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No nice stock picture, so you get mine!
Name: Cabernet Franc
Maker: Stratus
Year: 2010
Region: Ontario, VQA Niagara
Alcohol Content: Unknown (ordered by glass)
Sugar Content: Unknown
Price: $38.00 at Winery (from WineAlign)
Tasting Notes:
This is the first time I’m reviewing a wine where I’ve only had a glass as opposed to the entire bottle. And lo, upon researching it, I couldn’t seem to find much information on this elusive 2010 at all (there appears to be more on its sister from 2009). So why am I posting my review on it? Because if their entire line of wines taste this good, then I’d like to spread the name around. Although it seems that their selection is mostly exclusive to their winery, you can grab a bottle or two from larger LCBOs.
However, because I ended up reviewing this wine on the go, you’ll get a much shorter post from me. I need to teach myself not to be so descriptive anyways. I’m sure all of you would like a quick and dirty info bump on the wine you’re looking for instead of my stories.
I decided to try this wine mostly because it was part of a new selection of wines using Coravin technology at my favourite wine bar. I was rather fascinated by the process, and so decided to pay the premium price to get a taste of this wine. In hindsight, I wonder if, in a wine bar, the Coravin process is more of a sales gimmick than actually benefiting the drinker (assuming that they go through bottles faster than the average consumer); but at least I can say I’ve tried it.
Drinking this wine was like having a wine and cheese pairing without the cheese. Quite literally. The wine was smoky with vanilla on the nose. The tasting palate boasted of berries, starting with a sweeter profile with some underlying savoury notes. It finishes dry and very rich. Like the Ravenswood Zinfandel, this is a big and meaty red. I was not kidding when I said it was like a wine and cheese pairing sans cheese. I could taste the lingering effects of cheese on the tongue on the finish of wine. Perhaps this is a lower calorie option for those who want to indulge on wine and cheese, but without the fats of cheese 😉
If their other wines boasts as much complexity as this one, I may just bite the bullet and buy one the next time I’m in Niagara! And it was nice to finally put a local wine onto the blog.
My Rating: 4/5 (based on Vivino App rating system)
Vivino Rating System: 1 star (“I dislike it”) – 2 stars (“It’s ok”) – 3 stars (“It’s good”) – 4 stars (“It’s great”) – 5 stars (“It’s outstanding”)
Vivino Average Rating: N/A (only my rating seems to exist)
Other Average Ratings: 4.5/5 (from WineAlign)
I was debating about writing a Facebook post about what I’m about to blog, because usually that’s the quick and dirty way to share some new insight or pleasure that we’ve experienced. But the longer I expanded and amended the post in my head, I realized that unless I wanted a huge essay of a “status update”, I probably should make a blog out of it.
*sigh* Well, at least demotivational posters are funny
I am also going to justify my decision to write this as a blog as opposed to Facebook because I am not a fan of the comment onslaught that sometimes ensues from a provocative post, often without giving it some thought beforehand. I remember a friend once publicly exclaiming on Facebook, after making a post that challenged a situation, how impressed she was that the conversation remained mature despite the heated replies and discussion (which I admit I was also a part of). It’s rare, in a world where it’s so easy to talk before we think, where anonymity is taken for granted, that an attempt to share an idea is not met without mob effect ridicule, or trolling as we call it.
By writing this entry, I know that I’m not absolved of that potential response, but hey, at least I can express myself to the fullest without the limitation of words. I also believe that what I’m about to write should have a little more permanence than a post would on Facebook, for these thoughts have been percolating in my mind for years. More often than not, it’s more a swirl of randomized streams of consciousness, and may have surfaced to support another thought process, but I have never tried to articulate it until now.
I have to thank the eloquence of the TED Talk I heard for that. Listening to others speak in a strong, educated manner seems to align my wild brain waves a little bit. Let me see if I can now share my response to that talk with you…
The latest Indiegogo newsletter had a subject headline that said “If you like lego and robots…” Guess what? I actually had misread the sender as Indigo/Chapters instead of our famous crowdfunding campaign platform. Guilty as charged, I likely would not have clicked the email if I realized it was another bid to fund something. However, the consumer in me wanted to see what lego and robots were all about. I bored of it rather quickly, and scrolled quickly down the letter to see if there was anything else of interest. There was. It was the story of a model who came out as transgender, and was now seeking support to advance transgender justice.
Even now I wonder a little bit what prompted me to click the link, and to even watch the TED Talk video. Those of you who know me know I really dislike watching videos. I’m a reader, I like moving through things at my pace. Watching a video means I move at the video’s pace, and I cannot multitask while watching a video on my computer. Given that I have another tab on my internet browser open for another TED Talk that I have yet to watch (for two months now), I’m very surprised by what I did in hindsight.
