***I've just about finished Neal Rosenthal's Reflections of a Wine Merchant, a charming tale of his adventures in France and Italy as a wine importer over the past thirty years. Rosenthal is one of many interviewed featured in Mondovino, a documentary about wine and globalization that came out a few years ago. I'd definitely recommend the book - it's an easy, engaging read that pays homage to the hard-working small producers whose wines are (or were) imported to the US by Rosenthal. A more complete review to follow.***Santa Margherita is once again a principal supporter of the AIDS - Walk for the Cure event. From July 21 to August 17, 50 cents from every bottle of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio purchased will be donated to the National AIDS Walk for Life (the walk itself will take place in mid-September). Last year, national sales of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio resulted in a donation of $65,000 to the cause.

  View Full Post 07/3/2008 2:17 PM 0

• Canada Day - red and white (or pink and amber)

  Question: What will you be sipping on tomorrow?If you're looking to pick up some bevvies today to celebrate Canada's birthday tomorrow, chances are you'll stand in line. While Liquor Marts are closed tomorrow (unless you live in Gimli), don't forget that some private wine stores and beer vendors will be open - your best bet is to call ahead.As for me, I might pop a cork on some dry rosé or some bubbly. If I'm going to have a white wine, it might be a Portuguese Vinho Verde or an Italian Pinot Grigio - something crisp and refreshing.  If I opt for a red, it'll be light and fruity - a Beaujolais, perhaps, or a New World Pinot Noir.But if the mercury soars like it has been today, odds are I'll opt for a Canuck microbrew.**UPDATE** How could I not link to this story by the Telegraph: Prince Charles's Aston Martin is wine powered

  View Full Post 06/30/2008 2:31 PM 0

• Insert wine pun headline here

  First off, best wishes and speedy recovery to WFP columnist Lindor Reynolds, the Grape Nut's fallen comrade who was stricken (or struck) by a rogue Segway whilst wheeling about the Twin Cities. Read about it here. When I think of Segways, I can't help but think of Will Arnett's character (G.O.B.) from the too-quickly-canceled Fox series Arrested Development. I'd prescribe a big, ripe Aussie Shiraz for the aches and pains, but don't call me in the morning.I'm heading out to Calgary this afternoon for two days of non-stop tasting in conjunction with Wine Access' International Value Wine Awards. The goal is to find the best wines under $25; the wines are tasted in flights (groups) of about 15-18, and are tasted blind by the judging panels. This means we don't know who the producers are or what country the wines are from, ensuring some form of objectivity (taste is obviously subjective, but at least craftsmanship and the like can be judged pretty fairly).So tomorrow and Thursday I'll be tasting (and spitting) about 100 wines per day. I participated last year, and found it was an extremely valuable (and fun) experience as a taster. Frankly, I'm looking forward to tasting anything other than Riesling - it seems like I've had very little else since returning from Germany.Anyway, once the judging is over, we're given all our tasting notes and scores (out of 100), and the wines we tasted are revealed. Seeing the nearly 1,000 bottles lined up in various groups is something else (I've remembered to pack my camera this time, and will be sure to try and capture the magnitude of the event). I'm hoping to get in a bit of wine shopping in while I'm there, but since I'm only bringing carry-on luggage, my options are somewhat limited. Besides, after picking up a box full of German wines after my last trip and finding three of them broken, I'm not encouraged to travel with wine at present.

  View Full Post 06/24/2008 1:55 PM 0

• Finals tasting post-mortem

  200 wines later, the finals tasting is done. My teeth are stained, my pants are stained (warning: never wear beige pants while tasting 15 Carmeneres), and my tongue feels like sandpaper. The results are already being tallied, and in six hours I'll be curled up in my own bed. More to follow, including some pictures from the event, but suffice to say it's been a great learning experience, and some great wines under $25 were tasted. I've got an arsenal of tasting notes for the next few months too, which will come in very handy.I think the eleven Malbecs we tried in the last flight effectively wiped me out. Time for a beer to cleanse the palate...

  View Full Post 06/26/2008 5:05 PM 0

• Finals tasting, day one, AM

  Started at 9 AM with 12 Chardonnays, 14 Merlots, 14 Syrah/Shirazes, then 5 roses. Lunch was too brief, and now I'm staring down 16 Sauvignon Blancs, 20 (!) Cabernet Sauvignons, and 8 sparkling wines.I can hear my dentist laughing already...

