WCOW'14: Match 6

Match 6: Thursday, June 26th
Countries: USA VS. Germany
Theme: Riesling

USA - 3
Germany - 3



The Wines

USA: Dunham Cellars 2010 Riesling
Availability: Costco or direct from winery here
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 11.8%
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Germany: St. Urbans-Hof 2012 Riesling
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $22.99
Alcohol: 11%




The Results

Complexity:     Dunham Cellars
Food Friendliness:       St. Urbans-Hof
Typicity:      St. Urbans-Hof
Concentration:       St. Urbans-Hof
Expression of Terroir:       Dunham Cellars
Value:     Dunham Cellars

Recap

If you watched the game between USA and Germany I probably don't need to tell you that a comparison of Rieslings is likely to give you more excitement. Our wine match was a draw with both Rieslings scoring in three categories each. The St. Urbans-Hof is everything you want in a well executed Mosel Riesling with great balance between fruit and flinty notes. Whereas the Dunham Cellars makes a great case why Washington State should be on the radar of all Riesling fans. Equally matched wines, in there own way.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

WCOW'14: Match 5

Match 5: Monday, June 23rd
Countries: Australia VS. Spain
Theme: Budget Whites

Australia - 1
Spain - 5



The Wines

Australia: Hardy's 2012 Stamp Series Riesling Gewurztraminer
Availability: Widely at BCLDB stores 
Cost: $10-12
Alcohol: 11%

Spain: Les Vins Bonhomme 2012 El Petit Bonhomme Blanco
Availability: Widely at BCLDB stores 
Cost: $14
Alcohol: 13.5%
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The Results


Complexity:     El Petit Bonhomme
Food Friendliness:     El Petit Bonhomme
Typicity:    El Petit Bonhomme
Concentration:      Hardy's Riesling Gewurztraminer
Expression of Terroir:      El Petit Bonhomme
Value:     El Petit Bonhomme

Recap

Similar to the outcome on the pitch, the Spanish wine out duelled its Australian competitor thanks to an impressive medley of nectarine, peach pit and passion-fruit aromas on the nose and tangy citrus and ripe melon flavours on the mineral-infused palate. A lighter wine, by design, the only score the Aussies could muster was in 'concentration' which the tangy blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer has in spades. - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

WCOW'14: Match 4

Match 4: Sunday, June 22nd
Countries: USA VS. Portugal
Theme: Field Blends

USA - 3
Portugal - 3



The Wines

USA: Cameron Hughes 2011 Lot 391
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 14.2%

Portugal: Vinhos Borges 2010 Quinta de São Simão
Availability: BCLDB signature stores
Cost: $17.99
Alcohol: 12.5%




The Results


Complexity:      Cameron Hughes Lot 391
Food Friendliness:      Cameron Hughes Lot 391
Typicity:      Quinta de São Simão
Concentration:      Cameron Hughes Lot 391
Expression of Terroir:       Quinta de São Simão
Value:      Quinta de São Simão

Recap

Last minute heroics have kept Portugal's World Cup of Soccer dream alive, but in the cellar, the match-up was even from the get-go. Both wines make for interesting, unique and memorable experiences. The Cameron Hughes wine is juicy-goodness and certainly the ripe, intense, 'sweet' red wine that folks should be flocking towards (instead of Apothic Red). And the Quinta de São Simão is everything you could want from an affordable, rustic red blend that blends both fruit and savoury characters together. No winner, perhaps, but most importantly, no loser with these two fine wines.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

WCOW'14: Match 3

Match 3: Wednesday, June 18th
Countries: Spain  VS. Chile
Theme: Budget Blends

Spain - 3
Chile - 2




The Wines

Spain: Les Vins Bonhomme 2012 El Petit Bonhomme Tinto
Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $15
Alcohol: 14.5%
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Chile: Viña Palo Alto 2012 Reserva
Availability: Widely available at BCDLDB stores
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
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The Results

Complexity      Palo Alto Reserva
Food Friendliness     El Petit Bonhomme Tinto
Typicity     No clear winner
Concentration     Palo Alto Reserva
Expression of Terroir     El Petit Bonhomme Tinto
Value     El Petit Bonhomme Tinto

Recap

Another close World Cup of Wine battle with a narrow Spanish victory on the heels of the El Petit Bonhomme's unscientific sense of 'value' - thanks to its drinkability and joie de vivre. The Palo Alto also offers incredible value, but more of the sort where you think, "wow, that's amazing concentration and surprising complexity for a $15 bottle of wine." Certainly, Spain faired much better in the cellar today than they did against Chile on the pitch. A lacklustre performance on the field , whose affect, perhaps, is somewhat diminished by knowing they won their WCoW match today. Probably not.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

WCOW'14: Match 2

Match 2: Monday, June 16th
Countries: Germany VS. Portugal
Theme: Crisp Whites


Germany - 3
Portugal - 3


The Wines

Germany: Clean Slate 2012 Riesling
Availability: BCLDB
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 10.5
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Portugal: Casal Garcia N/V Vinho Verde
Availability: BCLDB and Private Stores
Cost: $11.99
Alcohol: 10%




The Results

Complexity:    Clean Slate Riesling
Food Friendliness:      Casal Garcia
Typicity:    Clean Slate Riesling
Concentration:     Casal Garcia
Expression of Terroir:    Clean Slate Riesling
Value:      Casal Garcia

Recap

On the pitch, the contest wasn't close with Portugal self-destructing under the pressure of Germany's sound, methodical constant attack. In the cellar, the match was even with both teams winning 3 categories each. Portugal's non-vintage Casal Garcia scored on value, concentration and its ability to pair easily with food while Germany's Clean Slate scored on complexity, typicity and its expression of terroir. - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Monthly Picks: June '14 - Rosé

With the sun shinning and the evenings getting longer and more social, we turn to the perfect Summer Sipper for this month's picks: rosé.

