Whine # 47 (Christmas 2013)

WELCOME  to the following new readers of the Whine:  Marcel Comeau of Saulnierville, N.S.; Kim Corkum of Antigonish, N.S.; and Ken Popowich of Halifax.

 

DRINKING WINE IN BUSINESS CLASS:   Most of the time I travel economy class.  Usually this means that I don’t bother ordering overpriced low-grade wine, but simply stick to tomato juice.  However, every couple of years I have enough accumulated aeroplan points for an upgrade to business class.  This brings the pleasure of good food, being able to stretch out, and the enjoyment of several glasses of decent wine.

Last month we flew Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Toronto.  Not only were we offered real Champagne (Jacquart Brut) but we were given the choice with our meal of a reasonably aged Medoc (2008 Chateau Mazail) or a forgettable Austrian. 

One of the tricks in ordering wine in business class is that they usually have a special wine that is not listed on the menu, but which they appear happy to serve in whatever quantities one wishes.  When I asked if they had a special wine, I was offered a 2008 Viu Manent Single Vineyard (LaCapilla).  This I greatly enjoyed despite it’s being only slightly more expensive than the Medoc if purchased at NSLC.  I found it interesting that Lufthansa clearly considered the Chilean Cabernet to be superior to the Bordeaux.  But then Lufthansa is definitely not a French airline.

WINES OF SICILY:   Last month Betty and I were fortunate enough to spend a couple of days in Sicily.  A day in Erice/Trapani and a day in Palermo were just enough to make us add this beautiful island to our bucket list of places to which we wish to return.

Sicily has a long history of wine production, but until relatively recently most of the wine was produced in bulk and sent north for blending.  However, vintners are now stressing quality over quantity.  If you are looking for value,  consider seeking out a Sicilian wine at your local wine store.

The most famous Sicilian wine is Marsala, a sweet fortified wine.  I am not into sweet, fortified wines but Betty is never without a bottle of Marsala in her cooking cupboard.  If you have never prepared Veal Marsala, then let me suggest you google for any one of scores of great recipes.  This relatively easy to prepare dish will impress even the pickiest eater.

To accompany your Veal Marsala I suggest you pick up a bottle of Sicilian Nero D’Avola.  The almost black Nero D’Avola grape is indigenous to Sicily.  The wine is heavy, with lots of tannins, yet only medium in its acidity.   Although unrelated to the Syrah grape, many argue that Nero D’Avola tastes almost the same as a good-priced Australian Shiraz.

The best part is that decent bottles of Nero D’Avola can be had for anywhere from $ 12. To $ 18. in such places  as the NSLC or the LCBO.

While in Erice I picked up a bottle of Nerello Mascalese which was made from grapes grown on the slopes of Mount Etna.  This unique wine from the 2002 vintage set me back a princely 7 Euros.  What a treat.  Unfortunately, I may have to return to Sicily to get another bottle.

PENFOLD’S GRANGE:   Once a year Port of Wines in Halifax brings in a few cases of Penfold’s Grange.  Despite being very, very expensive this wine sells out almost immediately.  Penfold’s Grange is a Shiraz and is considered by many to be Australia’s very best wine.  Some even consider it to be the best wine in the world.  I have never tasted it.

This year Port of Wines offered the 2005 vintage for $ 375. (that’s a bottle, not a case) and the 2008, to which Robert Parker and others assigned 100 points, for $ 699. per bottle.  The 2005 is almost ready to drink and is expected to be at its peak around 2020.   The day the Penfold’s went on sale was my son’s anniversary and he bought a bottle of the 2005 as a gift for his wife.  I decided that I just had to buy a bottle as well.

Some of you know how the psychological construct “cognitive dissonance” allows one to convince oneself that the right choice was made after a difficult decision.  Basically you keep looking for what’s good about your choice.  For example, if you just bought a new Honda you now only read the Honda ads and ignore the Volkswagon pitches.

Nonetheless, I kept thinking:  “If I am only going to try Penfold’s Grange once in this lifetime, maybe I should have sprung for a bottle of the 2008.”  Then I learned from the Port of Wines expert that the 2008 would only be ready to drink after 2030.  My dissonance directed me to calculate the odds of my being around in the 2030’s and I soon realized that the chances that I would ever get to sip the 2008 were next to none.  Now, my dissonance is resolved and I just have to concentrate on surviving until 2020.

OPIMIUM CELLAR OFFERING 221:   Opimian issues seven offerings (catalogues) each year.  I am almost, but not quite, tempted to recommend that you ignore six of the offerings and clean out your bank account by ordering many cases of these great South American wines.  Among my favorites are: 7361 Blason de San Carlos Tempranillo; 7368 Casa Nueva Gran Reserva Carmenere; 7370 Casa Nueva Gran Reserva Cabernet Saugivnon/Merlot; 7380  Expresion Reserve Pinot Noir; and 7394 Cornellana Barrel Reserve Malbec.  AND, since its Christmas, treat yourself and your loved ones to 7364 Alfa Crux Malbec.  I know its pricey, but for the past two years an Alfa Crux has made my list of the 10 best wines I drank in the previous 12 months.