Luigi Bosca Malbec

Luigi Bosca Malbec 2009 $17.95. This wine is under the Vintages Essentials at the LCBO. I had previously tried the Luigi Bosca ‘Finca La Linda’ Malbec 2010 about a month ago and thought it was excellent. This malbec is a step above and it didn’t disappoint. The scent was mild oak, the taste was super smooth and full of fruit. Nice long finish. It was hard to notice the 14.1% alcohol as this did not taste like a high alcohol wine. This was the best malbec I have tasted to date. JC93

Calem 10 Year Tawny Port

Calem 10 Year Old Tawny $23.95. I had not heard of Calem before reading good reviews on Wine Align. I picked up the 10 year tawny and was impressed. The colour is amber with a touch of red (depending on how the light hits it). The smell is sweet with a hint of fruit. The taste is nice and smooth, one of the smoothest ports I’ve had. I didn’t notice the alcohol as much in this as others. JC92

Mission Hill Reserve Merlot

Mission Hill Reserve Merlot 2008 $25.95. I had never tried a wine from B.C. winery Mission Hill, but I had heard good things. I ordered this bottle at a nice restaurant that our friends had taken my wife and I to for our wedding gift. The wine was well balanced with full fruit flavours on the nose mixed with subtle oak. The taste was very nice, with a long smooth finish. An excellent wine overall, that everyone in the group seemed to enjoy. JC91

Making Wine

One thing I’ve wanted to try for a while now is making my own wine. Rather than getting grapes or grape juice and doing everything myself, I decided to let professionals take care of the process. I found a Groupon deal to make 30 bottles of wine for $69 and decided to try it out.

The first part of the process lasted less than five minutes. It involved me pouring in a small amount of yeast into a container with my pre-selected South African cabernet sauvignon grape juice. In 6-10 weeks, I will go back and bottle the finished product. I will let you know how the end result turns out.

Cesari Mara Ripasso

Cesari Mara Ripasso 2010. I ordered this wine at an Italian restaurant. It had a nice aroma to it, oaky/earthy mixed with some fruit scents. The taste was very dry and not a long finish. I probably would have been just as happy, if not happier with the cheaper Farnese Sangiovese on the menu. JC85