The Mission:

Purple Tongues expands wine palates by promoting boutique wines and the retailers selling them in a fun, non-pretentious fashion.

Follow me on Twitter for updates on sales, events, good buys and dining adventures.

It can be an intimidating exercise tasting wine with people who do it for a living but the mark of a great wine store is having people to tell the stories of the vineyards and the wines to grab our palate’s attention.

Bin905 has had these sorts of people for many years now and remains one of Calgary’s finest boutique retailers of wine, spirits and ales. An invitation to taste some of their newest products with Geoff Last and Sylvain Courel was not one I’d miss. Bin905 routinely features wines for tasting (good boutique wine shops always have something open) so you don’t need to wait for an invite, just head down! Here are some of the highlights;

-2009 Mica Vinho Verde, Portugal, $24 – A lovely bio dynamically grown Albarino that, at 11.5% alcohol was oozing minerality in the form of wet slate and lemon peel notes that called out for shellfish.

Geoff explained there are less than a dozen bio dynamic wineries in Portugal and the difficulties and expense in remaining fully certified generally means “close” is good enough. Many new wineries have sprung up in Portugal since co-ops were broken up and this makes these new producers an excellent new source of value and quality in the world wine markets.

-2009 Casa De Mouraz Dao, Portugal, $24 – Non-interventionist wine making, no fining, no filtering, aged on its lees for 3 months this was another citrus filled, crisp white with a slightly higher 13.5% alcohol level. A blend of indigenous grapes this was really something different and the price is definitely right.

- 2010 Vina Mein Blanco, Ribeiro, Spain, $26 – Another wine of indigenous progeny and at 12% alcohol, slightly weightier on the palate, the glass reeks of bananas, like the children’s banana marshmallows we all once scarfed down. I loved this wine for the price as did Robert Parker who gave it 92 points.

- 1996 Schloss Schonborn Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau Valley, $41 in 1L bottle – Possibly my favorite wine of the day! Anytime I can buy aged wines off the shelves at fair prices it puts a huge smile on my face. This wine is light at 9% alcohol but it is balanced in its acidity, lively and crisp and for something 15 years old really grabs your olfactory bulb and takes it for a joy ride. The wonderfully tamed citrus combined with Granny Smith apple scents is fantastic. Buy this while you can.

- 2007 Casa de Mouraz Dao, Portugal, $24 – An intense red full of black olives, rosemary, blue fruits, tar, etc. Medium tannins on the finish with floral notes this wine was fantastic value for $24 and would be heavenly with roasted lamb or even a well paired cheese course. This is exactly the kind of wine to serve people who cannot get past Shiraz or cabernet; a fantastically simple curve ball. A blend of Tinta-Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Jaen and Alfrocheiro…try and remember THAT after your second bottle!

-2006 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino, Italy – At 14.5% alcohol you’d expect this to be a brooding beast, but it’s quite elegant. Notes of chocolate and toasted coconut macaroons give way to dark fruits. The medium tannins on the finish make this a great pairing with roasted meats and savory flavors. Another nice wine to pair with a cheese course, but be patient as this juice requires a few years to mature. 
 
June 2011

 
Buyers should be on the lookout for the wines of Chateau Tahbilk which hit the shelves in Alberta this spring. My first foray into their wines was with the 1992 Old Vines Shiraz...an amazing wine for the money ($90). It showed balance, grace, structure...people I poured it for never guessed in was an Aussie Shiraz. It had...French Appeal.

• Established in 1860 Tahbilk is one of Australia's most beautiful & historic wineries. Located in the Nagambie Lakes region of central Victoria (120kms north of Melbourne), one of the nation's premium viticultural areas, the property comprises some 1,214 hectares of rich river flats with a frontage of 11 kms to the Goulburn River and 8 kms of permanent backwaters & creeks. 

