Jordan Cowe

Anselmann Edesheimer Rosengarten Siegerrebe Spätlese 2012, Prädikatswein

An absolutely delicious wine. Combines the fragrant and enticing aromatics and luscious mouthfeel of a well made Gewurztraminer with a tart and refreshing acidity comparable to a quality Riesling. Overall creates a well balanced, lucious and fairly complex wine that lingers. The price can't be beat either ($16.95 in lcbo). Presented blind at an old world tasting this wine was absolutely the talk of the night among all present.

Wither Hills Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012

I will give this wine something, when this was tasted in a blind tasting there was no doubting this was New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but for all the wrong reasons.

Immediately the overwhelming character was all pyrazine based funk. The canned asparagus, olive, vegetal funk for myself and a few other tasters overwhelmed the other aromas. There was certainly some citrus/tropical like aromas but they took a back seat.

It's not a bad wine, it's certainly varietally correct and the palate is very well balanced but I have to knock a few off for being too green.

Cloof Pinotage 2010, Wo Darling

Perhaps it's the extra time in bottle but this was for myself an excellent example of Pinotage. I expect some weirdness in my pinotage.

Pick up this glass and for me this channels a montreal smoked meat sandwich. There's something meaty about it, some smoke, mocha, definitely something barnyardy. And underneat this there's quite a bit of fruit, cherry/cranberry range fruit.

On the palate there's a lot more vibrancy with the fruit showing through much more. Nice acidity, there is a fair bit of tannin but even with all this it's surprisingly well balanced. Tasted Blind October 2013