Michael Pinkus and André Proulx welcome Nikka Global Director Koji and Export Manager Kuma to discuss Japanese whisky and taste Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo single malts plus Nikka From the Barrel and the 40th-anniversary From the Barrel Extra Marriage. They cover founder Masataka Taketsuru’s role as the “father of Japanese whisky,” his 1918–1920 Scotland apprenticeship and detailed notebook, and Nikka’s four pillars: terroir, producing a variety of whiskies in-house, Coffey still grain whisky, and blending skill. The guests explain Yoichi’s coastal, direct coal-fire character and Miyagikyo’s softer mountain style shaped by pot-still design, heating method, and ex-sherry casks. From the Barrel is described as a 51.4% blend of 100+ whiskies made smoother via a cask “marriage” finishing, with Extra Marriage extending that process to six months. They note Japanese whisky’s market growth, minimal focus on age statements for these expressions, and recommend From the Barrel as the best entry point.

You can learn more about Nikka here - https://www.nikka.com/en/

Nikka is represented by Woodman Wine and Spirits - https://woodmanwinesandspirits.com/

You can support us on Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine ... $5/month members NOW get exclusive content. See Patreon page for details.

You can email André at andre@andrewinereview.ca and follow him on Instagram here - @andrewinerview

You can email Michael at michael@michaelpinkuswinereview.com and follow him on Instagram here - @thegrapeguy

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Judging 130 Chardonnays, the Canadian Wine Library, and a Surprise Chinese Cabernet Gernischt

André and Michael reunite over drinks after time apart, starting with André’s experience judging about 130 Chardonnays for the Experts Tasting alongside winemakers, sommeliers, and an LCBO rep, and his visit to the Canadian Wine Library at Brock University, where he tasted older wines and brought home a 2002 Stoney Ridge unoaked Chardonnay that held up surprisingly well, prompting discussion about Ontario Chardonnay aging potential and producers. They taste Divergence 2023 MRV (Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier) by Jeff Moote and discuss Northern Rhône-style whites in Ontario and across Canada, then open a high-end Chinese Cabernet Gernischt (noted as genetically the same as Carménère), assessing its profile and questioning its approximate $400+ equivalent pricing. They also sample Georgian AVVOP brandy and a 7% JP Wiser’s x Canada Dry whisky-ginger RTD, and preview upcoming interviews and a possible Substack focused on researched wine criticism.

Learn about the Canadian Wine Libary here - https://brocku.ca/ccovi/canadian-wine-library/

Stoney Ridge wines here - https://www.stoneyridge.com/

Divergence Wines here - https://divergencewines.ca/

JP Wisers here - https://www.jpwisers.com/

You can support us on Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine ... $5/month members NOW get exclusive content. See Patreon page for details.

You can email André at andre@andrewinereview.ca and follow him on Instagram here - @andrewinerview

You can email Michael at michael@michaelpinkuswinereview.com and follow him on Instagram here - @thegrapeguy

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When you open high-priced wines, what goes through your head? You expect to be wowed. You expect a moment of zen. You expect your world to change ... for the better. We opened three bottles in one night that should have changed our lives. A La Tache, a Henri Guiraud Fut de Chene MV17 and something else none of us can remember - which should tell you all you need to know about our dinner and tasting ... but wait, there is more to discuss. We unpack it all here.

You can learn about Henri Giraud here - and they are represented by AbV in Ontario - or go back and listen to Two Guys Talking Wine episode 383

You can learn about Domaine de la Romanee Conti here

You can support us on Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/2guystalkingwine ... $5/month members NOW get exclusive content. See Patreon page for details.

You can email André at andre@andrewinereview.ca and follow him on Instagram here - @andrewinerview

You can email Michael at michael@michaelpinkuswinereview.com and follow him on Instagram here - @thegrapeguy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.