One of the great things about wine is how many unique and interesting bottles there are to enjoy. Because I’m now a wine student, I get the opportunity to taste every week and I’ve been fascinated by just how much there is to learn. Each wine is so different.
With that in mind, here are a few bottles I’ve tried since January.
Kacaba Vineyards 2011 Rebecca Rosé (Ontario)
This is one I picked up on our visit to Kacaba in the fall and we decided to enjoy on Valentine’s Day when Shawn made miso-glazed tuna steaks. This is a great food wine with cherry, strawberries and raspberries mingled with a hint of spice. It’s a nice, dry wine that paired perfectly with the tuna. I look very forward to trying more of the wines that Kacaba has to offer.
I discovered this wine on a trip to the LCBO when none of the German Reislings that had been suggested were available. I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. With apples, citrus, lychee and petrol on the nose, this is a nicely balanced wine that was fresh and fruity.
We received this wine as a gift at Christmas and when I asked for thoughts about it on Twitter I was surprised that so many friends had tried it. They all said the same thing – it was good, but nothing special. I would concur, although having it a few days after the amazing Kacaba wine may also have influenced that feeling. I felt like it was a decent wine that went well with dinner, but I wouldn’t seek it out again. There are just too many other options that are really fabulous. This one has cherry, petrol and spicy, stewed fruit on the nose and a good mouth-filling weight.
Pierre Sparr 2011Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve (France)
I missed my wine classes the evening we covered the wines of The Loire and Alsace, which meant catching up by purchasing a few bottles and enjoying some of the best homework ever. I had never tried a French Gewurztraminer, though I’m a huge fan of Ontario Gewurz. Having had this one from Alsace, I realized there is a very big difference in terms of how the terroir affects the taste. I loved this wine, despite it being so different from what I’d had previously. With a fruit-filled nose full of citrus, green apple, tangerine, peaches and mango this wine followed through perfectly.
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