Stags Leap 2006 Merlot

A very nice offering from a respected Napa winery. Ripe plums, fully ripe black fruit with just a hint of earthiness. Full-bodied with a generously long finish. Try it with wild game - boar, venison or duck. This is a decent one to have in your cellar. Drinkable now, but could stand to lay for another 3 or 4 years.

Available at LCBO

Recommendation: Buy

Conquista 2010 Malbec

Another very inexpensive Malbec from Argentina. Light/Medium bodied. Decent black & red fruits. Long but odd burnt aftertaste (may be partially the sulfites). Light enough to pair with roast chicken or a fatty fish like salmon. Would make a decent pre-dinner sipping wine if allowed enough time to breathe to soften the tannins.

Available at the LCBO

Recommendation: OK

Trivento 2010 Syrah

My first disappointment from Argentina. One would expects nice juicy red/black fruits, but this wine is a bit dull. Inexpensive. Light to medium body and a decent finish. Best paired with salmon.

Available at LCBO

Recommendation: Pass

Passion 2009 Malbec

Passable inexpensive offering from Argentina. Medium bodied, longish finish. Sadly the label design is probably nicer than the wine itself. Try this wine with roast chicken.

Available at LCBO

Recommendation: ok

Masi 2003 Campofiorin

A nice full bodied red wine that is well suited to hearty Italian fare (doesn't that sound pretty?) Decent fruit with earthy notes. Soft tannins. Nice long finish.

Not available at LCBO
Recommendation: Buy

Argento 2010 Malbec

I don't know how they do it, but Argentina is creating some excellent wines at very reasonable prices. This is another great value. Lots of black fruit. Medium body. Long finish. Try this wine with a beef roast or steak.

Available at LCBO
Recommendation: Buy

Fuzion 2009 Reserva Malbec

Another excellent value (cheap as sin) offering from an Argentinian winery. Fruit forward, medium body. Lots of ripe black fruit - plums, blackberry. Soft tannins. Remarkably long finish. Very drinkable.

Available at LCBO

Recommendation: Buy

Fuzion 2010 Shiraz/Malbec

A very inexpensive Argentinian red blend that has a decent medium body and exhibits good fruit. It offers enough red cherry to make it a good candidate to pair with wild game (venison, boar, etc) or even a simple pasta and tomato sauce. You will also notice some plum notes but not much complexity.

The wine exhibits a decently lingering finish. Although a tad harsh at this stage, the tannins are not unpalatable. Although completely drinkable now, you will probably want to cellar this wine for another 2-5 years.

Available at LCBO.

Recommendation: Buy

The Humble Apron

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few.

It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

-ANONYMOUS

My wine review Recommendation Scale explained

BUY = you should really buy this wine in quantity
Buy = good value. Buy a bottle of this wine
OK = You can buy this wine if you dont see anything else thats decent
Pass = walk away from this wine
PASS = Run away from this wine

L.A. Cetto 2008 Petite Sirah

I was really looking forward to this wine, especially after tasting their 08 Zinfandel, but this one was very disappointing. Ok fruit, but a definite unpalatable nose and taste ... notes of paint thinner. Long finish and the unpleasant taste lasts the whole time. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: PASS

Don Mendoza 2008 Reserva Merlot

Disappointing Merlot from Argentina. Old World style. Lacking in fruit. Medium body. Medium finish. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Pass

Fuzion Alta 2009 Reserva Malbec

Surprisingly decent Malbec. Lots of fruit, medium body. Drinks like a Merlot. Nice longish finish. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Coyote's Run 2003 Old Vines Chardonnay

Decent attempt at a Chardonnay for a new Niagara winery. Lots of oak doesnt really produce the buttery flavours that I wanted and/or expected. Citrus notes and a long finish. Not available at LCBO. Recommendation: Pass

L.A. Cetto 2008 Zinfandel

This is one of those great finds. A $10 wine that drinks as well or better than the low-end (read $20+) Zinfandels from Napa. Although it doesn't have the body or the 'heat' of a great Zin, this one bursts with fruit. Medium body and fully opens within 10 minutes. Lovely soft tannins and a respectably long finish. Honestly, it shocked the heck outta me. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: BUY ... a case.

Mexico has wines? Who knew?

di Leornardo 2009 Merlot

Absolutely wonderful Merlot, bursting with ripe black fruit. Medium bodied and a lovely long finish. Smooth tannins. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: BUY

Giacomo Montresor 2007 Amarone

I have yet to meet an Amarone I didnt like and I am very happy this one kept up the tradition. It certainly has the heat (15.5%)and the full body even if it doesn't have the depth of flavour that the great Amarones have. Decent fruit. A nice lingering finish. Would be excellent with a bolognese. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Joke of the Day

A SQL Injection walks into a bar, starts to #quote something but stops, drops a table, then dashes out.

(You have to be a bit of a hacker to appreciate this one. Blame Melanie, not me)

Le Gravillas 2009 Sablet

An interesting red wine from Cotes du Rhone. Nothing that jumps out at you, nothing wonderfully complex, just a wine that can be enjoyed. Plumy. Medium body. Available at LCBO. Recommendation: Buy

Mission Hill 2003 Family Estate Reserve Chardonnay

I guess my idea of "reserve" and Mission Hill's is different. Personally I expect a superior wine. This Chardonnay is quite drinkable but nothing extraordinary for the price. Not available at the LCBO. Recommendation: Pass