In Vino Veritas provides some recommendations for those looking to splurge
In one final hurrah before the exam season is upon us, IVV splurged on the bougiest bottles to celebrate the end of the term. Whether you’re just finishing up your first year of law school, or finishing up for good, we have you covered with the best wines to toast the occasion.
Shae Rothery (2L)
$86, Grape Witches
Is there a point of diminishing returns when it comes to wine? In all honesty—and as much as it pains me to say this as a self-proclaimed wine snob—probably. But, that being said, sometimes a girl just wants to splurge and feel bougie (RIP to my LOC).
I was first introduced to Greta Carbo during a wine-tasting event at Grape Witches, and I immediately knew that I’d be bringing a bottle home with me for a special occasion. I whipped out my Apple Pay without hesitation, tapped, and pretended not to see the total.
Let me walk you through this gem. Carbonic maceration? Check. Eighth-generation winemaker? You bet. Loire Valley? My favourite region! The star of the show here is Cabernet Franc, which is a single-varietal that takes the best of both worlds from Bordeaux blends (the structure of a cabernet sauvignon and the flavour profile of a merlot, for the wine newbies).
Growing Cab Franc in Loire, one of France’s cooler regions, makes for a more acidic wine (on par with a pinot noir). The result is a silky, sophisticated, red fruit-forward wine, with old-vine complexity and a hint of candy-like sweetness on the nose from the carbo. Acidic food pairings (think pasta with tomato sauce) would play well off of the wine’s acidity.
I seriously cannot recommend this wine enough. The next time I want to ignore my mounting student debt, I’ll pick up another bottle. If you, understandably, can’t justify dropping almost $100 on a bottle of wine and you’re okay settling for mid-tier fancy, Calvez-Bobinet has some other great, more “affordable” options.
The special occasion I saved this bottle for? Not getting an LP on my admin law midterm. You have to celebrate the little victories.
Jared Barkman (1L)
$72, Grape Witches
When I heard that my favourite Toronto wine shop had finally imported the cult-classic Gut Oggau family of wines, it wasn’t a matter of if I would splurge, but when. Heralded saints of the natural wine world, Eduard and Stephanie Tscheppe, transformed a decrepit 17th century vineyard in Burgenland, Austria into a powerhouse of biodynamic wine, a fortunate by-product of vines that had gone two decades without a hint of pesticide or fertilizer. The wines produced were so whimsical and unique that the producers decided to craft a fictional family to portray the personalities of each variety.
I ultimately went with Theodora, the youngest member of the Gut Oggau family and a product of their newest vines. She is simultaneously playful and reliable, dry enough to match your humour and sufficiently complex to distract from dull guests. A blend of Gruner Veltliner and Welschriesling, Theodora has strong notes of green apple and a hint of minerality, pairing well with white fish and striking conversation. Be sure to “accidentally” leave your receipt on the counter so your friends are aware of the splurge—perhaps your generosity will finally inspire them to choose something other than a $10 bottle at the LCBO next time they’re hosting.
Jared Barkman (1L)
Rosewood Winery, ‘There Be Dragons’
$38, Paris Club
When a member of IVV prudently (or negligently?) recommended that we review “fancy” wine this month, Shae and I rightfully took the assignment to heart and overindulged at Grape Witches, the holy grail of overpriced wine—“for the people,” of course. But if we’re honest, we know that you’re too cheap to take our recommendations, and we’re too broke to keep up these bad habits. So, for those of you who consider it a “splurge” to set aside the 2L bottle of Growers and reach for a bottom-of-the-shelf merlot (why is it always merlot?), this recommendation is for you: a populist appeal to make wine accessible to the masses, to the benefit of your palate and your wallet (believe me, you’re better than merlot).
If you’re into niche war flicks from the mid-2000s, ‘There Be Dragons’ may call to mind a phenomenally bad Spanish Civil War film (rated a respectable 12 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). In an apparent attempt to redeem the ignoble title, Rosewood Winery crafted a truly stunning Sauvignon Blanc by the same name. ‘There Be Dragons’ is one of the crown jewels of the Niagara region, oozing with luxurious notes of honey and grilled pineapple. And given that it drinks like a dessert wine, it will also keep in your fridge for several days without noticeably depreciating in quality (if you’re currently subsisting on microwaved ramen as the LOC begins to dip precipitously low, this may be a key selling point).
Finally, if you’ve intentionally skimmed this article for the cheapest bottle on the list, my hunch is that you’re also the type who buys your wine based on how pretty the label is—no judgment. Rosewood is appealing to your basic instincts and the bottle not only serves as a vessel for your fancy wine, but will also make a fantastic vase for your equally budget-friendly Loblaws bouquet.