  View Full Post 06/25/2008 3:36 PM 0

• Wine on the rise

  As you may have already heard, Statistics Canada released sales figures of alcoholic beverages in Canada for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. Wine continues to outpace beer and spirits in volume growth in almost every market, and while the sudsy stuff still dominates the market, beer better have a look over its shoulder - wine is on the rise.In 1997, wine accounted for 21 per cent of dollar shares in the Canadian market; ten years on, that number has increased to 28 per cent. In the 2007 fiscal year, Manitobans bought nearly $105 million worth of wine (compared to $244+ million of beer and $205+ million of spirits). This is fifth among provinces (behind, in descending order, Quebec, Ontario, BC and Alberta, and around $8 million more than Nova Scotia).Sales of the combined categories rose 5.9 per cent from the previous year, slightly higher than the national growth of 5.2 per cent. The full slate of information can be seen here. In total, Canadians spent an average of $667 per person (over the age of 15... an interesting age to choose) on alcohol.Just throwing the numbers out there for now, but I'll have more reflection on these new stats in the weeks to come, as well as news on some shake-ups at two of the world's largest beverage conglomerates.

  View Full Post 06/10/2008 2:09 PM 0

• Ich bin ein Grape Nut - Germany wrap-up

  On this glorious sunny Winnipeg Sunday, I look back at the last few days of my trip with nothing but Riesling-fueled fondness...Now, where I did I leave off? Oh yes, Thursday, we biked along the Mosel river to Bernkastel-Rues, a gorgeous, tourist-magnet town. There we traded our bikes for glasses, and sat down to sample the wines of Weingut Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler/Peter Nicolay. Fourteen Rieslings were tasted before we set out on our separate ways for a couple of hours of free time (which I spent searching for a gift for my wife, with no success). Next up was Selbach-Oster, where we hiked up into the vineyards (WAY up the hillside... at least for this flatlander) and managed to get a first-hand look at the vineyard's layered slate soil. We then headed back down the hill for a tasting, where we had my favourite wine of the trip, a 1976 Zeltlinger Schlossberg Auslese. I was rating the wines I tasted out of 100 (mostly for personal reference), and gave this one a 97.Later than night we went on a tour of the Moselland facilities, a massive winemaking and bottling facility that was in stark contrast to the smaller, older wineries that dominated the trip. It was a great reminder of the varieties of ways in which German wines (and wines everywhere, for that matter), are produced, and the head winemaker and Export manager joined us for a fabulous dinner and tasting at our hotel later that night.Friday: The last full day of the trip started at Schlossgut Diel, where we arrived to find the Canadian flag flying atop their castle's turret - a nice touch. Along with a nice sparkling wine (and, of course, the mandatory pile of Riesling), we tried a stellar Pinot Noir called Cuvee Caroline (sadly, not available here - we weren't even able to buy one at the winery). From there we drove to Oberwesel and hopped on the "Goethe", a paddle steamer named after the 17th/18th century German author.This segment of the Rhine river is the most dramatic to see: steep slopes covered in vines, towns stringing the riverside, and castles in various states dotting the hillside. It's truly breathtaking, and no words (or pictures, for that matter... I tried my best) can capture its stunning beauty. Our final tasting of the tour was at Kruger-Rumpf, where we also had dinner (schnitzel and, you guessed it, asparagus - this time in a salad format). Friday night was spent over many beers at a local tavern in Bingen.Saturday morning came too early, and we packed up and headed for the airport for our long trips home (two to Vancouver, four to Toronto, and me to Winnipeg via Toronto). I managed to get through customs without having to pay any duty on the wines I acquired, although my box ended up on the carousel in the Winnipeg airport slightly flatter than when I packed it... three of my eleven bottles fell victim to that Toronto-Winnipeg flight. I guess it was justice served for not having to pay duty. Oh well.I can't thank the following people enough for making this trip so fabulous: my traveling companions (Tim, Daenna, Eric, Anton, and Sara), the German Wine Institute folks (Ron and Andreas), and Stefan, our fabulous driver. All the winemakers/wineries we visited were also extremely friendly and accommodating.I don't think I forgot anything or anyone, but I'll pore over my unsightly notes and double check. But for now, I think I'll take a bit of a break from Riesling, asparagus, and even beer for a few days, and try to work off my Riesling gut...