• The vineyard has some 200 hectares under vine which includes the rare French Rhone Valley whites of Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne; and the Rhone reds - Shiraz, Grenache & Mourvedre. Also planted are the traditional varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc & Verdelho and new age rising stars Tempranillo and Savignin. Vineyard plantings extend back to Tahbilk's founding with original pre-phylloxera Shiraz vines still surviving from 1860 - an eponymous wine produced from them since 1979. 

• Tahbilk is further blessed with an abundance of further "old vine" plantings including Shiraz from 1933 (the prime source for Tahbilk's 'Eric Stevens Purbrick' Shiraz releases), Cabernet Sauvignon back to 1949 and Marsanne from 1927 (a "sister" white release to the 1860 Vines Shiraz produced from them). Harvest commences in early March and continues for five to six weeks with approximately 1,600 tonnes (red & white) grapes processed.

• Total production is over 100,000 cases with just over 10% being exported to the key markets of U.S.A., United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries.

Why I Love Boutique Wine Merchants...

Imagine my surprise walking in to Richmond Hill and seeing this sitting on a table begging to be purchased. If you've read Wine and War you will understand the signifigance of finding a Gaston Huet from 1945. Yes it was stupidly expensive but how often can you acquire a piece of history? See more in my Richmond Hill photo gallery!

J Webb is an unmined gem. I almost want to keep them a secret from all of you! Paras Vineyards Viognier was one of my favorite wines this summer and the Rolet's are amazing value. A great team of wine professionals with zero arrogance awaits you! See more pictures in my J Webb photo gallery!

Lots of changes at Bin 905...but there is stil a lot of amazing wine to be had! If you've never visited them down on 4th Avenue you're really missing out. Adobe Carmenere is unreal for $16. The products they bring in never cease to impress me...sparking Cab Franc for $24...and Ojai Rosé is usually sold out in a week!

One of the best values I have ever found is the 2006 Terrunyo Carmenere. The only place I have found it is at CSN Wines. They have also rounded up quite a selection of Rhones from several vintages including the smashing 2007's. The CSN gallery is here.

Kensington Wine Market has a fine selection of Greenock Creek. These are some of the best boutique wines you can buy so if you're looking to beef up your cellar you won't go wrong. See more pictures in my Kensington photo gallery!

Discover Wines in Kelowna has a great program. Join their wine club and receive an excellent selection of 12 B.C. wines every 2 months. Shipped to your door, choose either the all red club or the red and white club. After 2 shipments of all red I have been really happy with their selections. Many goodies we don't get in Calgary have appeared so it's like Christmas arrives every 60 days. At a minimum, be sure to visit Tracy and Suzanne's wonderful store each time you're in Kelowna!

Email Me For An Event Schedule!

My events offer tasting fundamentals to anyone wanting to learn about wine and their own palette in a fun, snob-free setting. Limited seating (12-14) ensures an open forum for questions and discussion. Lots of food, lots of wine and a private tasting room ensures excellent value for all attendees. Contact me at james@purpletongues.com to reserve your space now!

Each Evening Features:

• Sparkling wine reception and appetizers in the Private Dining room at Parker House.

• Wines from boutique producers are featured. No mass produced wines.

• Handouts containing the materials presented along with a practical guide to wines and tasting notes for wines featured.

• Buying tips and boutique wine store reviews you can use to acquire your favorite wines at the best prices. 

If you are looking for public wine tastings or would rather get a group of 8-12 friends and book a private tasting look no further! See what others have said about my events.

March 2011 - Australia 

• Schild Estate: An up and coming Barossa Valley producer. You'll find many of their products on the shelves at reasonable prices.  I tasted 12 wines here...highlights included the 2010 Barossa Old Bush GMS, 2008 & 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon's and of course the 2008 Shiraz which was #7 on Wine Spectators Top 100.
• Hentley Farm: I've seen these wines around but had never tried any until this trip...BIG mistake. Wow. In addition to producing one of the few Barossa based Zinfandels (2010) there is 2008 Clos Otto Shiraz, 2008 The Beauty Shiraz, 2008 The Beast Shiraz and maybe my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon of the entire trip, the 2009 Von Kasper (a new release for them). Only 400 cases of the Clos Otto are made from a single block and the 2008 featured flavors of dark chocolate, ripe dark fruits, excellent tannic structure and a full, full body! Wow. This winery didn't seem to have a bad product....excellent products from top to bottom and at each price point. I loved the little grape tasting we did here to kick things off!

