White wine drinkers you will be proud of me sitting in the Air Canada Lounge at Pearson Airport, fingers and toes crossed on day one of the next Ice Storm of the century. Plenty of refreshment choices but I chose Gabbiano Promessa, Pinot Grigio, living up to my commitment to drink more whites and not Chardonnay which was my go to whenever I did drink white in the past.
What’s up with this month’s wine selection? First off you will see that we are adding some fun wine quotes to each of our monthly wine selections and hope to from here on. Enjoy those…
We raise the bar on the Bubbles selection with a fine French Champagne, but after all it was my birthday. We include the most perfect (in my opinion) breakfast bubbles which are very rare now in both Ontario and Quebec…we will track some down.
We certainly had some wonderful Sushi dinners this past month and regardless of whether red or whites they all seemed to be from New Zealand…and they were all perfect accompaniments.
Then a Cab that for some reason thought it should be something different.
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Special Occasion – Bite the bullet it will be the best $100.00 you spend on bubbles. For your special lady or guy you will be a star. There is a reason it is the #1 selling rosé Champagne in the world. Bubbles with body made from the Pinot Noir grapes with wonderful aromas of red berries. |
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If I am going to buy a Pinot from New Zealand you can bet that if is from the Marlborough Region of New Zealand it has a better chance of making into my cart! Full bodied Pinot with intense red berry flavours with a great finish. Maybe a little pricey. |
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Sticking to my promise of trying and actually enjoying more whites we diversify our palate to include a wonderful medium bodied Sauvignon Blanc from one of New Zealand’s pioneer winemakers. Nice aroma, fresh and citrusy with an intense long finish. No one will think your whacky once you serve them this one. |
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Oyster Bay and Sushi – it has a ring to it or maybe not but they were pretty perfect together I must admit. Oyster Bay hails from the Marlborough region, go figure, ground zero for classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Notes of lime, passion fruit, kiwi fruit and fresh-cut grass. If you are ever in Ottawa’s Byward market area …….and why would you be anywhere else – check out Wasabi Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar an absolutely delightful owner, can’t remember his name but it does start with an “A.” When in the Ottawa area some of the LPGA players have been known to hang out. Many celebrities and oh ya our Prime Minister even is somewhat of a regular when he is not dining on our dime around the world. |
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Can’t say enough about just how refreshing and pleasing these Pinot Noir bubbles are – the perfect breakfast bubbles! This was our Easter treat! Now the bad news is that both the LCBO and for that matter SAQ where I got my last batch from are sold out! Have requested to advise when the next batch comes to Canada. |
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This is a different style of Cab. Lighter and fruitier, they claim to breaking the Cab mold with this one. Personally I don’t think the Cab mold needed to be broken. Some will like it but did not do much for me. It was OK with some pre dinner appetizers. Will not put it in the One & Done category but certainly can live without it. |
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Sushi does go with white but we also found out that it goes nicely with this colorful medium bodied flavourful Pinot Noir out of the Marlborough region of New Zealand. Wonderful aromas and a nice dry finish. A birthday dinner at Fune Japanese Restaurant one of my favorites in Toronto’s downtown Entertainment District known for their floating Sushi bar! |
Laurent Perrier Champagne Cuvee Rosé 1812 – $99.99
Cirro Pinot Noir 2013 – $26.95
Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc – $24.94
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc – $19.95
Carpene Malvotti Rose Cave Brut – $17.95
Altaland Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 – $17.95
Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir – $18.95
