What’s In An Award

I am always interested in trying Award-winning wines, but I try to pay attention to certain details - what competition is it, and what kind of stature does it have, how many wines were entered in the first place, and where was it held.

California wines for example, will certainly fare well in an American competition: everything is coloured by the judges’ experience and personal tastes.

Just as it helps to “learn” the tastes and idiosyncrasies of particular critics, such as Robert Parker Jr., it helps, too, to develop an understanding of how your tastes align with the preferences that surface in the judging associated with particular competitions.

The Wine Align 2013 World Wine Awards of Canada is a good competition for us to consider, because it dealt wines that are available in Canada – most of them in Ontario, and many in Sault Ste. Marie.

Knowing how the wines were assessed helps immensely in credibility.

In this competition, the wines were assessed blind – the judges didn’t know which wine they were tasting – by at least 8 judges, and at least twice if not three times.

They were grouped by type and by price range, but none of the wines was more than $50 in value.

The organizers say that none of the award-winning wines earned less than 87 points,and that they are ranked within each category by score – even though the scores themselves are not mentioned.

In the “Under $15” category, South Africa’s Two Oceans, $10.25, was the best Chardonnay, with some lush tropical fruit notes, good texture and a crisp finish.

Best Pinot Grigio, New Zealand’s Monkey Bay, $13.95 is noted for its rich texture, peach/apricot/ pear flavours, and lively acidity on the finish.

The Gustav Lorentz 2011 Reserve Cuvee Amethyste, $14.95, was best Riesling: in the classic style of Alsace, it offers lime and granny Smith apple crispness, very good depth and structure and a clean dry finish, making it a perfect wine to accompany salmon or ham.

The Best Blended white was the popular Goats Do Roam White, $11.95, from South Africa, a blend of French varietals Viognier, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, presenting peach and licorice notes, good rich flavours and a pleasing finish, In reds, the best Cabernet Sauvignon was Chile’s Caliterra Reserva, just $9.95, and praised by Steve Thurlow in the National Post for its aromas of black currant, chocolate, Argentina’s Trapiche was best Malbec: only $9.45, and is said to have cherry and leather flavours with decent body and finish.

From the California giant, Gallo, comes the best Merlot, Barefoot Cellars, $9.95, a wine that will offer aromas and flavours of blackberry and plum, with moderate weight and some sweetness on the finish.

While there are many more varietals than the ones mentioned above, these are the ones we have available to us, and all are at the Great Northern Road store.

On the next Vintages release, November 9, the LCBO is starting to roll out its Christmas stock with special packaging and large format bottles, etc.

One sparkling wine, Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Heredad Cava, would be a good one to get now for New Year’s; a very dependable bubbly at $29.95, it earned a 92 from Wines and Spirits Magazine.

While there are 60 bottles coming of the very good Chilensis Reserva Carmenere 2012, just $13.95, I would pre-order the highly-lauded Chilensis Lazuli 2010, $17.95, a Syrah-led blend of French varietals with complex aromas, bright flavours, beautiful balance and lingering “earthy” finish.

Wine of the Month, Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, $19.95, comes from an esteemed Argentinian winery, and has won high praise from the Robert Parker group for its big bold style – it would benefit from either decanting or some form of aeration at this stage.

The other Wine of the Month is Tuscany’s very impressive Castello d’Albola Chianti Classico Riserva, $22.95, with its ‘three glasses’ from Gambero Rosso - it will display ripe cherry and herb and be immensely satisfying.

From the house of Dr. Loosen in Germany comes the Pfalz Villa Wolf Wachenheimer Riesling 2011, $13.95 a wine in the older more traditionally sweet style with a good

interplay of fruit and minerality – check for availablilty by next Tuesday, in case it requires pre-ordering.