Vinifico! The Original Vancouver Wine Blog

OK, so I have a confession here. I’m getting to the point where I’m ashamed of the look of this site. I’ve been at it for a number of months now and it’s still carrying the WordPress template that I chose at the start (OK, the photo is mine).

The whole web, CSS-design thing is what I do… I should be on top of this. It should be all pretty and design-y and stuff… Well, it would be… if I weren’t constantly doing that for other people. I’ve been working like a DOG for the last few months. Add that to the whole exercising thing… and the requisite wine-drinking and there has been NO time for me to do my thing here. Anyone who has visited my personal site knows I don’t make much time for my own sites. At least the writing thing here is pretty therapeutic… and fun.

So, keep an eye out. I’ll get to changing this sometime soon.

OK… Hype, schmype… Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not: I grabbed this album and have been listening to it almost constantly for the last couple of weeks. It’s bloody good.

Mind you, it helps that I’m starting the whole Ironman training thing and hyper music plays right into that, but this album is more. It’s bloody catchy, full of attitude and loud in a way that doesn’t scream college jock-rock band.

Get it. Support good music. The boys from Sheffield have done good.

This is what I always jokingly call my friends who regularly drink Pinot Noir… and what I’ve turned into lately.

My regular run of HUGE reds all Winter tends to tire my palate… I’ve gone through almost a case of the 2005 Babich Sauvignon Blanc and a bunch of lighter reds in the last month.

On Saturday night I thought I’d do it up real-like. I picked up a bottle of 2002 Chateau de Chorey Chorey-les-Beaune. At $44 here in BC, it wasn’t cheap, but that represents the lower end of Burgundy reds. I thought I’d give it a try… and I wasn’t disappointed.

** SIDE NOTE: Burgundy isn’t my area of expertise, so if any of you notice anything wrong with my naming, etc. here please let me know.

After about an hour of breathing, it was lightly tannic and full of light berry/cherry fruit. The finish didn’t last forever, but it did usually make it to the next sip.

I’ve had harsh Burgundies that left me cold, but this one is very approachable and definitely hit the spot. Of course Parker likes the wines from this Chateau, and I can’t disagree in this case.

Yummy.

For years, one of my favourite white wines has been Caymus Conundrum – a wine that is an ever-evolving blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier and Muscat, it’s always been a tasty treat. With the 2001 vintage they switched from Caymus to their own bottling/winery name. Now they’re just Conundrum.

I picked up a bottle tonight for $33… which ain’t cheap, but represents roughly a $10 price drop here in fascist-booze-priced BC.

It was bloody nice – the same as always… complex, yet juicy and sexy: orange, peach, grapefruit and happy tastebuds. Sauv. blanc + semillon + viognier and muscat = juicy drawers.

Buy some, drink… and change your pants. Repeat.

More than any other varietal, Zinfandel has always struck a chord with me. I love the flavours and each sip of a good one reminds me of why I started into this whole wine-drinking thing. It isn’t the glamour grape of the wine world – it leaves that job to Cabernet or some trendy revivalist grape of the week. It just goes about its business of making geeks like me happy. It’s a new world thing.

Now one of my favourite producers in the world of Zin is Cline. Last night I had a bottle of their 2004 Ancient Vines Zinfandel. Mmmmmmm….. dark, sexy, full-on fruity and deep – like Naomi Campbell doing a Victor/Victoria act to Theivery Corporation. Gimme more.

Wine Enthusiast gave it a healthy 90 point rating (compared to Wine Spectator’s 77 point one). I wonder who really gets Zin in the magazine world… I’m thinkin’ it’s not Wine Spectator. Maybe Cline declined to purchase some advertising in the “Wine Dictator” or something. All I know is it’s a hell of a lot closer to a 90 point wine than it is a 77.

Drink some… it’s good for you.

I just read an article in Wired magazine about prefab homes… A company based out in Agassiz, BC (Britco) is involved with a US-based designer, Michelle Kaufmann. You really should check these out – beautifully designed and modern: Michelle Kaufmann designs.

Wine Spectator gave this 90 points and wrote, “Fresh and lively, appealing for its zingy grapefruit flavor, hinting at peach and lime as the finish keeps zipping along. Drink now.” OK. I think I will.

That’s all geeky wine-talk stuff. It tastes really good. Have it with a burrito or some halibut kebobs skewered with red peppers (good idea, Erin). Smokin’ wine for $17.99 (here in BC).

NOTE: As Linda points out, I forgot to mention that the Wine Spectator did indeed make this a top 100 pick for 2005.

I re-watched ‘Mondovino‘ tonight. This is a movie that delves into how wines are made worldwide and at the influence a few individuals have had on the styles of wine (or more accurately at the homogenization of wine styles).

I have to admit that I’ve always been a fan of the ‘slutty’ wines… The ones that put their ankles behind their ears almost from the first sip. This may be one reason I’ve always been a big fan of Zinfandels.

What suits Zinfandels may not be appropriate for other wines. Lately, I’ve gotten bored of wines that just taste like big fruit bombs and want my palate challenged a bit. I’ve been drinking bottles from various areas in Italy, France and anywhere else that makes a wine Robert Parker or Michel Rolland haven’t either been involved in reviewing or in making.

For me, the initial draw to the world of wine was the romance… the ideal. After that, it was purely the taste. I can live a small life in each glass of wine if it’s good enough. It holds depth, sensuality, wonder and promise. It holds passion.

To homogenize this is pretty much a crime… a small one, but it would be like making every beautiful woman in the world look like the one that is held to be trendy in popular tastes at the moment. One Angeline Joie, as beautiful as she may be, does not a perfect woman make… and one Michel Rolland/Robert Parker-influenced wine shouldn’t rule the world of wine… There are plenty of undiscovered or lesser-known gems out there. Drink and discover. Ratings only mean so much.

While I’m on the subject, the wine I’ve had tonight is the ‘2001 La Combe des Cêdres‘ from L’appellation des Côtes du Luberon in France. It’s a Grenache/Syrah blend and has wonderful liquorice and cherry flavours and tastes of the salt air. Beautiful flavours evolve as the wine opens up. I highly recommend it (especially with some food). It’s roughly $23 and available here in BC at private wine shops. I picked it up at Dundarave Wine Cellar over in West Vancouver.

Mmmmm…. seriously, the best thing about New Years is the Champagne. I have nothing against ‘Sparkling wine’, but c’mon Champagne is the REAL thing. It’s the Disneyland of booze – it’s the happiest drink on Earth.

Tonight, I had a great one: the current release of the Pol Roger NV Extra Cuvée de Réserve. So good… strong pear and honey with a bit of a toasty edge, and a finish that lasts for a minute or more. To quote my buddy, Mr. Watkin, it’s “a good drop”. Yum. Wine Enthusiast picked it as their #4 wine of the year. Pretty fantastic for $49 (CDN).

For 2006 remember – “Once a day, every day give yourself a treat.” This is a good start.

All the best to you in the coming year. Cheers.