2012-2013

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48) August 25, 2012

Wines of South Africa

Venue: Private home

Paired with traditional South African snacks including boerewors, biltong, droewors and chilli bites.

Selections were made from the following list of wines:

White Wines

1. Bellingham Bernard Series Chenin Blanc 2009. $57.98.

2. Warick Chardonnay 2009. An Edmonton connection as Warick family is from Edmonton.

3. FMC Chenin Blanc Ken Forester 2009. $53.85

Red Wines

1. The Chocolate Block 2009. Around $60.00

2. Meerlust Rubicon 2004. An iconic South African wine. Around $40.00.

3. Boschendal Grand Reserve 2008.Around $40

4. Glen Carlou 2008. $18.00. Incredible wine at a ridiculous price.

5. Rust n Vrede Cab Sav 2006.$29.99.

6. CYRRIS Syrah 2005.$51.95

7. Fairview Pinotage 2009. Around $20.00

8. Brokenhoutskloof Syrah 2009.One of South Africa’s finest vineyards. $55.99.

9. Groot Constancia Cab Sauv 1990. From the vineyard mentioned above. No idea what it is worth. Have had it for years on my shelf.

10. Ken Forester Renegade 2006 $63.00

11. Vilafonte Series 2003 $58.99

49) September 15, 2012

Champagne (blind tasting) and Port

Venue: Private home

Part One: Drink like a billionaire: Does Dom Perignon taste different to other champagnes? You decide in a blind tasting comparing this to other champagnes and sparkling wines

Part Two: Vintage Port tasting. Experience the best Port wines from the past 40 years - compare the vintage Ports from  1977, 1984, and 1994 with other more readily available varieties of Port. Decide if vintage Port is what you want and what to have it with. Paired with the best cheeses, including Stilton, and some other interesting foods to determine when it's best to eat it. 

50) October 16, 2012

Vertical Tasting of Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon

Venue: Sabor Divino

Flight One:
Vintage 1990: 88 points, Wine Spectator.
Vintage 1993: 90 points, Wine Spectator.
Food pairing: Pan roasted duck breast and wild mushroom risotto.
 

Flight Two:
Vintage 1995: 90 points, Wine Spectator.
Vintage 1996: 89 points, Wine Spectator.
Vintage 2000: 94 points, Wine Spectator, #26 wine of the year.
Food pairing: Roasted boneless lamb rack with Queijo da Serra creamed spinach (a Portuguese cheese).

Flight Three:
Vintage 2001: 95 points, Wine Spectator, #4 wine of the year.
Vintage 2003: 96 points, Wine Spectator, #4 wine of the year.
Vintage 2005: 96 points, Wine Spectator, #12 wine of the year.
Food pairing: Beef tenderloin with potato, butternut squash and swiss chard hash.

51) November 27, 2012

Bordeaux 2009: Red, White and Sweet

Venue: Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants

Reception White: Chateau Le Thil Blanc, Comte de Clary (Pessac-Leognan)
 

Wine #1: Chateau Picque Caillou (Pessac-Leognan)
 

Wine #2: Chateau Vieux Maillet (Pomerol)
 

Wine #3: Chateau Tertre Daugay (St. Emilion)
 

Wine #4: Chateau Meyney (St. Estephe)
 

Wine #5: Chateau Gruaud Larose (St. Julien)
 

Wine #6: Mystery Wine # 1
 

Wine #7: Mystery Wine # 2
 

To finish: Chateau Meyrat (Sauternes).

52) January 19, 2013

2001: A Bordeaux Odyssey

Venue: Private home

Flight One:
Chateau Pavie-Decesse (St. Emilion)
Chateau La Conseillante (Pomerol)
 

Flight Two:
Chateau Cos d'Estournel (St. Estephe 2nd growth)
Chateau Leoville Las Cases (St. Julien 2nd growth)
 

Flight Three:
Chateau Palmer (Margaux 3rd growth)
Chateau Margaux (Margaux 1st growth)
 

Flight Four:
Chateau Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac 1st growth)
Chateau Haut Brion (Pessac-Leognan 1st growth)
 

To Finish: Chateau Coutet (Barsac-Sauternes)

* Mystery Wine: 2001 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

53) March 22, 2013

Great Grenache! A varietal tasting.

Venue: Private home

54) April 13, 2013

Bang For Your Buck! Episode 2!

Venue: Devine Wines and Spirits

55) May 7, 2013

California Cabernet Sauvignon

Venue: Vines Riverbend Wine Merchants