Grange of Prince Edward Gamay Noir Select VQA Prince Edward County 2009
Orange / garnet color. Aromas of dried flowers, spices, earth and old forest floor. Great acidity level on the palate, elegant mouthfeel, medium lenght with flavors similar to what was detected on the nose with the addition of ground cherry notes. Very good (89)
Recent vintages of this wine are available at the Grange of Prince Edward winery for 29,00$
Beautiful ruby color. Nose of red fruits (strawberries, cranberries, cherries), spices, earth and some flower notes. On the palate the fruit is pure and crunchy with earth and spices coming back again. The acidity level is good, the wine shows freshness, very fine tannis and a finish of good lenght. Really liked that wine! Excellent (91)
Made of Pinot Noir from plots located in Nuits-Saint-Georges “Aux Lavières” and “Les Chaliots” . Aged 14 to 18 months in oak barrels with up to 30% being new. Alcohol level of 13%
Domaine Felettig’s website: domaine-felettig.com
Just got in Québec through provite import with Les Bourguignols: lesbourguignols.com
Domaine Felettig Nuits-Saint-Georges 2014
There is no secret here if I say that I like Prince Edward County and its wines and it has been that way for a few years already. With time I did gathered a bunch of these bottles and I was ready to open a few of them in an horizontal tasting, or all wines coming from a single vintage. This would be a great way to virtually do a tour of this region I like so much!
My choice? All wines were to be from the 2009 vintages. All I needed was good friends to open all these bottles. My intent was to do that “tasting” on December 31, but the cold and sick kids made me push away this evening from a few days. Since we were more thirsty than ever, I had to add some extra bubbles to the lineup to help us wait to get to these 2009 wines.
Grange of Prince Edward Brut Rosé 2012 Wine Club Edition
Grange of Prince Edward Brut Rosé 2012 Wine Club Edition
Light pink to orange color. Fines and subtle bubbles. Nose and palate are on the finesse side with fresh red fruit notes (mostly strawberries), some bread and salty notes. Also have the “standard” release of that wine and I am quite curious to try it to see if there’s any difference. Anyway, like it and it was a great way to begin the evening! Very good (90)
This is the Wine Club label edition of that wine, release Fall 2016. Made of Pinot Noir, Traditional Method and was aged on lees for 40 months (for the standard release)
Grange of Prince Edward wines are represented in Québec by Bambara Sélection
Hinterland Les Étoiles Brut VQA Prince Edward County 2009
Hinterland Les Étoiles Brut VQA Prince Edward County 2009
Light gold color. Aromas of freshly baked bread, spices, some yeast notes, salty water. This is pure refinement and we can only be amazed by that perfume. Fine bubbles that takes more amplitude on the palate to end up in a salty and crushed rocks like finish. Taste like blood orange, some red berries, lemon, rocks, bread and butter. Long, very long finish. Superb+ (94)
Traditional Method. Made of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, aged on lees for 5 years, no dosage. The 750ml bottles of this are not available anymore, but you can get some magnums on Hinterland’s website! Got mine, of course!
Hinterland wines are now being represented in Québec by Agence Trinque
Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Cuvée L VQA Ontario 2009
Norman Hardie Pinot Noir Cuvée L VQA Ontario 2009
Light garnet color. Nose of spicy red berries with some oak and smoke bringing in some elegance. Just perfect mouthfeel with loads of crushed red berries, spices, earth and salty rocks. This wine feels so alive! Very long and lively finish that makes the moment last longer. Superb (93)
This is a blend of 60% Niagara fruit and 40% County fruit. The wine was initially aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It was then blended and put back to oak for 6 months. Only made when all the right conditions are united (this was the first time of the 3 made for now – 2009, 2012, 2014)
Norman Hardie’s are represented in Québec by Vin Dame Jeanne.
Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Noir VQA Prince Edward County 2009
Grange of Prince Edward Select Gamay Noir VQA Prince Edward County 2009
Still quite dark ruby color. Nose of earth, mushrooms, but also of homemade red berry jam with a touch of green and flower notes. More vibrant on the palate with this tart and sour finish (reminds me of sweet tarts). Flavors of sweet red berries, of spices, automn leaves and old wood that leads to a finish of good lenght. The evolution notes are there, but this wine is still offering satisfaction and drinkability. Still have one in the cellar that I’ll open soon. Excellent (91)
Made of estate grown Gamay. Aged 24 months in French oak barrels.
Grange of Prince Edward wines are represented in Québec by Bambara Sélection
Jump on the occasion to by and cellar these wines from this amazing area!
