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Pretty in Pink - Rosé wine tasting July 17

Posted on July 20, 2014

The first summer quickie class …. Let’s celebrate with Rosé. Peasant Cheese paired the wines.


1. Finca Nueva Rosé 2013 Spain  Rioja Tempranillo $17.99
Paired with Dauphin
Finca Nueva was partly created in response to the world economic crisis. The idea was to create delicious, yet affordable wines — and they've succeeded, with this charming Rosé. Expect fresh, bright notes of berries and ripe red fruits on the nose. The palate is crisp and dry, with good fruit and mineral lift. Strawberry and floral notes prevail, leading to a delicious dry finish.

2. Poggio al Sole Rosato 2013 Italy Tuscany Sangiovese $21.99
Paired with P’tit Basque
It is fresh, fruity and deliciously easy to drink. Serve as an aperitif, or with roast chicken, roast turkey, perhaps some salmon or a charcuterie platter. As for the winery, Poggio al Sole lies in the very heart of Tuscany, in that famous, glorious countryside between Florence and Sienna.

3. Esclans Rosé Whispering Angel 2013 France  Provence Grenache $30.99
Paired with Lagiuole
A fine 88 points from Wine Spectator for this pretty pink from the wonderful Sacha Lichine. The review: "Peach, white cherry and white raspberry notes mingle together, with a juicy feel through the stone-tinged finish." The grapes are a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Tibouren and Rolle (Vermentino).

4. Dumangin Brut Rosé NV France  Champagne $47.99
Paired with Bella Lodi
The Dumangin family tend their vineyards around the village of Chigny-les-Roses. This non-vintage blend is made up of 54% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. It is a truly delicious wine, pale salmon in color with an enticing scent of strawberry.

5. Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence Rosé 2013 France  Rhone Grenache $20.99
Nothing says summer better than a chilled glass of rosé wine — and this one received 88 points from Wine Spectator! The review: "Very fresh, with a lovely stony spine and bright talc, savory and white cherry notes. The long, racy finish is mouthwatering." This blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah is made to drink now. One sip will transport you to that cafe table on the Cote d' Azur!

Thanks to Tandem Wines who contributed a bottle of the Houchart, fantastic value and was the overall favorite.
#1 Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence Rosé 2013
#2 Dumangin Brut Rosé NV France  Champagne

The overall cheese pairing favs:
#1 Poggio al Sole with P’tit Basque
#2 Finca Nueva with Dauphin...

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MAYU - Our new producer from Chile!

Posted on July 16, 2014



Kensington Wine Market is proud to present Viña MAYU, our new arrival from Chile.

Viña Mayu began in 2005 as an independent company of the Olivier family group; Elqui Valley’s first fine wine producer who entered the wine business at the end of 1998.
Mauro Olivier Alcayaga was one of the pioneers planting grapes for fine wine in different
valley loctions. He started working on his family’s vineyards for table grape production at young age; later he was involved with Pisco production (the national Chilean spirit, made from white wine) and, in 2000, planted the first Carménère and Syrah vines in the valley. Finally in 2005, he decided it was time to embark on his own wine project, under Mayu label. Mayu is an ancient INCA name for the Milky Way, literally meaning
“creek of stars”.
Viña Mayu focus is producing only premium wines from the Elqui Valley, with unique style and personality. - See the short video on YouTube



Vineyards
The Mayu vineyards are located in different sectors of the Valley
Quebrada de Talca: At about 350 mts above the sea level cold climate- just 17/18 km. from the Pacific Ocean- often very foggy in the morning; place for Sauvignon Blanc, Torontel and Syrah.

The vineyards are partially on the flat (close to the Elqui river, in a gravelly soil) and part on the foothill of the cerro Mayu, dominated by the observatory.

El Tambo: At about 550 mts above the sea level, 50 km. inland, drier and warmer; great area for Carmenere, Syrah and also Pedro Ximenez (YUNGAY VINEYARD). Climate conditions are warmer, with less fog in the morning (just from the artificial dam) and much more sunshine.

La Compañia: Just around the main village of valley, Vicuña, at 650 mts., above the sea level, 60 km., inland close to the old bed of the Elqui River where Carmenere, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are growing very well.  The character of the wine is different from the one of the cool climate area, but every year consistent.

Dimaro Vineyards: This is the second highest vineyard in the valley with an impressive Pedro Ximenez, Altitud is around 1000 metres above the sea level and 85 km. away the Pacific coast.  Originally this vineyard was for Pisco production, but Mauro worked hard in order to get a nice PX with a great personality.

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="aligncenter" width="403" caption="Mayu wines at Kensington Wine Market"][/caption]

Mayu Sauvignon Blanc 2013 $15.99
89 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate!
The review: "The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is from a vineyard where there’s an astrological observatory a...

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Ardbeg TracTour Tastings - Friday July 11 2014

Posted on July 12, 2014

Last night saw the arrival of the Ardbeg TracTour in Canada, and its first stop was the Kensington Wine Market; North America's first Ardbeg Embassay. The TracTour had just arrived from Taiwan after a long sea voyage.



The Ardbeg tractor is more than just a fun hot rod, lovingly rebuilt as a clever marketing stunt. Ardbeg's whisky, the most heavily peated full production single malt in Scotland owes much of it's signature style to the peat used to make it. So the Tractor is also a tribute to the hard working Tractors of Islay which are used to help harvest and transport the islands peat. Ardbeg Distillery manager Mickie Heads is even said to have had his first driving lesson on a Massie Ferguson tractor.

