The Where is Everyone? March Break Issue

Once again, various staff members have been pressed into service to get this issue of The Imbiber’s Report out to our faithful readers.  If you have tried to reach anyone anywhere this week, you will have likely discovered that nobody is around.  Hopefully that will make your shopping for a few of our Vintages gems this weekend a little easier.  Those of us who stayed home to brave the elements sure appreciated the rest of you leaving: the drive to work has been much easier this week!

Vintages Release – March 15th, 2008

d’Arenberg

The Hermit Crab

Viognier Marsanne 2006

McLaren Vale, South Australia

(662775) $16.75

600 (12 pack) cases available

90 Points – Wine Spectator!

‘Soft and charming, a beguiling mouthful of spicy pear and grapefruit flavours that linger with focus on the open, textured finish. Not as rich as pure Viognier, but better balanced. Drink now through 2010.’

- Harvey Steiman

Recommended by Michael Vaughan’s Vintage Assessments

The close proximity of the vineyards to the Gulf St. Vincent induces a beneficial cooling effect on the grapes. Many of McLaren Vale’s vineyards are on free-draining soils underlain with limestone, formed by the calcareous remains of the local marine fauna. One such creature was the Hermit Crab, a reclusive little crustacean that to this day inhabits the cast-off shells of others. The Osborn family thought the name appropriate for this, McLaren Vale’s first ever Marsanne Viognier blend and the fact that “Hermit” is an abbreviation for the name of the region in France where the Marsanne grape variety dominates.

The aromatics are tight and controlled but show an array of fresh fruit notes from runner beans and green tropical fruits to mango pip/melon rind. As the wine opens up further, a mixture of apple and citrus tones appears with notes of nectarine stone. The palate is tighter than previous years; generous but still the focus is on ripe fruits. Flavours range from quince, ginger and passion fruit notes with tropical flavours, then a mix of almond notes with lemon, lime and nectarines. The mid palate shows good intensity and softness with a hint of lees character to add a little more complexity. The finish is quite broad and quite balanced considering the Viognier is quite dominate in the 2006 vintage, but the Marsanne comes through with a nutty mineral, olive stone, dried herb influence that cuts the Viognier back. Chill it down and enjoy.

d’Arenberg

The Dry Dam

Riesling 2007

McLaren Vale, South Australia

(942953) $16.75

200 (12 pack) cases available

Recommended by Michael Vaughan’s Vintage Assessments

The name for this wine stems back to 1992 when the neighbours built a dam in which no water lay, as it was such a dry winter. The next year it rained but the dam was jinxed and didn’t hold water.  Some people mix the name around, calling the wine ‘The Dam Dry Riesling’, which in some years is truer than others.

The 2007 fruit for The Dry Dam Riesling was selected from three separate picks over eight vineyards where many are dry-grown. Highly clarified free run juice only was collected for this wine from our basket press. This retains the natural fruit delicacy from this highly prized selection. Fermentation is long and cool and d’Arenberg uses neutral yeasts in temperature controlled vessels to allow the full expression of fruit character to emerge from this wine.

The Dry Dam has a very pale appearance permeated with green tints.  Jubilant florals jump out of the glass with a note of citrus blossom and peel followed by spices, green apple, rose petals and fresh cut flower stems. As the wine opens up, mineral notes from the soil become more obvious.

The palate is youthful, elegantly framed with excellent early-picked flavour ripeness and concentration.  It is dominated by green apple, grapefruit, green melon rind and lime juice with tropical fruit characters coming through.  The finish is extremely long and very dry. The acidity is quite elevated but has an almost silky character which matches the mineral and lime/mandarin blossom flavours that linger.  It’s a vibrant, bold, dry style of Riesling which is already extremely appealing to drink.

With bottle age the colour of ‘The Dry Dam’ takes on a deeper, yellow-gold appearance.  The high fruit intensity and acid of youth initially develops richer florals with honeysuckle and peaches.  The palate will become fuller, richer and very long.

New at Vintages

Domaine Poulleau

Côte de Beaune Les Mondes Rondes 2005

France

(69518) $24.75

250 (12 pack) cases available

Not to be confused with the Côte de Beaune Villages, this area produces rich and robust wines.  This is the first wine available from Vintages from this producer.  It is 100% Pinot Noir which was harvested by hand and then sorted by hand before vinification.  Les Mondes Rondes has medium to deep garnet colour in the glass and aromas of red apple.  On the palate, it is not overpowering and the oak (the wine is aged in oak casks for one year) is well integrated with red apple and plum notes.

Les Mondes Rondes will age gracefully over the next 5 to 10 years and marry beautifully with roasted poultry, rib-steak or cheeses.

March 2008 Classics Collection

Pol Roger Brut

Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1996

France

(958678) $185.00

20 (6 pack) cases available

93 Points – Wine Spectator!

‘The structure of the 1996 vintage is softened by a fine, silky mousse in this intensely wrought bubbly.  Fresh, with citrus, berry, nut and coffee aromas and flavors and a rounded finish.  Drink now through 2015.  Special Designation: Collectibles.’

