Better with age?

Do wine blogs age as well as a complex red? Granted, I've been neglecting my part in this blog. But, it does seem that Google has provided the ideal storage conditions and I think I'm ready to resume random thoughts on whatever wine thing I happen to have. So, the last (nearly) three years have seen my palette - and belly - grow. I've experienced France first hand, and fallen in love with Argentina. So, look for new regions, new varietals, and more inane thoughts on the best thing that can happen to a grape. Any maybe my co-conspirators will finally chime in. Or not.

Region: Niagara Peninsula

Niagara Falls conjures images of barrel's and honeymooners. The best and most beautiful that nature can offer abuts the most tasteless that man can offer. It's almost like the planners of Niagara Falls, faced with such awe-inspiring natural beauty, just shook their heads in dejection and decided they could never compete, so might as well use neon.

But away from the garishly lit avenues of Niagara Falls Clifton Hill, past the suburban neighborhoods of the workers, lies one of the best wine regions in North America, if not the world. At least, that's the way I feel.

Then again, in Niagara, it's all about the ice wine and I love ice wine. For those of you who have never sampled this ambrosia, ice wine is nearly impossible to describe without an abundance of superlatives. And in Niagara, the worst ice wine is still pretty good. But, I'm saving ice wine for a future post.

What about the other wines? The dinner wines. Even there, Niagara's offerings generally range from the competent to the transcendent.

I've never been a big fan of chardonnay, I just don't enjoy the oak taste that is often strong in wines of that varietal. Niagara still offers a fair share of oaky chards, but rounds things out with a selection of steel aged chardonnays that are quite pleasant. One of the bigger wineries even offers the first chardonnay I've ever "had to have."* Other common whites are vidal, riesling and gewurztraminer. Though a lot of these get left for ice wine, the ones that are produced are often quite good.

The reds are where I really get on board. In past years it was cabernet sauvignon, but recently I fell for the cab francs. Both varietals are found in abundance, and both are well above you're typical store offering.

My favorites, though, were the rarer varietals. An old growth foch, some gamay, and baco noirs all seemed to catch my attention in recent visits. I've even found the occasionalofferingg of Pinot Noir.**

But the best part about Niagara is it's relatively undiscovered status as a wine destination. Yes, there a lot of wineries, and they get their share of visitors. But it's still not as well known outside the region. That means that at the right time of year you can have the wineries practically to yourself. Another advantage, the wineries are well marked.Alongg the wine trail it feels like you can't go 500 feet without finding another one. Some even offer lunch. Unlike some regions, a day of wine tasting in Niagara focuses on the tasting and not the drive between wineries.

Here at Geekwine we make an annual pilgrimage in the offseason, winter. Often, we have entire wineries to ourselves and gotten private tours from the winemaker. That means great service, more tastings, and getting to know the people that work there. It's like a private wine tasting.

Another advantage is lodging. Niagara in the winter is not a popular destination. It's cold and, well, cold.Thoughh, nothing a few glasses of wine can't fix. Those who don't mind staying in the burbs - a little out form both the garishness of the falls and quaintness of some of the other towns in the region - can find great deals on clean, comfortable rooms.Theyy may not have any character, but they're nice enough and cheap (we've gotten rooms for under $40 Canadian). Every dollar not spent on a room is that much more wine.

The Niagara region doesn't have the history of Bordeaux, or prestige of Napa. It doesn't even have the marketing of Long Island. If you know the region at all it's probably for their ice wines (which are considered by many to be the best offerings in the world). But a short visit will introduce you to quality wines, kind people, and a beautiful experience. And ice wine. Don't forget the ice wine.


For more information:
- Google Niagara peninsula wines.
- Visit the region's wine site for maps and winery descriptions: winesofontario.org/


* Names of specific wineries have been omitted from this post. Check this blog's individual wine reviews to find specific wines we've enjoyed.

** Pinot Noirs have been rare on the Canada side of Niagara. For a superb Pinot in the area - and here I break my own no names rule - I recommend Warm Lake Estates just across the river in the U.S. The combination of terroir and dedication to Pinot makes this a magnificent small find that will have you coming back for more.

Torre Quarto Rosé

Name of Wine: Guappo Rosé

Type of Wine: rosé blend

Vintage: 2004

Winery/Vineyard: Torre Quart; Puglia, Italy

Description: Made from blend of Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Uva di Troia and Primitivo grapes. Slightly dry, but still refreshing. Very flavorful, with fruity, floral bouquet. Works fine for barbecue and Mediterranean - and supposedly seafood(according to store).

Comments: The first rosé to convince me what this style is all about. Great for a hot day, I'd definitely bring this to any picnic or barbecue. I detect tannin, though that could just be me. Amy isn't as enamored as I am, but finds it drinkable.

Style: A rosé by any other name would still taste as dry

I am still relatively new to wine, so pink wines recall the fruit juices known as white zin and wine coolers. Those sickeningly sweet beginner wines that my generation started with (though research shows the generation immediately after mine is starting on Pinot Noir and Shiraz thanks to the post-sideways craze).

So, I had been reluctant - despite professional commentary to the contrary - to take up rosé. After all, there's plenty of good red and whites, so why bother to mix it up.

Then a bottle came into my possession via a local wine shop. This shop offers a monthly cellar-in-a-box. A combination of 12 wines (approximately half red, half white) from different regions throughout the world. My wife and I have found ourselves succumbing to the temptation of this varietal and style grab bag, usually based on one or two bottles that sound interesting. On this particular occasionn there were several offerings that we couldn't miss, and a bottle of rosé.

