Weekly Wine-Down July 24-31: All About New World Reds

Now that I've finally created my own Wine Concubine Facebook page, I'm starting a new segment to help drum up some more likes, called the Weekly Wine-Down. Special thanks to Li at the Wining Hour on Twitter for unknowingly helping me with the name!. Each week I will post mini versions of tasting notes based on the wines I tasted, and recommend for your drinking pleasure.

Saturday night was a mini family reunion with my Aunt, Uncle & cousins who live 3 hours north of me. My uncle is also a winelover, who lives by the adage "Life is too short to drink bad wine". After a quick trip to the local farmer's market, we sat down and tasted some impressive red wines from the Okanagan, as well as a Zinfandel from Lodi. Here are the standouts:

1. Burrowing Owl Meritage 2012, Oliver, BC: A pronounced nose of ripe raspberries and dusty earth lead into a body of mouthwatering acidity and fine-grained, well integrated tannins along with notes of juicy blackberries, stewed green bell peppers & forest floor. The finish is long and sultry, with a marked flavour of dried currant. Decant for 1.5-2 hours to allow the complex flavour profile to open up!

2. Blasted Church 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Blend, Okanagan, BC: Known for their eye-catching labels, all of Blasted Church's wines are great choices for quality, and this one is no exception! A beautiful deep purple colour in the glass with aromas of black fruit and black pepper. The body is well rounded with fresh acidity, ripe tannins and a long, juicy finish. For those of you who prefer red wine over whites, I recommend this for sipping on the patio with a sirloin steak, or grilled Italian sausage!

3. Earthquake Zinfandel 2014, Lodi AVA, California: Aromas of raspberry preserves and a hint of flint will invite you in to taste an intriguing flavour profile of red fruit, black licorice and cocoa powder. The licorice essence lasts well into the long, smooth finish. Fresh acidity and focused tannins round out the body. Due to it's 15% abv alcohol content, this wine is best with grilled red meat, hard cheeses like cheddar, and even dark chocolate! We decanted for 30-45 minutes as well.

Special thanks to my Aunt & Uncle for their amazing hospitality, enjoyment of this blog and for all the love and support they've given me throughout my wine journey. 

This Tuesday is an upcoming wine day featuring a varietal called Albarino. Click here to learn a little more about it (at the 2:00 mark), and stay tuned for tasting notes on Spanish wine next week!

Cheers!

The Wines of Freemark Abbey

I'm not much of a fan of California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Maybe this is because I'm used to drinking lower priced Cabs, but it's probably because I can't afford the high prices the majority of Napa County demands. Earlier this Spring, I sampled a few Cabernet Sauvignons from neighbouring Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, but was left largely disappointed.

Then I tried Freemark Abbey's 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, and I was proven wrong.

Established in 1886, a widow named Josephine Tychson became the first recorded female winemaker in Napa Valley when she built the original cellar building and cleared the surrounding land to plant vines. In 1939, three businessmen changed the name of the estate from Lombarda Cellars by melding their names Freeman, Marquand Foster and Albert Ahern. This is when the name Freemark Abbey was born. Fun fact: Freemark Abbey was one of the 12 wineries that entered, and defeated French wines in the "Judgement of Paris" blind tasting in 1976!

The 2011 growing season was harsh on winemakers throughout Napa Valley. Consistent rain into harvest made rot an issue in many of the vineyards, generating extremely low yields. These conditions made the vinification process a real challenge, but rumour has it that some expressive, age-worthy wines were on the market. Freemark Abbey proved this to be true with their 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

A bouquet of dried red currant and ripe red cherries leads into a complex flavour profile that includes stewed green bell peppers and a hint of fennel on the finish. Silky tannins and bright acidity add finesse and body. This wine would be an excellent pairing with steak and roast beef, but I recommend using a higher end grade and cut to really blow your mind!

What amazes me most about this wine is the price point. Although Freemark Abbey still fetches a higher price for the 2011 Cab Sauv, their's is low compared to other Napa Valley wineries. The retail price in Canadian dollars is $54. I was so impressed that I decided to taste 2 more wines in their portfolio!

