From the Cellar

Inniskillin 2005 & 2006 Zin - comparative zins (British Columbia)

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Category: Uncorked Tonight

(April 18, 2014) ... This was a very interesting and spontaneous night spent with my brother and his wife.  They happened to be in St. Catharine's and invited us for dinner chez them.  I wondered down to the cellar for something to bring along.  

Knowing that my brother likes big, heavy reds and my sister-in-law is also into reds (though she is not a picky as my bro) its an easy decision which part of the cellar to go to ... Now what to choose?  

I selected something I know had some staying power, Chateau des Charmes 2007 Equuleus, their Bordeaux blend made in good years and age-able up the yin-yang.  Tonight it did not show its best, incredibly smoky and woodsy with black fruit backing, but still incredibly smoky. The wine came off as harsh, especially on the finish but it did pair well with the BBQed meat. Still needs time?  I think.  And with a few bottles left in the cellar I'm happy to give it.

But the real treat was the comparative Zin tasting I conducted before dinner; while that may not surprise regular readers, the part that might is where they were from (a most unlikely place): British Columbia.  

When I was there some years back I discovered that Inniskillin was making Zin, and being a fan of the grape I picked up a bottle of the 2005 and 2006 ... and waited.  Tonight I "found" these bottles and brought them along.  The 2005 was a little past its prime with very smoky, woodsy, and dried spices taking hold of the palate; on the nose, there was also plum and cinnamon, but it seemed to follow suit with the palate.  With a little time in glass the wine seemed to open, a little bit, with a seam of dark fruit, but it didn't stick around long enough as the smoky-woodsyness continues to be rampant on the finish.  The 2006 was the complete opposite, it started with spiced plum, dried black cherry, and a rich mouthfeel,  which also showed vanilla, spice and a pleasant toastiness. Then when it fully opened in the glass some 30-45 minutes later the fruit roared out of the glass even more: dark, ripe and delicious.

Bayten Chard and The Old Third Franc

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Category: Uncorked Tonight

(April 13, 2014) ... There are days when the actual day makes the wine, meaning the wine you want to drink is dictated by the weather or a multiptude of other reasons ... A beautiful 18C outside and we uncovered the BBQ to make a couple of steaks for dinner ... But before all that a Chardonnay was on the menu, Bayten 2012 Chardonnay to be exact, from South Africa, a surprise from the first sip to the last swallow: rich, creamy and buttery with the right amount of acidity to keep all that richness in check. With that bottle polished off I had to find something to accompany the steaks; and while not a conventional choice I opened my only bottle of The Old Third's 2011 Cabernet Franc, a little rarity made by a small winery in Prince Edward County, Ontario - the wine was almost Pinot-esque in flavours and color, light yet with great complexity ... I think it would have been better to start with the Franc, it was that light and the Chard was that heavy. Both wines were made by the beautiful day we drank them on and so it didn't really matter the order.  I made a video about the Cabernet Franc, and you can check it out here; I can also tell you with certainty that while the 2011 is sold out the 2012 is going to be fantastic (I tasted a barrel sample last weekend).