
Weingolb Final wine in the Rézin flight @ raspipav last week: Clos du Tué-Boeuf La Guerrerie Touraine 08 is raspy & plump. Full of fruit and more straightforward than the other two, less refreshing, less challenging, but lovely, with vibration on the finish. Major blood orange notes, yet it's mostly Malbec, only 1/3 Gamay. More raspipav reviews later.

Weingolb After the Gamay, my Rézin flight got exotic: Thierry Puzelat (of Clos du Tué-Boeuf) Tesnière Touraine 08 Pinot d'Aunis varietal has intense, unique personality. Very floral, like a dried flower arrangement, & v tannic, creating a sensational bitter dryness that recalls Campari. Call it the wine-version of a combustible edison cocktail. Stupefying! $26/bottle.

Weingolb Why not try something nouveau today? Order Gamay from the Loire with me - Clos du Tué-Boeuf La Butte Cheverny 08: Only 11.8% alcohol, refreshing, mineral, near meaty, fascinating wine. Stone fruit, no bitterness. Natural wine (no sulfur) from 100% Gamay grapes off south-facing clay/flint slopes in Les Montils.

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Looking for a compromise btw tomorrow's Vin Nouveau Day & yesterday's Glen Carlou Grand Classique Paarl 05 - extremely stinky burnt wood thrown at Cab-Merlot, an absolute barrier for me to this popular wine & as disappointing as vin nouveau, of which Quebec's state wine police, the SAQ, will only be importing 3 (brands..., not bottles, but one can dream). Sad news. Hope lives in tonight's Crozes-HermitageRead More

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3 Bordeaux sauvignons: Ch Bonnet Entre-Deux-Mers in 07 is less nippy than Dourthe No. 1 & almost soothes in comparison. Tho typically tart, has a steely stone-fruit aspect. No wonder Bonnet’s got Sémillon & Muscadelle in the mix. New 08 Ch des Matards 1ères Côtes de Blaye also tacks on Muscadelle but skips the Sémillon... for a grapefruit attack & sweet pineapple finish. OK, not actually sweet - relatively speakingRead More

Weingolb Laurent Martray Vieilles Vignes Brouilly 07 persists on finish, a winner in spite of bonbon nose & pale colour. No bojo mediocrity! From mid-palate on, & with food, it kicks into high gear, rendering plum-tomato fruit into something more steely, zingy and purposeful as it cuts thru yr meal.

Weingolb St-Armand's Domain du Ridge can expect wknd sales to reach new heights - 10% off terroir ici bottles at SAQ coincides with Phaneuf's 1st-ever guide de vin section on Quebec wine & it's Ridge who is rated well & stocked widely... even gets honour of being 1st Canadian in rosés - Champs de Florence (Vignoble St-Armand) 08 ain't bad, neutral & refreshing w/ some cranapple notes for $14

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Laguna de la Nava Gran Reserva Valdepeñas 01 - I hope everyone knows not to take advice on Spanish reds from me... This cuvée's no longer stocked in Quebec, not for sale in Ontario and gets the mediocre 2-star from Phaneuf 3 editions ago when he could last be bothered with it. I think it's fantastic, like someone remem...bered acid and realized even in Spain you drink wine with regular food. Great bottle for the table!Read More

Weingolb Michel Phaneuf Guide de Vin 2010 now stocked in Mtl bookstores (Archambault's got the early discount on it) but rushing a copy to the SAQ before top picks get plucked is not the only game in town anymore. Rézin & other agencies offering notable private-import wine new in this edition... suddenly notes from Tuesday night raspipav I'm posting seem less important!

Weingolb Pelissero Augenta Dolcetto d'Alba 06 will divide yr dinner party down the middle, but I know I'll get more! Phaneuf singles it out for big oak yet there are many other Dolcetto woodier than this. It's high extract - intense bitter notes, dark cherry pits, confit of orange peel, looming star anise, all augmented by presence of alcohol & hard drying tannins that are as much from grape as from barrel

Weingolb Arthur Metz Pinot Blanc Alsace 08 (10967469) $14.85 Un peu neutre, mais il y a un soupçon de banane et puis de pomme verte qui donne ce vin quelque vitalité ** (2).

Weingolb Pio Cesare Dolcetto D'Alba 07 (129890) $21.25 Très élégant Dolcetto avec son franc caractère de fruits sauvages et sa vivacité tonifiante. Aucun lourdeur et il manque la trame tannique excessive d'autres Dolcettos moins rafiné. Un achat avisé ! **** (2).

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Clos d'Albizzi Cassis 06 (11095797) $19.95 Composé de clairette, de marsanne et d'ugni blanc, le seul Cassis de la répertoire SAQ possède un nez de pierre et d'agrume et une bouche des minéraux et des herbes un peu comme du sel de céleri sur une verre de Pineau des Charentes. Intéressant mais curieux, surtout pour la s...uggestion sur l'étiquette qui dit de la garder six ans enfin de servir avec du foie gras *** (1Read More

Weingolb More Phaneuf-styled (but penned by me) posts on as-yet unreviewed wine in anticipation of the Guide de Vin release this week... Brunheda Reserva Douro 03 (10841153): $32.75 Un assemblage de touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta roriz et tinta barroca qui est doté d'une note de bois attactive. Flatteur et savoureux, et pour maintenant - **** (2).











