GUEST REVIEW! PC gives us the good, the bad, and the “You actually bought that?”

Hi folks, I’m PC and A and M have kindly turned their blog over to me for this post. I am a former grad student who is now in law school, and while that may imply that my means and tastes have risen, fear not – $25 bottles of wine are still reserved for special occasions. A few weekends ago, I sat down with two friends and drank just enough wine to have a few good debates. Along the way, we had a chance to try three bottles in particular – my favourite bottle, one I despise, and one that I’m almost ashamed to admit I buy regularly.

The good: Folonari Ripasso Valpolicella Classico 2011 ($18.95)  

I am man who enjoys dry wines; however, my favourite is this bottle, which is actually quite fruity (with just a hint of smokey). It is an easy drink that doesn’t really need much of a pairing (ie we drank it well after dinner was over).  The price tag is a little steep, so not exactly a “Hey, I just had a (explicative) day at school/work, let’s drink!” If instead you’re looking for a nice bottle to bring somewhere that you can drink without complaint (or if you just want to treat yourself), this is a good choice.

The bad: Jackson Triggs Sauvignon Blanc 2011 ($8.95)

You’ll note the Windex in the bottom right of this photo. It would have made a better choice for drinking than this swill. We drank this wine (I use the term VERY loosely) as a second bottle of the night, and my friends and I still arrived at such comments as:

“It smells bad, but it doesn’t taste much.”

“This is the wine they put at every cheap wedding that’s trying to be posh.”

“I’m not sure I’d use it for cooking.”

Or my favourite:

“They suggest pairing it with turkey. I suggest rye and ginger. Or straight vodka.”

This wine barely deserves the title. It’s just plain offensive. The best part of this bottle for me was the few drops of water left in my glass that diluted it. It’s hard to describe just what was so wrong about this bottle. It is a little fruity, but a little musky as well – like it was left in a sock drawer. Just don’t go there. If you’re ever given a bottle, turn it into sangria.

The “You actually bought that?”: Pelee Island Gewürztraminer 2011 ($11.75)

I think of this wine as the sort of thing you give your mother if she doesn’t like wine. It’s very fruity and very sweet – almost an ice wine. When asked to describe it prior to consumption, I tell people that it is kind of like an alcoholic fruit juice. Make sure you drink it well chilled, the sweetness can be a bit much otherwise.

This wine is very unpretentious. Wine snobs and connoisseurs will turn up their nose at this bottle. Even I’m not a huge fan. However, the best bottles are ones enjoyed with friends. And if you’ve got friends who’re not fans of wine, this is a good bottle to start them out with. It’s like dancing to Britney Spears at the bar – you might not want to broadcast that you do it publically, but damn if it isn’t fun to do sometimes anyways. [Editor's Aside: A also enjoys this wine for party fun times, and it makes a frequent appearance on the family party table!]