Wine, Wine and More Wine

Jean-Marc, this guy I work with, signed me up to receive the Vintages magazine that the LCBO sends out. I thought this would be a good way to start exploring new wines and learning more about their differences in the process. It's also, I recently realized, a way to empty your pocket book on a bi-weekly basis. There's something quite fun about collecting wine and then planning which occasion you're going to drink each bottle at. It's also discouraging to bring a wine you've been dying to try to a dinner party just to have it left there, unopened. Jean-Marc recommended I buy 3 bottles of each. One to try now, one to try at a later date, and one to try in the year it's meant to be drunk. I'm not sure i'm there yet. But I am going to do the other thing he recommended, which was to print out the description of the wine and have it with me when I do decide to drink it and pay attention to the flavours while reading the description. I think that's a fabulous idea and i'm looking forward to trying it. Tomorrow will be my first venture. I'm bringing a bottle to a dinner party. Saturday will be another, I've been saving this particular one for the couple I'll be with then. The following wines are some of the new ones that have made it into my liquor cabinet (I hope that one day I can change that to say wine cellar). In case, for some reason, I don't have the description of the wine with me, at least I'll be able to easily reference it on my blog. I'll keep everyone posted for when I do have these wines and let you know how they are.

This bottle was highly recommended by one of the gentleman who works at the LCBO. After a couple of the wines I had planned to buy were unavailable, he pointed this one out to me.

VOSS VINEYARDS SYRAH 2004

Wine, Red Wine,
14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: California/Californie, United States
By: Negociants Int'L Pty Ltd
Release Date: Jan 31, 2009

Description
Voss Vineyards was founded by Australian Robert Hill Smith, whose family is also responsible for Yalumba Winery in Australia and Nautilus Estate in New Zealand. Intrigued by the quality of wines from Napa Valley, Robert ventured into California in the early 1990s. The fruit for this Syrah is sourced from the estate's vineyard in Rutherford and another block further south in Napa. It's packed with deep black fruit flavours, peppery spice and earthy notes. It's richly textured with cedary oak accents and medium tannins providing grip and structure.

SALTRAM OF BAROSSA MAMRE BROOK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005

Wine, Red Wine,
14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Australia, Australia
By: Foster'S Wine Estates Americas
Release Date: Mar 28, 2009

Tasting Note
A powerful, intense, full-bodied palate with blackcurrant and mulberry varietal character; stout tannins and oak underline the structure. Drink [until] 2020. Score - 93. (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, Oct. 2007)

This is my Saturday night wine that i've been saving.

ESPORÃO RESERVE RED (V)
VINTAGES 606590 750 mL bottle

Wine, Red Wine,
14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Alentejo, Portugal
By: Finagra
Release Date: Oct 11, 2008

Description
Since 1973 Herdade do Esporão has made several major investments in its winery and vineyards to become one of the the most infuential estates in the region. Made from a blend of Aragonês (a.k.a. Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon and Trincadeira, this dense, fruity, and charmingly rustic red is a great companion to any stewed, braised or roasted red meat dishes.

This is tomorrow night's wine choice. I've got 3 more of these so if we don't drink it I won't be disappointed.

PALACIOS REMONDO LA VENDIMIA 2007
VINTAGES 674564 750 mL bottle

Wine, Red Wine,
13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD

Made in: Rioja, Spain
By: Bodegas Palacios Remondo
Release Date: Mar 28, 2009

Description
Palacios Remondo's La Vendimia is simultaneously modern and 'old school'. Modern, because they use every cutting-edge method at their disposal to make fresh, bright, flavourful wines; old school, because they use a higher level of Garnacha (a practice more common in Rioja Baja where superstar winemaker, Alvaro Palacios, is from). The blend here is 50% Tempranillo and 50% Garnacha. Look for aromas of blackberry jam, fresh raspberry and a hint of Mediterranean country herbs (called garrigue in the south of France). Enjoy this wine with beef ragout or even grilled liver and onions. It will also age gracefully for 4+ years.

PETIT MARS 2006
VINTAGES 107185 750 mL bottle

Wine, Red Wine,
14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: Languedoc, France
By: Mas du Soleilla
Release Date: Mar 28, 2009

Tasting Note
Chewy, dense and powerful, with well-sculpted flavors of kirsch, dark plum, red cherry and hot spice flavors. Shows intense notes of mineral and hot stone on the finish. Drink now through 2014. Score - 91. (Kim Marcus, www.winespectator.com, Dec. 31, 2008)

BODEGAS DE LOS RIOS PRIETO PRIOS MAXIMUS ROBLE 2006
VINTAGES 103432 750 mL bottle

Wine, Red Wine,
15.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D

Made in: Ribera Del Duero, Spain
By: Bodegas De Los Rios Prieto
Release Date: Mar 28, 2009

Description
A Silver Medal winner at the 2008 Tempranillos Al Mundo competition. The wine is grown in the respected Pesquera area and aged almost 6 months in American oak and 6 months in bottle before release.

Tasting Note
This 100% Tempranillo from 40-year-old vines shows the virtues of mature vines in wine production. Opaque ruby colour with intense aromas of plum, almond, cocoa and wood spice. Dry, fleshy and rich with exceptional aroma replays on the palate. Medium full-bodied with a long, balanced finish. Match it to rich beef stews or lamb dishes. (VINTAGES panel, May 2008)