Norman Hardie Cuvée des Amis VQA Prince Edward County 2014

Norman Hardie Cuvée des Amis VQA Prince Edward County 2014

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Norman Hardie Cuvée des Amis VQA Prince Edward County 2014

A Great Wine generally is the one that is drank at the right moment, with the good people, having long lasting talks holding a glass of that wine, remembering all the good times they had together. Wine is all about sharing, enjoyment, smiles. This particular wine did provided an enjoyment bolder than most wines, met all the item described and this wine have the best name a wine could ever get since “Cuvée des Amis” means “Wine for friends”…

Norman Hardie Cuvée des Amis Unfiltered VQA Prince Edward County 2014

Norman Hardie Cuvée des Amis Unfiltered VQA Prince Edward County 2014

My tasting note for this wine:

Beautiful light golden color. Nose of orchard fruits, lemon with a hint of toasty, oaky notes with a gentle saltiness. Round texture on the palate that doesn’t hide the acidity behind it. Then came the fruit flavors mixed with the oak from ageing, all balanced and leading to the mineral finish of wet stones, clay and saltiness again, all bringing in complexity. The wine had a longer finish that the time it took to empty our glasses, cause it was drinking so nicely and easily. This is a stunning wine, a Grand Cru from Prince Edward County, to be opened with great friends. Superb (93)

Made of  Chardonnay exclusively from Prince Edward County. Barrel fermented and aged and 500L French oak barrels were used. The wine spent an additionnal 4 months on its lees in tank prior to bottling. Alcohol level of 11,4%

Exclusively sold at the winery in magnum bottle size only (1500ml)

Norman Hardie Winery’s website: normanhardie.com

They are represented in Québec by Vin Dame Jeanne: vindamejeanne.com

E Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2013

E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2013

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E. Guigal Crozes-Hermitage 2013

Dark ruby color. Nose of mixed berries, spices, pepper, olives, raw bacon and flowers. More tight on the palate, air did helped unveil the flavors of baked red fruit, olices, then spices and meat notes. Long and rustic finish, this is a type of wine that goes so well with long roasted meat dishes. Can age too and this wine was at its peek days after bottle opening. Good+ (88)

Made of Syrah from an average 35 years old vines. Aged 4 months in oak casks. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 26,65$ (Code SAQ : 00739243)

Guigal’s website: guigal.com

Sample proposed by Les Sélections Fréchette: selectionsfrechette.com

 

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2016

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2016

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Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2016 

See through ruby color. Nose of crushed red berries, eart, spices and a touch of flowers, cedar wood and herbs. Bright on the palate with cherries and some flavors as got previously on the nose. It’s fresh and enjoyable, but still young. Give this wine some air and you’ll be rewarded. Good+ (88)

Made of pinot noir from vines planted at 12km from Pacific Ocean. Aged 11 months in French oak, 15% being new and 75% from 2-3 wines and the balance was aged in concrete eggs. Alcohol level of 13,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 24,95$ (Code SAQ : 12611036)

Errazuriz website: errazuriz.com

Sample proposed by Vins Philippe Dandurand: vinsdandurand.com

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2012

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2012

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Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2012 

Pizza tarte flambée

“Tarte flambée” style pizza

Bright yellow gold color. Salty nose with candied lemon, pears, orchard fruits with enjoyable toasty notes coming from the barrel ageing. Same profile on the palate, the wine is dense with a round mouth feel, explodes on the finish where the wine is even more bold and persistant. Yes the oak is still there, but it pairs well with the wine’s structure and bring in roundness while not hidding its acidity or salinity. This wine was a perfect match to a “tarte flambée” style pizza. Excellent+ (92)

Made of chardonnay. Bottled after have spent 10 months in oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

There is still few bottles of this wine on 2015 vintage available in some SAQ stores for 82,25$ (Code SAQ :12280775)

Droin’s website: jeanpaul-droin.fr

They are represented by Vini-Vins: vini-vins.com

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2012

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2012

Jean-Claude Chanudet La Cuvée du Chat 2015

Jean-Claude Chanudet La Cuvée du Chat 2015

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Jean-Claude Chanudet La Cuvée du Chat 2015

Bright ruby color with purple hue. Nose of spicy red berries, earth, light green notes and just a hint of funkyness. In fact, just enough for that type of wine as it is enjoyable at that level. On the palate the wine is chewy, frsh, juicy and really tasty. The flavors are about the same as on the nose. This is the type of wine that calls sip after sip until the glass (or bottle!) is empty. Very good+ (90)

This wine is made by Jean-Claude Chanudet, named “le Chat” from the Domaine Joseph Chamonard. This wine was made at Château Cambon. Made of Gamayfrom vines planted in 1945. Aged in large old oak barrels. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 24,90$ (Code SAQ : 13184224)

