Canadian wine tasting this evening!!

Looks like an interesting night down at DeVines winestore, here in Edmonton.

1) 2006 Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling (Niagara, Ontario) - $31.99

2) 2005 Jost Seyval Blanc (Nova Scotia) - $16.99

3) 2005 Henry of Pelham Reserve Riesling (Niagara, Ontario) - $17.49

4) 2007 La Frenz Semillon (Naramata, B.C) - $27.99

5) 2006 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir (Niagara, Ontario) - $18.99

6) 2005 Laughing Stock Portfolio (Okanagan, B.C) - $59.99

7) 2007 en Sante Alfalfa Green Envy (Alberta) - $22.49

Looking forward to hearing the feedback on the wines. An interesting range of Canadian wine regions - from NS to BC.

Quite the name on that first wine! Do you think marketing types were invoilved in that name ?!? The price also shows the hand of a keen marketing team!

I've enjoyed the Henry of Pelham Reserve Riesling before (though not the 2005 vinatge) and the La Frenz Semillon can be nice in certain vintages - the price has really gone up, though. You can buy a great number of high quality whites for that price...

Where's the Alberta wine grown?

[Jenise]

7) 2007 en Sante Alfalfa Green Envy (Alberta) - $22.49

Didn't realize anyone was making wine in Alberta. Um...alfalfa?

Jenise, we have two wineries in Alberta, both producing fruit wines. enSante is near Two Hills and Field Stone is near Strathmore in southern Alberta.

I've only tried Field Stone, and it's ummm, OK.

Bob, that reminds me. I went in with friends on some futures of Laughing Stock that should be in soon. I paid $35 bucks a bottle - that markup's a bitch, eh?

I look forward to your notes. La Frenz is one of my favourites in B.C. I went to tasting with Jeff Martin and his wife a few months back and really enjoyed most of their wines.

I have never had a Canadian red that I have liked. Now I just drink Rhone wines so I'll likely never give Canadian wines a shot again. Just curious if you think Canadian red wines are actually good and I just must have missed tasting one. I have to admit I have a bias towards bashing Cnd red wines because I think they aren't very good and I've been curious if this is unwarranted or if I have a valid point.

Bryan

I have never had a Canadian red that I have liked. Now I just drink Rhone wines so I'll likely never give Canadian wines a shot again. Just curious if you think Canadian red wines are actually good and I just must have missed tasting one. I have to admit I have a bias towards bashing Cnd red wines because I think they aren't very good and I've been curious if this is unwarranted or if I have a valid point.

Bryan

Guess it all depends on what red wine selection you were offered. Not sure how you can compare BC/Ontario wines to the Rhone?

The Henry of Pelham BN is certainly different and maybe an acquired taste but vinified correctly can be a pleasant surprise with the right food. A recent Sandhill Cab Franc was a revelation..I could go on!

[Jenise]

I have never had a Canadian red that I have liked. Now I just drink Rhone wines so I'll likely never give Canadian wines a shot again. Just curious if you think Canadian red wines are actually good and I just must have missed tasting one. I have to admit I have a bias towards bashing Cnd red wines because I think they aren't very good and I've been curious if this is unwarranted or if I have a valid point.

Bryan

I keep hearing from my Canadian friends that though Canadian reds aren't yet and may never be world class, there's been huge improvement in recent years. And I've had some good ones: a passively cellared 99 Nota Bene was outstanding and perfectly at home in a flight of good Bordeauxs that included 66 and 86 Pontet Canet, for instance.

There is an excellent red from Jenise!!

I will be posting on the tasting asap but the evening was quite enjoyable with a good turnout. The La Frenz Semillon was quite outstanding but the Meglomaniac Riesling was served too warm. I could see the potential however. The late-harvest Riesling from Cave Springs was very good, this winery knows its stuff (as the NiagaraCool guys found out).
The Baco Noir had its admirers but the Laughing Stock (Meritage-type) was a flyer off the shelf at the end of the evening. I thought it a tad young but great cellar potential indeed.
Oh, the Alfalfa white wine? Stir emotions in the room? Nagh!

there are definitly some good canadian reds. just bought some lailley syrah a month ago - delicious stuff from a mediocre vintage '06. still have an old bottle of cab/merlot from konzelman that could pass for bordeaux maybe. most people are happy to drink merely ok wine from their favorite places and then pooh pooh merely ok wines from other places.

I have tasted the following reds this past year and have been very satisfied.

Cedar Creek Meritage.
Mission Hill Oculus.
Le Clos Jordaine Pinot Noir.
Osoyoos Larose.
Stratus Red.

The folks at Township 7 are turning out some nice juice and hopefully distribution will reach Brian in Calgary!! I do not deny there are some dire wines out there but most tasting bars offer a nice Canadian red from time to time.

Looks like an interesting night down at DeVines winestore, here in Edmonton.


4) 2007 La Frenz Semillon (Naramata, B.C) - $27.99

6) 2005 Laughing Stock Portfolio (Okanagan, B.C) - $59.99

Do they at least offer a polite "Bend over Sir" before charging you those prices?

