From the Cellar

Just because I started a website called OntarioWineReview.com doesn't mean it's All-Ontario-All-the-Time. When I kick back at night my mood (and sometimes my curiosity) decides my wine of choice. And the title should read, "Uncorked and Un-Screwed Tonight" ... but that just sounds wrong.

Hedges CMS 2002-2006 (Washington)

25 Jul 2014

 

(May 10, 2014) ...

Dear Hedges,

I have never been so pissed off in my life, and I have had my moments.  

I invited a few friends over to enjoy a vertical tasting of your wines, your CMS to be specific - one of my friends tried one once and hasn't shut up about it, so I wanted to really show off with my (pseudo) vertical: 2002-2006 (minus the '04).  But what the heck are you thinking sealing this beautiful blend: Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah (CMS) with a plastic cork; I was totally shocked and appalled by this finding.  And there was nary a mention of this type of closure on your front or back label - imagine my shock when I pull off the capsule on vintage after vintage to see the plastic beneath.  Now I did not write them off right away - I have traveled to NomaCorc headquarter in Raleigh, North Carolina and have been told to be more open-minded, and so I was.  But bottle after bottle turned out to be older and worse tasting than the next.  From overly dried and sour fruit to dirty dish rag, I have never been so disappointed in a wine in my life ... I guess I should blame myself, I thought you were making a quality, age-able wine, but instead, with the closure you chose, you were making a drink now wine masquerading as a quality, ageable wine - my bad perception, your bad closure - I guess it really is buyer beware.

Look, if your going to seal under plastic at least put that on the label somewhere to warn me and other consumers not to age it, then we'd avoid such massive disappointments.  The best of this bad lot was the 2006 which was cassis and pruney from the get go thought there were also hints of some sweet dried fruit, but within 15 minutes the whole thing smelled like wet mop and the fruit tires and dries out, basically the wine dropped off the table within a matter of minutes.  

If you insist on plastic at least warn me and others - this was not only a shock to the system but deters me from buying your product again ... This experience turned into a horrid, embarrassing mess.  End of story.

 

Luis Felipe Edwards 2010 & Chateau Barrail Chevrol 2010 (Chile / France)

21 Jul 2014

 

(April 26, 2014) ... Another dinner and another couple of wines are brought to the table.  Appetizer wine is the Luis Felipe Edwards 2011 Gran Reserva Roussanne, this is the kind of wine meant for a guessing game known as 'What's the grape variety' ... Sometimes these can be humbling experiences and with all the tropical fruit, elegant spice and nice acidity, the guess is inevitably Chardonnay, but then there's something extra here:  could it be that spiciness?  No wait ... Is that a grilled-pineapple note on the mid-palate?  This really was an exciting wine worth the screw-cap crack.

Our second bottle was another selection that my buddy Dave from Michigan recommended, he called it a "highly under-valued Bordeaux", the Chateau Barrail Chevrol 2010 Fronsac.  Cassis, smoke, white pepper, dark cherry, cedary notes, dry with a kick of spiced plum all while adding touches of coffee and mocha to the finish.  Dang that Dave was right again; he never fails to amaze, the good news I'm never surprised.

 

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