From the OOI cellar - 2010 - Many Shades of Wolf Blass

Look what I found in the OOI cellar!  Thought I'd finish this post that I started many moons ago... Any other memories of that night? What WAS the story re: why T&E collected WB cab savs?  Leave a comment below...

19 June 2010 - OOI meets at Tanya and Erik's place to have a vertical tasting of Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon - they have been stashing away bottles of this classic Australian wine since 2001.

We tasted 8 different vintages - 2001-2007, and the Grey Label 2007.  All but the Grey had the iconic Wolf Blass yellow label.  The grapes in Grey Label are from one vineyard - the Langhorn Creek vineyard - the rest of cabs were blends of grapes from the Borrosa, Clare, and other vineyards.  Both the 2002 and 2007 vintages were award winners.  Click here for a history of this wine.   

We were surprised at the variability in flavours from year to year - the 2005 in particular was a bizarre mix of cough syrup, fig newton, soy, medicine, and eucalyptus.

Remember back in the pre-tasting glasses era?

Our wonderful hosts laid out an incredible spread of cheese and other yummy nibblies - including a vertical tasting of cheddars - old, 5, 6 and 8 year old Quebec Cheddars.  Other cheeses (included homemade ones) included Riopelle, St. Honore, hard milk cheeses, Italian sheep cheeses, and Fifth Town soft cheeses - Red Fife, Lemon Fetish, and Lost Lake.  Plus a selection of jams, chutneys, pates and blueberries...

And, the aftermath.....

Who's up next?

Uncorked! Old World wine tasting at the Museum of Civilization

Back in 2003, the Museum of Civilization held historic wine tastings right inside the actual exhibits - actors donned period costumes and declared that the latest shipment of Spanish wines had arrived in New France, would we like a taste?...  The museum has started up a slightly different approach to history and wine tasting.  We went to the 20 September "Uncorked! Wines of the Old Continent" tasting which started with a glass of cava as the 21 guests assembled.  We had two museum staff, one a historian, one a archeologist, that walked us through the closed museum, stopping at 6 stations to talk about Canadian history (especially around the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain), linking old world wines (sometimes rather tenuously!) to the exhibits, and delicious foods paired with them.   The food was provided by the museum restaurant - Bistro Boreal.  The chef obviously put a lot of thought into the ingredients and dishes selected. 

 

For $55, a wonderful evening of interesting facts, lovely wines (with generous pours), and delish food! 

1st Annual OOI Bubblishus Bubbleoff!!!

We've thought about it for ages - and finally, on 30 November, we had our first ever Bubblishus Bubbleoff as an early start to the holiday season!  OOI veterans were joined by Iris, Stephen and Pippa for an evening of bubbles and giggles... nothing like sparkling wine to make you smile!

The set up?  A blind tasting of 7 bottles of sparkling wines from all over the world.  We added bubble description to our usual analysis of these fine wines. In order of appearance:

1. BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE (Belussi Spumante, Veneto, Italy) VINTAGES 53215  Price: $ 17.95 

- peachy and lovely - a nice aperitif to go with potato chips and almonds.

2. SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT RESERVA CAVA SPARKLING (Heredad Segura Viudas, Torrelavit, Spain) LCBO 216960   Price: $ 14.55 

- we love the cavas!  Bracing, bright - a great value for a big wow on the palate.  Served some cheeses, cured meats and olives with this one.

3. PIERRE SPARR BRUT RÉSERVE CRÉMANT D'ALSACE (Maison Pierre Sparr & Successeurs, Alsace, France) VINTAGES 173401  Price: $ 16.95 

- this bottle really popped on us, and may have been off -we were expecting good things from the Alsation cremant...

4. TRIUS BRUT VQA (Hillebrand Estates Winery Ltd., Ontario, Canada) LCBO 215913  Price: $ 24.95 

- Our lone Canadian entry - definitely a nice wine if you want to keep it within 100-miles.

- at the $22 price point, it didn't compete with our wine #5.

5. DOMAINE CHANDON BRUT (Domaine Chandon, California, USA) LCBO 218032  Price: $ 22.95

- One of our favourites - fabulous value.  Served with some seared foie gras - how decadent!

6. MOËT & CHANDON BRUT GRAND VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE 2002 (Moet & Chandon, Champagne, France) VINTAGES 69773  Price: $ 81.95 

- Definitely a stand out - served with a seafood plate - a shucked oyster, lobster, some shrimp, and a seared scallop

7. Bottega moscato Petalo Il Vino dell'Amore mousseux (Veneto, Italy) SAQ code:  00884270  Price: $14.15

- A lovely sweeter sparkling wine to go with fresh berries.

  

Next OOI event - Saturday, 20 November 2010

The next OOI event is at Leah & Donald's place, 730pm on Saturday, 20 November 2010.  The theme is PIZZA PLONK - what is your favorite cheap pizza wine? 

Each participant should bring their go-to value red wine, which will be masked for an added level of fun and excitement!  We will be serving homemade pizzas... don't eat before coming...

Suggested OOI-fashion statement... order now to beat the Christmas rush!!

Hola, Espana!!!!

Our fabulous hosts, Tanya and Erik, raised the bar yet again with an incredible evening of wine, food, and tons of cheeses, all Ibericanly inspired.....

Below are the names and associated links of the 7 bottles that so kindly gave up their lives for us:

2007 Burgans Albariño Rias Baixas ($18.95 at the LCBO)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rías_Baixas

2004 Fontal Crianza La Mancha ($14.94 at the LCBO) http://www.intowine.com/la-mancha-spain-s-largest-wine-region

We all enjoyed the food - from Spanish cheeses to local Ottawa ones made chez Tanya (see her blog for more details), olives, jamon, potato tortilla, grilled tuna with tapenade....

2006 Arrocal Ribera del Duero ($17.95 at the LCBO) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribera_del_Duero

2003 Los 800 Priorat ($19.95 at the LCBO)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priorat_

(DOQ) 2001 Bodegas LAN Reserva Rioja ($20.95 at the LCBO) http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1039408

http://www.bodegaslan.com/en/vinedo.htm

1999 Baron de Ona Rioja Reserva (purchased in Spain)

http://www.skurnikwines.com/prospects.cgi?rm=view_prospect_detail&prospect_id=448



1999 Los Molinos Gran Reserva Valdepenas ($14.95 at the LCBO) http://www.catavino.net/region/wines-of-valdepenas/

Good company, fun stories about our various travels in Spain, cheesey anecdotes....
So which wines were our favorites? Check out the comments and add yours...