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The Good Juice

For this edition of The Good Juice we have selected the 2006 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon from J. Lohr and the 2007 Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling from the John Howard Cellars of Distinction. With respect to the J. Lohr Seven Oaks we are pleased to announce that the wine is now a Vintages Essentials item.  This means that you should have consistent access to the wine through your local LCBO/Vintages outlet. In the event that the wine is not immediately available the store will be able to order it for you. The John Howard Cellars of Distinction is a relatively new winery for us and is located in the Beamsville Bench area of Vineland. We recently spent a very educational, entertaining and enjoyable day with John and his team. Despite the fact that he will tell you that this is his retirement project, his energy, passion and dedication to winemaking and all things related is without question. The 2007 Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling Edra’s Vineyard at $17.95/bottle is wonderful example of that commitment and attention to detail.

JLohrBottle J. Lohr, 2006 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon $19.95/bottle GST included, LCBO product code 656561

The 2006 vintage saw a return to below average rainfall for Paso Robles, and with it came smaller vine canopies, smaller clusters and smaller berries. The combination of these elements made for excellent quality in the Cabernet Sauvignon. The outstanding color and flavor development brought back memories of the noteworthy Cabernet crop from 2001. There were no significant heat events after veraison (beginning of ripening) in 2006, and very mild weather conditions existed straight through harvest. This allowed sugar, flavor and tannin ripeness to occur simultaneously, producing fruit full of bold and generous varietal and regional expression, and highlighting the dark cherry and black currant fruit that is the hallmark of this great Cabernet winegrowing region.

The predominant fruit for the J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon comes from estate vineyards located directly opposite the J. Lohr Paso Robles Wine Center. The Seven Oaks vineyard was originally planted on its own rootstock, utilizing some of the original plantings from indigenous Estrella clones. The soils in the Paso Robles vineyards vary from gravelly clay loam to limestone-based soils over a relatively small parcel of land, and various rootstock and clonal combinations have been used to maximize the expression of each individual site. The different soil types and planting combinations complement the palate of the Seven Oaks Cabernet and add balance and weight to the wine.

The 2006 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is intensely-colored with youthful and bright hues. An abundance of dark cherry, black currant and berry fruit greets the nose, enhanced by spicy cedar, vanilla and toasty notes. On the palate, the fruit follows through with full weight and a lingering intensity and balance from the tannins. This wine is ready to be enjoyed now, or cellared for 5 years. Here is what David Lawrason had to say about the wine.....”J. Lohr, topped the Cabernet class at the Under $25 International Value Wine Awards. Shows deep colour and a bouquet of blackberry, chocolate and almonds. Full bodied and smooth, with fine tannin and a slightly earthy finish. Also available in a Magnum. 88 points.”

Given the temperature these days I was encouraged to search for a beef stew to pair with this wine. The one that I settled on was a Provencal Beef Stew with red wine, olives and polenta. Remember, a good rule for cooking with wine is that if you won’t drink it then don’t cook with it!
MegalomaniacBottle John Howard Cellars of Distinction, 2007 Megalomaniac Narcissist Riesling Edra’s Vineyard $17.95/bottle

When John Howard decided to make some wine from the vineyards surrounding his home in Vineland, the former owner of Vineland Estates Winery knew the venture would likely be called a vanity project or worse, so he decided to have some fun with that notion. Meet Megalomaniac, one the newest wine brands in Ontario. If you have the opportunity to visit the winery and catch John, he will tell you that he is fully retired and that this is a project to see him through his retirement years. Located in the Beamsville Bench area of Niagara, each Megalomaniac wine is a reflection of the land, weather, and the people who brought it to reality. The Winery’s 110 acres of prime vineyard property are meticulously managed by Duarte Oliveira. Sue-Ann Staff, who has recently joined Megalomaniac, heads up the wine making team. The winery itself has been carved out of the escarpment and employs state of the art equipment and new French oak imported directly from Francois Freres in Bordeaux, France. The Megalomaniac portfolio sees a couple hundred cases of wine produced from the various vinefera found in Howard’s estate vineyards most notably Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Here is what Christopher Waters had to say about the 2007 Narcissist Riesling. “ This single-vineyard wine comes from an immaculate site on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland that is ideally suited to producing Rieslings with ripeness, purity of expression and soil derived minerality. Made in an off dry style, the 2007 Narcissist Riesling has appealing freshness and floral notes on the nose - and that juicy, refreshing character that young Rieslings have when they are freshly bottled that makes them so incredibly delicious. A warmer vintage means that white peach notes mingle with the characteristically zesty lime/grapefruit flavours common to Vineland grown Riesling, which adds to the upfront fruity character of this tasty white wine.” Christopher Waters is the managing editor of one of Canada’s best-selling consumer wine magazines and is also an international wine judge and lecturer.

In trying to find a dish that would pair well with this wine I found one of my cookbooks that dealt with seasonal dishes. The recipe that jumped out at me was Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions and Wild Mushrooms. You might want to serve this along with roasted fennel and steamed baby new potatoes. Enjoy.

When you have a moment please check out our website at www.profilewinegroup.com

How to order

Phone: 416-598-0033 extension 243 to speak directly with Allan Leal, or you can
E-mail him at aleal@profilewinegroup.com

All orders are COD. Payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard, AMEX or cheque. Your credit card will not be charged until the product is shipped.

Minimum Orders: There is a one case minimum order (12 bottles unless otherwise noted).

Delivery to a single destination within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is free of charge. Delivery outside of the GTA can be arranged.

You must be 19 years of age or older to place or receive a wine order.