“David Grega is a certified sommelier and wine consultant living in the Napa valley. In addition to consulting and wine writing David made wine for his own label “Bellum Cellars” in 2008. E-mail davidg@wine16.com for more information."



Winery: Emerson Brown

Vintage: 2008

Appellation: Napa Valley

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Average Price: $26.00

Winery Info: Emerson Brown is a collaboration of two talented winemakers in the Napa Valley, Keith Emerson and Brian Brown. Their mission is to craft top quality Napa Valley wines consistently year after year. Keep you eye out for these guys, some outstanding wines are being produced. A word to the wise, get on the mailing list!

Tasting Notes:This highly aromatic well balanced Sauvignon blanc shows aromas of Fresh fig, apricot and organic peach as well as refreshing touch of Ruby red grapefruit. On the palate is a knockout combination of bright and fresh fruits and a mid palate loaded with texture and roundness. A truly well balanced wine. The Emerson Brown Sauvignon Blanc is a benchmark Napa Valley SB.

Rating: (on a 1-5 scale) 4.0

F*CK THE FINANCIAL CRISIS: Value wines that beat recession. Part 2

Rasmus Amdi Larsen is a 21 year old sommelier. He is currently working as head-sommelier and Restaurant Manager at the restaurant Le Sommelier in the centre of Copenhagen. Administrating the 1600 bottle wine list, one of the largest in Denmark, this young sommelier is showing a lot of potential. Rasmus is also educating at the Hospitality College in Copenhagen, competing in sommelier competitions - and in the limited free time, golfing is a huge interest. To get in touch with Rasmus email him at amdi@gastrodenmark.com

‘Were not gonna take it!’ Its time for great wine that won’t break your wallet. Here’s the second episode on my series of wines that you can drink a case of and still be able to call your bank the following Monday. It is time to party.

Winery: Alta Vista (Blend)

Vintage: 2004

Appellation: Mendoza

Varietal: Malbec, Cabernet, Syrah, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot

Oak: 12 months in French oak.

Average Price: $14

Tasting notes: Deep ruby colored, beautiful clean. The nose is intense and, as you would expect covered with fruits like blackcurrant, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and leather, tobacco and wood. It is a very honest wine, really expressing every grape in the Blend. Its very balanced and, despite all the ‘heavy’ notes still has a very good and crisp acidity.

Food Pairing Suggestions: Steak of beef with onion compot, potatoes and mushroom vinaigrette. Breast of duck with cabbage and apricot/jalepenos sauce (make sure the jalepenos give to the sauce the ‘hot’ taste, NOT to your tongue).

Winery Notes: Alta Vista is run by Jean-Michel d’Aulan, a famous Chateaux owner in St-Emilion and the former owner of the champagne house Piper-Heidseick. He was given the title of the ‘winemaker of the year’ not less than two times.

Rating: 3 out of 5 for an outstanding value wine.

Vancouver Island Wineries & Vineyards

Dawn was born and raised on the Canadian prairies and later lived in practically every province in Canada. From an early age she started working in food and beverage industry. After successfully completing Level I and II of the International Sommeliers Guild she is currently enrolled in Level III. Dawn lives in Victoria, BC and works as the Restaurant Manager at the Hotel Grand Pacific.


Vancouver Island Wineries & Vineyards

Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are both located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is a hidden gem within Canada’s wine industry. This wine growing area enjoys long hours of sunshine and warm temperatures in the summer months. Vancouver Island area boasts the mildest weather of Canada. These months can also be a mix of cool intermittent shifts in the weather conditions which promotes wines higher in acid and more aromatic. The Cowichan Valley, Victoria and the Gulf Island regions have the highest concentration of vineyards and wineries of this area.

The soils of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are nutrient rich and with high organic material. The soil is a mixture of mainly limestone and sand, with some clay. There are many microclimates throughout the islands. You will find the wineries scattered from all over among lakes, rivers, mountains, forests and gripping the ocean’s edge.