Freemark Abbey's 2011 Merlot shows a smoky side with notes of flint accompanying a palate of fresh cherries and herbs. The red fruit flavours last right into the long, rich finish, reflecting a more fresh style than the Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, I really enjoyed this wine on it's own!

Finally, the 2013 Chardonnay offers intoxicating aromas of ripe bananas with a hint of vanilla to reflect aging in oak. Lush in style, with a body that includes stewed pineapple and an intriguing tinge of guava. A creamy mouthfeel and soft, focused tannins round out the palate. This wine is incredibly food friendly and would marry well with poached salmon, or chicken in a mustard cream sauce. 

Sometimes the splurge on wine is worth it, and sometimes it can let you down. In this case, I wasn't disappointed once. I know the quality will be there if I bring a Freemark Abbey bottle to a dinner or gift it to a fellow winelover. So if you haven't tasted this gem in Napa Valley, make sure you do-you won't be disappointed either.

Cheers!

To Cellar, or Not To Cellar in Uncertain Times

Our senses have been bombarded lately with all the news hype surrounding Brexit, President Trump, and the plethora of natural disasters plaguing the globe. And don't forget the media trend of apocalyptic TV series like The Walking Dead to add to the atmosphere of doom and gloom. If you are like me, you've chosen to "turn off" in a digital sense and focus your energy on reading, studying, or hobbies. A lot of my wine studies this year have drawn me to issues related to wine cellaring.

I currently own a 100 bottle cellar with wines ranging in value from $35 through to over $1,000. Granted, my cellar is only composed of 3 wooden racks that hold 75 bottles each enclosed in a concrete room; nothing fancy like what you see in Wine Spectator every month. However, the cellar means more to me than just bottles in a concrete room. Many of the bottles enclosed have memories attached to them. The Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas wines were purchased on our trip to France in 2011. My Krug Clos du Mesnil Champagne tells the story of my oldest daughter's birth and my triumph over those crazy, foggy first weeks of motherhood. The problem lies in when to consume these wines-and in today's tumultuous times, should I even bother with a cellar?

My wine cellar. It's not pretty, but it's functional-and doesn't allow for aliens or zombies to get in easily!

Many factors come into play when maintaining a wine cellar. Questions to ask yourself include:

"How many bottles can I manage?"
"Am I cellaring bottles for financial gain, or for personal pleasure?"
"What methods and resources do I use to track their development?"
"Am I comfortable with the risk associated with my bottles' values?"

What about a contingency plan? Zombie-apocalypses and President Trump's initiatives aside, other risk factors include household fires, floods, and other acts of God. Are you prepared to forego tasting your viticultural treasures if any of the above happen, even if you insure your bottles?

In the event of a slower catastrophe like Zombies or a plague, my contingency plan is to lock myself in the cellar, drink as many of the wines as I can from most treasured to least, and let nature take it's toll. I'm still working on a plan for the quicker-moving events.

Many wine blogs and publications discuss drinking those treasured bottles now, foregoing special events to ensure you get to enjoy them now. It's an interesting concept; on one hand, you will definitely enjoy them and the risk of the wine going past it's prime is reduced. On the other hand, how much will you enjoy that phenomenal bottle on a weeknight, or another time where you might be more rushed? In my opinion it's worth exploring, especially when sampling a wine where more of the same bottles exist in the cellar; however, I still prefer a special occasion to crack open those one-off bottles so I can really indulge in the experience.

Even though none of us know what's going to happen next, I do know that I want to enjoy these bottles while I can and relive the joy and memories these wines have brought me. No matter what your wine cellar goals are, may yours bring you joy now, and in the time to come.

Cheers!

Concha y Toro's Cabernet Sauvignon Wines

Starting each new year, I begin a major wine research project of focus. In the past I've started projects on new world Pinot Noir, Champagne, Alsace whites, and this year I kick off 2017 as my year of New World Cabernet Sauvignon. This year I will focus my red wine tastings on Cab Sauvs from Chile, California, Washington State, Australia and Canada (can't forget the home wine region, of course!) The first project kicked off during the holiday season, where my husband, father-in-law and I tasted 4 of the Cabernet Sauvignons crafted by Chilean wine powerhouse Concha y Toro.

