September

Since launching the Wine Workshop back in February there has been many new things I myself have learned about grape growing, winemaking, and the places around the world making wines.  More than a few times I’ve learned about something, which then sent me on a path to see if we could get our hands on whatever that thing is to sell in the shop.  Well I had a list with a few prospects on it and figured that their time to be brought in has come!  Now granted, we’ve brought in plenty of wines through the Wine Workshop itself, think of these as the second picks - but make no mistake in thinking they’re anything but first rate.  Of course, I do have a couple treats in here as well courtesy of our friendly importer connections too.

If you are not familiar with the Wine Workshop, it is our monthly private tasting where we cover a different topic regarding the structural or aromatic qualities of wine.  Last week we held the seventh class, marking the beginning of the back half of the curriculum.  We covered the last of the fruit flavours of white wine with “Stone & Tropical Fruit”.  This month we’ll complete the white wine coverage with “Minerality & Other Aromas”.  After that we’ll be into the reds, with a bonus special topic for December.  by February next year we’ll be on to the next step in wine knowledge which I look forward to revealing soon.  If this sounds like something you want to be a part of, grab your tickets with the link bellow and mark your calendar for September 27th!

Catena White Clay

Semillon / Chenin Blanc

Semillon!  Such a cool grape!  It is eminently floral on the nose, this one showing a mix of honeysuckle, jasmine, and lily.  This would have been an excellent wine for our floral flavours evening.   Alongside that floral nose of cool climate Semillon there is Chenin Blanc in here giving some cooked lemon and overripe pear.  The finish is nicely lasting with some brioche and a touch of minerality.  

Another superb offering from the “appellation” series from Catena.

At the Wine Workshop the wines I choose are based on how much they exemplify the topic, which leads me to the extremes at times.  We ended up tasting a Torrontes, which takes those floral aromas to excessive heights - think almost soapy tasting.  Ultimately this wine here is the far more balanced and elegant option when it comes to floral aromas in wine.

$28

Pearce Predhomme

Old Vine Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc was a strong contender for really either “Citrus & Tree Fruit” and “Stone & Tropical Fruit” as it has the unique quality of uneven ripening, allowing to really display a range of descriptors on my so called “Spectrum of Ripeness”.  Ultimately though it was a situation of “jack of all trades, master of none”.  I felt it would be better to feature wines with a more singular focus.  My search for a Chenin brought me to South Africa, where the grape has become the most widely planted in the country!  There’s a nice tartness to this white, with fruit flavours ranging from lemon, to pear, to unripe pineapple.  Aside from that range there’s some cool saline like minerality and an herbal hint.  This is possibly due to old vines ability to develop complex flavours at lower sugar levels - though that claim is more suspicion than science - but does it matter if the wine is delicious?

$30

Bricco Carlina “Volubile”

Nebbiolo

When it comes to floral flavours in red wines, Nebbiolo often tops the list for its long history of elegance in Piedmont’s Barolo region.  Well at the wine workshop we try to stick with a price tag of around $30.  Good luck finding a Barolo for that.  Thankfully, there is an area surrounding Barolo known as Langhe that presents some excellent high value Nebbiolo wines!  This Bricco Carlina does have a floral nose to it, but rather than rose or violet I found it to be more like lavender or black tea!  This is an easier going Nebbiolo, with a juicy blueberry like fruitiness.  On the finish there is a nice touch of earthiness without going full on tar.  It’s well balanced between firm acidity and fine tannins, so it can be enjoyed without food, but you can still expect to feel it on the gums a little.

So why wasn’t this the wine for the Floral Flavours night?  We’ll because there is a Portuguese grape called Touriga Nacional which takes floral aromas to new heights - it just suffers from lack of exposure!  If you’re interested in trying that out, ask us about the one we’ve got next time you’re in the shop!

$34

Le Gras C’est La Vie

Grenache / Caladoc / Carignan

Okay, we’re stepping away from the Wine Workshop now.  Good news Anthony, your favourite is back!  Anthony grew up in the south of France where Malbec is made into deep, dark reds.  Well, this wine has a secret, Caladoc is grape crossed from Grenache and Malbec!  Perhaps that is why he loves it so?  Or maybe because it celebrates the love of fat; Fat is life!  A sentiment any seasoned chef can relate to.

Pair this red with pork sausage, terrine, or rillette to understand for yourself!  

I’m not going to spoil anything about the flavour on this one, but know that it is bold and very, very drinkable.  Rest assured that this one will be on our shelves for the foreseeable future.

$30

Chao de Portela

Touriga Nacional / Touriga Franca / Tinta Cao

So something I haven’t shared is how I actually came across UnWined in the first place.  When I was working at the co-op in Calgary our manager had a good relationship with Phil, owner of Tesouro Wines.  Over time as I became more and more one of the “wine guys” I got to know Phil as well.  When the time came that I announced I was leaving for Canmore, it was he who clued me into Val & Anthony looking for someone who could manage their shop.  I hadn’t seen Phil since leaving Calgary, but I finally caught up with him last week and tasted some wines.

We’ll get some more from him soon but for now I grabbed this easy going Portuguese blend that had a peculiar aroma of twizzlers.  I think that makes it a pretty good pairing for movie night!

$22

Bardos Romantica

Ribera del Duero

I’ve been hanging onto this one for a while, waiting for an opportunity to share it.  It’s no secret that I have a love for Ribera del Duero and will continue to share any I come across with the wine club members until they form a pitchfork mob on our patio.

But we’ll see if that day ever comes.

This is a Crianza, meaning it has spent less time in wood than a Reserva or Gran Reserva.  This allows for a wine where you don’t have that domineering oak presence overshadowing everything.  What you get instead is blackberries and black plum, complimented by mint like herbal aromas and cinnamon spice.  The trade off of this unique flavour is that the tannins are not mellow.  Gritty and grippy, prepare yourself for this, or better yet, prepare a big cut of red meat to give those tannins something to grab onto other than your tongue.

$27