looking forward to UGC 2012!

Something to look forward to! Yes, it's that time of year again when all the aristocrats from Bordeaux come to Toronto to allow us the privilege of tasting their sweet sweet nectar. I'm so excited, because in 2 weeks, the UGC will once again host a tasting of their wines, this time the vaunted 2009 vintage. The last 2 years, the red wines were certainly underwhelming. This year looks to be much different.

I've always been so impressed with the quality of dry white Bordeaux, and 2007 was a wild success for Sauternes. The reds? Really hit and miss for me - I've felt indifferent about them far more than not at these tastings. The prices being asked for them certainly play a role in that perception. But the 2009 reds are said to be amazing, and I can't wait to taste. Also, looking forward to meeting and talking with some of the owners and estate managers again! Plus . . . it's all on a Friday night. Who knows, maybe we'll see a repeat performance.

DF

what, the LCBO overcharges us?

This story just came out, and I'm sure we'll hear more about it in the coming days. The Auditor General of Ontario, Jim McCarter, has reported that the LCBO is incredibly inefficient in the way they do business. The report even hints at something more sinister - the LCBO isn't interested in minimizing supplier costs. In fact, it seems they purposely pay suppliers more, to ensure that the final retail prices of wines are higher. Wines aren't priced according to the market, but rather to the pricing structure that the LCBO marketing strategy determines. Evil.

Am I surprised? Not really. I suppose my first reaction at this point is . . . will this finally be the start of a serious move to privatize the LCBO? We don't need the extra tax, we don't need a Big Brother to police the whole social responsibility bullshit. The entire idea of the government controlling every aspect of alcohol retail and consumption is a slap in the face of a free market. And as a Toronto guy, I don't give a flying fuck if some hick in Waterloo won't have access anymore to an LCBO outlet.

This is just the beginning.

DF

2008 Midi Syrah Vin de Pays d'Oc

2008 Domaine Les Yeuses Les Épices Syrah | Midi | Vin de Pays d'Oc

Humility is key. Just because it's a Vin de Pays, who says it can't be interesting? Looking at my notes, I'm reminded that I drink far too little syrah. And that was the first mistake I made. Never go out searching for a particular wine. Pick up interesting bottles, without any preconceptions of what you'd like to be drinking, or you risk drinking the same thing over and over, or worse, end up buying something just because.

I trusted the judgement of a local Ontario critic on this one. This man, who I won't name, runs a fairly high-profile (locally) website that helps people select wines from each Vintages release. He wrote that - I paraphrase - this wine showed quintessential syrah character. So I went for it, giving his palate the benefit of the doubt. I shouldn't have. Macerated fruit, dull, boring, and all that. A shame because I've drunk some absolutely delicious Vin de Pays wines. And you have something like this, which is unrecognizable from any other shit produced anywhere else in the world. Shame.

That's the last time I turn lazy and buy a wine, just because.

DF

Wines of Burgundy

Burgundy tasting tomorrow, very excited! At the Art Gallery of Ontario as well. Full tasting notes and event photos will follow.

DF

You happy with the service at the LCBO?

Let's meditate on something, you and me, in front of 关爷爷. Are you happy with the service you receive at the LCBO?

I'm not. Retail staff at Toronto LCBO locations are indifferent at best, insulting at their worst, and exemplify all the prejudices that have been spun about union workers. Too many times have I been brushed off because an LCBO employee couldn't be bothered to answer a question. And that's if they acknowledge you at all; heaven forbid you disturb them during their shift.

There are two types of retail staff on the floor at major LCBO outlets, say at Queen's Quay, Summerhill, or Bayview Village. Blue shirts are general retail staff. White shirts are Vintages Products Consultants. Don't you dare try to ask a Blue shirt anything wine-related. Their only tasks are to stock shelves, appear busy, and avoid customers - you think I'm joking? If only. Want to ask them where you can find a particular bottle? Forget it. You'll get a grunt and shake of the head, indicating that you need to find a White shirt for that kind of daunting request. The Blue shirt is busy (not) stocking shelves with the latest releases - he simply cannot be bothered. White shirts, on the other hand, answer questions without actually answering any questions. Chin up, chest out, this is an actual conversation I had with one recently:

Hi, excuse me, I'm looking for a 2008 Château Connard.

It's not on shelves? Well, it's in the back then.

Really? Can you grab a few bottles for me?

You'll have to wait until they're on the shelf.

But it's physically in the store! Can't you just head into the back room and pick up a bottle?