I just picked up the 2006 Portfolio @ $38.90 and paid $35 for the 2005. The 2007 La Frenz was sold at $18.

I'm a big fan of Ch. Des Charmes Gamay Droit and Stratus Gamay ($$).

Bill writes....I just picked up the 2006 Portfolio @ $38.90 and paid $35 for the 2005. The 2007 La Frenz was sold at $18.

I mentioned this at the store and did not get a clear answer, so will ask again when they are not so busy! Bill, is part of the answer that the store here has to go through an agent , then the Liquor Board etc.
In other words, in BC, can a store buy direct from the winery? None of this "middle man" stuff?

Even an agent wouldn't account for that brutal mark-up.

Even an agent wouldn't account for that brutal mark-up.

It's good business if they can get away with it and sell their stock. What is the competition situation in Alberta?

Tim, it is not really a question of competition. The Board takes a cut, the agent/or two (in some cases ) marks up and then the store. From what I have heard, there are certain agents in Alberta who really mark up greedily.
I know my prices as I look around/read/spend time here/prep wine lists. Whenever I mention high mark-ups in stores etc, everyone gets real defensive!
I do not think there is any competition between stores, they mark up as they feel fit.

From what I have heard, there are certain agents in Alberta who really mark up greedily.

And even so there are normally much lower prices in AB than BC - usually by about 25-30%, which is what makes me wonder if some extra gouging isn't going on in the case of that store.

I can but BC wine cheaper from the LDBO (Ontario) than from the winery door in BC - that's what different provincial mark-up structures does for us.

I do not think there is any competition between stores, they mark up as they feel fit.

Doesn't help that we've gone from ALCB, a government monopoly, to the current unregulated near-monopoly. Sure, there's a handful of small, independent wine stores, but they're competing with the ever-growing Liquor Stores Income Fund, which owns the Liquor Depot/Liquor Barn chain. Not only must the smaller stores compete for allocations, but the income fund has simply bought some of them out. Some of my favourite independent wine boutiques are now sporting the colours of the Liquor Depot chain.

That's not to suggest I'm in favour of a return to the government-run stores or heavy regulation, but there is a worrying decrease in competition in our system.

Mike, can you breakdown the mark ups? Was I close to the mark in my summary?
I notice I forgot the tax/s issue.
I also believe that the mark up issue at you-know-where downtown is getting a bit ambitious. The team challenge has gone from $25 to $40, just one example. That Laughing Stock Portfolio red seem an outrageous price, compared to Bills price out on the coast.

Bob

Bob, I don't know what the mark ups are at each level, but that sounds correct. I also bought the latest Portfolio winery direct for $38, and the Nota Bene is roughly $35 from the winery and about twice that at retail.

Provincial taxes are $3.45 per litre, or $2.59 on a 750 mL bottle of wine. Harper increased the federal excise on wine and beer in 2006, but I don't know how much it is, nor whether it applies to wine shipped between provinces or only imported wine. Then there's the GST.

Connect Logistics also increased their rates last year, as I'm sure you recall.

`07 en Sante Alfalfa Green Envy.

Over 20 different fruit wines produced, organic too. Alberta winery established `99. $23 Cdn, ouch!
Aroma was floral, grassy, over-ripe crab apples, pomegranite, dandelion.
All thought way too sweet, a curiousity item I feel. But will have appeal to some I guess.

`05 Jost Seyval Blanc, Nova Scotia.

Much acclaim nationwide but not for me! Aroma of asiago, green pears and citrus. "Dusty, shells" was one tasters comment. "Socks" from another. Tastes better than it smells......apricot, blackberry. Would go well with asian food. $17 Cdn.

`07 La Frenz Semillon, Naramata Bench, BC.

Lovely wine, very popular in room. Excellent nose of grass, citrus, ripe apple. Taste of gooseberry, grapefruit. Full-bodied w. tingling vibrant acidity $28 Cdn, price gouge example.

`06 Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling, Niagara Ont.

I was waiting for this one but served too warm. Serve this blind in a Mosel taste-off! $32 is pricey eh.
Found some peach and lime on palate. Mineral quality here, very nice.

`06 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir, Niagara Ont.

WOTN for me, biased? No!
Meaty nose with woodsy rustic feel. Very good juicy acidity, low tannin/soft. "Old world merlot" was one comment, would serve this with chocolate mousse and lemon zest shavings. $19 Cdn, wow good value.

`05 Laughing Stock Portfolio, Naramata Bench BC.

59% Merlot, 33% CS, 4% Malbec, some P Verdot and CF. gravity feed winery on hillside. 20 months in 40% new French oak.
Needs time but $58 ?? Raspberry flavors, chocolate, little oak is good. Not that tannic, leave 3 yrs and see.

`06 Indian Summer Late Harvest Riesling, Niagara Ont.

Great nose, pear, raisins, honey. Balanced acidity, wonderful mouthfeel. Caramalized apples, rhubarb compote good for this one! Cave Spring Cellars rock.