Domaine Chamonard’s Facebook page: facebook.com/DomaineChamonard

This wine dedicated Facebook page: facebook.com/lacuveeduchat

They are represented in Québec by Oenopole: oenopole.ca

Jean-Claude Chanudet (Domaine Chamonard) La Cuvée du Chat 2015

Jean-Claude Chanudet La Cuvée du Chat 2015

Maison Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2015

Maison Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2015

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Maison Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2015

Dark purple color. Nose and palate of mixed wild berries, flowers, spices and earth. The wine really shows the vintage with darker and riper fruit while keeping the acidity and balance. Would pair well with poultry, a richer dish to bring freshness to it or the classic deli plate. Good+ (88)

Made of Gamay from vines mainly located in Lancié, Régnié and Lantigné villages. Alcohol level of 13% 

Available in SAQ stores for 16,75$ (Code SAQ : 00365924)

Maison Jadot’s website: louisjadot.com

Louis Jadot’s wines are represented in Québec by Les Sélections Fréchette: selectionsfrechette.com

Maison Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2015

Maison Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages Combe aux Jacques 2015

 

Intriga Cabernet-Sauvignon Valle del Maipo 2014

Intriga Cabernet-Sauvignon Valle del Maipo 2014

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Intriga Cabernet-Sauvignon Valle del Maipo 2014

Dark purple color. Nose of black berries, spices, earth, grilled bell pepper, herbacious and oaky notes. Velvet texture on the palate, almost rich, but still keep its balance between concentration, strenght and a touch of freshness. Flavors of dark berries, spices, bitter cocolate, earth and oak. Very good (89)

Made of 95% cabernet-sauvignon and 5% of petit verdot. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels, 23% being new and 77% of second use. Alcohol level of 14,5%

Available in SAQ stores for 22,45$ (Code SAQ : 11766520)

Intriga is owned by MontGras: montgras.cl

MontGras is represented in Québec by VINS FINS l’agence: sdvf.ca

Claude Riffault Les Chailloux Sancerre 2014

Claude Riffault Les Chailloux Sancerre 2014

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Claude Riffault Les Chailloux Sancerre 2014 

Light and bright gold color. Deep nose of lemon, peaches, crushed rocks and a pretty saltiness. On the palate there is that round and almost fat mouthfeel, there is also acidity, salty and sea shell notes, then lemon, lime and peach flavors. Might feel a little rich, but this is so elegant with a long lasting finish that it can just be good! Excellent (91)

Made of sauvignon blanc from 13 to 40 years old vines. Aged in oak barrels for less than a year. Alcohol level of 13%

Got this wine through private import, but some of his wines are now available in SAQ stores.

Domaine Claude Riffault’s website: clauderiffault.com

They are represented in Québec by Séguin-Robillard: seguinrobillard.ca

Claude Riffault Les Chailloux Sancerre 2014

Claude Riffault Les Chailloux Sancerre 2014

G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2014

G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2014

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G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2014

Medium ruby color. Nose of flowers, red berries, earth, then sweet spices. You can also feel freshness and a light bitterness coming out of the aromas. Same profile on the palate with a good acidity level, a fine and enjoyable bitterness on the finish, but the fruit is so chewy and tasty and makes this wine highly drinkable. I found it better at bottle opening as it was more crisp after some time. Enjoy it now of after a short cellaring time. Very good (89)

Made of Barbera 40 %, Dolcetto 25 %, Nebbiolo 25 %, Freisa, Albaroaas and Pinot Noir. The ageing last from 18 to 24 months, partly in tanks and in “pièces” of one to three wines. Alcohol level of 13%

Available at the SAQ for 21,95$ (Code SAQ : 12464953)

G.D. Vajra’s website: gdvajra.it

They are represented in Québec by Montalvin: montalvin.com

G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2014

AA Badenhorst The Drifter Cinsault Swartland 2016

AA Badenhorst The Drifter Cinsault Swartland 2016

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AA Badenhorst The Drifter Cinsault Swartland 2016 

Light garnet color. Earthy nose, slighytly meaty but very bright with red berry notes blended with spices. Lots of red berry flavors on the palate with some animal notes and a spicy kick on the finish. Good+ (88)

Made of cinsault. Natural winemaking. Alcohol level of 13%

Available in SAQ stores for 18,00$ (Code SAQ : 13057997)

AA Badenhorst’s website: aabadenhorst.com

They are represented in Québec by Symbiose: symbiose-vins.com

AA Badenhorst The Drifter Cinsault Swartland 2016

AA Badenhorst The Drifter Cinsault Swartland 2016