I was intrigued, I was anxious, I was excited. About a rosé. Finally, a chance to try this style that was supposedly so great. Plus, our wine shop had never steered us bad, so this should be great.

It was utter crap. Almost as sweet as a white zin with no complexity and no substance. My first experience with rosé was a loss. Yuck. (For the record, the rest of the box was superb.)

So, a few weeks later finds my wife and I preparing for a rare barbecue - knowing anyone with outdoor space in New York City is rare, so the invitations to barbecues are exceedingly rare. With the temperature predicted to reach 90, a red just wasn't going to cut it and we didn't have any whites that would work with hamburgers and sausage. So, off to a different wine shop. I let the friendly wine merchant know what I wanted - something chilled to go with hamburgers and sausage - and asked if he had any suggestions.

"How about a rosé?" he said.

I can't recall my exact repsonse, but I'm sure it involved a groan of copmlaint and explanation of that last offering. But he happened to have a bottle open for tasting, and who am I to pass up a free glass of wine? So, I steeled myself and took a sip. And it was good. Dry, refreshing, complex, it even had tannin. Everything I had heard a rosé was, and nothing like I expected. I was sold.

In my wine experience there have been three wines that all the winos tout, and I just didn't get. Until thatranscendentendent bottle. The one that finally convinced me about Pinot Noir, or Zinfadel. And now, rosé. I guess that's the lesson here. If everyone praise a particular variety or style, especially friends and experts you trust, there's probably something to it. You just have to find the right bottle.

Rosé review to come.

Update: Dr. L Riesling

In an earlier review, I was enthusiastic about the 2003 Dr. L Riesling. My wife and I love this wine. We had tried the 2004, but were not impressed. Recently, we tried the 2005. It was definitely on par with the '03. We have yet to find a comparable riesling for the price. Since the 2003 seems to be pretty much extinct, I recommend the 2005. We're buying a case.

Dr. L Riesling

Name of Wine: Dr. L Riesling

Type of Wine: white wine

Vintage: 2003 - definitely 2003

Winery/Vineyard: Loosen Bros., Germany

Description: Nice balance of sweetness and acidity. Works well with lighter foods or as a sipping wine.

Comments: Great. Other years are good, but the 2003 is great. Serve Chilled

Chianti Classico

Name of Wine: Chianti Classico (DOCG)

Type of Wine: Everyday red for meals (90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 5% Canialo)

Vintage: N/A

Winery/Vineyard: Rocca delle Macie, Castellina in Chianti, Toscana, Italy

Description: Dry red table wine; flavor is subtle and does not overpower; not overly dry, but still dry

Comments: Part of our love is sentimental - we visited the winery on our trip to Italy. However, this is a solid Chianti Classico and a great accompaniment to red meat or pasta dishes. It complements without overpowering.

Brachetto D'Acqui "Pineto"

Name of Wine: Brachetto D'Acqui "Pineto" (DOCG)

Type of Wine: Sparkling red desert

Vintage: 2004

Winery/Vineyard: Marenco, Piedmont, Italy

Description: Sparkling red desert wine made from Brachetto grape. Sweet with rasberry and cherry flavors.

Comments: Serve chilled. Good as desert in a bottle, though would probably work with berry tarts or pie.

Founder's Series Cristalle

Name of Wine: Founder's Series Cristalle (VQA)

Type of Wine: Sparkling wine enhanced with a 'Dosage' of Ice Wine

Vintage: Unsure

Winery/Vineyard: Peller Estates, Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Description: Basically, champagne with a touch of sweetness

Comments/recommendations: Remember it tasting better at the winery, but still good. Taste buds could have been compromised as we had Chinese for dinner shortly before breaking out the Cristalle. Also, do not serve too cold. Sweetness definitely more pronounced when slightly warmer than refrigerator temperature.

Blogger Background: Chris

I started out like everyone else, some white zinfadel or a wine cooler every now and then. Eventually I moved on to Merlot and the very occasional desert wine.

Under the tutelage of some wine-loving friends, my wife and I began to widen our repertoire and added some whites to our collection. My wife took to Chardonnay, though I never have (I still have no love for oaked chards). We learned some of the basics of swirling and tasting and such.

After a trip to Italy, my wife and I both came back addicted to reds. Chianti, cab franc, cab sauv, shiraz, etc.

Since then, we've come around to a mix of whites and reds; I can't stand white zin anymore; and I actually know what a wine's finish is. I can even tell what varietal I'm drinking some of the time.

I'd place myself as a beginner to amateur wino. I'm only beginning to learn how to do my own pairings; I can pick out certain flavors and scents, but not all; my terminology is still a mish-mash of logic and imitation; and I've seen Sideways.

Most of my education has been from friends, experimentation, occasional articles, and the TV series "Thirsty Traveler" & "Simply Wine."

I still tend towards reds and desert wines. My favorites are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti Classico, Australian Shiraz and Niagara Icewine (with a slight preference for Vidal Icewine).

So, that's where I stand on wine.

Welcome

There are a group of us who like wine. We also happen to be geeks. I'm not sure what effect that has on our wine tasting and reviewing abilities, but it does mean we often find ourselves turning to the internet for information and such.

This blog is the natural extension of our geekiness and love of wine. Beginning in the next few weeks we will post our reviews on wines we've had, wine regions and wineries we've visited and also the occasional link to wine on the internet.

All of us have different levels of expertise and varying backgrounds. I'll try to have everybody post a short bio of relevant facts before they begin any reviews. This way, you'll get an idea where we're coming from.

Of course, the overall goal is to have fun. And what can be more fun than researching for this blog?

Anyway, I've got a bottle of Pinot calling my name, so I'll leave you to your web-browsing.

Until we meet again, Cheers!