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Wine Review: A Malbec to Remember

Friday, June 26, 2009 by The Joggler

Everyone has their favorite grape varietals. For my wife, it's Shiraz and Chardonnay. I'm partial to Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. When I see a bottle of Malbec on the shelf at the wine store, it's not the first thing I reach for. It's not that I don't like it - I've just never been that impressed with the grape. But last night, I tried a Malbec that really struck a chord: the Catena 2006 Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.

Plenty of pleasing aromas of licorice root and sweet plum float easily out of the glass. It's a very smooth, medium-bodied wine, full of brambly berries and oak. The wine trails off into a silky long finish that will have you reaching back for another sip right away.Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate both give this one a 91. I like it, but I’m going to go one lower at 90. Still, the Catena has given me a new appreciation for Malbec. Now, I'll be much more likely to grab a bottle the next time I'm at the wine shop.


Quaffability Rating: 90









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A Wine for Father's Day

Thursday, June 18, 2009 by The Joggler

Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2006 ($20)

This is a beefy, dark-purple, manly wine, perfect for a Father’s Day barbecue. A powerful nose of blueberry jam, violets and cloves begs for immediate imbibing. Intense flavors of blackberries, tobacco and spice are rounded out by teasing floral notes that dance on the taste buds into a long finish. I can’t think of a much better way to celebrate Father’s Day than downing a bottle of Kaiken – with the help of a grilled, medium-rare rib eye, heavily seasoned with coarse salt and cracked black pepper.

Quaffability Rating: 89





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Veuve Clicquot and Chèvre

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 by The Joggler

It’s easy to match up a sparking wine with cheese. Just about anything goes, with the possible exception of very stinky cheeses. Since sparking wines are usually served before the main course, a platter of cheese is a simple way to bring out some of the flavors of the brut.

I’ve heard that the Cowgirl Creamery’s Red Hawk triple cream cheese from Berkeley, California is a heavenly accompaniment to sparkling wine, though I haven’t been lucky enough to try it. But I can say that a nice bottle of Veuve Clicquot will go down very well with a rich chèvre. The contrast of the acidity in the wine and the creaminess of the cheese makes both taste better, and the Champagne’s micro-fine bubbles meld with the fat in the chèvre.





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About

Michal Kapral, a senior editor at Captivate’s Canadian head office in Toronto, has been enjoying wine at home since way before he was of legal age. He spent a year writing wine reviews for Captivate in Canada, and now he’s thrilled to bring his unquenchable viniferous obsession to a North American audience. Kapral spent some time living in Italy as a teenager, further solidifying his appreciation for all things vino-related. In his days as a journalism student, he was likely one of the youngest – and poorest – subscribers to Wine Spectator magazine. In 1999, Kapral turned down a job at a winery to work at Captivate.

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The Quaffer

Highlighting the best new wines from around the world, in the price range of $10-$40, Captivate Editor Michal Kapral reminds viewers some of the finer things in life are most definitely within their reach. This feature focuses on North American wines and includes reviews, food pairings and news from the world of wine.