Farina 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarones are one of my favourites and this one doesn't disappoint. Full-bodied with big fruit and a lovely long finish. Great with pasta w/tomato sauces. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Josephine Dubois 2009 Grande Reserve Pinot Noir

A nice if young Pinot Noir. Light bodied. Deep cherry. Old World style. Needs another 5 or 6 years in the cellar. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Mission Hill 2003 Oculus

Interesting blend that promised more than it delivered. 47% Merlot, 25% Cab Sauv, 20% Cab Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. I waited in vain for this wine to fully open up. Nice flavours. Dark fruits. Probably needs another 5 years in the cellar. Not available in LBCO. Recommendation: Buy

Greata Ranch 2005 Ehrenfelser

Interesting varietal that will remind you of  Riesling. Nice lingering finish. Well balanced. Not available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Concha Y Toro 2007 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

Decent Cab. Old world style. Medium body. Long finish. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Peterborough Photowalk Update

We are planning a FREE photowalk for Peterborough Sunday July 17 (starts 10am) and runs rain or shine. Route starts at Roger Cove parking lot and winds through East City. Everyone is welcome with whatever photo gear you have SLR, cellphone, Point&shoot, or even disposable. Several local pro photographers will be part of the group. Watch hashtag #PTBOphotowalk on Twitter or email PTBOphotowalk@gmail.com for more information.

Peterborough Photowalk

Planning a photowalk in Peterborough this summer. Starting from scratch. Should be interesting and fun!

J Calvert 2006 Reserve Des Remparts Saint-Emilion

A delightful Bordeaux and everything you want in an old world style wine. Beautifully complex and well balanced. Lovely long finish. Medium body. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: BUY

Joke of the Day

Q. What do you call a pirate who falls asleep at weird times throughout the day?
A. a NARRRcoleptic.

Bonterra 2007 Zinfandel

Decent enough Zinfandel that is a bit on the light side - not over-powering. Medium body. Ok black fruits. Good with full cheeses. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Okay

Creekside 2006 Headless Heinz

A so-so "blend" of 97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier. As far as I can tell the Viognier was added for volume only. It really didnt seem to bring anything to the party. Light-medium body. Decent with cheese. Not available at LCBO. Recommendation: Pass

Luongo the schmuck

Although the Vancouver fans seem to be completely enamoured by this guy, I've never been particularly impressed with Luongo as an NHL goaltender. His "skill" seems to be streaky at best. I cringed when he was appointed to the 2010 Olympic team.

His comments about Boston netminder Thomas were inappropriate especially considering Thomas' Goals Against of 2.06 and Save Percentage of .937 against Luongo's giving up 17 goals in less than 5 games. We would all be better served if he would use his big mouth to stop some pucks instead of the smack talk.

Good luck on Wednesday, boys. Are you sure you don't wanna have Ken Dryden warmed up in the wings? I hear he's looking for a gig now.

Time to change the rules of the road

Old ladies meandering along Lansdowne, the Parkway or Chemong at 30km mid-morning creating traffic jams is no longer amusing.

Over the past couple of decades we have refined the rules for underaged drivers. Until they are ready, we restrict the roads they can drive on and the hours they are allowed on the roads. Likewise we restrict them from any and all drinking and driving. We also have restricted swimming times for young people at the local pools and leisure centres. In Ontario we also require older drivers to re-certify when they hit age 80.

Its time we went to the next step and restrict driving times for old ladies on our roads. We need to have a limitted time like (2pm until 5pm) that old women (lets say over 55) are allowed to drive on major roads (2 lanes or more in one direction.) Before and after they should be restricted to sideroads and backroads.

Sorry, Mother. It needed to be said.

P.S. Also with the Phonebook and Yellow Pages shrinking in size, the older crowd should be forced to buy/use certified seat boosters so their eyes are above the steering wheel. Get on that MTO & Canadian Tire.

Cave Springs 2004 Reserve Riesling

Decent Riesling leaning to the acid side but not overly "crisp." Predominantly green apple. Some flowery notes. Decently long finish. Not available to LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Torbreck 2006 Woodcutters Shiraz

If you are a casual wine drinker, always shopping for that "special find" (especially one that doesnt break the bank) you still deserve to indulge yourself at least once a year. This is such a wine. Not overly expensive it still propels you into that over $20 range where we are all so afraid to tread.

This wine has a wonderful mouthfeel. Full bodied. Round and soft with luscious black fruit. Lovely extended finish with wonderful aftertaste.

This wine is the low end of the Torbreck lineup, so you can only imagine how great the others are. Promise me you will decant this one before you indulge. You deserve it.

Recommendation: BUY

PS The 2006 vintage is no longer at the LCBO, but the current Woodcutters vintage is. And please take the time to read the Torbreck story. You will enjoy it.

Muscedere 2006 Cabernet Franc

Interesting inexpensive Cab Franc from a small winery on the Lake Erie north shore. First glass was watery, little taste. Over the next 30 minutes, the wine opened up in stages, developing into a nice soft Cab Franc that tasted of sweet/sour bing cherries. Nice long finish. Later in the evening it developed an aftertaste with notes of chocolate. Light to medium body. Not available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Joke of the Day

Ole lived across river from Clarence who he didn't like at all. All the time they would yell at each other across the river.  Ole would yell to Clarence, "If I had a vay to cross dis river, I'd come over dere an beat you up good, yah sure ya betcha by golly!" 

This went on for years. Finally the state built a bridge across the river right there by their houses.

Ole's wife, Lena, said, "Now is you chance, Ole! Vhy don't you go over dere and beat up dat Clarence like you said you vould?"

Ole replied, "OK, by yimmy I tink I vill do yust dat!" As Ole approached the bridge he saw a sign on the bridge which he stopped to read. Abruptly he turned around and went back home.

Lena asked, "vhy did you come back and not beat up dat Clarence like you said you vould?"

Ole said, "Lena, I tink I change my mind 'bout beatin' up dat Clarence, you know, dey put a sign on da bridge dat says "Clarence is 13 ft. 6 in." You know, he don't look near dat big vhen I yell at him from across da river!"

Joffre e Hijas 2006 Grand Malbec

Decent Malbec with some interesting complexity. Black fruits. Nice with food but very drinkable. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Bouchard Pere & Fils 2008 Petit Chablis

Interesting light white wine. Hint of grapefruit. Okay with a delicate white fish, but wouldn't stand up to a sauce. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Ok, but you can do better.

Joke of the Day

Q: To what did the winemaker credit his success? 

A: His sur lie attitude.

NHL shaking and moving

Did anyone else notice the downbeat announcement from Gary Bettman on the move of the Atlanta team to Winnipeg? While the folks in Winnipeg were elated, Bettman did his best to show his displeasure.  He simply couldn't allow them to enjoy the victory. We know Bettman feels his mandate is to grow the League in the US south and this is a set-back from his master plan, but one would think he should be happy the team will survive and the league will be stronger.

What does all this mean for a team in Hamilton? Probably nothing. Since he is no longer distracted by Atlanta, Bettman can sit in his ivory tower in NYC and plot moving the Phoenix team to Honolulu.