Hello Prince Albert! It can be an intimidating venture to walk into a liquor store and find enough information to make an educated purchase. If friendly, motivated staff are not available to guide us towards new products, how do we know what to try next or which wine to take a chance on? I’m happy to report that private liquor stores are recognizing the uncertainty of consumers and have started to include useful information on the SKU tags like country of origin and more importantly, the sweetness levels of the wines on sale. It’s also a great thing to see neatly marketed signs clearly describing the flavor profiles of the wine, which was the case for the Diablo Luminous Rose. These kinds of initiatives impress me for their ability to quickly educate the customer, and it resulted in an immediate purchase of the product.
On another note, I’ve always been looking for a wine advent calendar; something fun and easy to give as a gift or keep for myself. I managed to find one this year called the Festive Wine Pack which includes (12) 375ml wines: 5 white wines, 5 red wines, 1 rose and 1 sparkling wine. The calendar comes out to about $160 after taxes which equals roughly $13-14 per bottle. I will be reviewing these small bottles off and on starting with an Italian red wine called L’Artiste Ripasso which tickled my funny bone since it is an Italian wine with a French name.
L’Artiste is a Ripasso which is made using common grape juice fermented in leftover skins from Amarone wines. Adding discarded Amarone skins into a tank of juice and macerating them for long periods of time is an affordable method to create delicious tasting wines without having to charge wine drinkers exorbitant amounts of money. Here is the interesting part about this wine and why reading labels is important: L’Artiste is labeled as a simple “Product of Italy” and while it is made with 100% Italian grapes like Nero di Troia, Sangiovese, Primitivo, Negroamaro and Montepulciano, the wine tastes altered somewhat.
I’ve tasted well over 100 Italian wines the past few years and I’ve never had a physical reaction like allergies, headaches or body warmth (unless overconsuming) but with L’Artiste, both my wife and I started heating up intensely after a couple of glasses. Since most Italian wines of quality are restricted in what they can add or how they can process their wines, my suspicion is that something was added to this red wine to make it fuller and to soften the acidity. In other words, this tastes like a wine manipulated for the North American palate which decreases its authenticity. Did it taste good? Yes! We paired it with a cheese pizza and the flavors really popped, but it wasn’t in line with what classic Italian wine tastes like.
Now let’s take a look at a “Product of Chile” which can be a blend of any grape from any area within the country. The Diablo collection of wines has always aroused misgivings for me as they seem aimed towards simpler palates (I’m really starting to sound like a snob!) but since I’ve been trying to dispel this myth that I’ve created in my mind that smooth, fruity wines with fun names and colors are bad, I wanted to give the Diablo Luminous Rose a try. This rose is surprisingly tasty with a simple red fruit candy element blended with rose petals/flowers. I did get a headache after a glass or two, but I’ll put that down to my head cold. I’m interested as to whether the other Diablo wines would give me a similar reaction. The Diablo Rose was delicious with a plate of creamy Tuscan pasta with chicken.
One thing I have trouble resisting is an award-winning Canadian beer and when I saw the Quark, Strangeness and Charm (also the name of a Hawkwind album), I had to grab it! This beer is a collaboration between Pile O’ Bones and Nokomis breweries and it won the Canadian beer of the year in 2024! The flavors are citrusy and yeasty with a bit of a spicy bite and floral hops. This beer reminds me of a cross between a Saison beer and a Witbier. Here are my wine picks of the week!
L’Artiste Ripasso 2024: (Product of Italy). Off-dry red, deep ruby color. The bouquet is fruity and concentrated with aromas of stewed dark cherries, chocolate syrup, sweet black licorice, plums and blueberries. On the palate, the wine is medium-plus bodied with smooth, round flavors of cooked fruits (plums, blueberries and cherries), sweet chocolate and subtle notes of toasted oak (medium tannins). Even though the wine is slightly off balance due to its lower acidity (on the flabby side), the flavors are deep and fruity with excellent intensity and concentration. Medium-length finish of toasty tannins and lingering dark fruit flavors. Pairs well with savory, salty foods like roasts, pizza or earthy, crumbly cheeses. The flavors of this red are simple but easy to enjoy. Good! $13 (375ml), 13.9% ABV
Diablo Luminous Rose 2023: (Product of Chile). Off-dry rose, pale pink color. On the nose, light notes of red fruits flutter delicately (strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate) while floral rose scents conjure picturesque garden landscapes in mid-summer bloom. To the taste, this rose has a light body with medium acidity and medium-intense flavors of raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate followed by warming floral notes (roses and potpourri). The taste begins with a zip of acidity and red fruit followed by roses which carry into the medium length finish. The fruit flavors return briefly, highlighting a candy-like raspberry/strawberry character infused with flower blossoms. Easy to drink and enjoy with friends, consider pairing the Diablo Rose with light snacks or creamy white/rose pasta dishes. I would consider buying this one again due to its simplicity and great price point. Good! $20, 12.5% ABV
Cheers and thanks for reading!
