Show dad you care with one of these special bottles
Last month, I wrote about wines for moms, so I figured it’s only fair to pick a few bottles for dads this time, what with Father’s Day a few weeks away.
The suggestions are meant to suit the warmer weather and the chance that the man of honour could be grilling something on the patio on his special day.
Here are some selections to show your dad you care.
Chateau Minuty 2018 M Rosé Cotes de Provence, France
The Matton-farnet family has operated Chateau Minuty, perched near the Mediterranean Sea in the hills of the Saint-tropez peninsula in southeastern France, for 80 years.
Now under the leadership of the third generation, Jean-etienne and Francois Matton have continued to upgrade the winery while tweaking the grapes grown in the vineyard.
Many different types of wine are made in Provence, including bold reds and whites, but the first thing that probably comes to mind is rosé. The world has fallen in love with rosé, particularly the dry, lightly coloured version synonymous with Provence. This bottle is a classic example.
A pale pink blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, it’s subtle and refined, with seductive and persistent flavours of orange, apricot, lemon pith and white blossoms. It’s dry, refreshing and light bodied. A perfect pick for the patio.
Price: About $30. Look for it at Cellar Fine Wines, Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Highfield Liquor, Highlander Wine and Spirits, Kensington Wine Market, Wine and Beyond at Sage Hill and Zyn the Wine Market.
Drink: Now. Try it with a fruit salad, steelhead trout or Chinese takeout.
Cork: 12.5 per cent alc./vol.
Plume 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, Calif.
Plume is a California wine with a Canadian story.
The Napa Valley winery was launched in 2012 when the Stewart Family, owners of Quails’ Gate Winery in Kelowna, B.C., joined forces with the Zepponi family, which has a history of winemaking in California.
The Stewarts, who started growing grapes in the Okanagan Valley in 1961, also operate two other wineries in California: Valley of the Moon and Lake Sonoma Winery. The Plume name hints at the connection to Quails’ Gate as it refers to the feather that dangles at the front of the California quail.
This is a bold Cabernet Sauvignon, which also includes five per cent Malbec, four per cent Petit Verdot, three per cent Merlot and one per cent Cabernet Franc. In California, a wine can be labelled as a single-varietal wine if 75 per cent of it comes from the stated grape.
It’s plush and rich, with flavours of blackcurrant, black olive, plum, blackberry, mocha and spice.
The tannins are firm and the finish is long.
Price: About $35. Check for it at Cellar Fine Wines, Cork Fine Wine, Liquor and Ale and Willow Park Wines & Spirits.
Drink: In the next three or four years. Try with a grilled rib-eye steak, lamb or slow-roasted brisket.
Cork: 14.5 per cent alc./vol.
50th Parallel Estate 2016 Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Former Calgarians Curtis Krouzel and Sheri-lee Turner-krouzel have turned their Okanagan wine dream into reality at their impressive winery overlooking Okanagan Lake north of Kelowna.
It’s hard to find a more fun-loving and exuberant pair. They are quick with a smile, a hug and to pop a cork. I first wrote about them a few years back when they had just started on their wine adventure.
Last fall, I got to pop in for a visit and tour of the impressive spot, now featuring a restaurant and event space.
The focus at 50th Parallel is on Pinot Noir, which is an excellent grape for the Okanagan. About 35 per cent of the wine they produce is Pinot Noir, though they also offer a number of white wines and a few sparklers, too.
Medium-bodied and dry, with moderate tannins and zesty acid, this Pinot Noir offers flavours of cherry, black raspberry, violet, vanilla and all spice. It’s lively and fresh.
Price: About $42. Look for it at Ace Liquor, Bin 905, Buzz Buddy Liquor, Cloud 9 Liquor Store, Co-op Wines Spirits Beer, Cork Fine Wine, Liquor and Ale, Craft Cellars, Crowfoot Wines and Spirits, Eastport Liquor Store, J. Webb Wine Merchant, Market Wines, MH Liquor, Willow Park Wines & Spirits, Wine and Beyond at Sage Hill and Zyn the Wine Market.
Drink: In the next couple of years. Try it with grilled salmon, paella or beef Bourguignon.
Cork: Screwcap; 14 per cent alc./ vol.
Ardbeg Uigeadail Islay, Scotland
Let’s face it, June isn’t all about sunny skies and outdoor living. We get our share of rain, too. Sometimes you need something special to soothe your soul after days of rain. For me, a peaty Scotch does the trick.
Ardbeg is from Islay, the remote, wind-blown island on Scotland’s southwestern edge that is synonymous with peaty, smoky single-malts. And Ardbeg makes some of the peatiest.
Introduced in 2003, Uigeadail (pronounced Oog-a-dal) quickly became a favourite of the Ardbeg Committee, the group of devotees who follow every move of the popular distillery that launched in 1815.
Made from whisky aged in Bourbon (60 per cent) and Oloroso sherry (40 per cent) casks, Uigeadail is the Gaelic name for the loch that supplies the distillery’s water.
While the smoke notes are powerful, there’s also lots of caramel, iodine, singed orange peel, vanilla, honey and dried apricot on the nose. The palate is rich, with caramel, apricot, buttered honey, raisin and lots of white pepper. The finish is clean and fresh.
Price: About $115. Uigeadail is well distributed, check at your nearest liquor store with a good Scotch selection.
Drink: When you feel the urge or need. Try it with blue cheese or a well-aged cheddar. Prime rib would work well, too. Though the best match is a roaring fire and a good book.
Cork: Stopper; 54.2 per cent alc./ vol.
Contact Darren Oleksyn at dm.oleksyn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Looking for a specific wine? Because wine inventories are always in flux, it’s a good idea to call a store to confirm they have it. A search on Liquorconnect.com can give you an idea of stores that have carried the wines.