It gets frustrating doesn't it? So what's going on? If you compare the wine retail experience of Ontario against anything in the United States, in Europe, even in Asia, there's a clear difference in the level of service being provided. Wine retail in other countries I've visited actually care about wine. They want to make you buy a lot, yes, but they care about selling you wine you'll enjoy, and making sure that you leave happier than when you entered. The days of being on a first name basis with a wine retailer who knows your tastes and educates you on the subject are gone. They're gone, get over it. It'd be nice though, if LCBO customers were treated with more respect. Wouldn't it be nice if they took time to actually talk to you, look you in the eye while they were replying, and give you a proper answer? Would it be so impossible to find that bottle of wine for you, or tell you conclusively when it'll arrive, or give you a decent recommendation for a purchase? I'm tired of chasing after an LCBO employee, only to have him shout some half-answer at me over his shoulder mid-stride, leaving me confused, pissed, and bewildered that I even bothered to ask.

Would you stand for this kind of service at any other retailer? Clothing store? Electronics shop? Commission-earning salespeople aside, there's no excuse for any retail operation to treat its customers so callously. LCBO has the f*ck you advantage of being a monopoly - you have to buy from them, but should that make a difference? We're not paying any less - in fact, we're paying much higher prices for wine than in almost anywhere else in North America. I'm not romanticizing the wine buying experience, but a certain standard of respect is mandatory.

There are lots of fine people at the LCBO location I shop at, but there are still times when I'm treated as little more than an afterthought - this, after I've been shopping there every two weeks for the past 6 years, dropping nearly $28K on Vintages products. And yet I've even started dreading going to different locations because the experience always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. The worst part is that if I spoke up about it, as I probably should have last Thursday, I'd be blacklisted and not allowed back in. I politely asked a question - all I wanted was a proper answer back. Don't give me attitude, don't talk to me like I'm the dipshit. Are these irregular occurences? I wish they were - I could then plead this post off as being temporarily paralyzed by rage. But it's not. This is a regular pattern of indifference exhibited by retail staff at the LCBO.

So, are you happy with the service you receive at your local LCBO outlet? I've met Greg Dunlop, as well as several other senior executives of the LCBO at various tastings. They've been nothing but friendly and cordial - why doesn't that translate to their employees?

I'm going to meditate on that. Until then, so I don't do anything rash (curse out someone, punch someone, bite someone, castrate someone), I'll be asking 关爷爷 for guidance. The fact that he wields an 80 pound halberd doesn't hurt either.

DF

In magnum

Something I've always wanted to add to my cellar is large-format bottles. I know there are a few Niagara producers who bottle in large-format - I'll figure out for sure on my next trip. LCBO came out with a sale on 2005 Bordeaux in large-format. Most are priced out of all sense and reason, but I found a relative value - a magnum of Lafon-Rochet 2005. Fun. Last tasted the 2007 at the UGC Bordeaux tasting, and was very impressed with this estate. Looking forward to drinking this in 15-20, with fingers crossed tight that it's not corked.

So, why large-format bottles? Well, the winos say that because they contain more wine, the oxygen to wine ratio is much smaller - and since less oxygen contact means slower aging, magnums are said to yield finer, more elegant, and long-living wines. So they say. I just think it's so badass to thump a gigantic bottle on the table when you have your friends over in dinner. In 15-20, mes amis.

DF

Bordeaux Meets Burgundy Tasting

I attended an LCBO tasting last week, Bordeaux Meets Burgundy, held at the Le Méridien King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto. It showcased 2005/2006 Bordeaux and Burgundy, and included a silent auction for various lots from both wine regions. I was excited - of the wines being poured, I was only going for the Burgundy. The plan was to focus on those first, while the palate and mind were still fresh. Any Bordeaux I had the chance to taste would have been a bonus - I was getting all my money's worth on Burgundy.

It was a great event. Met some interesting people, the wines showed well. Tasting notes to follow.

DF

Bordeaux Meets Burgundy Tasting

Going to this tasting tomorrow, really excited. Bordeaux Meets Burgundy, an Extraordinary Rendezvous. Showing Bordeaux 2005/2006 as well as Burgundy 2005/2006. I'm going straight for the Burgundy first. Then the dry white Bordeaux. And if it was meant to be, a taste of 2005 Mouton-Rothschild. Really, really excited. Not able to go to Niagara before April, but at least I'll be drinking at this event. No spitting is foreseen - I will be taking the subway.

Staggering drunk on the TTC, in a suit and tie? All kinds of awesome.

DF

Hard at work

This may be the hardest I've ever worked to pick up wines on release, in a long, long time. I visited 4 different LCBO locations around Toronto today, to get the wines I wanted. And I still missed one. Oh well.

Visited the Avenue LCBO for the first time. The new store, with a second floor devoted to wines and Vintages products. Flashy, shiny, brand new is all good. But I still prefer where I normally go. Bagpipes and all.

Remember how I said that this year, I'd focus on buying wines to drink, between $12-20? Well, sometimes things don't always turn out like you'd hope. Fantastic, can't-miss wines show up unexpectedly, so what are you to do, but to tighten up that sphincter and go for it? As in all things, life included, shit happens, budgets get wasted. As long as I'm happy, right?

DF

February Classics Catalogue

Here we go again, the first Classics Catalogue release of 2010. A surprise to me - I wasn't expecting there to be one until at least May. A focus on 2004 Brunello, although as my last post suggested, I'm far from eagar to put more Tuscan wines in my cellar. Especially since the prices are quite ludicrous, and the cloud over Brunello di Montalcino has yet to be lifted.

Besides the usual overpriced Bordeaux (2006 Cheval Blanc for $1099? 2006 Ausone for $1299???!!!), there's also an impressive range of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti being offered. Prices are extravagant, bottle count is low. 2006 Échézeaux is $310, 2006 Grands Échézeaux is $500, 2006 La Tâche is $800, Richebourg is $765, 2006 Romanée-St-Vivant is $780, and Vosne-Romanée is at $780. Mind-numbing prices, all. I have no doubt that these wines are once-in-a-lifetime special, but you have to question the sanity of whoever buys a $700 bottle. You understand that you drink wine, and then piss it, right?

I'm really interested in finding out who buys these wines. The bottles being offered are miniscule - 71 bottles of La Tâche, 35 for all the others.

Really, you've got to ask yourself - is any wine worth that much? Wine is meant to be drunk and to be shared, but is it even possible with DRC anymore? Are you really going to just bring out a bottle over dinner with friends? I try my best not to be precious about my wines, but if I had a $700+ bottle, I'm not going to be sharing. You'd have to prove your worth (palate and knowledge-wise) to me first. And that goes against everything that wine stands for. And that's very sad.

DF

To look forward to

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting is coming up soon. Finally, a wine event to look forward to. It's mind-boggling that LCBO still sent me a promo card for this event a month after I had bought and received 4 tickets. Anyone still think that monopolies are the best way to do things?

I am planning to get soooo drunk on Sunday.

DF

Looted and booted

I went over to Bayview Village today, to pick up a few wines. And cheese. A friend is taking me out to dinner, I shouldn't go empty-handed. And look...the store shelves are literally empty. Top photo shows the Champagne shelves, bottom shows Southwest France. Empty all around, as in California, Italy, and Australia. At least someone's having a good Christmas.

Having some friends over for hotpot tonight. I don't like hotpot, but it's an excuse to open a few bottles of Shaoxing wine. More on the wines, later. Cold outside, no?

DF

Vintages, vintage

Yet another sign that you should not buy wine as a dinner gift - the ancient paper bags you put the bottle in. The bag on the right is true vintage LCBO, back when they used to slip a plastic green net over your bottles to protect the glass. Vintage, from a good 5 years back.

Don't presume to buy a wine lover a bottle of wine if you have no clue about wine yourself, and have no idea of their palate preferences. The end.

DF

In the mood

At what point do we disregard responsibility and financial prudence? When do we just sigh, go all hell with it, and be selfish for once? I'm an immigrant, and we have this ingrained sense of frugality - we treat one dollar like it's two, and we save money for the sake of saving. It's a sensibility that is often restrictive to us doing the things that make us happy.

Then why is it that everytime I send out a big wine order, I feel a twinge of guilt? I picked up an order today, and the entire time I was at the store, I was staring at the receipt and wondering what possessed me to buy a $119 bottle of Pomerol, and an $85 half bottle of Mosel Riesling Auslese, as delicious and wonderful of a wine it was. Why do I do this to myself? Really, the true question is - why am I saving so much money and not just enjoying myself? Huh? It makes no sense.

12 months ago, I was unemployed, desolate, and more than a little desperate. This year...this year I'm taking no prisoners. I'm single-handedly going to spur on LCBO's holiday sales, however reckless that may be. Ahh...that's the spirit.