Wines of these areas showcase rich fruit flavours with typically softer acids. But this area does not only produce wine but high quality cider, microbreweries, mead, gin (recent!), and fruit wines. And then there is the food, west coast cuisine! There is an amazing following for local organic products and eating seasonally. The islands produce some amazing local cheeses and you are able to buy farm fresh eggs from the side of the road!

I plan to share some treasures I have discovered living and working on Vancouver Island for the last five years throughout my next posts.

Cheers!

Dawn Kapcala

Morellino Riserva Calestaia 2005

Federico Vincenzi is an Italian sommelier and a wine writer with the Masters Degree in Economics. He has been consulting top restaurants in Italy and Switzerland and has received many awards, including ‘Sommelier of the month’ and 'Meilleur Formateur en Vin de Champagne'. Federico lives in Milan where he founded OENOGOURMET www.oenogourmet.com

Brand: CALESTAIA

Winery: ROCCAPESTA

Vintage: 2005

Appellation: DOCG, MORELLINO DI SCANSANO RISERVA

Varietal: 100% SANGIOVESE

Winemaker: Paoletti, Bernini, Schuster

Oak: Triple grapes selection. Maceration on skins for 20/25 days. Pre-maceration at 12°C. Fermentation in steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation in wooden barrels.
the wine lays for 24 months in French oak barrels (from 5hl up to 25hl capacity).
Once bottled the wine stays in our cellar for a minimum of 12 months.

Alcohol: 14%

Average Price: € 23

Tasting Notes: From the Southern part of Tuscany – Maremma Toscana – Calestaia is dressed in a garnet red colour, still ruby red reflections. On the nose great intensity and complexity of the bouquet. The perfumes remember yet mature fruit and jam. In particular, the blueberries’ jam, blueberries in alcohol, plums, dry plums, jam of plums and the smells deriving from the refinement in wooden barrels. Among these you recognize cinnamon, black pepper and clove. Then scents of citrus fruits, orange-peel, furthermore, chocolate.
The palate is distinguished by aristocracy. The typical tannin of the Sangiovese is already damped by the refinement in wood. Also the “acidity” component is very delicate and suffused and does not cover the great softness and roundness that visual analysis had anticipated.
Robust body and clean equilibrium among the components of alcohol and sugars and among the components of mineral salts and acidity. A very persistent wine, with a lovely aftertaste.

Drink now through 2020.

Food Pairing Suggestions: You need to choose a big, hearty dish. Red meat, feathered and furry game also accompanied by mushrooms or truffles.
This “Riserva”, in addition, is excellent with cheeses: aged tomes, parmesan, Tuscan pecorino

General rating: 4 tastevins

Categories: “sit-down bottle” and “classic”.

Tasting date: March 2nd 2009

2005 Pommard, Vincent Girardin

Winery: Vincent Girardin

Vintage: 2005

Appellation: Pommard

Varietal: Pinor Noir

Oak: 16 months 33% new French

Average Price: $32.00


Tasting notes: This ruby-coloured Cote de Baune is a very delicate and fruity experience. The nose is filled with red and dark berries, and the overall feeling of the wine is that this one is a very nice drinker. Be careful when opening one of these, it will lead you to drink more than one bottle. A good long finish with soft tannins and strong fruits covers your tongue for several minutes.


Food Pairing Suggestions: I want poultry with fruit and nuts-salad and thyme potatoes. Pork and beets. And of course - do I have to mention - fried foie gras with your favorite adding.


Winery Notes: Vincent Girardin is a fairly new producer, but he already owns parcels everywhere in Burgundy. He makes excellent soft, long lasting, easy drinking and easy enjoyable wines. His wines are always good priced, so take a closer look at the wines from this serious producer.


Rating: 3,5 for an excellent wine. Share this with your friends or sit down and enjoy on a Thursday night.