- Bruce Sanderson

There is a loyal following for Pol Roger’s very best Champagne and we are pleased announce that the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is once again available through Vintages’ Classics Collection.  Customers can e-mail, fax or mail their orders up to Wednesday, March 26.  Telephone ordering begins on Friday, April 4 but some products sell out before then so we suggest the other methods.

For full ordering details, visit the Vintages website.

Accolades

The Toronto Star’s wine columnist Gord Stimmell featured two of our wines in last Wednesday’s paper.  Both wines received special recognition in the judging at the Toronto Wine and Cheese Show taking place in Toronto from April 4 to 6.  Here’s what Gord had to say:

Red Guitar 2005 Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha
LCBO# 54007  $12.85 (Spain)

Winner of the award for Best Value Red Table Wine. This is a mellow middleweight red, not a powerhouse.  Its aromas are reminiscent of black raspberry, blueberry and cedar.  On the palate the raspberry and minty cherry elements are quite tasty. The finish, dominated by sour cherries, is a tad puckery and really craves food.
Food suggestion: Beef stew
Rating: 86

Hardys Nottage Hill 2005 Shiraz
LCBO# 375964  $12.80 (Australia)

Winner as the Best of Show Red Table Wine. The nose is very Aussie and upfront, with blackberry jam and raspberry aromas.  The flavours echo this, with spicy blueberry and cedar mingling with the raspberry nuances.  The finish is long, with lingering blackberry and plum stylings.  This red is not huge, but does go down very nicely.
Food suggestion: Grilled steaks
Rating: 87

Events 

Churchill Cellars Portfolio Tasting

Monday, April 7, 2008

National Ballet School

Subscribers to The Imbiber’s Report should have received their invitation to our Annual Portfolio Tasting on April 7.  If this has not appeared in your Inbox, please contact Carly Darby at our office for information.  Kindly note that your name MUST be on our guest list for you to attend.  This is your opportunity to taste your way through many of our fine products available at the LCBO.

Toronto Wine and Cheese Show

The International Centre

6900 Airport Road, Mississauga

April 4-6, 2008

Friday, April 4: 12noon – 10:00pm

Saturday, April 5: 12noon – 9:00pm

Sunday, April 6: 12noon – 6pm

The Toronto Wine & Cheese Show is one of Canada’s largest and leading shows of its kind. In 2008, the show celebrates its 25^th Anniversary.

To purchase tickets online CLICK HERE

Toronto Sportsmen’s Show

Direct Energy Centre, CNE Grounds

March 12 – 16, 2008

Visit us at the Banrock Station information booth, where you can learn everything you need to know about our Bring Back the Salmon project in affiliation with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the LCBO. Sorry, no wine will be poured at this event!

Cash only at ticket counters.

3rd Annual Hamilton Food & Drink Fest

March 28 – 30, 2008

Hamilton Convention Centre

1 Summers Lane

Hamilton, Ontario

Experience an exciting variety of local and international wines, specialty beers, and culinary sensations created by some of the Hamilton, Halton & Niagara Region’s most popular restaurants, breweries, & wineries. Enjoy terrific live entertainment, fun informative cooking demonstrations all in one great location, and all for a great cause!  A portion of all proceeds is being donated to the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

Show Dates/Times

Friday March 28^th: 5pm - 10pm

Saturday March 29^th: 12noon - 10pm

Sunday March 30^th: 12noon - 5pm

Entrance Tickets Sold at Door

$12 per person (Includes Free Souvenir Wine Glass)

Additional cost for food and drink sample tickets.

Cash only accepted - credit card and debit card payment will not be available.

For your convenience, there is a Cash Machine in the lobby of the Hamilton Convention Centre.

LCBO Promotions

The following promotions are available only from March 3^rd to March 30^th, 2008 at the LCBO:

Twin Fin Pinot Grigio (38323)

5 Bonus Air Miles

Robert Mondavi Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc (405753)

6 Bonus Air Miles

Robertson Winery Shiraz (610949)

When you purchase two or more featured products in the South Africa Category in the same transaction you will receive Bundled Bonus Air Miles, buy 2 products, get 10 BAM, buy 3 get 15 BAM, buy 4, get 20 BAM

20 Bees Cabernet Merlot VQA (6395)

4 Bonus Air Miles

20 Bees Baco Noir VQA (6452)

4 Bonus Air Miles

Red Guitar Old Vine Tempranillo Garnacha (54007)

4 Bonus Air Miles

Schenley OFC Canadian Whisky 1.14 L (3376)

10 Bonus Air Miles

Effen Vodka (22079)

10 Bonus Air Miles

Save $2.25 off Banrock Station Shiraz Carton (668962)

Save $2.25 off Banrock Station Cabernet Sauvignon Carton (668970)

Save $1.00 off Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc (620062)

Save $1.00 off Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot (494492)

Save $1.00 off Pisse-Dru Beaujolais AC (2881)

Happy Easter from all of us at Churchill Cellars!

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE