Are you a self professed chocoholic or married/dating one?
The way to experience wine & chocolate bliss is through Banyuls!
Dark chocolate whether in a dessert confection or on it's own often makes the perfect end to a meal. While many might suggest Port or Cabernet as an accompaniment, few know about the classic French wine, Banyuls, so consider yourself now in the know compliments of Barrel Select!
Banyuls (Bahn-Yull): Think of it as the French cousin of Port. Banyuls is a Grenache based fortified wine that has been made since the 13th
Century - and why mess with a good thing? It is often aged in the sun on a roof or terrace to enhance oxidation and confer upon the wine a
nuttiness known as rancio. Lighter in body than Port, and a bit less alcoholic, it is a match made in heaven when you slurp it with chocolate. Banyuls gets its name from the coastal town of Banyuls Sur Mer in the south of France, once a sleepy fishing town that attracted
artists like Matisse and Picasso (we're sure they knew about this pairing long ago!)
So you ask, how may I get may hands on the marvelous taste sensation and partake in Chocoholic heaven?
Domaine La Tour Vielle 2006 Banyuls Vendanges
The 2006 Banyuls has heady aromas of almonds and walnuts, offset by hints of strawberry and cassis. This is a sumptuous wine, with a velvety texture and great young fruit that might remind you of ruby port. Use this after dinner, by itself, or with blue cheeses or nuts and of course with chocolate! Warm chocolate soufflé and Banyuls are a wonderful and elegant combination. Need not worry if you don't want to drink the entire 500ml bottle, the wine keeps well once opened if refrigerated!
12 bt x 500 ml
$35.41/bt
Mantra's winemaker visits Toronto & generates an overwhelming response
When we invited Mantra's winemaker and owner Mike Kuimelis to come and meet with some of our customers we already knew that his wines would create a passionate response in the market. What we couldn't predict was that in 3 short days we would nearly sell out of our current inventory (we've ensured that there is more wine for those who want it). What created this buzz? Well Mantra has not only been recognized by renowned critics for producing exceptional wines at unbelievable values (comments frequently uttered by many of Toronto’s esteemed restaurants this very week), but more importantly those in the Toronto market have responded to Mantra's exceptional quality.
A Little Bit About Mantra...
When one is on the way to med school and gets bitten by “the bug”, what does one do? Make wine of course. When Mike launched Mantra Wines with the 2000 vintage, it was obvious that much thought and attention went into his venture since the Kuimelis family has been growing and selling grapes in the Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys of Sonoma for over 10 years, and he was about to alter his future in a drastic way. Now a father and son team (yes a two man show) produce approximately 4000 cases annually. Mike’s father tends the 4 estate vineyards, while Mike sees to the winemaking duties.
The Sanskrit word mantra literally translates to mean “instrument of thought.” Putting quality above economics, Mike is moving towards sustainable farming. His wines are exclusively from the best blocks of the Kuimelis family's eighty-acre mountain-top and hillside vineyards where they specialize in Cab, Zin and Syrah. Respected wine critic, Robert Parker dubbed this brand an “impressive new comer” that we’re sure will have you chanting this Mantra yourself or at least finding peace and bliss in their liquid versions!
Come experience a taste of France at Célestin on Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Chef Ribreau and Mr. Lynch speak the same language when their creative talents are paired together. Enjoy an evening of wine and food pairings by calling Celestin. Reserve now, while space is still available!
Célestin
623 Mount Pleasant Rd.
7:00pm - hors d'oeuvres & canapes at the bar
7:30pm - Dinner Begins
A night of fantastic French flavours
For more details and to see the menu click here.
A 93 point Sauvignon Blanc being poured BTG (By-the-Glass) at Grace!
Grace - A restaurant trend setter who is blazing a trail and offering consumers of fine wine the opportunity to indulge their passion with luxury BTG wines is currently offering Rudd 2006 Napa Sauvignon Blanc, by the glass. While quantities last.
This wine is long sold out from Barrel Select, but now you can enjoy it even if you weren't one of the lucky ones to secure a case. If you haven't had the good fortune of getting acquainted with this Sauvignon Blanc elixir, take this opportunity and call us to sign up for a case of the 2007 in advance of it's release!
Head to Grace on College St. to enjoy the opulent 2006 Rudd Estate Sauvignon Blanc exclusively poured BTG in Toronto at Grace
93 Points - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
“Rudd is now producing one of California’s most stunning Sauvignon Blancs. The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, which is mostly from their vineyards on Mt. Veeder, is blended with 22% Semillon that was 100% barrel-fermented. The good news is that there are about 1,500 cases of this wine, which was aged in concrete, egg-shaped tanks. The wine is stunningly complex, with notes of guava, fig, honeydew melons, and even a touch of honeysuckle in a floral sense. Not put through malolactic, the wine has zesty acidity, but this is a wine with no shortage of richness, texture, and a remarkably long finish. This is terrific Sauvignon, and I suspect it will age for 4-5 years, although I don’t know how anyone could resist it now."
Join the BSI Team!
Barrel Select is accepting applications for:
Part Time Deliveryman
Send resumes to
.
Outside Sales Associate
Passionate about our boutique, hand crafted wines and eager to marry this with your enthusiasm for sales?
Send resumes to
,
along with a cover letter.
