California Love
Valentine’s Day may have passed, but love remains in the air—and in the bottle. At In Vino Veritas, we have been swooning over California wines. California’s unique soils and climates have a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are perennial favourites. Their popularity often leads to higher prices (i.e. relatively lower value), but it is good to indulge every so often. Share them with someone you love (including yourself.)
Danica Bennewies
St. Huberts The Stag Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
$24.95 at the LCBO
This month’s theme was a bit of an adventure for me. I don’t drink much California wine. All I knew was that California produces a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon. I decided that I would pick the California Cab Sauv with the most interesting label, and this led me to St. Huberts The Stag. This is actually a Cab Sauv blend (82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Petite Sirah, and 3% Tannat) and it is very bold and very dry. It is not for the faint of heart. The main flavours I picked out were dark chocolate and dark berries (think cherries and blackberries), but there was also a subtle earthiness to it. I was not an instant fan of this wine, but once my palate adjusted, I found that it had quite a smooth finish that tied all of the flavours together. Since this wine is so full-bodied, I would pair it with food. I had it with a red pasta with goat cheese and it was delicious. Steak would also be perfect.
Tom Collins
Angels & Cowboys Proprietary Red 2017
$34.95 at the LCBO
I recognize that, at $35 per bottle, this is not the most accessible option for the student reader. But this is not just any bottle of wine. It is, perhaps, the best bottle I enjoyed in 2019. This full-bodied Zinfandel blend opens to notes of ripe cherry, vanilla and caramel. The cherry carries through to the taste, where it is joined by bright red strawberries and raspberries. A long finish follows, with a lingering flavour of tart, pink grapefruit, and a slightly waxy mouthfeel. This is a relatively alcoholic wine (14.8%), but the alcohol never overwhelms. The acidity is also pronounced, but nicely balanced, making this a versatile wine. Pair it with barbecue and sharp cheeses.
Rodney Strong Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2015
$31.95 at the LCBO
Chardonnay is California’s most cultivated grape. This is an especially beautiful expression of it. I bought a bottle for a dinner party at which a friend and I were making a mixed mushroom risotto. I knew that I wanted something with enough acidity to handle the creaminess of the dish, but also with some buttery or nutty notes to compliment the mushrooms. This Chardonnay was ideal. It has a complex nose that hints at eggnog, buttered toast, ripe pineapple, banana and even a faint meatiness. The flavour profile is equally rich. At once creamy and juicy, it reveals eggnog, vanilla, and lemon. Long finish. This wine is full bodied, but it never feels heavy. The oak is subtle and bright acidity gives it lift.
Amy Lin
Ménage à Trois Silk Red Blend
$17.95 at the LCBO
One of the many joys of Valentine’s Day, aside from binging on on-sale chocolates, is drinking the leftover wine from your roommate’s extravagant date night (shoutout to Kaija Sandberg). I never believed in soulmates, but I guess that was because I had never encountered a red wine that was as smooth as this bad boy: it was love at first sip. This blend of Pinot Noir, Malbec, and Petite Sirah blossoms to reveal a soft palate of strawberries, raspberries, and cherries with a hint of floral. The lingering finish with just a bit of spice at the end rounds out the experience.
For those who are still new to reds and are hesitant to drink it on its own, this is a great place to start. Everything from its subtle sweetness to silky finish might make you rethink your initial prejudice that this could only be a one-time rendezvous—maybe, just maybe, this is a wine that’s worth the commitment. But I’ll let you decide.
Stave & Steel Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon
$19.95 at the LCBO
If you are looking for a bold and seductive red to bring to your next dinner party or date night, then I recommend giving the Stave & Steel Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon a try. Advertised as the first barrel-aged 100% Cabernet Sauvignon to hit the market, this oaky red has notes of caramel and spice with a hint of tobacco. In addition to the bourbon influences, notes of juicy dark berries, plums and cherries are all noticeable on the palate. This is a complex and structured wine that would pair well with meat-based dishes. If you are feeling as adventurous as I was, grab a bottle of this wine and fire up the stove for some homemade Korean BBQ. It will certainly make for a memorable evening.
Olivia Mazza
J Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
$23.95 at the LCBO (also available in 375mL for $14.95)
This is a great wine if you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone; for example, if your significant other lives 3800 kilometres away. The reason is that it comes in a small, 375 mL size! At this size you don’t even have to feel guilty about finishing the bottle—and this is easy to do, because Seven Oaks is an easy-drinking and smooth Cabernet. There is a nice cedar aroma along with the expected dark fruits on the nose. Fruit forward with black currant and black cherry, along with the classic oak and vanilla. A little bit of spice and maybe some hints of chocolate? A medium to full-bodied wine at a good price point. It was nothing extraordinary, but it is a reliable choice for a classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Pair with red meat.
Kimia Veisi Nezhad
Sterling Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
$42.95 at the LCBO ($5 off until 1 March)
I celebrated Valentine’s Day with this excellent Cabernet from Napa Valley, and it stole my heart. The silver label on the bottle gives it a unique, shiny look that caught my attention while wine-shopping at the LCBO. “Bold, complex, smooth, and rich” is how I would describe this seductive wine (and my ideal partner!) Dark purple in color and a great nose with dark fruits, vanilla and wet earth. Intensely flavourful, full-bodied, oaky, and spicy, with a hint of dark chocolate. I paired it with a charcuterie board consisting of various spicy and smoked meats and cheeses, but it would also pair well with grilled red meats.
