Darkcolor. Nose of green notes, berries, spices, graphite and someoak. Balancedbetweenclassic Bordeaux power and a good drinkability for that type of wine. Flavors of darkberries, spices, a touch more oakfromwhat I had on the nose. This wine calls in for a roastedmeatdish, perfectpairing for thisfall! Good+ (88)
Blend of 50% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged 12 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%
Available in SAQ stores for 21,45$ (Code SAQ :11401547)
Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir Prince Edward County 2014
Few years have past already since the first time I had a sip of Norman Hardie’s wines. Then came something special that is there everytime I open one of his wine, either from one grape variety of a blend, a red or a white, with a preference for the ones coming from the County over those from Niagara. Since then I follow their activities and I’ve visited the winery a few times already (and ate many of the wood fire oven pizzas they do, the best one I had!). But behind the wines, there are people, a shared passion and that man, Norman Hardie.
Then came that specific County Pinot Noir wine from the 2014 vintage…
Ligh ruby color. Aromas and flavors of red berries where cherries lead the way, spices notes, but that freshness, it’s so pure with a long ineral finish that amaze me. Perfect balance and so tasty. The best Pinot Noir I had from that producer. And the 10,9% is just a bonus, I like that! Excellent (91)
Made of Pinot Noir. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 10,9%
Norman Hardie’s wines are represented in Québec by Vin Dame Jeanne: vindamejeanne.com
https://dansmonverre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_3406.jpg640640dansmonverrehttps://dansmonverre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/trans-bordeaux_340.jpgdansmonverre2016-10-17 08:27:352016-10-17 08:27:35Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir Prince Edward County 2014
Darkpurplecolor. Nose of black berries, spices and earth. Wide and mouthcoating, itis more intense thanother Clos des Fous’swines, but isstillbalanced and perfect for thosewholikesdeeper and biggerwines. Good+ (88)
Blend of Malbec, Cinsault, Pais and Syrah. Aged in used oak barrels for 12 months. Alcohol level of 14%
Still available in few SAQ stores, but also online for 19,65$ (Code SAQ : 12797686)
Sample proposed by Trialto / Réserve et Sélection: trialto.com
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Cono Sur Pinot Noir ReservaEspecialValle de San Antonio 2015
Medium darkrubycolor. Nose of branches, earth, ground cherries, berries and smoke. Fresh on the palatewithflavorsof redberries, a wholebunch of spices, it’sbalanced, long lasting withjust a touch of heat on the finish, but itdoesn’t stop the wine to show its amplitude. Good+ (88)
Made of Pinot Noir. Aged 11 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 14%
Available in SAQ stores for 16,50$ (Code SAQ : 00874891)
https://dansmonverre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Cono-Sur-Pinot-Noir-Reserva-Especial-Valle-de-San-Antonio-2015.jpg500500dansmonverrehttps://dansmonverre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/trans-bordeaux_340.jpgdansmonverre2016-10-14 06:39:162016-10-14 06:39:16Cono Sur Pinot Noir Reserva Especial Valle de San Antonio 2015
This winecomesfrom the negoceactivity of Pascal Marchand (Domaine Comte Armand et Domaine de la Vougeraie) and the Ontario native Moray Tawse. Medium darkrubycolorwith a pinkrim. Nose of redberries, spices, earth, oak and some green notes. Powerful and slightlyrustic on the palate, not verydeep, itseems more approchable on the nosethan on the palate at first. It have though fruit, spices, but the oak shows quite a lot. Long and a touch warm finish. I feltthatthiswineisprettyyoung as the glass I had on the second daywasbetter and the last one, four daysafterhavingopened the bottlewasgreat! Very good (89)
Made of Pinot Noir. Aged in oak barrels, 20% being new. Alcohol level of 13%
Available in SAQ stores for 38,25$ (Code SAQ : 12857159)
Birichino Besson Vineyard Central Coast California 2014
Bright rubycolor. Fine nosewherehomemadesmallberry jam pairs with garrigue style herbs. This have suchbeautifularomas. Bright, greatredberryflavors, someherbs, spices notes, it’sfresh, just round enough, good acidity. If Californiacouldoffer more of that type of wine! Very good+ (90)
Made of own-rooted 100 years old grenache vines. Aged in neutral French oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,0%
Available at the SAQ for 26,10$ (Code SAQ : 12486386)
https://dansmonverre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Birichino-Besson-Vineyard-Central-Coast-California-2014.jpg500500dansmonverrehttps://dansmonverre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/trans-bordeaux_340.jpgdansmonverre2016-10-12 07:05:482016-10-12 07:05:48Birichino Besson Vineyard Central Coast California 2014
Dark and shinyrubycolor. Nose of strawberries, cranberries, aromaticherbs, spices and earth. Flavorful, does have somedepth, have notes of spices and the finish shows a good aciditylevel. Medium structured, itdoesn’t stop one to drink itquiterapidly! Very good (89)
Made of Gamay. Certified organic. Aged in tanks for a period of 4 to 5 months. Alcohol level of 12,5%
Available in SAQ stores for 27,55$ (Code SAQ : 11964788)
Foillard is represented in Québec by réZin Sélection: rezin.com
Darkcoloredwithpurple hue. The wine shows aromaswhere the warm Portugueseclimatecanbefeel,withoutanyjammycooked notes, ratherbeing on nice black berries and spices notes. Chewy on the palatewith medium softness, thiswould pair wellwithredmeatdishes! Thenflavors of black berries, spices and just a touch of flowers, thisistasty and is a steal at thatprice. Good+ (88)
Blend of Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, TourigaNacional and Tinta Barroca. Fermented and aged in tanks. Alcohol level of 13%
Available at the SAQ for 14,80$ (Code SAQ : 11076764)
I had the opportunity to taste over the last two years few wines made by François Chartier, a well-known sommelier, an author of many wine guides (still have many copies at home and these did influenced the buying of my first cellared worthy bottles many years ago…), for his wine and pairing, for his recipe books made after years of research with renown chefs and wine producers from all over the world.
But what about the wines? I must admit that at first I doubt about them, being quite overwhelmed by the labels on the bottles and the marketing machine behind the wines. But every time I’ve tasted his wines, I was always gladly surprised by them.
From his Tuscan blend tasted blind with some friends, to the Spanish white I had during last Grande Dégustation de Montréal and not forgetting the rosé wine tasted along more than 20 other wines, I did enjoyed them every single time.
Now having his latest release in my hands, here is my first “official” tasting note on one of the Créateur d’Harmonies wine:
Chartier Créateur d’Harmonies Fronsac 2012
Dark ruby color. Nose of smoke, dark berries, bay leaves, earth and pepper. Smooth on the palate but still stands up in a great showing with a spicy finish. Good flavors of berries, earth, mushrooms and just a touch of grilled Bell peppers. Good+ (88)
Made in collaboration with Bordeaux’s native winemaker Pascal Chatonnet, this wine is a blend of 86% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 4% de cabernet-sauvignon. Aged 12 months in 1 and 2 years old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13,5%
Available in SAQ stores for 19,45$ (Code SAQ : 12068070)
Darkcolorwithpurple hue. Nose of black berries, sweetspices, vanilla, earth and light green notes. Medium structure on the palatewithflavors of vanillaicecream,smallberry cake and a light bitterness on the finish. This ispretty good for the price. Good+ (88)
Made of 100% tempranillo. Alcohol level 14%
Available in SAQ stores for 10,85$ (Code SAQ : 10357994)
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