DF

UGC in January

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux is holding an event in Toronto, January 24. The tasting will showcase 2007 Bordeaux. And I'm attending - just bought tickets for myself and some buddies. I'm excited - I bought quite a few bottles from this vintage, especially dry white Bordeaux and Sauternes. So definitely, we'll be heading to those tables first.

Exciting stuff! The first industry tasting I'll be attending. Palate, notebook, camera - going full force. There will be no spitting!!

DF

Last one of the year!

The holidays must be here - LCBO will unleash it's final retail release of 2009 on December 5, while there will be an online release on December 9. Last chance to pick up some fresh wines for holiday entertaining. Looking forward to it. Looking forward to spending my money like I stole it. Why do I care? Because I follow these things religiously, that's why.

Something more interesting - 2005 Château d'Yquem will be released at $595. For a half bottle (37.5 cL). Reckless holiday spending for the win!

DF

Routine

I've been feeling a bit ridiculous lately. Have you read my last post? Really, have you read it? Ridiculous. Pompous, arrogant, nonsensical. And I was fucking sober!!!!!

Part of my routine every 2 weeks is to go through each LCBO catalogue to come up with a shopping list. Yeah, I don't shop around aimlessly. In and out, in 20 minutes. Like in a few other things. This next release is a bit of a blockbuster...LCBO's gearing up for the holidays. Can you justify offering so many $250+ Champagnes? No you can't. Le Clos Jordanne is releasing the Le Grand Clos cuvée, both chardonnay and pinot noir. I'm hesitating because of the price - $65 and $70 respectively. Difficult. I'm not going for it. I tasted the grapes and all from these plots of the Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard, but I just don't have the money. A shame.

Waiting for my friends to come over. I don't have any energy on Fridays to do anything else but chill with some wine. Movie? Yeah, movie and a few glasses sounds like a lot of wonderful.

DF

Talon Ridge, debut times two

Last release was of Le Clos Jordanne Talon Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir. This week, it's the Chardonnay, of the same vineyard.

Great things. I've never had the opportunity to taste this producer's chardonnay, but if the quality is anything close to their pinot noir, then this will be a prize. Wonderful. I'm excited. We'll see you in 3-7.

This release was epic. Among the other highlights are some stars from California. Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Lots of Calera single vineyard pinot noir, from Mount Harlan. Reed, Ryan, and Mills Vineyards. Fantastic. Amazing. It's expensive, but the utility I'll derive in future consumption will more than offset what I'm paying now.

Big day

I just had one hell of a day. Big day for me. Personal training. Shoulders, biceps, and abs. Crazy. He wants to see how far he can push me, to where I'll just scream and give up. It's not going to happen.

The insane shit I do for wine. I just came back from a whirlwind tour of North York's LCBO locations. Rushed out after dinner to the Wilson/Dufferin location, to pick up some wines. Big Napa wines, as well as a very special Ontario wine. But just as I pulled into a parking space, I look down, and oh shit, I forgot both my wallet and my phone. So, back home and back out again. Shit. And this location didn't have a lot of the wines. LCBO shuts doors at 9pm, and at this point, it was 8:26pm. Off to Bayview Village! There in 9 minutes, where I proceed to fly through the store like a fucking addict looking for a fix. And I found everything! Wonderful Californian wines to put away. You know what's sad? I bought 18 wines today, and 16 of them are going straight into the cellar.

I lost my mind today, after I secured all my wines. I mistook someone else's car for my own. What the hell, I never make this mistake. I walk out with a case and for some reason, I stopped in front of the wrong black Accord. I was wondering why the fuck the car looked so dirty, until I pressed the trunk release on my remote, and the trunk on the car to the right flew open. Shit. How embarrassing.

But at least I got all my wine. Le Clos Jordanne, anyone?

Buying Napa

Last year I said that someday I would be able to splurge on $80-$100 California Cabernet. Well, here we are. What the fuck else am I going to spend my money on?

The wine I'm referring to is the wine of Mike Grgich, of Napa Valley. Grgich is a grand old man of Californian wine. He was the man responsible for Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay which won the Judgement of Paris tasting for white wines, in 1976. Arguably, he's the one who put Californian chardonnay on the map. Big figure.

On release is his Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Expensive, yes, but this is a great man. I definitely want to have a few of his bottles in the cellar, because there are just too few Californian properties who get it. No one understands that to be a great wine, you have to express the terroir. If the wine doesn't tell a story of where it's from and when it was made, then it cannot be a profound wine.

Dropping a few in the next few releases. But autumn's coming up, and it's time to spend money on wine. Damn it, I've saved up enough these past few months - why not go a little crazy?