Another reason for my own surprise was that…I am not much of an activist. At least not compared to my peers. Coming from the arts industry, I am surrounded by many who can identify as activists far more than I could say for myself. For every new social or political situation that arises (G20, Native Rights, Gender Equality) my social media is filled to the brim of colleagues who are protesting, going to jail or holding vigils for things they believe in. I have often been accused as a capitalist (or bystander) for stepping back in face of these events. I used to be rather upset at these accusations. And then irritated. Not I am indifferent. I have my own reasons.
To try and list them all would be crazy, and they vary depending on circumstance. But I often find it hypocritical of activists to criticize me for my choices, or criticize me for the things I do take a stand in. We all have things we believe in, and we either do it silently, or actively. It is the open hostility that some activists treat non-active members of society that fosters the alienation to their causes. I do believe that we need to speak out in order to drive change, but I do not believe in channeling our frustration and anger towards society for the lack of change. This is often what I see as the face of “activism”. Hostile activism is narcissistic, thoughtless and causes more resistance to the very thing they’re trying to change. No one likes to be accused to their face that they are ignorant, wrong or whatnot. There is a very good reason why there’s usually a broker for tough negotiations, because communication needs to move in a succinct, calm and conscientious manner. While there are flaws to the interactions I’ve witnessed in business while pursuing my MBA right now, what I do appreciate is the ability to leave their shit at the door (for lack of a better figure of speech) and eliminate emotions from the equation of negotiation.
Yes, there are times we just need to “stir the pot”. I have selected specific moments and people to stir the pot with. That is a discussion for another time. But a careful decision is not the same as foot in mouth.
When I was younger, I have been to protests as a protestor, I have been the angry, self-righteous touter of a certain belief or cause. I see myself reflected in the face of my sisters, or my younger friends who are going through their own discovery of the injustices of the world and reacting to it. And while I am compassionate to them, I find myself exasperated with some of my peers, who I feel should know better than to approach the world that way. Anger does not resolve anger. What is that common cliche? Don’t get mad. Get even. We can be passionate about our causes, but we have to do it with compassion in our hearts. We have to realize that when someone does not want to stand with us, that they have more reasons than resistance or apathy. They may have families to protect. They may come from a culture where, for their entire lives, public face has been drilled as priority in their minds; the shame they are afraid to bring upon their family is worse than death. They may simply just be people who are quieter, more introverted in nature and do not wish to be involved in such intense battles.
We have to respect those wishes. For a thousand silent supporters standing behind us is more powerful than one powerful person standing alone. Believe me. I have stood alone for a lot of my life, given how I’ve approached life. It’s a lonely place to be. Some have the strength and sheer will to be able to do so. I take my hat off to them. I don’t quite have that strength. After my mini epiphany when I turned 23, I have been seeking the balance between standing to my own beliefs and integrity and hearing the voices of everyone else. But that is a whole other discussion in the subject of management and leadership, and I don’t quite want to open up that can of worms, even if I’ve cracked the edge today.
My mind is slowly turning back into a whirlwind (and it does not help that as every minute that passes of my writing this article as opposed to finalizing the prep for my MBA Business Analytics exam, I get more anxious), so I will try and drive the point. What prompted me to watch Geena’s video was the elegance of how she presented herself. To be an activist is no different than being a presenter, public speaker, leader, boss. Preparation and presentation is the million dollar key. Her campaign is meticulously laid out, and any TED Talk requires careful planning, drafting and delivery. PS, to the naysayers of TED Talks, yes, I am also aware of the discussion that highlights the flaws in the existence of these talks – my rule always is: see everything, determine my own truth. Geena was wonderfully compelling. She has the passion and heart, but what sets her apart is her educated rhetoric and elegance of presentation. She is someone who can reach thousands to inspire change. She worked over a decade to become the person who can truly inspire people, which garners further respect from me. Patience is truly a virtue.
I wish her all the best in her campaign. People like her will change the world.
As I reread my entry before submission, I do recognize the other facets of this argument, and additional thoughts that I wish I could elaborate on. Some of these thoughts include: the necessity of protests, the value of many small gestures, the pros of open defiance, the different benefits of a figurehead/celebrity ambassador, the powers and pitfalls of humanity etc. etc. But if I continue to explore, I’m certain that very soon I’d have a book instead of a blog entry. Perhaps another time.
Name: Ravenswood Vintners Blend Old Vine Zinfandel
Maker: Ravenswood
Year: 2011
Region: California, USA
Alcohol Content: 13.6%
Sugar Content: 7g/L
Price: $17.95 LCBO
Tasting Notes:
“Robust red, brimming with mouthwatering flavours of ripe raspberry, cherry and boysenberry” – on the bottle
“Big, bold, unapologetic. This 2011 rendition leads the charge with tantalizing aromas of black cherry, raspberries, and blueberries along with hints of oak. It then gets really serious with a cascade of fruit flavors, oh-so-flexible tannins, and a long, fruit-forward finish you are not going to forget very easily.” – from the website
This wine label was recommended to me, oddly enough, by some lovely fellows who were offering gin and vodka samples at LCBO. After the recommendation, I waited for awhile because I realized the price range of this wine was in the $20+ range. A Zinfandel was on sale, but my lack of familiarity with Zinfandels had me holding off even longer. Finally, when I learned that the sale was going to end for this Ravenswood, I snapped it up. I figured, Zinfandel or not, I would know how to appreciate a wine if it’s good, right?