Founded in 1883, Concha y Toro is regarded as one of the oldest and most well-known wineries in Chile. With a wide variety of experienced winemakers at the helm, Concha y Toro is making waves in the wine world, most notably with Cabernet Sauvignon. Click here to learn more about the winery in detail.

So what makes Chile such a great hotbed for growing remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon?
The DO Puente Alto is located very close to the foothills of the Andes mountains, containing a variety of soil types including alluvial, stony, and a gravel sub-soil. Just like in Bordeaux, the vines have to struggle for their nutrients, which in turn creates wines with solid structure and surprising complexity.

 

The first wine we tasted in the series was Casillero de Diablo. The grapes are grown in the Central Valley region of Chile. Concentrated and straightforward, the Casillero de Diablo Cab Sauv 2015 offers red currant and blueberry flavours in a plush body of lively acidity and ripe tannins. There's a slight musky hint on the finish, adding a touch of complexity. This is an ideal wine for newbies to start on Cab Sauv, and a great wine to bring to a Halloween party, if you're punny like me!

Next we tasted the revered Marques de Casa Concha, 2012 vintage. This Cabernet Sauvignon is some of the best value you can find for under $20 CDN, and one of my go-to favourites. The grapes are grown in the DO Puente Alto, and with both a climate and soil similar to Bordeaux, this wine delivers on all fronts! Complex flavours of ripe blueberries, red and black currants surround a body brimming with silky soft tannins, lively acidity and a hint of charcoal and leather on the finish. This beauty is drinking well now, but shows aging potential of another 3-5 years.


Concha y Toro also produces a more rustic, unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon with it's 2008 Terrunyo Las Terrazas. With fruit from one of their oldest vineyards, they crafted a bold wine containing flavours of dried cherries and black currants, alongside a hint of dried tobacco leaf mid-palate. Earthy tannins and mouthwatering acidity create a full body that follows through the long, persistent finish. Newer vintages will hold well in cellar for approximately 5 years, but the 2008 is dangerously close to past prime. Strong meats and hard cheeses will pair best with this gallant gem!


Finally, we come to the pinnacle Cabernet, the esteemed, highly rated 2010 Don Melchor. Wine Spectator ranked it as the #9 wine of the year in 2014, and Concha y Toro earned their spot with a finessed body full of black currant, tomato leaf and a sultry hint of smoke. The silky tannins are well integrated and linger through the smooth finish. Decant for 1-2 hours before enjoying, and pair this with a Ribeye or Filet Mignon!

It is easy to see why Concha y Toro is a benchmark winery for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. By using the best quality grapes from their esteemed vineyards, each sub-brand of their wines are consistent in body and flavour, allowing them to produce a house style of quality that will be hard to replicate by others. Enjoy the fruits of Concha y Toro's labour, whether you are new to red wines, a wine geek, or a wine conoisseur-they have a wine for you. Cheers!

My Top Wines Tasted in 2016

Most people will be happy to see 2016 go-after all, if we could have one drink for each celebrity who passed away or other bad news story aired on the news, we'd all be blasted drunk. But for me, 2016 was one of my best years as an adult. On the family front, I spent the year at home with my 2 young daughters. I watched my baby girl grow into a curious, active toddler, and saw my oldest daughter start kindergarten at school. I will be sad to see 2016 go as I return to my non-wine day job in 2017. Back to reality...

I also had a good year in the world of wine. I considered 2016 as "my year of Champagne", and I tasted my way through a variety of non-vintage bruts from some of the well known houses of Reims and Epernay. Red and white wines from France also dominated my palate, along with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux blends from the Okanagan. You will see plenty of wines from all of these regions on my top wine list for 2016, along with a few surprises! And with that said, let's get down to business.

Top Red Wines

I tasted so many great red wines this year, it was hard to narrow down this list to just a top 5. Prices range from $20-$35 CDN for all wines except for the top wine, which is $70 +.

1. Les Hauts de Smith by Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2005 - Pessac-Leognan AOC, France

2. Tedeschi Corasco Appassimento 2010 - Venezie IGT, Italy

3. Domaine Lafage Tessellae Old Vines GSM 2013 - Cotes du Roussillon AOC, France

4. Black Sage Vineyards Zinfandel 2012 - Okanagan, British Columbia

5. Blasted Church Syrah 2014 - Okanagan, British Columbia

Top White Wines

As per usual, France takes the #1 spot for my white wine of the year - and unlike previous years, almost swept the category! A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc takes the final spot. Prices range from $22-$35 CDN.

1. Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis 2012 - Chablis AOC, France

2. Chateau Miraval Blanc Coteaux Varois 2014 - Cotes du Provence AOC, France

3. Domaine Francois Lichtle Pfersigberg Grand Cru 2008 - Alsace AOC, France

4. Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2015 - Marlborough, New Zealand

Top Champagne & Sparkling Wines

This year's focus was on Brut Champagne, so the list is dedicated accordingly. You are looking to spend $45-$70 CDN on these bottles, but definitely worth the splurge for a special occasion!

1. Pol Roger Brut Reserve N/V - Epernay, France

2. Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut N/V - Epernay, France

3. Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut N/V - Epernay, France

4. Taittinger Brut N/V - Reims, France

Top Sweet Wines

Since my husband is a Port aficionado, Port is the go-to for fortified wines in our house. However, Canada dominates this year's list, with the remaining 3 spots. As most of the wines on this part of the list were gifts, I can't officially comment on price, with the exception of Cave Springs' Late Harvest Riesling; the price in CDN is $30.

1. Quinta do Vesuvio Port 1994 - Portugal

2. Kalala Chardonnay Icewine 2013 - Okanagan, British Columbia

3. Cave Springs "Indian Summer" Late Harvest Riesling 2010 - Niagara, Ontario

4. Black Sage Vineyards "Pipe" 2007 - Okanagan, British Columbia

Top Value Wines

This is where white wine really shone this year. I wasn't expecting that I would like these (with the exception of Wynn's CSM-I drink at least one bottle of it every year) but they did not disappoint! As per usual, these wines retail for under $20 CDN.

1. Batasiolo Moscato d'Asti Bosc d'La Rei 2015 - Moscato d'Asti DOCG, Italy

2. Wynn's Coonawarra Cabernet-Shiraz-Merlot 2010 - South Australia

3. Colinas de Uruguay Albarino 2015 - Garzon, Uruguay

4. Mission Hills 5 Vineyards Pinot Blanc 2013 - Okanagan, British Columbia

5. Pelee Island Gewurztraminer 2014 - Pelee Island, Ontario

Best Pairing

Italy takes the top 2 spots as Italian wines are made to be extremely food friendly. Blasted Church's Syrah grabs another spot on my list, as a divine pairing for Filet Mignon. The Porca de Murca Portuguese red is priced under $20 CDN, making it the best value in this category. All other wines listed here are priced between $24-$65 CDN, worth the splurge!  

1. Brigaldara Soave 2015 with Brioche Lobster Roll

2. Folonari Campo al Mare Bolgheri 2007 with Zuppa di Fungi

3. Blasted Church Syrah 2014 with Filet Mignon

4. Porca de Murca Tinto Douro 2013 with Cauliflower-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

5. Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne N/V with Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict

Winery of the Year

This is the first year I have awarded this category on the blog. There are 2 criteria I use in order to select the winery:

-Their wines must be listed in at least one category above
-They must be interactive with their followers on social media.

When deciding whether or not to use this category in years past, winners would have included producers such as Donnafugata, Tommasi, and Concha y Toro.

Therefore, the winery of the year is...Blasted Church Winery, located in Okanagan, BC!
Honourable mention goes to Champagne House Taittinger in Reims, France!

Thank you both so much for sharing your passion for your wines & champagnes with all your winelover fans!

So what's coming up for me in 2017? It's looking to be a busy one!

-Return to wine school in April to become a Canadian Wine Scholar
-Potential travel to the Okanagan and Washington State for wine touring & tasting,
-My Year of...New World Cabernet Sauvignon. Including regions of Chile, California, Washington State, Okanagan, BC, and possibly Australia and South Africa.
-Other projects include white wines from smaller Old World countries like Greece & Austria, and producer-focused blog posts

Hopefully you find this post useful when looking for recommendations, and maybe try a wine you haven't had before on this list or see a pairing idea you like. Cheers to a successful 2016, and I look forward to sharing more of my passion and thirst knowledge quest in 2017!