Topic: Red Wine Suggestions

[rrocket]

I live on Lake Erie, and I'm 2 minutes away from several different wineries.  4 of them are on the same road as I am.  If any of these wines interest you and are not available from your LCBO store, let me know...would be happy to help out.

http://www.sprucewoodshores.com/

http://www.erieshore.ca/

http://www.colchesterridge.com/

http://www.colio.com/

http://www.muscederevineyards.com/

http://www.viewpointewinery.com/

[ghost]

ghost - "Yellow Tail Shiraz is very popular, but I don't like 'em.
VQA is like a cartel."

As to Yellow Tail, agree that it's popular but mainly because of it's inexpensive price. IMO, it's barely drinkable.

As to the VQA being a cartel, I would disagree, as VQA is nothing more than a label of assurance that the wine is a "better quality" of Cdn wine. If it's better quality than other Cdn wines, you will likely pay more for it. Hardly a cartel, as you can chose among wines from the US, France, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia, NZ, Hungary, etc, etc, etc. and the VQA label does not "force" you into buying that VQA wine. On the contrary, I would say the wine market is pretty open and highly competitive.

Hahaha... I guess you misunderstood me. It's cartel not from the consumer stand point. 

[tpl]

ghost - "Yellow Tail Shiraz is very popular, but I don't like 'em.
VQA is like a cartel."

As to Yellow Tail, agree that it's popular but mainly because of it's inexpensive price. IMO, it's barely drinkable.

As to the VQA being a cartel, I would disagree, as VQA is nothing more than a label of assurance that the wine is a "better quality" of Cdn wine. If it's better quality than other Cdn wines, you will likely pay more for it. Hardly a cartel, as you can chose among wines from the US, France, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia, NZ, Hungary, etc, etc, etc. and the VQA label does not "force" you into buying that VQA wine. On the contrary, I would say the wine market is pretty open and highly competitive.

You are both partially wrong.    VQA exists because the EU insists that countries wishing to import wine into the EU must have a Government sanctioned body to enforce rules of origin and "terroir" in the broadest sense. The equivalent of Appellation controlee. So the quality aspect is indeed there as the wines are all tested and tasted to ensure good quality  but it is  secondary to the regulatory process.
The system does indeed work as there are few bad VQA wines... plenty that are not brilliant but few bad ones.

http://www.vqaontario.com/membersArea/processes/audit.htm

[Railton]

It seems once every year I try something from Ontario. I'm always hopeful, but I think I'm going to stop trying.
Take this latest offering from Thirty Bench.
THIRTY BENCH RED 2006
VINTAGES 53389 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 22.20
Absolute crap.

Mission Hill use to put out a Cab reserve years ago that was actually a damn good wine. Anyone try this one lately?
MISSION HILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE (V)
VINTAGES 553321 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 22.95

Of late, for a daily red I found that this Sonoma Vineyards to be pretty consistent and a good buy at $16...at least for me.
SONOMA VINEYARDS MERLOT
LCBO 60632 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 16.95
Wine, Red Wine,
13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
(Produced by Rodney Strong Vineyards)
Railton

[DockMan]

I agree in the Thirty Bench. We have found a couple Niagara wines that are decent, but like you say nothing earth moving. Like a dumb dog we keep going back and trying again as well.

No wine thread would be complete without the following quote:

"No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any Merlot!" - Miles (Paul Giamatti) SIDEWAYS 2004

[Railton]

...and...

"Some people say I have a drinking problem - I drink, I fall down, no problem."
W.C.Fields

[RunsinLight]

Just asked Import Queen.  She's very fond of Masi Valpolicella

Who could argue with a name like Import Queen. I'll give  Masi Valpolicella a try. Seems pretty reasonably priced 

[rrocket]

^^^^Even her license plate says it...LOL

"IMPRTQUN"

She got that nickname because she dressed like an import queen (also known as a race queen) from the import scene.  Check it out below...LOL

[Brig]

I daresay it's a good thing there's no 'T' at the end of her plate number.     

[rrocket]

^^^^Heheheh...awesome!!!  I'm going to run that one by her!!! 

[sailor723]

I had a nice Louis Latour Pinot Noir on the weekend ('06)  I don't know about  Ontario but it runs around $23 here at NB Liquor

[sailor723]

ghost - "Yellow Tail Shiraz is very popular, but I don't like 'em.
VQA is like a cartel."

As to Yellow Tail, agree that it's popular but mainly because of it's inexpensive price. IMO, it's barely drinkable.

In his '08 wine guide Hugh Johnson calls Yellow Tail  "wine for coke drinkers" 

[HeliDriver]

I had a nice Louis Latour Pinot Noir on the weekend ('06)  I don't know about  Ontario but it runs around $23 here at NB Liquor

A good, inexpensive Pinot is a rare thing, and I haven't found one that can touch the Louis Latour. Even better, it's often on sale for around $15 here in Alberta.

[Railton]

Of late, for a daily red I found that this Sonoma Vineyards to be pretty consistent and a good buy at $16...at least for me.
SONOMA VINEYARDS MERLOT
LCBO 60632 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 16.95
Wine, Red Wine,
13.6% Alcohol/Vol.
(Produced by Rodney Strong Vineyards)
Railton

This wine just went up $3.00!!!

Oh, and I'm not feel'n the love for that Lohr 7 Oaks...it's lacking finish.
Railton

[Brig]

Saw the J. Lohr tonight at my LCBO.  It was displayed as a "Staff Pick."

[Railton]

Saw the J. Lohr tonight at my LCBO.  It was displayed as a "Staff Pick."

Yeah, there were cases of it at the 3rd line store tonight.
So did you buy it? If not, what did you buy and why?
Railton

[Brig]

Yeah, there were cases of it at the 3rd line store tonight.
So did you buy it? If not, what did you buy and why?

I did not buy it, because it was $20 for the bottle, and I pride myself on finding good wines in the $10.00 range.  I found a bottle of J.J. McWilliams 2006 Cabernet Merlot for $8.95, which was a staff pick earlier this week.  Spicy and quite delightful.     Pairs perfectly with laundry, which is what I'm doing right now.    

[safristi]

..No need ta get yer knickers inna twist,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[sailor723]

I had a nice Louis Latour Pinot Noir on the weekend ('06)  I don't know about  Ontario but it runs around $23 here at NB Liquor

A good, inexpensive Pinot is a rare thing, and I haven't found one that can touch the Louis Latour. Even better, it's often on sale for around $15 here in Alberta.

Had the Kim Crawford new Zealand Pinot Noir at a restaurant last night....quite nice but very different from the Latour (a lot more fruit)