  View Full Post 06/8/2008 1:38 PM 0

• The Grape Nut - big in Germany?

  When I decided to keep a running account of my time here in Germany, I did so partly for my own benefit - so I could blast out some thoughts before while they were still fresh. It turns out at least one German occasionally reads them.We set out this morning from Deidesheim (in the Pfalz region) to visit Lingenfelder (it should be noted that many of his well-priced animal label wines are available at private wine stores). 13th generation winemaker Rainer Lingenfelder bounced out to our van and jumped in with more enthusiasm than I've yet witnessed on the trip.I had heard that Mr. Lingenfelder was a lot of fun, and as he immediately set in to describing his estate and the surrounding area, I could see that the reputation was justified. Suddenly, he said something along the lines of "Well, I KNOW you all know that this area is on the 50th parallel - as does, of course, WINNIPEG!" Yes, he sort of shouted this, and since it had become a running joke amongst me and my fellow travelers, we burst into applause.It turns out Mr. Lingenfelder just happened to read about the continuous references to Winnipeg on this blog (in yesterday's installment). Now that, my friends, is preparation. This was also one of the few stops where we actually got to try a red wine (two even!), which was a welcome pause from the barrage of Riesling. Don't get me wrong... I love the stuff. But if you had something you loved (say, for example, a KitKat) thirty times a day, you'd want to have something else after a few days. But I digress.Anyhow, we had a great visit at Lingenfelder, trying a good cross-section of wines before leaving the Pfalz region for Trier, in the Mosel region. We attended a large tasting of 30ish producers in this fabulous rec centre that had once been a cathedral. And yes, almost all the wines sampled were Riesling.We drove out of Trier in the early evening, checked into our hotel in Muhlheim, and out the door we went to dinner, which was quintessential German food: large pieces of meat, potato sides, asparagus (seriously, asparagus is in some way incorporated into every meal), and the occasional garnish all washed down with a wheat beer. It's heavy stuff.Tomorrow we ride bikes to Bernkastel-Kues for a winery visit before an afternoon hike through some vineyards. Vines cover the rolling hills (small mountains?) at a ridiculous slant, so this hike could really be something...

  View Full Post 06/4/2008 5:41 PM 0

• Germany, Day One - groggy

  Well, here's my first update from Germany, coming to you from Oestrich-Winkel, situated a (long) stone's throw from the Rhine river. The Toronto-Frankfurt flight was delayed, didn't have the chair-back TVs, and featured two young siblings who seemed to delight in emitting blood-curdling screams all night. As the parent of a young child, I can understand how tough this can be (having dragged our daughter to Prince Edward Island), but these people had no food, drinks, toys or books to keep the children occupied, for which they deserved worse than what they got (some serious cringing from other passengers). I don't even think I heard the parents talk to the children very much. If I had nothing to do but sit on someone's lap for eight hours, I'd be cranky too.Needless to say, there wasn't much sleep to be had on the flight, despite trying to induce slumber via a couple of glasses of cheap Sicilian Merlot and a quick brandy. So it's now 5:30 a.m. Winnipeg time (12:30 p.m. here), and I'm trying desperately to stay awake so as to confine the jet lag to one day.I have a couple of hours to kill, but there's not much open on a Sunday here, so this is actually a good opportunity to get a jump on some work, maybe do some reading and have a shower. Despite the beautiful exterior of the Hotel Nagler, my room is very much a snapshot of the '80s; for interest's sake, here's a picture of me (courtesy of the new laptop) in my room.

  View Full Post 06/1/2008 6:45 AM 0

• Grape Nut seeks travel tip

  I'm leaving for Germany in a few hours, and I'm packed and ready to get this show on the road.Any good tips on avoiding jet lag? Most importantly: will I be able to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals on the plane?I think I know the answer to the second question.My next report will be from overseas. On an unrelated tip, watch for a bunch of single malt scotch reviews in the coming days, as well as many updates from the field (or the vineyard, as it were).

