Liquid Assets

OLD WORLD WINES

Larry Arnold compiles an impressive and expressive portfolio of mostly Old World wines.

Louis Bouillot Cremant De Bourgogne Perle d’Aurore Rose Brut NV France $28.00

Does anybody ever get tired of drinking bubble? I certainly hope not because over the years I have devoted an awful lot of ink to the many joys of imbibing the fizzy elixir in its many incarnations. Founded in 1877, Bouillot was one of the first to experiment with the creation of sparkling Burgundy wine. This blend of Pinot Noir, Gamay, and Chardonnay employs the “Méthode Traditionelle” and is aged sur lie for at least a year before release. Perle d’Aurore is salmon-coloured with a lovely creamy mousse and delicate strawberry, raspberry, and toast flavours, nicely balanced with a clean fruity finish.

Domaine de la Chaise Touraine Sauvignon 2020 France $22.00

A classic Loire Valley Sauvignon from the little commune of Saint-Georges-surCher, located just to the west of Sancerre. Very aromatic with pink grapefruit, passionfruit, and pineapple on the nose. This elegant Touraine is an exercise in restraint with subtle fruit flavours, a delicate minerality, zippy acidity, and a clean, tight finish.

De Wetshof Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2021 South Africa $26.99

De Wetshof is a Burgundian-style winery about 160 kilometres from Cape Town, in a valley renowned for the quality of its white wines. Limestone Hill Chardonnay has never seen a stick of oak; it is fermented and aged on its lees in stainless steel. Understated, with refreshing peach, pear, and brioche aromas, the palate is impeccable with fresh fruit and mineral flavours, a rich creamy texture, pinpoint acidity, and a long supple finish.

Château De Belcier Côtes De Castillon 2010 France $33.99

Oh boy, this was an exciting find! It’s not often wine aficionados stumble across mature Bordeaux that can be considered affordable. One of the few remaining mysteries of the universe but true nonetheless. The Château de Belcier estate dates back to the 1780s and today consists of 128 acres of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, averaging 35 years of age. It’s your typical right-bank blend fermented in stainless steel and aged in oak for a year. Mediumbodied with a classic Bordeaux nose showing cassis and cigar box. The palate does not disappoint with concentrated fruit flavours and a clutch of tannins on the finish. Not a bad price given the reputation of this fine vintage. Somebody did their homework!

Fontanafredda Briccotondo Piemonte Barbera 2020 Italy $20.00

Barbera is the most widely planted red grape variety in the Piedmont region of Italy. It grows and thrives where no vine ought to be and in the right hands can produce one of the most fruit-filled, food-friendly wines in the country. In the wrong hands, it will strip the enamel from your teeth, blur your vision, and destroy your digestive tract. With the Briccotondo, however, we have a winner. This is a real quaffer with simple cherry-berry fruit flavours and next to no tannin, but enough clean, refreshing acidity to put it all into perspective.

Giovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo 2019 Italy $29.00

If you love Barolo and Barbaresco but can’t afford the hefty price tag these classics command, mop up those tears and look no further—we have a winner here! Silky smooth with a bouquet redolent of ripe cherries, licorice, and violets, mediumbodied with simple fruit flavours, plenty of bounce, and a tannic punch that won’t lay you out cold after the second glass.

Chionetti San Luigi Dogliani 2020 Italy $27.99

Dolcetto is the third red grape of the Piemonte region in northwest Italy. It could be considered a hefty Beaujolais knockoff if not for the clenched fist of tannin lurking within the dark inky depths. Sounds daunting, but don’t get your knickers in a knot. The San Luigi is absolutely delicious! Dark purple with an attractive nose of black cherries, plums, blueberries, and violets along with an intriguing whiff of earthy fecundity. Medium-bodied, with a warm round texture and a veritable tsunami of ripe fruit flavours. Sour cherries, sweet blackberries, herbs, spices, minerals; yes, we have them all! And tannins you ask? Yes, there is a gentle farewell kiss of soft, fine-grained tannins prevalent on the long dry finish.

Carpano Punt E Mes Vermouth Rosso Italy $31.00

Vermouth was invented by either the Germans or the Italians sometime in the late 17th century. The original spirit, known in German as wermutwein, was a favourite tipple of the locals. Infused with the bitter herb wermut or wormwood, a few jugs of vermouth was even reputed to be an effective curative for parasites! The brand Punt E Mes (poont-eh-mess) translates to “point and a half” and was created by Torino bar owner Antonio Carpano in 1870. A blend of one point sweet vermouth with a half point of bitters, it is a rare example of a “vermouth amaro.” Punt E Mes has the body and sweetness of a classic red vermouth melded with the substantial herbal bitterness of a quinine-based amaro. The finish is a revelation, long, juicy, and seemingly never-ending.