This week we’ve got wines to pair with nothing. We have had a few weeks of over the top wine and food pairings but sometimes nothing goes together quite like the couch, the tv and a great glass of wine.
2009 Tawse Sketches of Niagara Chardonnay – VINTAGES 89037 – $19.95 – I will be honest, I found this one by accident. Last year I set on a mission to find a great barrel aged Chardonnay (I did find a few, including one from Chateau des Charmes, and one from Inniskillin). But this one is truly great. Winner of a Gold Medal at the 2011 Canadian Wine Awards this is a great balanced Chardonnay with a nice finish, but enough acidity that it doesn’t stay too long. This is a wine I would recommend to any White Wine drinker because it has clean, crisp, focused flavours, which should appeal to most people if you prefer something with a little sweetness like a Riesling or Gewurtztraminer. However this is a very dry wine with lots of butter and caramel on the finish will appeal to the Chardonnay Hunter.
2010 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir – LCBO 270926 – $13.95 ($12.95 until Feb 26) – This Baco Noir from Henry of Pelham is a staple and well known from many menus around the city. I have always been a fan of Baco, especially the one from Henry of Pelham. I’m a fan because this is truly one of the signatures of Ontario, Baco Noir is a grape that isn’t grown too many places in the world and it is something we do very well here. Most Baco’s have strong notes of earthiness undernearth ripe red fruits, strawberry, plum, and even dark cherry. In this vintage the earthiness is much more subtle making this even easier to drink than any I have had in the past. If you have not been convinced by the greatness of Baco in the past you will be now. Not to mention at $13.95 ($12.95 until Feb 26) this is one of the best value for dollar Ontario wines on the shelf.