  View Full Post 05/31/2008 9:32 AM 0

• Germany, day three? Riesling galore

  We're getting ready to leave Oestrich-Winkel on this muggy Tuesday morning, and so far the trip has been great - decent weather (although there was a big booming storm last night), great people and great wines.A quick recap: Sunday evening was spent at Burg Crass, a cafe along the Rhine, where we took part in a local ritual of cake and coffee. Except when you've got a bunch of winos in tow, that becomes cake (of the delicious local strawberry variety) and sparkling wine. Let me tell you, German sparkling wine (often called Sekt) is one of the hidden gems of this country's wine production.That night we went up the valley to Schloss Vollrads, a beautiful, castle-estate type property, where we were treated to some great food and wine, as well as a tour of this phenomenal estate.We got started early Monday morning with a quick (but phenomenal) buffet breakfast before heading out to Weingut Kunstler (apologies for the lack of umlauts), whose fairly modern estate (on the inside, at least) included a series of winding cellars that have to be seen to be believed. Next up (and just down the street) was Domdechant Werner'sches Weingut, a much smaller producer run by Dr. Franz W. Michel, a 75 year-old grandfather of 15 who shows no sign of letting up.Balthasar Ress was our third stop of the day - some of Stefan Ress' wines are available in Manitoba, and we sampled those and many others before being whisked off to Schloss Reinhartshausen, another producer whose wines are available at home.This morning we're off to the Pfalz region, to Gunderloch (some of whose wines are available in Manitoba... at private wine stores, I believe). There's a quick recap of our activities, and I'll have more later when we check into our next hotel. Suffice to say I've tried many great Rieslings - in fact, of the 60ish wines tasted, all but about five have been Riesling. Many are now being made in a far drier style than the Canadian wine buying public might believe.Interestingly, Winnipeg has come up at almost every stop so far. Why? Well, this region sits on the 50th parallel, which just so happens to run right through Winnipeg. In fact, it's now a running joke that every winemaker we meet will mention Winnipeg as a Canadian point of reference as to our latitude.More later... there is more Riesling to be tried. Hopefully my gums don't peel back from my teeth (Riesling can be fairly high in acidity)...

  View Full Post 06/3/2008 1:32 AM 0

• Nosing Me, Nosing You (apologies to ABBA for the horrible pun)

  Before continuing to chronicle my adventures in Germany (which, sadly, come to an end tomorrow), I just remembered that in tomorrow's column I wrote that I would post some more info on whisky. And just my luck - I had already sent the column in before a copy of the late (and unfortunately named) Michael Jackson's Whisky: The Definitive World Guide showed up at my house. So here's some extra info on how whisky is made, how to taste whisky, and a few more tasting notes I didn't have room for in the column...The basics on how whisky is made: malted barley and water are combined or “mashed” to produce wort; at this point yeast is introduced, and the fermentation process of converting sugar in the wort to alcohol begins (the conversion takes longer than it would with grapes). The end result of fermentation is then distilled (which involves vaporization and condensation) either in vats (bigger companies) or in copper stills (the traditionalists).Tasting whisky: first off, it's often called "nosing" rather than tasting - after all, many of the subtle differences come from the variances in aromas. Start with a small, tulip-shaped wine glass - nothing etched or fancy. Don't bother trying to pick up all the subtleties from a glass tumbler. Check out the colour - is it deep gold? Amber? Pale straw? This will be a good indication as to what type of cask it was aged in, and for how long.Now take a sniff, just like you would a glass of wine, noting all the aromas. Before tasting the whisky, don't be afraid to dilute it slightly using bottled water - tap water will impart chlorine aspects. Many whisky buffs add water - this way you get the aromas and flavours without the raging alcohol content. Avoid ice cubes or soda water. And obviously cola or ginger ale isn't the way to go here.Some folk place their hand over the rim of the glass and give the whisky a good shake. I've tried this and the results (to my shirt) haven't been pretty. Doing this, however, will maximize the odours and flavours released.The actual tasting process is the same as wine - note the flavours, weight, texture and finish on the whisky. And there you have it - you're ready to get nosing.Some more single malt Scotch whiskies I've tried as of late follow - I was lucky enough to try a whole whack of whiskies side by side. Most of these should be available at Liquor Marts.Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($58.78)The bourbon-sherry-ish notes (likely from the casks) shine through on the nose, as do aromas of oranges and toasted oak. It's very mellow on the palate, with orange peel and cocoa flavours before a medium finish.Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($62.32/700ml)Loads of nuts on the nose of this one, especially almonds, with some pear undertones. Much bigger peat on this single malt, with the nutty, caramel components coming through on the palate.Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($54.95)Vanilla and fig dominate on the nose, while a toasty, burnt tire flavour comes through on the palate. It's a juicy, weighty single malt.Bowmore 15 Year Old "Mariner" Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($53.74)Big aromas of vanilla, caramel and cinnamon prevail on the nose, while the palate is far more complex. Fruity, floral, peaty and toasty flavours make this a well-rounded single malt and a definitely fine dram.Glenmorangie "The Original" Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($58.74)The nose brings aromas of honey, flowers, almonds and peanuts - that Scotch saltiness - with juicy citrus flavours on a round, full palate.Glenmorangie "Quinta Ruban" Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($71.67)Sherry casks are in play on this single malt, with a round, nutty nose counterbalanced by some ripe green apple aromas. There's a slight sweetness here, with some definite sherry characteristics as well as chocolate and spice. Excellent.Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Grande Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($120.97)Vanilla, spice, and lemon pepper aromas all emerge here - not too unusual, as this single malt is aged in Cuban rum casks. Lemon and other citrus components interact with rounder vanilla flavours, both of which impart a slight sweetness.Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($76.51)This big fella weighs in at 68 per cent alcohol - some diluting recommended. Honey and banana dominate the nose, with a hint of some sort of anise aroma that reminded me of Jagermeister (in a good way). It's a big, ripping single malt with lots of peat and pepper.Auchentoshan "Three Wood" Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($74.02)Ah yes, three wood... yet another golf club I destroy golf courses with. It's triple (rather than double, which is the norm) distilled, not peated, and aged in oloroso (Sherry) casks. The nose is quite complex, with aromas of barley, mint, herbs and lime. The palate is clean due to the lack of peat, and features fruity characteristcis blended with nuts and pepper.