• Two Hands: These guys make A LOT of wines...there's a shiraz from just about every region of Australia. Personally I think they're trying to do too much but I did enjoy a few of their wines immensely. The 2009 Sophie's Garden (Padthaway) in particular was a nice drinker as was their Day Late Buck Short Muscat. Too many product lines here.
• Rockford: One of my favorite wineries in Australia and they did not disappoint. A fine array of whites was for me always highlighted by their White Frontignac (2010) which is spectacular value. The line of reds was outstanding and of course the 2008 Basket Press Shiraz was the star but I also really enjoyed the Frugal Farmer Grenache and the 2003 Rockford Shiraz VP (fortified). If you can ever try the Black Shiraz...do it! Check out the antique wine making equipment...

• Visits to Kabminye and Elderton were quickies...I was disappointed that Kabminye hadn't produced any more of their fortified shiraz I bought last time...but Elderton made up for it by selling me back vintages of 2000 and 2002 Command Shiraz!
• Torbreck: There are few Torbreck products we cannot buy here but for me it is always worth visiting them to taste their line-up and gain insights into what's new in the region or projects that have launched new wines...this trip was highlighted by their Single Vineyard 2009 Viognier (less than 100 cases made), The 2008 Celts Single Vineyard (Marananga) Shiraz (100 cases), 2008 The Gask Single Vineyard (Eden Valley) Shiraz (300 cases) and of course 2007 Run Rig Shiraz Viognier was worthy of the name! Soooo many goodies here but the Laird is never open for tasting...and at $750 a bottle I understand why.

McLaren Vale

• Kay Brothers: It will be interesting to see how this vintage turns out for Colin Kay and crew. When we arrived in the second week of March they still had not picked due to some late rains. The feeling was optimistic that a very good vintage could be made...minus any more significant rainfall. The highlights from our tastings included the 2010 Viognier, 2008 Cuthbert Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2006 Hillside Shiraz though tannic, was drinking quite nicely. We are never able to get their fine Muscat's and the Tawny which is a shame. I find all of these wines to be delicious! A barrel sample of the Rare Muscat was the treat of the day here! Big vats of wine and barrels are all right there in front of you in their tasting room.

• Samuel's Gorge: One of my favorite boutique wineries...they are always out of the Tempranillo and Shiraz but we were still able to taste the 2008 Grenache, 2010 Riesling and the 2010 Gewürztraminer. For $35 a bottle at the cellar door, you will not find better value anywhere in McLaren Vale when it comes to red wines. I hunted, begged, and nagged until I was able to buy some of the Shiraz and Tempranillo in bottle shops in Melbourne but even for $45 (store price) these wines are a steal. Though I am generally not a huge gewürztraminer fan I found the floral, citrus mixed with lychee flavors to be irresistible for $25. The grapes for their whites are grown in Tasmania and then shipped to the vineyard where Justin McNamee can work his magic. This is a spot not to be missed anytime you visit McLaren Vale, just a gorgeous landscape and lovely people.
• Coriole: Another small producer....though at Coriole there are a few traditional Italian varietals mixed in to get your juices flowing. The 2008 Barbera and 2009 Sangiovese were both excellent wines! I wasn't wild about their Aussie style varietals but really enjoyed their take on Italian classics. Here's some open fermentation...check out that cap...it's REALLY heavy...I have the video to prove it! LOL