I was warned that this wine was known for its extremely intense plum flavours, and is best with a steak, but may not stand on its own. I’m very open minded though, and usually can enjoy a pungent wine even on its own, if not at least appreciate it; so I was ready to taste it tonight, even if only armed with one square of chocolate to match with it.
Words cannot describe the nose I got upon my first whiff, perhaps because I’m not used to such a heavy nose. Without actually touching on “tastes”, the nose I got was dark, big and juicy. Does that make any sense? If I tried to put a finger on the fruit, it’d sound bland. Let me put it this way (at least for the ladies). If I had a giant, polished garnet, it’d smell like that.
You know what I like about this wine though…that it’s not very dry. I actually am a fan of drier wines, but the richness of this wine very nicely makes up for the lack of dryness. Besides, sometimes I need a change. The palate is just as promised by the nose, big, rich and juicy, reminiscent of those almost black plums you have to eat over a garbage because they drip everywhere. It’s ripe and sweet, with some underlying blackberry and blueberry notes and has a lingering, just slightly dry, finish. I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the plump qualities of this wine, given I usually don’t like heavy reds.
Oh yes, it went well with the chocolate. I think I may just be trying more Zinfandels in the future.
My Rating: 3.3/5 (based on Vivino App rating system)
Vivino Rating System: 1 star (“I dislike it”) – 2 stars (“It’s ok”) – 3 stars (“It’s good”) – 4 stars (“It’s great”) – 5 stars (“It’s outstanding”)
Vivino Average Rating: 3.4 – currently from 557 ratings
Other Average Ratings: 4.1/5 (from WineAlign) and 84.5 (from CellarTracker)
Name: Vila Regia Douro – Red Wine
Maker: Sograpes Vinhos
Year: 2012
Region: Douro, V.A. Gaia, Portugal
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Tasting Notes:
“…has a ruby colour and is characterized by an extremely fine and elegant red fruit bouquet, harmoniously combined with hints of vanilla and coconut. It has a balanced, rounded, full-bodied flavour with an elegant, lingering aftertaste.” – from bottle
The LCBO at Edna and Victoria in Kitchener does not boast the most impressive selection, but they have some of the most amazing staff, because of their willingness to help and great suggestions. Many of them really know their stuff – this is LCBO staff at their finest. While in most stores, I spend almost an hour pondering and leaving only with 1 wine, I am out of this location rapidly and often with something extra that I would not have picked otherwise.
After not finding the under $10 Portuguese wine that I had been looking for, I was told that this wine was a pretty darn good bang for the buck. The staff member did say that it may be more akin to a pizza wine (“It is $8 after all”), but I found myself being ‘deceived’ by the description again. Coconut. Heck, as if I wasn’t going to try and taste a wine that may have a hint of coconut! I am quite vehemently proving that the right description makes for VERY effective marketing.
Well, this wine definitely is better than a pizza wine. What I classify as a pizza wine is a decent more one-noted wine that does not improve with aeration time. As in…it’ll complement my pizza/A&W, but nothing that sparks and fizzles. While this wine is not complex, for $8, I was impressed by what it did offer.
The nose is tart and fruity, with a gentle overlay of smokiness. Some of the vanilla notes surfaced over time. The wine starts with a juicy cherry, before the vanilla sneaks in and then finishes dry. The dryness actually lingers on the tongue throughout the entire tasting, but surfaces once the other notes finish. I could not get a sense of the coconut until it has sat for awhile, and even then, it’s like a peek-a-boo, coming and going before I have even registered something different has hit my taste buds. For anyone wondering if I was influenced by the description, I wasn’t looking for it. Because of how long it took to surface, I had given up the notion that those flavours would be present until I got that little tease. If that coconut has been more prevalent, I’m certain by bias love alone I would be rating this wine very highly.
Regardless, considering its price, ESPECIALLY considering its price, this wine warrants an extra star from me. If anyone said I would have been as pleased with this wine as I was for $8, I would have laughed. It’s eight dollars! I dare anyone to find me a better one (in Canada)!
My Rating: 3/5 (based on Vivino App rating system)
Vivino Rating System: 1 star (“I dislike it”) – 2 stars (“It’s ok”) – 3 stars (“It’s good”) – 4 stars (“It’s great”) – 5 stars (“It’s outstanding”)
Vivino Average Rating: 2.8 – currently from 19 ratings
Other Average Ratings: 3.2/5 (from WineAlign and VinQuebec)
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