Newsletter #242 - It Would Never Work Here

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MichaelPinkusWineReview Newsletter 242  November 2014

• WineReview: It Would Never Work Here
  

• Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch: New and Noteworthy Wines
  

• Bi-Weekly OWR Updates:  Wine Videos, Blog Additions and more

• Wine Event Spotlight:  See What's Going on in Wine Country

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WineReview:  It Would Never Work Here

I just read a great article on the CBC’s website about Jamie Paquin, a Canadian living in Tokyo Japan … it’s your typical boy-goes-to-study-abroad-meets-a-girl-falls-in-love-gets-married-and-stays kinda story that we’ve all heard a thousand times before, heck you’ve probably got one in your own family if not have a friend whose done it.  But Jaime’s story is a little different; he decided to open his own uniquely Canadian business in Tokyo.  Makes sense, he’s Canadian; why not sell Maple Syrup, Inuit Snow Globes, Replica Mountie Hats, and Beaver Tails to the locals and to those who have visited our fair country before?  Sounds like a good idea to me, bring Canadian cultural icons to Japan, after all there are Japanese-centric stores on this side of the pond.

But wait, what Jaime is hocking in the Land of the Rising Sun is not your typical bits and bobs of Canadiana.  Instead he’s put his fate in the hands of glass bottles filled with a very different kind of Canadian liquid:  wine.   From British Columbia to Nova Scotia – Jaime is showing the Japanese that Canada makes more than just Icewine, and I applaud Jaime’s forward thinking, his entrepreneurship and his devotion to Canadian wine; we could use a little of that spirit and gumption in our own government, we certainly are in short supply when it comes to it around here.  Maybe when Jaime gets tired of living abroad he’ll come home and change the way we Ontarians shop for our own wine.

Canadian pride is definitely not in short supply over in Tokyo – and contrary to what popular thinking would indicate, Jaime is doing a bang up business over there with his Canada-only wine shop.  

Maybe instead of lobbying for VQA-Ontario only wine stores (or Ontario wine only stores) we should do a little lobbying for Canadian-only wine shops.  Regionality is great, but wouldn’t you just love to walk into a wine store and pick up the latest from Mission Hill (BC), Benjamin Bridge (NS) or Lailey Vineyard (ON) without having to jump through the myriad of provincial hoops to get it.  We see so little BC and Nova Scotia wine on the shelves now, let alone what the other provinces may be doing in terms of wine production.

Personally, I have a hard time imagining Ontario-only wine stores in my lifetime, so imagine how mind blowing it is to think on a grander scale:  Canadian wine … holy cow.  Surely if all wine producing provinces got behind it it could become a reality; forget approaching individual provinces, let’s make it a federal matter and take it to the hallowed halls of Ottawa.  If one guy in faraway Tokyo can figure out how to do it 6426 miles away from Toronto; 4690 miles away from Vancouver, or even 6694 miles away from Halifax – then certainly someone in Ottawa can figure out how we can show national wine pride from coast to coast in our own country; or am I giving politicians too much credit here?  After all, they got us, and keep us, in the mess of a system we have now.

Jaime calls his store Heavenly Vines – many in Japan probably think it’s because wine, in olden times, was considered nectar of the Gods; but I’d like to think that it’s more like a calling from above to right minded and open-minded thinkers when it comes to our wine industry nationwide.  

Thanks for opening our eyes to what can be done Jaime, even if you had to move 6460 miles to do it (Brockville to Tokyo – his hometown) … but it would never work here, people are too afraid of change, too afraid of showing national pride and too afraid to ruffle the feathers that control our booze system.  But if ever there were a need to throw open those doors and find leadership to do so, the time is now.  Nothing brings a country closer together than the ability to share a glass of something special together.  One can dream.

Grape Guy’s Picks of the Bunch:  New and Noteworthy Wines

13th Street 2012 Gamay Noir, Sandstone - $29.95 (W)
www.13thstreetwinery.com
13th Street has done it again, taking Gamay to its heights and showing what can be done with this grape in Ontario when properly handled.  8 months in one-third new all French oak has developed lovely black cherry and anise with just a hint of vanilla … it’s hard not to fall in love with really well made Gamay – and this one is quite the seductress.  Price: $29.95 – Rating: ****+

Charles Baker 2013 Riesling, Ivan Vineyard - $27.00 (O)
www.charlesbaker.ca
Baker’s second Riesling shows up again in 2013.  This is the same vineyard he cheated on his long-standing Picone Vineyard with last year, and it seems he’s up to his old tricks again.  This wine hails from the much younger vines found in the Ivan Vineyard (it’s always the younger ones), but they are still 17 years old, more than legal to make wine from.  Nose is light with some citrus drops; palate has nice acidity and a touch of mineral (always welcome in Riesling) with wonderfully sippable citrus fruit.  Another winner from Charles.  Price: $27.20 – Rating: ****

Chateau des Charmes 2012 Cabernet Franc, St. David’s Bench - $25.95 (W)
www.fromtheboscfamily.com
Here we have a textbook Franc from the Chateau-side of the property.  Aromas hit you with raspberry and tobacco, while also giving off notes of earthy-smokiness; the palate seems to follow in lock step with the nose, a nice smoky-raspberry, tobacco, earthiness and grippy tannins that do not overwhelm but instead work in harmony with the acidity. Price: $25.95 – Rating: ****+