• d'Arenberg: You can taste more wines here that at just about any other winery worth visiting. We were spoiled with a behind the scenes tour of their production facility and it is a wonder to see them balance the line between becoming a higher volume producer in certain wines while maintaining their boutique approach to the flagship Dead Arm Shiraz. Our tastings here included....2010 Dry Dam Riesling, 2003 & 2009 Money Spider Roussanne, 2007 Iron Stone Pressings GSM, 2005 & 2007 Coppermine Road Cab. Sauvignon, 2007 Derelict Grenache, 2010 Noble Riesling, 2010 Noble Prankster Chardonnay/Semillon, 2008 Pinot Gris Mud Pie, 2005 Fortified Shiraz, NV Nostalgia Rare port-like Grenache and of course the 2007 Dead Arm! Wow. Keep in mind....this is a subset of their wines....you'll need a DD unless you can spit.
• After a day like this we should have packed it in....but we managed to squeeze in Fox Creek and Shingleback. Fox Creek is known for their Short Row Shiraz which I found a tad light for my tastes but I did enjoy their sparkling wine. Shingleback had a few winners; the 2006 D Block Shiraz was nice as was their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. A guilty pleasure here includes their sparkling shiraz!

Mornington Peninsula

• Our day began at Port Philip Estate and their line up includes all the PPE wines as well as the Kooyong Estate brand. This was another spot on the trip that had A LOT of wine to try but after drinking the big guns in Barossa and McLaren Vale you have to retrain your palate for this cooler climate where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the stars. I tried about 13 wines here but nothing really caught my palate the right way given some of the prices. I probably enjoyed their Sauvignon Blanc the most as it was leafy, herbal, with loads of eucalyptus. The red I enjoyed the most was the Quartier Barbera but as with all their reds the finish was a bit lacking for me. There is nothing wrong with these wines but I've come to appreciate a stronger, longer finish and that's just not the style here.
• Paringa Estate: This was an unexpected treat! What a great little spot. A few good wines at each price point and all of these wines had the finish I found to be lacking at Port Philip. We tasted 2010 Riesling, 2009 Pinot Gris, 2007 Viognier, 2008 Peninsula Chardonnay, 2008 Estate Chardonnay, 2009 Peninsula Pinot Noir, 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, 2008 Peninsula Shiraz, 2008 Estate Shiraz and 2007 Reserve Shiraz! There was also a back vintage of 2000 Estate Shiraz which was outstanding value.
• Red Hill: A great lunch spot with a few treats but after 10 wines tasted I was again thinking back to PPE and perhaps the finish I was expecting simply isn't there as consistently as it is in the big regions. Again, it is probably a combination of style and the region that provides a finish that doesn't suit my palate as much. The 2008 Cellar Door Chardonnay was an exception being a massive oak bomb. It was too much oak on the finish for my palate but some would certainly enjoy!
• Montalto:13 wines tasted here with a range in quality and enjoyment versus value. The 2010 Pinot Grigio had nice acidity, citrus fruits mixed with bananas and I enjoyed....the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc gave up nothing for my palate and both were about $24. At the higher end of the price spectrum the 2008 Eleven Single Vineyard Chardonnay was buttery, soft, with no malolactic fermentation and new French Oak. The 2009 Pennon Hill Pinot Noir ($28) was like a bowl of cherries with a light finish while the 2009 Pennon Hill Tempranillo ($26) was a tannic beast with loads of creamy cheese and coffee on the palate.
• Tuck's Ridge: Another 9 wines tasted....Tuck's is really known for their Chardonnay and their Pinot Noir and neither of their flagship wines failed to impress. The 2008 Buckle Chardonnay ($50) was aromatic and full of citrus with a lovely finish that went on....the 2008 Buckle Pinot Noir ($100) was soft, velvety, full of berries and well balanced tannins. Tuck's was definitely a spot I wished we had hit sooner so I could fully appreciate more of their wines!

So after all that...how much wine did I actually bring back...? LOTS!

Questions or wine recommendations? Contact me via james@purpletongues.com

Interested in the Calgary food scene? Check out www.ureviewcalgary.com