Medium bright ruby color. Nose of berries, sppices, earth and a touch of lovely and green Pepper like greeness. On the palate the acidity level is good, the wine is fresh with a long lasting finish. The flavors are all about red and dark berries, spices and earth. This wine is very generous for its price point. Good+ (88)
Made of Malbec, Syrah, Cinsault, Pais and Carmenère. Alcohol level of 15$
Available in SAQ stores for 20,45$ (Code SAQ : 12797686)
Clos des Fous website: closdesfous.com
Clos des Fous is represented in Québec by Trialto : trialto.com
Light gold color, but shiny and youthful. Nose of candied lemon, salty and light oak notes with just a touch of caramel, all in a subtle and elegant way. Bright tension on the palate due to its good acidity level without being razor sharp, this wine last a good moment in a round finish where the well integrated oak plays the support role. The flavors are the same as seen on the nose. This wine feels young, but it’s so tasty now. What is even more great is the fact that this wine is produced only 45 minutes away from my place, and it’s just amazing. Great future for that Estate! Excellent (91)
Made of Vidal grapes. Aged 9 months on its lees in old neutral oak barrels. Alcohol level of 10,6%
Was sold at the winery, in private import and in few selected location, but it’s all gone. Was 23,00$
Domaine du Nival website: nival.ca
They are represented by Agence Boires: agenceboires.com
We brougth this wine with us at Le Quartier Général, a BYOB restaurant in Montréal
Even garnet color through the glass. Elegant nose with load of fruit flavors, spices, earth, dried flowers and something that reminds me of crushed rocks. Good mouthfeel with just enough strenght to feel the tannins, but civilized enough to be enjoyed. The fruit is expressive with a meaty twist, earth and spices flavors. This Pinot was really good and it did delivered up to my expectations. Excellent+ (92)
Made of Pinot Noir. Aged in oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, 2/3 of them being new. Alcohol level of 13%
Was sold at the SAQ Signature for 79,00$ (Code SAQ : 12029249)
Domaine Joseph Faiveley’s website: domaine-faiveley.com
Trialto represents Faiveley in Québec: trialto.com
For more informatio. and critic notes on this wine: klwines.com
We had this wine in a BYOB restaurant in Montréal
Why say such a thing? First, let’s take a moment and talk about what is the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave.
Among the great wines of the world, within the French wine elite, the Hermitage appellation sitting in Northern Rhone Valley are ranking at the top of this scale with Chave being one of the best ones.
The Domaine Chave is a family story since 1481 and 16 generations have run this house since its beginning, from father to son. They started producing wines in Saint-Joseph and it’s been only about a century since they established themselves on the hills of Hermitage to move away from phylloxera that had damaged their other vineyards.
They now own about 15 hectares of vines spread out on many climates (or areas) of the Hermitage hills and when vinified, they are blended together to produce one amazing wine of each color. There is no single parcel wine nor special cuvees. Just the best of what Hermitage can offer, either in white or red!
They may be hard to find and not the cheapest wines around, but how could one refuse to have them when so kindly offered!
Following a tasting in the offices of their agency, the following wines were poured to help this another busy year to end on the best note possible.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2013
Medium dense gold color. Aromas of hay, honey with some fruit and oak notes. There is a real depth to that nose, but at the same time, it’s so hard to put words on my impressions. On the palate, the balance between the well-integrated oak that acts like a support to the fruit and spices flavors is so impressive. And I’m not even talking about the everlasting finish! This is what amazed me the most about this wine. Excellent+ (92)
Blend of Marsanne (85%) and Roussanne (15%). Haven’t found any details about the oak ageing. Alcohol level of 14,5%
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Rouge 2013
Dark and can’t see through color. Elegantly and deep nose as I’ve so rarely felt before. Way more aromatic than the white Hermitage was. Aromas of pepper, bacon fat, flowers, red and dark berries, then smoke and old wooden floors are just mind blowing. On the palate the wine is dense, long, of medium amplitude with flavors of smoked meat, flowers and oak. Again, the finish is everlasting. Amazing wine, there is no other way to describe it. Superb+ (94)
Blend of Syrah (85%) and white grapes (15%). Aged in a mix of oak vats and barrels with a proportion is new for 12 to 18 months. Alcohol level of 14,5%
The Domaine Jean-Louis Chave website : hermite.fr/domaine-jean-louis-chave
Their agency here in Québec is Réserve & Sélection / Trialto : trialto.com
Thank you!
Another year review? Of course! But don’t worry, it won’t be my Top 10 favorite wines, bubbles or beers, even if I like to write some from time to time.
