The
Maule Valley
is a sizeable DO (Denomination of Origin),
the largest
by far encompassing 31,000 hectares of vines.
This is
an old region; some vineyards are up to 200
years old.
But the region fell out of favour, perhaps
for vineyards
closer to Santiago. But there does seem to be
some
revitalization here...
Cat Amognst the Pigeons 'Fat Cat' Shiraz~Cabernet, Barossa Australia, 2006
It'll seduce you wilth its aromas
- gobs of
blueberry
and raspberries smashed into chocolate, warm
spice
and blackberry undertones, vanilla and oak
hints.
Supple and sweetly ripe with spiced vanilla and
mocha with just a hint of bacon fat on the
tail. Lifting
acidity and supple tannins...You'll wonder if
you
should drink it or slather it on...
Bouchard Pere&Fils Bourgogne, Pinot Noir, Burgundy France, 2007
A new label adorns this bottle
and you'll
see it at the upcoming 2009 Vancouver Playhouse
International Wine Festival. Bright, juicy
red fruit,
fragrant violet, tobacco and cedar box with
forest floor
undertones that reign it in. Tart red fruit
and potpourri
and spices are echoed on the palate - lifted
acidity...
A crisp, fresh sparkler with
loads of tiny
spumante bubbles and aromas of blossoms,
creamed honey, apple, pear and melon. Easy and
fresh with a light mousse and crisp citrus
and tree fruit
flavours - simple and refreshing with an
affordable
price tag.
Gotta love the package...
Fabiano Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico ' I Fondatori', Veneto It, 2003
A lovely, feminine-style Amarone
with pretty blueberry, dried cherry, spice
and floral notes with coffee liqueur tones as
support. Earthy with dark chocolate, leather,
spice and dried cherry flavours...wonderful!
Fresh off my palate
His father moved from Puglia to Venice in
1912 to
open
a wine bar...and the rest - as they say - is
history.
Nicola Fabiano used to race Fiats, now he's
happy to
drive more cautiously from Verona to his
home/estate
just outside the city. Nicola came to
Vancouver this
week after a ten day tour that included
temperatures in
Edmonton which were a bit on the shocking
side of
zero. He brought three of his wines for me to
taste -
one which is the Amarone (see above) as well
as the
Fabiano Ripasso Negaro, 2006 (about $30 avail
in BC, AB and On) which lovely sweet cherry
and leather aromas great acidity and
spice...and the Valpolicella Cassico
Superiore 'La Piazzola' 2006 at $18 is a
lovely fresh and feminine Valpolicella...
The do not miss wine event for 2009
Grandi Marchi
The most prestigious group of Italian Wine
Producers ever assembled for a dinner in
Vancouver....
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Vancouver Club
915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC
The members of the Istituto del Vino Italiano
di Qualità - Grandi Marchi, an elite group of
vintners formed to promote worldwide
recognition of quality Italian wines and the
diverse wine culture developed over thousands
of years in their homeland, are international
figures whose names are influential across
all regions of Italy today.
It all
begins at 6:15 with a sparkling wine
reception and escalates from there...visitors
like Mr.Piero Antinori, Chiarla Lungarotti,
Silvio Jermann, Raffaele Boscaini and
Giovanni Folnari to name a few...
Sure Bets - Wine & Food Pairing
on WineDiva.ca and WineScores.ca
Don't forget about the
wine and
food pairing
suggestions on both sites. From goats cheese to
shellfish, junk foods to girls night out and
barbecues
to weddings simply click on the picture link
and you'll
find a loaded selection of wines and reviews
to pair
with your chosen dish. Every time I review
a wine
its is placed into one (or more) of these
specific food
or situational dining pages...
"...The Tasting Room is the radio
version
of an
audio blend, a Meritage for the soul."
Terry
David Mulligan and his guests discuss food,
wine,
viticulture...
Listen across Canada each
Saturday to hear
Wine Diva's
weekly wine reviews.
The Tasting Room - is on
Saturday... 10am -
noon
am 1150 in the Okanagan or listen on
www.thetastingroomradio.com and
now... Vancouver 5-7pm on "The
Buzz"
am 1410 (formerly
CFUN) and Sundays in Toronto at 7:30 am
on the "Best of the Best" am
740 Saturdays in
Edmonton
on
the "TEAM" am 1260
This week February,
28th
I talk about my trip to Australia (part 2)
from Yarra
Valley...
Tickets went on sale Tuesday January
27th for the 2009
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine
Festival on
March 23 - 29 - Don't hesitate - and don't
forget to pick up your ticket to Diva(s)
at the Met for Tuesday March 24th - It's
going to be a blast! I'll see you
there...
March 12 - Dining Out For
Life Funds raised through Dining Out For
Life benefit A Loving Spoonful and The
Vancouver Friends For Life Society, local
non-profit organizations providing food and
support services to people living with HIV,
AIDS and other life threatening illnesses.
One night only - stay tuned for more
details.
March 3 - the California Wine
Fair returns to Vancouver, so expect some
great wines! The evening consumer event is
$60 pp - Call the Arts Club Box Office at
(604) 687-1644 or online at
www.artsclub.com
His father moved from Puglia to Venice in
1912 to
open
a wine bar...and the rest - as they say - is
history.
Nicola Fabiano used to race Fiats, now he's
happy to
drive more cautiously from Verona to his
home/estate
just outside the city. Nicola came to
Vancouver this
week after a ten day tour that included
temperatures in
Edmonton which were a bit on the shocking
side of
zero. He brought three of his wines for me to
taste -
one which is the Amarone (see above) as well
as the
Fabiano Ripasso Negaro, 2006 (about $30 avail
in BC, AB and On) which lovely sweet cherry
and leather aromas great acidity and
spice...and the Valpolicella Cassico
Superiore 'La Piazzola' 2006 at $18 is a
lovely fresh and feminine Valpolicella...