Henry of Pelham 2009 Carte Blanche - $44.95 (W, L)
www.henryofpelham.com
By now we should all know that Henry of Pelham is one of Ontario’s premier sparkling wine producers with their Cuvee Catharine line of wines.  Last year they introduced us to the newest brain-child, the 100% Chardonnay aged 54 months on lees/in bottle sparkler that was a grand success and now here’s the 2009 version, an even better version than that first effort.  Nose has lemon pith, green apple, fresh baked croissant, touch of buttery-ness and lemon drop.  Palate over-delivers with great acidity that cleanses the palate keeping the complexity of flavours feeling fresh:  lots of lemon zest and pith with tart apple and traditional bready-biscuitiness, with persistent bubbles and a long finish … this really is the best Carte Blanche to date.  Price: $44.95 – Rating: **** ½

Leaning Post 2013 The Fifty - $22.00 (W)
www.leaningpostwines.com
This is a fifty-fifty split of stainless steel and barrel fermented Chardonnay, plus they practiced lees aging and barrel selection on this wine … it’s quite the process winemaker/owner Ilya Senchuk goes through, but the resulting wine is one that should make Chardonnay fans very happy.  Aromas of green apple, peach and mac apple give way to a palate that has crisp apple, hints of vanilla and pineapple, especially on the mid-palate, complete with its balancing acidity intact.  Price: $22.00 – Rating: ****

Sprucewood Shores 2010 Meritage - $22.95 (W)
www.sprucewoodshores.com
What’ll get you here is the finish that seems to hang around a good long time, but I’m sure the dark berries, spice and cocoa which also play a part in your enjoyment here … oh, and did I mention the nice balance of acidity and tannins.  This is the complete package.  Price: $22.95 – Rating: ****

Availability legend:  W (Winery) – L (LCBO/Vintages) –  OL (On-Line).

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Bi-Weekly OWR Updates: Wine Videos, Blog Additions and more

The Weekly Wine Videos
Just as the name suggest … every week I'll introduce you to another fabulous Ontario wine that you've just gotta try – Check out the YouTube Channel Now

Regular Weekly Videos

Video #106 – Featherstone 2013 Sauvignon Blanc
Video #107 – Creekside 2010 Reserve Merlot

Subscribe to the Michael Pinkus YouTube to catch all the videos

NEW – Quench By Tidings … #Wine Wednesday (see them all here)
Gift Giving Ideas Start Now
Rhone Rhone Baby

On the Road with the Grape Guy (blog)
(Trips, tours and tastings – join me as I review the highs, and sometimes, the lows)
Wrapped Up in the Valley 2014

NEW - Taste it Again / Lost & Found (blog):  the two blogs have merged
(Find out what happened to some favourites and to those that never were tasted) 
Taste it Again:   A Trio of Calamus Wines (Big Chill Weekend 2014 - part 2)
Taste it Again / Lost & Found:   Red Tractor 2008 Red Tractor + Two Others
Taste it Again / Lost & Found:   CREW Three Pack from 2005
Taste it Again / Lost & Found:  Big Chill Weekend 2014 (part 1)

NEW NAME - Uncorked Tonight (blog)
When it’s not an Ontario wine, here’s what I’m pulling out of the cellar
New Posts Added

Vintages Release (blog)
November 8, 2014 - Vintages Report available
November 22, 2014 - coming soon (with new look PDF)

Wine Event Spotlight: See What's Going on in Wine Country

Wrapped Up in the Valley showcases VQA wines paired with gourmet appetizers at 24 of the Twenty Valley’s wineries.  Passport holders choose from one of three weekends in November 1 & 2, 7 & 8 or 14 & 15 and can explore the Valley between 11am and 5pm. As an added bonus, assemble your own Wrapped Up Cookbook by collecting the wine and food pairing on recipe cards at each stop along the way.  A single weekend passport is $40.00 per person (+ HST) and may be purchased online at www.twentyvalley.ca or by phone at 905-562-3636 and at select participating wineries.

Taste the Season is Niagara-on-the-Lake’s must-do event in November! Celebrate the season's bounty with locally inspired VQA wine and food pairings at each winery member every weekend in November.  Pairing information and ticket purchasing can be found right here: wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com/taste-the-season

The Slow and Sinful Gala, a Celebration of Prince Edward County Bubbly, is on the calendar and will be held November 29, 2014 … Highline Hall in Wellington, Prince Edward County; doors open at 7 pm.  The evening will feature sinfully delicious offerings, both savoury and sweet from some of the best chefs working in the County today.  Tickets are $75 per person.  An early bird draw will be awarded at the Gala, only those purchasing before November 6 will be eligible.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.slowfoodthecounty.ca

OntarioWineReview’s bi-weekly newsletter is devoted to the love, enjoyment and promotion of the wines of Ontario and the wineries that make them.

What can the Grape Guy do for you … Michael Pinkus (Grape Guy) provides a variety of wine related services that you might be interested in taking advantage of:  he gives lectures, leads seminars, conducts tastings, sets up tours; consults, selects and judges.  He also gives interviews, broadcasts, podcasts and writes.  Contact the Grape Guy if you require any of these services or have any questions.

Psst, Pass It On … keep the good wine flowing. Forward this newsletter to your mom in Milton, your son in Smith Falls, or any other family member or loved one that you know needs good wine advice.

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© MichaelPinkusWineReview.com 2014. All rights reserved. You may use the content of this newsletter by including full credit to Michael Pinkus, Grape Guy and a link to www.michaelpinkuswinereview.com

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