Quails' Gate Estate Winery 2013 Rosé - $16
The palate is refreshing with wild berry and rhubarb acidity offset by sweet, red fruit flavours and near off-dry levels of residual sugar, finishing with a nice, mouth-watering, citrus twang. Exceptional value for the quality.
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Fort Berens Estate Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé - $18
Ripe, raspberry, kiwi and cranberry fruit flavours create the perception of sweetness while bright, citrus acidity keeps the mouth feel crisp, but never sharp. The finish is long and refreshingly dry making it ideal for food pairing.
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Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Glow - $20
Possibly BC's most Provence-like rosé on the market today, Bench 1775's Glow is a gorgeous, orangy-salmon colour and boasts lovely, delicate aromas of strawberry, nibs candy, pomegranate, raw honey and sweet pot-pourri.
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SpierHead Winery 2013 Pinot Noir Rosé - $20
Made from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from a vineyard in East Kelowna, this wine opens with a distinctive nose of strawberry, fig fruit and unpasteurized honey. The palate follows with juicy, red berry flavours and tangy, cranberry acidity. Well balanced, clean and crisp.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2013 Malbec Rosé - $20
This rosé opens with a rush of raspberry, blood orange and light bay leaf aromas. The juicy palate follows with plump, pomegranate, strawberry-kiwi and pink-grapefruit flavours offset with cran-apple acidity. The finish is dry and moderate with lingering mineral and spice notes.
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JoieFarm 2013 Rosé - $21
This watermelon flesh hued rosé boasts a nice combination of sweet red fruit and light, savoury herbs on the expressive nose. The palate follows with off-dry levels of residual sugar which are managed nicely with tart cranberry and tangy citrus acidity and flavours.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2013 Oldfield Series 2Bench Rosé - $23
The colour, texture and delicacy suggest a Provence inspiration, but this blush is pure BC with a focus on expressive, tangy red fruit aromas and flavours supported by light mineral and savoury notes. Dry and mouth-watering with lime rind and rhubarb acidity, this is a Food-Friendly wine with double Capital 'Fs'!
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

WCOW'14: Match 1

Match 1: Friday, June 13th
Countries: Chile VS. Australia
Theme: Syrah/Shiraz

Australia - 3
Chile - 2


The Wines

Chile: Viña Errázuriz 2011 Max Reserva Syrah
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $19.99
Alcohol: 14%
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Australia: Layer Cake Wines 2011 Shiraz
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
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The Results

Complexity:    Layer Cake Shiraz
Food Friendliness:    Layer Cake Shiraz
Typicity:    Layer Cake Shiraz
Concentration:    Max Reserva Syrah
Expression of Terroir:    Neither
Value:    Max Reserva Syrah

Recap

Though the World Cup soccer game was a little one-sided in favour of Chile's impressive squad, the wine match was far more competitive with the Australia Shiraz squeaking out a victory thanks to it's edge in complexity and typicity - you certainly know you're drinking an Aussie (sourced) Shiraz. Neither wine, however, expressed a sense of specific terroir as reflected by their sub-90pt scores. Both Syrah/Shiraz are well-made for mass-produced wines but lack that unique, identifying qualify that one hopes to find. The Layer Cake entry received the food-friendly nod thanks to its vein of peppercorn spice on the palate that screams 'Steak!", but really, you can't go wrong with either wine.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

2014 World Cup Of Wine

To celebrate the 2014 World Cup of Soccer in Brazil we are hosting a few nation VS. nation competitions of our own, of the wine variety, obviously. There are a number of the world's major wine producing nations competing in "The Finals" and each time they meet we will have their wines compete head-to-head. Themes have been chosen for each match-up to help frame a judgeable context.

Wines will be judged on:

Complexity
Food Friendliness
Typicity
Concentration
Expression of Terroir
Value

The Schedule

Group Stage:

Match 1: Friday, June 13th
Countries: Chile VS. Australia
Theme: Syrah/Shiraz
Results Chile 2, Australia 3

Match 2: Monday, June 16th
Countries: Germany VS. Portugal
Theme: Crisp Whites
Results Germany 3, Portugal 3

Match 3: Wednesday, June 18th
Countries: Spain  VS. Chile
Theme: Budget Red Blends
Results - Spain 3 - Chile 2

Match 4: Sunday, June 22nd
Countries: USA VS. Portugal
Theme: Field Blends
Results - USA 3, Portugal 3

Match 5: Monday, June 23rd
Countries: Australia VS. Spain
Theme: Budget Whites
Results - Australia 1, Spain 5

Match 6: Thursday, June 26th
Countries: USA VS. Germany
Theme: Riesling
Results - USA 3, Germany 3

Knockout Stage:

TBD - Upon advancement of wine producing nations.

Try This, Cellar That - BC Pinot Noir

This week we showcase BC Pinot Noir:

Try This...

Black Cloud 2012 Fleuvage Pinot Noir - $25
The 'Fleuvage' could be considered the younger sister, or perhaps, the understudy, to Black Cloud's showcase Pinot Noir 'Altostratus'. Overall, the wine represents its terroir admirably; a youthful vineyard along the Naramata Bench. Enjoy the Fleuvage as you wait for your Altostratus to mature.
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Cellar That...

Black Cloud 2011 Altostratus Pinot Noir - $35
Where its younger sister is 'subtle', the Altostratus is 'supple' with a lush, harmonious expression of BC Pinot Noir that combines a sweet-scented, joyous nose of ripe red fruit, pot-pourri and spice aromas with a well-balanced, red fruit'n'earth palate structured by fine tannins and fresh, alpine berry acidity. Give this beauty another year in the bottle for further integration.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca