What's in a name? That which we call a rose...

Five wines offered up completely blind with the following hints*:

1. We have tasted this varietal under different auspices;

2. We have not explored this region specifically;

3. This varietal has an alias.

Therefore on with Mystery wine #1:

Memoria Primitivo Di Manduria 2006

Vintages 687210 $14.95

Appearance: dark, dense, almost black

Nose: Dark chocolate, vanilla, lime rind (not zest), light to mid tannin, light smoke, brine

Taste: dark chocolate, vanilla, hint of caramel, fruitcake

Overall: very good, not quite balanced immediately, however, improves in the glass. Yummy.

Surani Costarossa Primitivo Di Manduria 2007

Vintages 134593 $19.95

Appearance: dark, dense, almost black

Nose: milk chocolate, caramel, heavy smoke, rubber, ? black licorice?

Taste: campfire smoke, soft vanilla, slightly sweet, medium acidity, mid tannin, coca cola

Overall: fairly balanced, however, reminiscent of Yellowtail

First Thoughts - I have tasted this before. Something that tastes like fruitcake... France, South West, Auxerrois, Chaors, Cot?? Vinsanto Occhio di Pernice? (A dark amber wine made from semi dried Sangiovese grapes similar to ripasso) - but it is red!

Cantine Due Palme Primitivo 2005

Vintages 658351 $15.95

Appearance: dark, dense, almost black, opaque

Nose: light soap, vanilla

Taste: chewy, mid tannin, dark red cherry (but not like cough syrup)

Overall: balanced, hmmm...

A Mano Primitivo 2007

Vintages 972588 $15.95

Appearance: dark, dense, almost black

Nose: vanilla, light smoke, caramel

Taste: light smoke, mid acid, little bitter, coffee, chocolate

Overall: balanced, however, I am not convinced

Itynera Primitivo 2007

Vintages 70805 $14.95

Appearance: dark, dense, almost black

Nose: thick smoke, rubber, fresh black licorice - there may be more but it is difficult to discern with these stronger characteristic scents

Taste: chewy, mid plus tannin, fresh tobacco, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, fruit cake finish

Overall: very pleasant. balanced. I drank the whole glass - not immediately, but I kept going back to it. The rubber melted away leaving a nice smoky, dark red dried fruit smell.

Thinking - thinking... South Africa? Pinotage? No. Hmm... Fruilano? Couldn't tell us what cheeses because they were matched from the same region as the wines.

Paul reveals - Primitivo! Paul points out, and I remember reading that recently, the Zinfandel vines from California were recently proven to be Primitivo from Italy. Paul confirms this. It all begins to make sense - once again the Zinfandel has disguised itself and appeared at our table.

I Dream of Cheezies?

I couldn't sleep.

This is mostly because I am completely stressed out. But also, because when I am completely stressed out, I think of all the things I have left undone. One of the things on my list of things undone was to share information about some of the wonderful cheeses that we have recently tasted.

I might have mentioned the W!nos that I gather with from time to time. Well, in addition to being some of the biggest W!ners I have ever met, they are also really, really, Cheezy. I mean that in the best possible way and not at all in an Herb Tarlick, plaid wearing, greasy salesmen kind of way. For to be a W!ner, or to be Cheezy, at this end of the world is not cheap. And since there is an abundance of the world's finest cheeses available in the neighbourhood (thanks to the Pristine family), often the difficulty is in being selective. To do this, one has to have intimate knowledge of the various kinds of cheeses.

Le Grand Chevalier

"A Quebec cheese that is 6 months old. This medium strength cheese is ideal for cooking into dishes or delicious in a salad." - Made exclusively for the Cheese Boutique. $45.90/kg

Roaring Forties

"Cow's milk blue cheese from Tasmania. Name derives from King Island Dairy's geographic position on the 40th degree latitude, said to have the roughest waters in the world." - Aged extra 9 months at Cheese Boutique. $59.99/kg - worth every penny.

Aged Thunder Oak Gouda

"Cheese Boutique is proud to refine this locally produced Dutch-style Gouda; the pride of Thunder Bay. Released after 1 year of aging by the Schep family, this caramel, crystalline cheese is intensified by an extra two or more years in our caves." $69.90/kg - should have represented Canada at the Winter Olympics as it never fails to win.

Abondance

"A raw cow's milk from Haut-Savoie, France, very buttery, and slightly aromatic. This French classic is aged 9 months in-house. Great with nicely aged Chateau-neuf-du-Pape." $59.99/kg

- More than slightly aromatic, but truly devine. Tastes very similar to Berg Kaase.

La Sauvagine

A cow's milk cheese from Quebec. Made by the Award winning producer, Alexis de Portneuf. The 2006 Grand Champion for Overall Best Cheese in Canada." $53.90/kg - Amazingly creamy, buttery, with just a tiny bit of tartness for balance.

There are more cheeses that we have tasted. As we taste them again, I will add new comments. For more information on Canadian Artisanal Cheeses, get to know Gurth Pretty, Canada's Cheese Guru. In the meantime, please visit http://cheeseofcanada.ca/

Cheetos Cheese Balls

From the snack food variety of cheeses, the Cheetos Cheese balls are the king of crunchy cheese flavoured snacks. I am advised that real cheese is used to coat the chemically puffed corn balls, negating the necessity to have bread or any type of accompaniment to this variety of cheese. The type of cheese involved in the making of this product is not known, however, a certain W!no has indicated that they taste like aged cheddar. I am hoping that Gurth might provide closure on this item. $4.99/kg

Ontario Wines - look out Niagara...