From the distillery:

"So here at Ardbeg, we feel the time has come to honour these oft-overlooked heroes of the peat bogs. In between shifts, we’ve been tinkering away in our workshop, waggling wires and polishing pistons under the tutelage of mechanical genius Paul Burnham, one of the UK’s top rod and custom car builders, to create… the ultimate Ardbeggian vehicle – the Ardbeg Hot Rod Tractor!

"Ardbeg is no ordinary whisky. And this is no ordinary tractor. It’s bigger. And shinier. With more power. And more roar. Building on the classic 1959 Massey Ferguson 35 chassis, so beloved of Islay famers and distillery workers, this is a one-of-a-kind, custom built, chrome clad model of dazzling proportions.

"Here are the specifications you’ll need to impress fellow TracTOURists out on the road:

1959 Massey Ferguson 35 chassis
546 bhp
604 lb/ft of torque
8.2 litre V8 supercharged engine
8 custom configuration pipes
Weight: 2 tonnes
Rear wheel height: 4.5ft / 137cm (equivalent to 4.7 bottles of Ardbeg)
Colour: Ardbeg green, gold and chrome
Detailing: branded grill, bodywork and embroidered leather driver and passenger seats"

The Ardbeg TracTour has been on a bit of a global tour. To honour its visit to the Kensington Wine Market, we put on two back to back tastings with Ruaraidh McIntyre, Ardbeg's Ambassador to Canada and their importer Charton Hobbs. Ruaraidh, who was born at the distillery, led participants through a range tasting including: Ardbeg 10 Year, Uigeadail, Corryvreckan, Galileo and Auriverdes. It was a great night, thanks to everyone who came, to Ruaraidh, Jordan Cameron and good folk at Charton Hobbs and Ardbeg for sending the TracTour our way!

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The Ardbeg TracTour Cometh!

Posted on July 10, 2014

The Ardbeg TracTour has raced into Alberta just in time for the Stampede. Kensington Wine Market is hosting a pair of tasting tomorrow, Friday July 11, with Brand Ambassador Ruaraidh McIntyre at 5PM and 7PM. The tastings will feature 5 Ardbegs including: 10, Corryvreckan, Uigeadail, Galileo and Auriverdes.



The tastings are very nearly sold out, with just 3 spot available in one and 5 in the other! The whiskies, Ruaraidh and the TracTour can all be had for just $20. So if you're looking for a Calgary event, with great whisky, and no need to don Western duds, come-on down and join us tomorrow!



Call 403-283-8000 to register or do so online!...

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Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada July 2014 Outturn

Posted on July 5, 2014

Last night's was one of the more popular recent Outturns. All six of the new releases showed well, as did the 7th, a re-release of 48.34: In a sweetie shop. The latter is a very fresh 9 year old Speysider at an eye-watering 63.3%. A drop of water turned it into a very pleasant summer patio sipper.



1.168: Delightfully dulcet deliciosity - 53.3% - 28 Year - Refill Hogshead - Speyside - Outturn: 189 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "Following a scant scintilla of paint, the nose became a profusion of tropical fruits (banana, mango, piña colada, plum, orange) with dark chocolate-covered raisins, toffee, Demerara, Jamaican ginger cake and deep woody resonances (dunnage, polished furniture, tea chests, autumn leaves). The palate was a delightfully dulcet deliciosity with wow-ously warming woody spices – we tasted dried cranberries, peach stone, roast pumpkin, IRN-BRU, carrot cake and teasingly tannic after-tingles of walnut, leather and wood. The reduced nose had us imagining an after-hunt dram in a stately home, while the palate discovered star-fruit, grapefruit and gummi bears. From a family-owned distillery near Marypark." Drinking Tip: "A dram to pour when you have plenty of time to let it develop and unfold." - $220.99
44.55: Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason - 52.9% - 22 Year - Refill Hogshead - Speyside - Outturn 288 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "To start the nose neat is a new solid pine chest of drawers with embossed leather inlays and treated with an earthy tobacco finish, followed by less exotic aromas of pineapple with gammon, lemon grass, salted lime, geranium leaves, tomato vines as well as tomato crisps. On the taste surprisingly fresh wood smoke then scones, clotted cream and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and basil mint syrup. With water the aromas turn it into a Swedish knackebrod or a tea loaf with sultanas and caraway. To taste, sweet like a cream tea and well-done toasted crumpets with salted butter. The name of the distillery is pronounced ‘Krai-GELLachy’ which means ‘rocky hill’." Drinking Tip: "Whilst enjoying afternoon tea." - $177.99
35.84: J.K. Rowling meets C.S. Lewis - 58.4% - 14 Year - Medium Toast Light Char Hogshead - Speyside - Outturn: 266 Bottles - Panel's Tasting Note: "Deep, heady perfumes (rose, elderflower, geranium, lily of the valley, Chanel No. 5) gradually enfolded us in warm, welcoming hugs; complex (marzipan, autumn leaves, chestnuts, orange peel, vanilla, plum jam, cigar boxes) – amazing for its age. The velvety smooth, rich palate had flavours of Armagnac, fragrant wood, marmalade and sultanas – elegant but muscular. The reduced nose remained intense – a real sniffer’s dram (cherry pipe tobacco, mint, whisky marmalade) – somewhere between Moro...

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