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%
Icon Score
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
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%
Icon Score
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
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
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%
Icon Score
Chile: Viña Palo Alto 2012 Reserva
Availability: Widely available at BCDLDB stores
Cost: $14.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Icon Score
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
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
Icon Score
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
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%
Icon Score
Australia: Layer Cake Wines 2011 Shiraz
Availability: BCLDB stores
Cost: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
Icon Score
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
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.