When the world thinks of Canada in terms of wine, the first thing that comes to mind is the Niagara region icewine. While these are indeed outstanding wines, there is more to Ontario than the Niagara escarpment.

Look farther East along the North shore of Lake Ontario to Prince Edward County, South of the Bay of Quinte. Here lies a wealth of land which has recently begun to be developed as wine country. Although it is young, our recent meeting of the winos found that there is promise in this land! The tasting was completely blind. No one was aware of the Country, region, varietal, or style of any of the wines.

The notes on the bottle did not seem to match what we experienced however - we think that it may be marketing at work {:c)

The wines we tried with a compilation of our notes:

Wine #1 Trumpour’s Mill, 2006, Chardonnay Prince Edward County

Bottle Notes: "Sweet oak and vanilla on the nose and a lengthy refreshing finish of melon and mango make this barrel fermented chardonnay the perfect accompaniment for lobster, white fish, in cream sauce or delicately flavoured cheeses such as asiago or emmenthal."

Winos Notes:

Appearance: Golden, Tick, Clear, Long Legs

Nose: Pear, Honey, Apple Juice - some discussion as to whether it smelled more of Rougemount or Allen's! Reminiscent of Calvados. Lush Fruit.

Taste: Steely, Thick, Mild Acidity, Apple Juice, Mid-length Finish, Swiss Cheese (salty, buttery, yeasty)

Overall: When revealed that this was a Chardonnay all were surprised. Not terribly drinkable.

Wine #2 Norman Hardie, 2007, Pinot Noir, Prince Edward County
Bottle Notes: "The vines and oak barrels are from France. The limestone soil and ideal climate are in the County. The taste and nose are from me. Enjoy."
Winos Notes:
Appearance: Strawberry-Ruby Red, Watery, Thin, Clear
Nose: Perm Solution, Tabacco, Smoke, Cigar
Taste: Light, Sour Cherry, Strawberries, Mid Acidity, Low Tannin, Slightly Sweet and Sour at the same time.
Overall: Again, surprised at the Varietal. This is not a good example of Pinot Noir. Reminiscent of a Zinfandel Blush.

Wine #3 – Rosehall Run, 2007, Sullyzwicker Red, Prince Edward County
Bottle Notes: "Lively blend of Gamay (61%), Cabernet Franc (30%), and Pinot Noir (9%) reflects the gentle warm summers of our cool climate region. This medium bodied wine with bright red fruit flavours and soft tannins is ideal to enjoy with pizza, tomato pasta, and grilled dishes."
Winos Notes:
Appearance: Ruby, Semi Transparent, Clear
Nose: Brine, Olives, Quiet, Light Tabacco, Light Red Fruit, Light Scent of Chocolate
Taste: Smoky, Red Fruit, Sour Cherry, Mid Acid, Clean, Light Chocolate, Yummy
Overall: Acceptable. Refreshing after #1 and #2. Interesting Blend of Varietals.

Wine #4 – Rosehall Run, 2007, Cabernet Franc, Prince Edward County
Bottle Notes: "The long warm summer of 2007 in the Hillier Region was perfect for achieving the abundant fruit and subtle ripe tannins that are hallmarks of this vintage. A bouquet of black cherry and currents jump from the glass. Lush fruit flavours are supported by sweet smoky nots from the oak elevage. This lively wine will age well for five years or can be enjoyed today with rare beef or game."
Winos Notes:
Appearance: Dark, Ruby Red, Semi Transparent, Clear
Nose: Floral, Herbaceous, Soap, Cigar
Taste: Slight Fizz, Astringent, Young, Lively, Red Fruit, Light Tannin, Salt, Mid Acid, Short Lived
Overall: Acceptable Plus!

Wine #5 – Sandbanks, 2008, Baco Noir, Prince Edward County
Bottle Notes: "A full bodied red wine with intense plum and wild cherry flavours. Notes of toasted oak provides a lingering finish."
Winos Notes:
Apearance: Purple Red, Almost Opaque
Nose: Mushrooms, Earth, Cigars, Musty Library, Smoky
Taste: Fruity, Sweet Cherries, Caramel, Vanilla, Mid Acidity, Mid Tannins, Like a Red Zin.
Overall: Balanced. Apparently the 2008 is better than the 2004 vintage. Very Acceptable.

Wine #6 – Huff Estates, 2007, First Frost Vidal, Prince Edward County
Bottle Notes: none
Appearance: Pale lemon, Long Legs, Thick
Nose: Minerality, Clean, Sidewalk, Lemon
Taste: Ripe Peach, Lemon, Off-dry, Refreshing, Lively Acidity, Mid Finish.
Overall: Very Acceptable. Refreshing.

All agreed that it was an interesting tasting experience, and excellent wine can be found in Ontario without breaking the budget! The wines tasted represent a price range of $14.95 - $35.20. The Sandbanks Baco Noir and the Huff Estates First Frost Vidal were wines that we all plan to buy again!