Wine with Friends

 It's always nice to get together with friends in the neighbourhood and share a glass of wine in an informal wine tasting format. There's no special glasses, marking sheets or pressure. Just a relaxed atmosphere of friends chatting about life, gossip and humorous tales intermingled with comments about the wine. Everyone brings a wine they want to try. There's no theme, no right or wrong. Just wine to sample and enjoy. So here's what the group of us tasted and enjoyed by the fire listening to each other talk and occasionally laughing out loud. Good times indeed.

 Perrin & Fils Les Sinards Chateauneuf-Du-Pape - Rhone, France
From the epicenter of the Rhone valley comes a big bold Chateauneuf-du-Pape consisting of mostly Grenache (70%) with some Syrah, Mourvedre and Counoise. A full bodied blend with aromas of ripe dark fruit and a long lasting cherry finish with some noticeable tannins.
Price - $34.95 (LCBO) 
Pairs well with beef stew or grilled pepper steak.





Kitchen Sink Red Table Wine - California, USA

Interesting wine. The grapes are sourced from California and not a specific appellation but the result is a nice blend of 38% Zinfandel, 34% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petite Syrah (plus 2% other). Aromas of plum,  dark fruit and pepper with flavours of dark fruit in a medium finish. The ABV is 13.6% so the wine is easy drinking with a medium to full bodied feel. The vintner's notes say that 15% of the wine was aged in oak which is noticeable on the finish. Tannins are relatively mild.
Price - $12.95 (LCBO) 
This wine pairs well with plate of assorted mild to medium cheese

2009 Tenuta Di Ghizzanho Veneroso - Tuscany, Italy
Another nice Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). There's a lot going on in this wine. When it's first opened an earthy aroma comes out but after sitting for a few minutes the fruit starts to come out. 16 months in 2nd, 3rd and 4th use french oak gives it some depth and the tannins are pronounced but smooth. A full bodied wine with a long sour cherry finish
Visit their website at http://www.tenutadighizzano.com/EN/index.html . Lots of good information on their harvesting and vinification.
Price - $29.95 (LCBO)