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Sky’s the limit for South African Wines
Principals for success, three-point perspective, shifting focus, forgotten lands and limited time offers By Michael Godel This feature was commissioned by Wines from South Africa In his opening address at Johannesburg’s Gordon Institute of Business Science in March of 2000, Donald Gordon spoke about principals for success. “Remember that overnight success usually takes about 15 […] More
Buyer’s Guide to Vintages April 27th Release
Bargain French & Curio Finds, Paso Robles, and Ontario’s New Alcohol “Privatization” Model By Sara d’Amato with notes from David Lawrason, Megha Jandhyala and Michael Godel It’s a juicy Vintages release this week with a significant number of spring-ready picks, and a great deal of recommendations from the WineAlign team in varying price points and […] More
by Michael Godel What is Barbaresco? The answer can’t help but be complex, but the best approach is to look back, to recall some of the finest nebbiolo tasted from the denomination’s villages and communes, of Alba, Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso. Memories of unrelenting Barbaresco having acted out with impunity, aromatic exoticism, power, fragrance, precision […] More
National Wine Awards of Canada
Canada's premier wine awards. In 2022, 24 judges tasted over 1,900 wines from 250 wineries across the country to identify Canada's top wines.
National Wine Awards of CanadaExchange Wine Club Subscription
The Exchange delivers an exclusive curated, mixed case of top quality wines directly to your door once a quarter. Mixed, All Red and All White options.
Exchange Wine Club SubscriptionCabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is the most planted of fine wine grapes, just ahead of merlot, and it is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a spectrum of climates as diverse as Canada's Okanagan Valley, the high plains of Argentina, Tuscany or Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognized through its prominence in Bordeaux wines where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet franc. The Judgment of Paris, in 1976, where Napa Valley cabernets scored ahead of some top Bordeaux châteaux in a blind tasting, is a perfect example of the way this variety has played a key role in bringing international recognition to a wine region. One of the most noted traits of Cabernet Sauvignon is its affinity for oak, either during fermentation or in barrel aging. In addition to having a softening effect on the grape's naturally high tannins, the unique wood flavours of vanilla and spice complement the natural grape flavours of black currant and tobacco. The aroma of black currants is one of the most distinctive and characteristic element of Cabernet Sauvignon that is present in virtually every style of the wine across the globe. Styles from various regions and producers may also have aromas of eucalyptus, mint and tobacco. In general New World examples have more pronounced fruity notes while Old World wines can be more austere with heightened earthy notes.