Vinifico! The Original Vancouver Wine Blog

Just testing for the template…

Here’s a fantastic list if you’re headed out shopping for some Italian wine. Alder over at Vinography.com says, “I’d use them as a guide for buying much more readily than any other set of wine awards that I’m aware of in the world.” Go have a look. There are a few great ones I’ve been lucky enough to taste… and many others I’d like to get in my glass.

The Tre Bicchieri was awarded to only 305 of 14,000 wines Gambero Rosso reviewed this year. Note: The list is available only in Italian at the moment, but you should be able to make sense of the wine names.

I have always been intrigued by authochthonous grapes and there is a real trend in Italy to promote these national treasures. The origins of these native vines is not always well documented and many are part of invented traditions. That said, I still want to believe that these grapes have stronger ties to place and are well adapted to the terrain. Above all else I like the idea that these are strange underdogs of the wine world; maybe in the future they will be the Cinderellas of the ball.

I have made friends with the water/wine man around the corner here in Bra and he has been pulling out some interesting bottles. Apparently the pelaverga piccolo grape is only cultivated in the areas surrounding La Morra, Verduno and Roddi in the Langhe region. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the local winemakers took a renewed interest in this native grape. In 1995 pelaverga was given DOC status.

Tonight I am drinking a 2005 Verduno Pelaverga from Comm. G.B. Burlotto. It’s a transparent ruby red that does not knock me out at first sight, but the nose is pleasant with frutti di bosco (red berries) and black pepper. With only 12.5% alcohol this wine is light and quite balanced and fresh. This not a big wine, but it is ideal for everyday sipping. Pelaverga reminds me a little of gamay in many ways and I intend to try others and do some more research on the history and local culture of this local grape.

€9 in the Langhe.

After all the big reds I’ve had lately, this was a welcome refreshing bit of white. It’s a very good wine. As opposed to many New World Sauvignon Blanc-based wines, this is much drier… more tuned to be drunk with food, rather than on its own (though it can be). It would go incredibly well with some light fish or even a bit of great bread with goats cheese.

The nose was a bunch of flinty lemon, light melon and a touch of honey. The flavours pretty much reflect that… it tasted like I was licking a rock soaked in lemon/melon juice, with a dribble of honey – honestly, much tastier than it sounds.

I really liked this wine and yep, I will be buying it again.

$23.95 in LDB stores here in BC.

Sub-Zero Wine, the makers of the fine Sub-Zero Wine Refrigerator, are holding an online contest. The Sub-Zero 424FS Free-Standing Wine Storage unit features five shelves and a 46-bottle capacity. Go and enter for your chance to win a wine fridge of your own.

Its the end of another week and I had a craving for a Pinot Noir… and I had this sitting in my little collection, so I popped it open.

It’s definitely a New World Pinot. It’s got a nose that grabs your nostrils and pulls you into a vat of earthy cinnamon spice and cherry cola. In the mouth, it has a lush and sexy texture. It’s warm (14.1% booze) bunch of that cherry cola, dark berry, cinnamon and earth. Its finish is silky, sexy and goes on until the next sip… even if that takes a while.

It may not be perfect, but what it comes down to is that it tasted fantastic to me tonight. I loved it.

$47.95 in LDB stores here in BC.

I just realized that the 2nd birthday of my little wine blog came and went this week without me noticing. As of October 23rd it was 2 years old!

I picked this wine up last week after reading that Robert Parker gave it (or a previous vintage) a big rating. I was in the mood for a lush and tasty red… and let’s face it, tht’s pretty much all that Parker gives the big ratings to.

Well, what can I say? Not so much. It didn’t really do anything for me. Yep, it was red (a deep, dark red) in colour. It honestly looked better than it tasted.

The nose had some coffee, black cherry, licorice and an edge of brown sugar, but was on the weaker side. The flavours were edged with tight tannins that grip the tongue (even after hours of air), followed by medium-long finish with coffee-tinged dark fruit. It was just unbalanced and ultimately not so satisfying.

For the money, I’d give it a pass. OK, but not great.

$26.95 in LDB stores here in BC.

I was talking with Graham today about our plans for the 2008 ZAP Festival… and I got a craving for a Zin. I stopped by the 41st and Cambie LDB store and bought a few bottles of wine and, of course there was a Zin in the bunch.

I’m gonna be easy on this wine – it’s not a big brooding, complex wine. It’s a tasty, fruity, kinda’ slutty Zin that is all immediate appeal – it’s definitely not about long-lasting appeal. It’s put out by the folks that make the Hess wines in Napa and is in that easy-to-justify $20-25 range. It’s made up of 96% Zinfandel grapes and 4% Petite Sirah and has grapes from 39% Mendocino, 36% Amador, & 25% Sonoma Counties.

It’s light in colour and doesn’t have much of a nose. There’s some cherry/blackberry syrup, but not much else. It’s what you get from a big sip that makes this wine jump to life – there’s layers of dark fruit, spice and and a juicy finish that add up to a pretty satisfying Zinfandel experience, especially for the money.

Will I buy it again? Sure. Is it one of my favourite wines?.. Nope, but for the price it is a tasty Zin, and y’all know I love the Zins.

$24.99 at LDB stores here in BC.

Although I am living in wine country, I haven’t been pulling my weight on Moreisless. However, tonight after a long day at work, I headed to De Gustibus (a fantastic little enoteca in Bra, Italy- via Rambaudi, 13) to reward myself with a nice bottle of wine. All I can say is that it was hard to choose, so I followed my passion for Nebbiolo (think Barolo and the lovely fog (nebbia) that covers the hills of the Langhe in the fall). What I like about pure Nebbiolo is that you really taste the grape because it is not aged long oak like its big brother, Barolo.

Just like I thought all Oregon Pinots tasted like licorice, Nebbiola always makes me think of black cherries (another typical product of the Langhe and Roero). This Nebbiolo d’Alba came with a good terroir pedigree: it is from a vineyard in Verduno (not far from where I work) and just down the road from the very famous La Morra.

In the glass many Nebbiolo wines don’t look like much; this one is a rather thin ruby red. Of course, the nose is full of black cherries. I also get leather and tobacco–an interesting combination with the cherries. Still quite young, it fills the mouth with pleasant tannins from my front teeth to the back of the palate. This would be great with a nice plate of tagliatelle al ragu. I am always amazed at how well Italian wines pair with the local cuisine. If you are in the Langhe and want to try a simple and honest bottle of Nebbiolo, this wine is great value for the money.

12 euros at De Gustibus in Bra, Italy