In three functions this year, our members have tasted wines from the expensive to the moderate to the very reasonable.
In January, at the annual “Aussie Day” bash, we were treated to two moderately priced reds, along with one of the top Cabernets in Australia. Did we forget to mention the really fine dinner at the Selkirk Hotel on the grounds of Fort Edmonton. This location is a very unique look at the inns of yesteryear, and those who got a chance to look around, saw some new look features at the hotel.
But, back to the wines. Along with a fine Paringa Shiraz, which has consistently been highly-rated by Wine Spectator, we were treated to a Pertaringa Shiraz which many thought was superb. This one came from Cristalls, which, unfortunately, is no longer owned by Rob Filipchuk. The Paringa was imported by Spike Maynard of Harvest Vintage Wines. The toprated wine of the evening was a 1997 D’Arenberg Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale. This one came from the cellar of Marty Larson, who tasted this one along with other D’Arenberg wines in 2006. Spike also is the imported for D’Arenberg, and you may remember the outstanding tasting of those wines about a year ago.
Our thanks to Bruce and Laurie Garriock for a great evening!
This spring, despite a heavy snowfall that day, some 40 members and guests enjoyed a very special tasting/food experience at Table d’Renoir hosted by Irene Labonte with assistance on the wine side by Ed Fong. Our expected expert for the evening, Spike Maynard, was unable to attend so Ed and Marty Larson took us through a superb group of Torbreck wines. Along with some sensational wines, we enjoyed great food pairings with each wine sample.
Torbreck wines (Barossa Valley) have achieved “cult” status in many parts of the United States and prices for these excellent wines have reacted upwards as a result.
We have begun to accumulate “The Struie” (priced around $58 per bottle) for our tenth anniversary event which comes up in a couple of years. Included in this planned vertical tasting will be at least one vintage of magnums.
At the Renoir evening, we enjoyed the 2005 Woodcutters Semillon, Juveniles (Shiraz), and the 04 Struie, The Steading and to finish up, the 2004 The Bothie Muscat. Interestingly, your scribe thinks the Woodcutters Shiraz is one of the real bargains in the wine list from Torbreck, and is well worth accumulating. If you can afford the Struie, it is really outstanding. The Steading is one of those that has been snapped up in the States, and is quite pricey.
Mike Hruska hosted an outstanding barbecue in June, featuring some large, very tasty bison steaks. Instead of the traditional barbecue sauces, Mike used a lemon grass marinade on the steaks which was excellent. He also used a special meat thermometer which ensured that steaks were done to everyone’s taste.
Wines for the evening came from Devine Wines, and were selected by cellar master Marty Larson. Mike and Marty felt that a barbecue format gave us the opportunity to try wines that fit the evening, and so we selected a very moderately priced list for the attendees. On offer was a Turkey Flat Rose, a Peter Lehmann Semillon, along with Madfish Shiraz, Paringa Merlot and an
outstanding Old Vines Grenache from Fireblock Vineyards. Only the Turkey Flat came in above $20. per bottle, while the others varied from $16 to $18. It was generally agreed that the Turkey Flat Rose was outstanding, the Semillon was very good, and the Grenache really went well with the steaks. Although the numbers were a bit light, all enjoyed the evening. Thanks also to those who brought salads.
Coming up on September 11th will be our annual (and best attended) event, our “Walkabout”. Lawrence has been working on an interesting list of stops for us, and it looks like we will be walking from Jasper Avenue north along the 103 – 105 st area.
Invitations will be out shortly