What if we were just talking about wine? From great to less good moments in wine that happened in 2017?
Tasting sparkling wines while visiting Hinterland in Prince Edward County
In 2017 the wine took another path or route for me. I kept writing here as I do for more than 3 years now and that allowed me to taste hundreds of wine at home, during events or at different wineries I’ve visited through the year.
And then came the desire to do something else while still keeping a feet into the wine’s world.
Of course I like meeting all kind of people, to hear what they have to say, to have a better understanding of their vision in regards of producing, distributing or serving wines. To get the “why” behind all of that. That’s actually my favorite part of being a blogger!
Writing on wine is still something I want and will do, don’t worry, I have to share this passion for this amazing drink, right?
2017 saw coming up those moments where all I wanted to do was drinking wine as it was what I needed at that time. What does it means? Not getting wasted while drinking like I have no control of myself! That’s not me and it’ll never, I am way too reasonable for that 😉
Tasting Nathan Kendall wine + one bottle I brought for the occasion!
That being said, it also have results on my relationship with wine. Almost stop buying expensive wines and drinking a lot less of them, even if the cellar is full of wine. What I wanted was pure highly drinkable fruit juice, and that’s exactly what I had as much as possible in my glass.
This is not where I’ll go with my Natural Wine propaganda or against all wines that are or looks like they’ve been made industrially. I must say though that I do try to drink as clean as possible and that I might be partially falling for more naturally made wines. Drinking wines that feels alive, vibrant, that have their own personality.
Still, my truth is found in the glass; either the wine is good or bad and that’s the way I’ll keep using to judge wines as I’ve always did!
Will keep drinking the wines made by friends, wines from here in Québec or from Ontario or regions I’ve visited like the Finger Lakes or Long Island in New York State. The type of wine I’ve been drinking have changed over the years and especially since I’ve started this blog. I’m drinking more local (that’s where wines from Québec and Ontario are useful) and the wines from the producers and winemakers I’m meeting are taking a great share of those bottles I’m opening day after day.
View from the Albariño vines on the top of a hill at Domaine du Nival
There is no way though that I’ll be forgetting all these moments where wine was poured and enjoyed. Last year was rich of these moments.
Here are some of wines and moments that happened in 2017:
François and moi during a visit at Pearl Morissette
2014Norman Hardie County Chardonnay Cuvée des Amis
Foillard tasting with RéZin at la VV Taverna
2008 Pinot Noir battle: Norman Hardie from PEC VS Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis
Pinard et Filles Frangin 2016 – Parfait en camping!
Harvest at Trail Estate – Credits: Tania Fitzpatrick
I’m pretty sure 2018 will bring in many other great wine moments, but more visits and talks with wine people and less of the wine shows. I’ll be focusing on the people that makes us drink, sell or make wine!
Stay tuned also for my alternate project as I’ll be putting online a new blog, called gamay.ca that will be focusing on wines from all around made of that grape (as I don’t want to overflow this one with too many Gamay wines…), but also my Facebook page Vignerons & Amateurs des vins du Québec that will be all about drinking local wines!
Gamay grapes at Grange of Prince Edward
Light, young and translucid garnet color. Aromas of spicy red berries, smoke and elegant yet subtle oak notes. Even if it shows its youth on the palate, there is fruit flavors, noble green notes, some oak, spices and a light bittterness on the finish. Glad I’ve opened one, even happier as I have more in the cellar!
In the end I had this bottle over five days (drank the first half on the first night, then a small glass over the following days. Kept it in a cool place under Vacuvin preserver stopper) and it kept getting better day after day. Really enjoyed this wine. Excellent (91)
Made of Pinot Noir grapes. Alcohol level of 13,5%
Was sold in Québec through a Courrier Vinicole event for 53,00$ (Code SAQ: 13006161)
For more informations on Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet: idealwine.net
Dark garnet color. The depth from the nose gives black fruit notes, spices, earth, smoke and just a hint of burnt wood and red berries that brings in some freshness. Round and silky palate feel, slowly polished by the years of cellaring, but still gives the impression that it’s far from over. Slightly crisp finish with remanescance of the strenght this wine had before. The flavors are of the same type as the aromas with the addition of salty notes on the finish. Very satisfying for a wine bought 8-9 years ago. Excellent (91)
Made of 51% Merlot, 46% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. Aged 16 to 18 months in oak barrels, 50% being new. Alcohol level of 13%
Château Lafon-Rochet’s website: lafon-rochet.com
Château Lafon-Rochet 4e Grand Cru Classé Saint-Estèphe 2004
dansmonverre
Commentaires récent