PALMES D’OR BRUT CHAMPAGNE 1998, Ac Champagne, France

12 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by rasiulis in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Tasting Events

Cost: $98 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Nicolas Feuillatte
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose & a fine mousse.

Powerful, distinguished & smooth. Happy birthday to me!

Positives: This complex Champagne features melba toast, peach, pear, apricot, lemon, walnut, candied ginger & limestone. Full body with good acidity & a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: You can serve this as an Aperitif, Starter, Main & Desert

Thank you Jacs & Mandy for this Champagne

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Foie gras.

Tasted: 12 March 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

TASTING WITH CHARLES DE BOURNET MARNIER LAPOSTOLLE

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by rasiulis in Tasting Events

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On 11 June 2013, I had the pleasure of attending a tasting event at Trialto with Charles de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, 7^th generation of the venerable Grand Marnier family with some of my friends that also write wine reviews on WineAlign . We tasted 6 wines; Lapostolle Casa 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Chateau De Sancerre 2011, Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre 2011 Chardonnay, Lapostolle Casa 2011 Carmenère, Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre 2011 Merlot and Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a delightful evening of sipping great tasting wines and listening to Charles recollect his family history to us. My full review of the wines are listed on my web site Twilightwines.net

Some of the interesting facts are summarized below:

The first vintage in Chile was the Lapostolle Casa Sauvignon Blanc in 1994.
All their lines use organic grapes but the Cuvée Alexandre is also biodynamic.
The Casa line is meant to be drunk early and not aged, however they can age very nicely.
The Cuvée Alexandre line is intended to be aged for 10 years

THE COUNTY IN THE CITY, 25 April 2013, Tasting Event

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by rasiulis in Canadian Wines, Tasting Events

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This annual affair is a great way for Torontonians to taste and buy wines from some of the Prince Edward County (PEC) wineries without doing the 2 1/2hr drive, and they offer free delivery! I was able to try some wines from their wineries for the first time, and tried some of my old favourites (Closson Chase and Norman Hardie) although I was disappointed that Norm only had 2 wines to show, but he did give me a good reason, just can’t remember it now. I really need to use the spittoon more. During this tasting some wines impressed me, some did not. So what were the positives and negatives at this event?

Negatives:

-There were two wineries with white wines that displayed volatile notes.

-Didn’t find any quality sparkling wines or reds outside the standard Pinot Noirs that PEC is becoming well known for.

-There were several wines that I felt were over priced for the quality.

Positives:

-Closs Chase had the best white in their 2011 Loyalist Chardonnay, but it’s only available to restaurants, so keep an eye out for it when you dine out. Their 2010 Pinot took best red, but at $40 it’s pricey, and needs time to decant before serving.

-Keint-He 2011 Portage Pinot Noir took best buy red at $25.

-Best overall winery for their quality that had more than 3 different varieties to offer customers went to Exultet Estates. In particular, their 2011 The Blessed Chardonnay & the 2012 White Light Chardonnay. Honourable mention went to Stanners Vineyard, a really nice 2010 Pinot Noir, and Lighthall’s 2010 Chardonnay.

-Most unique & intriguing wine had to be Exultet Estates 2012 Mysterium Pinot Noir. Why? Because it’s a white wine.

Overall, a great time. Lots of people attended which was nice to see. It was held in an old church at 315 Queen St E, which I took pictures and included them below. Finally, need to thank the caterers for their great finger foods that went well with the wines and WineAlign for promoting it. See you next year!