  View Full Post 06/6/2008 2:12 AM 0

• The Grape Nut, dinner planner

  Some quick notes about upcoming events on this Wednesday morning...

  View Full Post 06/18/2008 10:16 AM 0

• The adventures of The Grape Nut - 2008

  Happy Saturday, everyone.* Summer's always a busy time of the year for The Grape Nut, and I'm currently prepping to head off to Germany for a week with some other wine writers. I've been to Germany twice, but never specifically in a wine-related capacity. The first time was in high school (a St. James institute which closed its doors last summer) with our concert band. As you can imagine, scores of Canadian teenagers that are suddenly of legal drinking age isn't pretty.My second trip was in 1999 when I played drums in a local band. We travelled through Germany, with quick stops in Austria, the Czech Republic, and France's Alsace region. By this time I was working in the local wine industry, so it pains me to think that I never took the time to visit wineries or drink much wine there. I did, however, get to try many regional German beers - after every show, the promoter would typically load a milk crate-like container into our van, full of half-litre bottles of the local brew. When I got home a month later, I brought home a shameful spare tire as, uh, "carry-on."I'll be the first to admit that I often overlook German wines, so it'll be a good opportunity to connect with the Riesling-heavy European producer. I'll also be interested to see what German producers are doing with other varietals; many typically produce Pinot Gris (aka Grauburgunder), Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) and Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder), but some are starting to plant Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and other common varietals.Providing I have access to "das Internet", I'll be updating on a daily (or at least regular) basis on what's shaking along the beautiful Rhine river.It looks like I'll be stopping in Calgary for a couple of days to participate as a judge in Wine Access' International Value Wine Awards. I participated for the first time last year, and learned a tremendous amount about wine judging, blind tasting, and how to trash your palate by tasting 500ish wines in a week. Good times!A Chilean adventure seems to be in the cards as well, but not until November. Winnipeg will be going into a deep-freeze while Chile will be heading into summer. Sounds like perfect timing to me.* The tributes continue to pour in for Robert Mondavi, who died May 16. Check out this hour-long radio tribute here (it's the third selection down, under "What's Cookin' on Wine"). There are some fond remembrances here, here, and here (among many others) as well.

