Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, 2012 Baco Noir, VQA

Sadly, due to the whims of fate, my favourite winery is not making Baco Noir this year. In light of this sad news, I, A, have struck out to replace my favourite Baco with a good substitute. I turned to Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery's 2012 Baco Noir. Priced at $14.95, it is in the mid-range for Baco Noir's and it has received good reviews. Plus the guy at the liquor store recommended it, saying it was the best Baco in vintages. With all of these things in its favour, I decided to give it a try. First, I drank it on its own while I cooked dinner, then I drank it with the dinner I had made, a rich mushroom and beef stew served poutine style (over cheese curds and fries) on the advice of Canadian Living (found here: http://www.canadianliving.com/food/gravy_smothered_beef_and_mushrooms.php ) The poutine was good, but I think that the stew was delicious enough on its own, so in the future I would recommend it over mashed potatoes, so its flavour can stand alone (how I ate it the second day) . Enough of my thoughts on stew, you say! So on to the wine...

A - This wine was not the flavour explosion I was hoping for. It predominantly tastes like black pepper and strawberries, with only a hint of the campfire smokiness I like in my Bacos. It didn't exactly have the strong oomph I was hoping for. It was definitely not the cherry, strawberry preserves, and blueberries that the website promised me. Perhaps I was just bitter because I lack the "fireplace, your mate, and a quiet night in," that this wine's website claims it pairs best with. EYE ROLL! While this wine was not exactly what I was looking for, it was by no means a bad wine. I was just hoping for something a little less subtle.

WITH POUTINE: Eating this with a saltier food like poutine brought out the fruitiness and also cut a bit of the peppery-ness. I liked it better with this obscenely rich meal. It brought both to a good middle point. 

AN IMPORTANT ASIDE: I later served a wine-liking but non-snob friend this wine and she really enjoyed it. She isn't big on strong wines so liked that this was a little more subtle, and didn't have an overbearing smokiness. I think this wine might have been something my mom would like too, since she likes less heavy, more fruity reds. With that in mind and my general like for the wine, I would recommend serving this on its own to friends on a night in, or drinking it with a savoury rustic meal. Hot Hamburg anyone? I would drink this wine again, but it does not replace my favourite baco in my heart!