Author Archives: winellama

About winellama

I love wine...and finally decided to do something about it.

Murrieta’s Well Estate Vineyard, Livermore Valley AVA, California

Posted on August 8, 2018 by winellama

Next time you are in San Francisco – or somewhere around the Bay area – here’s a winery you can plan a trip to and be at in about 2 hours. Murrieta’s Well is one of the original wineries of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, OTHER, RED, ROSE, WHITE | Tagged cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, california, counoise, grenache, Livermore Valley AVA, malbec, merlot, mourvedre, Murrieta's Well Estate Vineyard, orange muscat, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, pink wine, rose, Rose wine, sauvignon blanc, semillon, viognier, wine | Leave a comment

Shiraz, Mast, Rare Reserve Block, Mount Langi Ghiran, Victoria, Australia, 2002, 14% abv, C$53

Posted on July 25, 2018 by winellama

I want to go to Australia. Like, right now. When I eventually do get there, there will be several wineries I will make a point of visiting – and this will be one of them. Located against the backdrop of … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged 14% abv, 2002, Aussie wine, Australia, Grampian, MAST, Mount Langhi Ghiran, Rare Reserve Block, red wine, shiraz, Victoria, wine | 2 Comments

Rosé, Domaine Houchart, Côtes de Provence AC, France, 13% abv, 2016, C$20++

Posted on July 18, 2018 by winellama

It’s so warm these days, I can’t bring myself to drink anything other than gin and tonic … or perhaps a bottle of Rosé. This Rosé, made of typical Provençal grapes – Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah – is bottled at … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinsault, France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, OTHER, RED, ROSE, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged 13% abv., 2016, C$20++, Cotes de Provence AC, Domaine Houchart, france, pink wine, provence, rose, wine | Leave a comment

Rosé, Bastide Blanche, Château de Castillon, Bandol AC, France, 2015, 13.5% abv. US$20

Posted on June 27, 2018 by winellama

Rosé and summer go swell together. Consider adding this one to your long weekend activities. Rosé is the best known style of wine from Bandol – a tiny wine region on the French shores of the Mediterranean. Bandol is part … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinsault, France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, ROSE | Tagged 2015, Bandol AC, Bronzo Family, Château de Castillon, cinsault, france, grenache, mourvedre, pink wine, rosé | 2 Comments

GSM, Cuvée Mirabelle, Lauren Ashton Cellars, Colombia Valley AVA, Washington, 2012, 14.5% abv. US$50

Posted on June 8, 2018 by winellama

This GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) is a delicious Washington state wine you can taste and buy at their Woodinville headquarters. Have you stopped in at Woodinville lately? Really, it’s the best idea ever – located only 30 minutes outside … Continue reading →

Posted in Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Washington State | Tagged 2012, american wine, Colombia Valley AVA, Cuvée Mirabelle, GSM, Lauren Ashton Cellars, red wine, USA, Washington | Leave a comment

Blanc de Noir, Rosé, Sea Star Vineyards and Winery, Pender Island, BC, Canada, 2017, 11.7% abv, C$24

Posted on May 25, 2018 by winellama

un·ex·pect·edˌənəkˈspektəd/ adjective adjective: unexpected -not expected or regarded as likely to happen, as in”finding this world class wine on Pender Island was unexpected.” I’d wanted to visit the Sea Star winery on Pender Island, one of BC’s Gulf Islands, for … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged BC, Blanc de Noir, Canada, Canadian wine, David Goudge, Ian Baker, Pender Island, pink wine, pinot noir, rosé, Salish Sea, Sea Star Vineyards and Winery, Star of the Sea, Stella Maris, wine | 4 Comments

Riesling, Xabregas, Mad Men, Mount Barker, Western Australia, 2014, 12.2% abv, AUS$27

Posted on May 17, 2018 by winellama

This Riesling hails from the far reaches of western Australia – below Perth along the southern coastline in Mount Barker. The area has a Mediterranean influence, slight elevation, and is moderated by winds blowing in off the Southern Ocean which … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Riesling, WHITE | Tagged 2014, Mad Men, Mount Barker, riesling, Western Australia, white wine, Xabregas | Leave a comment

Rum, Premise, 10 years old, Single Blended Rum, Foursquare Rum Distillery, Barbados, 46% abv (92 proof), US$30

Posted on April 26, 2018 by winellama

A long, long time ago when in university, I made a critical error about the amount of mixer required to combine with spirits when I drank an entire mickey of some nondescript, cheap white rum with only two measly cans … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbados, Rum/Rhum, SPIRITS | Tagged 10 years old, Barbados, Copper Still Bar, Dominus, Dominus Rum, Doorly, Doorly's, Foursquare Rum Distillery, Premise Rum, RL Seales Rum, Single Blended Rum | 2 Comments

Sauvignon Blanc, Fumées Blanches, Francois Lurton, Vin de France, France, 2016, 11.5% abv, C$14

Posted on April 4, 2018 by winellama

Who’s looking for a crisp white wine to enjoy on the back porch as winter turns into spring? That’s what I thought… Here’s one that’s available in North American and European stores at prices ranging from a low of C$12.95 … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER | Tagged france, Francois Lurton, fumees blanches, sauvignon blanc, Vin de France, white wine | 2 Comments

Garnaxa / Syrah, Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOQ, Spain, 2010, 15% abv, 139€

Posted on March 21, 2018 by winellama

In January 2015, we made a trip to Priorat DOQ in Spain and met the indomitable Daphne Glorian, owner of, and winemaker with her friend and colleague Ester Nin, at Clos Erasmus. It really was the tasting of a lifetime … Continue reading →

Posted in Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Spain | Tagged 100 point wine, Catalonia, Catalunia, Clos Erasmus, daphne glorian, ester nin, esther nin, garnacha, garnaxa, grenache, priorat doq, red wine, spain, syrah | 2 Comments