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Celebratory
Feasting
Fine
selections that will even match that tofu turkey
©
Michael Vaughan 2002
National Post
Weekly Wine & Spirits Columnist
Saturday,
October 12, 2002
Trying to flesh out that Thanksgiving dinner is always filled with
some trials and tribulations. I remember being once invited to a
meatless Thanksgiving. The “bird” was carefully sculpted tofu that
might have fooled someone with poor eyesight, very poor eyesight. On the
palate it was, well need I say more, tofu-ish tasting! I was very polite
and guarded in my comments. In fact, I even brought a wine, which
married quite well with the meal. Nevertheless a little voice inside my
head said, “Next time bring a grapeless wine - that will show
‘em.”
While we all know that it is the thought that counts, I feel that I
am getting too old to quaff wines I really don’t enjoy. Tasting some
200+ wines a week certainly takes the glitter off swallowing well
intentioned, but nevertheless ungratifying plonk. For the uninitiated,
anything with alcohol might do. After all, in a world without any
reference points, the act of discovery is almost an end in itself - no
matter how mundane the wine.
Getting down top the business at hand, I am trying to ferret out some
worthwhile wines for this weekend’s celebratory feasting that are, can
I say the word, cheap. Yes, you don’t have to be a millionaire to find
some tasty ditties on the “general list” at our local monopoly
stores.
 Let me kick off with one of the best buys at the LCBO - Inniskillin
2000 Chardonnay. It is part of the current Wine of Ontario
promotion that ends today. So you will have to rush to get this one
since it has been put on a LTO (limited time offer) price of only $9.95
(regular $10.95). The fresh Anjou pear flavours will marry perfectly
with your turkey and almost anything else.
 Ditto for the tasty Cave
Spring 2000 Off Dry Riesling with its gently honeyed,
refreshing, fresh melon fruit flavours. A bargain at only $11.25, it
offers fine versatility.
 When
I debunked Gamay as the ideal turkey match last week, I was obviously
not referring to the delicious, fruity, light bodied Cave
Spring 2000 Gamay, which is cheaper (only $11.95) and much
more accessable than their 2000 Gamay Reserve which recently surfaced in
Vintages.
 In
a similar vein, while Merlot is not usually a grape whose wines normally
go well with the big bird, Caliterra
2000 Merlot at only $9.90 is one of those special exceptions.
This Chilean child of the Mondavi and Errazuriz families has easy to
drink, gently spicy, rather rounded, vanilla-tinged, ripe black cherry
purée flavours that will give your holiday meal the perfect lift.
 One
of my perennial recommendations is a cranberry wine. Certainly Stoney
Ridge 2000 Cranberry, which is a Vintages Essential at
$12.95, will adequately fill the void. Unfortunately, it is the only
deal in town as the other local cranberry wines are still only available
at their respective wineries.
 Given the great whether promised today, why not jump in your car and
visit Johnston's Cranberry Marsh and pick up a couple of bottles of Muskoka
Lakes Winery 2000 Cranberry ($12.95) the top rated 2002
Toronto Wine & Cheese Show winner. They also produce companion white
cranberry and cranberry-blueberry elixirs. In addition, keep in mind
that the 18th Cranberry Festival takes place from October 18 to 20th (click
here for further information)
 Although I have mentioned it before, but when it comes to celebratory
beverages I can’t get Henriques
& Henriques 10 Year Old Sercial Madiera off my mind.
Released in Vintages last August, a small number of bottles are still
kicking around (call the Infoline at 1-800-ONT-LCBO) A steal at $34.95,
its creamy, sweet, figgy, candied tangerine and careme brûlée flavours
can’t be beat.
 Meanwhile, a recent comparative mini-blind tasting saw Graham's
1996 Late Bottled Vintage Port at $16.95 emerge triumphant
over Delaforce. Available on the LCBO general list, its rich,
rounded, slightly raisiny, ripe plum flavours make it an exciting
stand-in for a genuine and much pricier item.
Events this week include the 14th
annual Festival of Small Breweries at C’est What on Front Street East next Friday
starting at 5 pm and featuring over three-dozen choices ($1 per sample -
no cover). Meanwhile the Body and Soul of Portugal will be tackling an
interesting, if somewhat eclectic, selection of ten consignment DFJ
wines complete with dinner at Aqua on Saturday, October 19th ($75). To
reserve call 416-921-0529. Details on other events are posted on my
website below.
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Vintages November 2002 Release
To see the complete list of upcoming products click
here (sorted by date of release).
It
includes the number of cases, which wines were presented by the LCBO, our agent ID for every product, as well
as, special unannounced “In
Store
Discoveries”
for November.
You can also see it sorted by
agent click
here
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Full Vintages Warehouse Inventory
(as of October 9th)
Our adaptation of the "DICE” report lists the inventory of the 423 Vintages products remaining in the LCBO warehouse. This is extremely useful in helping professionals & wine lovers find exceptional wines still in the
system. Moreover, the FBTI list provides you with the Vintage Assessments tasting evaluation & Agent ID revealing whether a wine is worth buying! There isn’t anything like it! It is for FBTI Supporters only so sign up today and access the best data base available.
Click
Here (remember you will need your ID & PASSWORD).
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