au canada...(jackson-triggs 2003)

canada, why are you such a quiet nation?
you may not do much, you may not say much,
but some of what you say and do...
canadians are funny.
they produce wonderful maple products that pair well with their fabulous bacon products.
they endure harsh winters producing some of the greatest grapes imaginable which they use brilliantly to make paradise in a bottle...

tonight we savoured a bottle of jackson-triggs proprietors reserve vidal icewine 2003.
this was an amazingly well balanced wine.
thick and smoothe, subtle and creamy.
bursting with mango, apricot, dried apricot, golden raisin and a hint of vanilla.
this wine stands well alone but i would love to have paired it with a yummy extra creamy, slightly warm creme brulee-not too sweet-heavy on the vanilla.
the cream, the texture and the vanilla would really set this off.

we picked it up at costco for $15.99, 187ml bottle, well worth it.

2004 Torbreck The Bothie Muscat Blanc Barossa Valley

Torbeck Vintners is one of the top Australian wineries.
Here is what Robert Parker had to say about the wine maker Dave Powell.

'Dave Powell, unquestionably one of the world's finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit.'

The Wine Advocate Issue #161 (October 2005) Robert Parker

The Bothie Muscat Blanc

Pale gold. Crisp scents of peach, ripe pear and dried apricot. Plump and juicy on the palate, with a clean, brisk peach flavor that is in no way cloying. Impressive for its svelte, focused character (too much sweet muscat comes off as flabby!). Finishes with focus and pretty floral notes. This would be great with salty or blue cheeses.

Winefront Monthly Reviews - February 2006

EOS 2005 "TEARS OF DEW" LATE HARVEST MOSCATO

Winemaker Comments

Consistently recognized for its outstanding quality, the previous 2004
vintage offering of this wine was awarded a Best of Class of Region Gold
Medal at the 2006 California State Fair Wine Competition, and Wine
Enthusiast Magazine commented eloquently on our 2003 vintage of
this wine as follows: “It’s time to admit this wine into the elite of California
dessert sippers. It’s always dependably rewarding in apricot, wild honey and vanilla flavors, unctuously sweet, and well-balanced in acids.”
And later, “Paso Robles is making a play for the most congenial home for
sweet Muscat...” more

Royal Tokaji

Ever on the hunt for a new yummy dessert wine, marius and i picked up a bottle of 2000 5 puttonyos Royal Tokaji. It is a delightful wine. While a 5 puttonyos it is still not too sweet, a good compromise wine when dealing with sweet and non sweet tooths. The Tokaji is smooth, sophisticated, well balanced with a long silky finish. Oak, Walnut, Apricot, Apple, Pear, Honey are all present along with a citrus sour. Reminiscent of a calvados, brandy, even reminds me of the sadly no longer produced York Mountain Sherry.

I am absolutely dying to taste the '99 Essencia. At $500 a bottle, Marius suggested I find myself a Sugar Daddy. Perhaps I should settle for a 6 puttonyos?


TOKAJI’S ROYAL CONNECTION AND RENAISSANCE
The first Tokaji Aszú (toh-KAY ah-SOO) wine was created in the 1600s, perhaps by accident — a harvest delayed by threat of enemy invasion. In 1700, Tokaj became the first European region to have its vineyards classified, its uniquely varied terroirs and climates rated Primae Classis, Secundae Classis, Tertius Classis (“1st Growth, 2nd Growth, 3rd Growth”) by Prince Rakoczi of Transylvania. This classification system is still used in Hungary today. Louis XIV of France (1638 - 1715) declared Tokaji “the wine of Kings and the King of wines”, while in the 18th century, Catherine the Great stationed soldiers in Tokaj to protect her vineyards.

Quality production ended with World Wars I and II and the Communist takeover of Hungarian winemaking. Aszú grapes were used for mass production in factories, with vineyard distinctions lost in giant tanks. Tokaji’s renaissance began after the collapse of communism with The Royal Tokaji Wine Company (RTWC) in 1989, inspired by well-known wine author, Hugh Johnson, and others. RTWC’s founders started the winery in an effort to preserve what they considered a dying art. “I couldn’t resist bringing back to life a wine that had been so renowned centuries ago,” says Johnson.

For More information:
Royal Tokaji
Wilson Daniels Ltd.

Castoro Cellars 2006 Muscat Canelli Paso Robles

Castoro Cellars was founded by the husband and wife team of Niels and Bimmer Udsen with a warm and welcoming style. The winery was named after the Italian translation of Niels’ long-time nickname, “Beaver,” prompting the motto “Dam Fine Wine.” From the wine cellar to the tasting room, all who contribute to Castoro wines hold strongly to the belief that high quality wines should be accessible to all consumers.

Picked up this bottle of Muscat Canelli at Trader Joe's. Very fragrant with lots of Peach and Apricot aromas. Some hint of apple and citrus. The taste unfortunately is not very well balanced. After the initial sweet peach and apple taste is followed by rubber alcohol and a bitter after taste. But for 5.95 it is not a bad sweet wine.

Marius Rating: 85

Villa Palatina Trockenbeerenauslese 2005

Excellent dessert wine. Bough this wine at Trader Joe's for 19.95$, I feel this is well priced wine and if you like Trockenbeerenauslese go buy it now. This wine is made from the Ortega grape, which is used for white wine blending in the Rheinhessen region of Germany. The wine is very nicely balanced with strong notes of honey, apricot and peach. Silky feel on the tongue with citrus notes.

Marius' Rating: 91