  View Full Post 05/24/2008 12:25 PM 0

• Get while the gettin's good

  With a respectful hat tip to Wine in the 'Peg, two things I meant to mention in the last few days (which have been taken up by day job stuff and trying to figure out my new laptop):

  View Full Post 05/15/2008 7:40 PM 0

• Best of the Fest... and so long, Bob

  update:  California wine pioneer Robert Mondavi died yesterday at the age of 94. Raise a glass to the man who broke the mold and changed the way the world looks at California wines...***Hope everybody has a great long weekend. To my knowledge, Liquor Marts are closed on Mondays, while some private wine stores and beer vendors will be open, mostly with Sunday/holiday hours.Since the task of writing out tasting notes for a whole pile of wines seems like a bit of an overwhelming task right now, I thought I'd at least post the names of some of my favourites wines tried at the Winnipeg Wine Festival. Plus that way I can always review the wines in the column. Of note: these are wines that are new to me... in other words, wines I hadn't tried before the Winnipeg Wine Festival. There were a lot of great wines at the show that I had either tried or didn't get to try (but heard good things about).Not all wines from the main tasting area will stick around - as I mentioned, the Grant Park Liquor Mart already has a rack devoted to get-em-while-you-can wines from the fest. Once they're gone, they're gone.As for wines from the Private Wine Store Village, I'll list the store's booth at which I tried the wine, as many of them are exclusives to that particular store. If a store isn't listed it means I tried the wine in the main tasting area (or at an ancillary event).So, in no particular order except that in which I can decipher them from my ratty notes...Best WhitesI thought I'd specifically mention whites that weren't 100% Chardonnay and/or Sauvignon Blanc just to mix it up a bit...Einig-Zenzen 1975 Valwiger Herrenberg Riesling Auslese This one was particularly special, as it's the first time I've been able to try a wine from my birth year. 32ish years later, it's still holding up nicely (unlike yours truly was by the end of the wine fest).Torres Vina Esmerelda (Spain)Trius Riesling Dry (Niagara Peninsula, Canada)Pelee Island Reserve Gewürztraminer (Pelee Island, Ontario)Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery 2006 "Ogopogo's Lair" Pinot Grigio (Okanagan Valley, BC) - watch for a review on this one in this tomorrow's columnBalthasar Ress Rheingau Riesling Trocken (Rheingau, Germany)Mt. Boucherie 2006 Pinot Gris (Okanagan Valley, BC)Basa Do Rueda 2006 (Spain - sampled at De Luca's Fine Wines booth)Casa Tamaya 2006 VCS [Viognier-Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc] (Chile)Red Truck "White Truck" white (California)Bridlewood Reserve Viognier (California)***Best RedsIronstone Reserve Cabernet Franc (California)Rutini 2005 Malbec (Argentina)Tolaini 2004 Picconero (Tuscany, Italy - sampled at the Banville and Jones booth)Peter Dennis 2004 Shiraz (Australia - sampled at the Pembina Fine Wines booth)Coyote's Run 2004 Meritage (Niagara Peninsula, Ontario)Sandhill 2005 Cabernet Merlot (Okanagan Valley, BC)[yellow tail] 2006 Reserve Shiraz (Australia)Hedonist Shiraz (Australia - sampled at the Fenton's Wine Merchants booth)Rochioli Pinot Noir (California - sampled at the Kenaston Wine Market booth)Anakena "Ona" Pinot Noir Merlot Syrah Viognier (Chile)Francis Ford Coppola Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon (California)Nepenthe Zinfandel (Australia... yes, an Australian Zinfandel)Rosemount Estate 2005 GSM [Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvèdre] (Australia)Santa Carolina El Bosque Syrah (Chile)Tintara Reserve Grenache (Australia)***Bubbly/Rose/Dessert/FortifiedChamarré 2006 Grenache-Syrah Rose (France - watch for a review in this tomorrow's column)Umberto Cesari Refolo Brut (Italy - sampled at La Boutique Del Vino's booth)Casa Tamaya 2007 Pink Goat Rosé (Chile)De Bortoli Deen Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon (Australia)Ganton & Larsen Prospect Winery "The Last Bars" Vidal Icewine (Okanagan Valley, BC)Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva (Spain)Warre's 1999 LBV [Late Bottled Vintage] Port (Portugal)Wolf Blass Yellow Label Brut (Australia)Chamarré 2003 Jurançon [dessert wine] (France)Whew... lots more to come here in blogsville...

  View Full Post 05/16/2008 6:42 PM 0