Author Archives: winellama

About winellama

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

Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, France, 2009, 14% abv, C$50

Posted on July 8, 2016 by winellama

Wine Spectator gave this a 90 points when it came to the market. I bought it along with several others at the BC Bordeaux release in 2010. Tucked away for a little ageing and forgotten in a box, when we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Chasse-Spleen, france, merlot, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, Petit Verdot, red wine | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Byron, Santa Barbara County, California, 2012, 13.5% abv, C$36++

Posted on July 5, 2016 by winellama

In August 2014, I was introduced to Byron when at the Wine Blogger’s Conference in Santa Barbara. They’re not generally available up here in Canada, so when I found this one, I snatched it up knowing it would be a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged Byron, california, pinot noir, red wine, Santa Barbara County | Leave a comment

Bodegas Bula, DO Montsant, Spain, 14% abv, 2012, C$22

Posted on June 27, 2016 by winellama

Montsant is a DO that literally occupies a circle of land surrounding the higher ranking DOQ of Priorat in northwest Spain, just west by a few hours of Barcelona. They’ve been growing grapes there since Roman times and the names … Continue reading →

Posted in Carignan, Grenache / Garnacha, Mazuelo, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged Bodegas Bula, carignan, DO Montsant, grenache, Mazuelo, red wine, spain, syrah | Leave a comment

Albariño, Viña Vedra, Val do Salnés, Rias Baixas DO, Spain, 2013, 12.5% abv, C$17++

Posted on June 24, 2016 by winellama

The Val do Salnés region is located in Rias Baixas and hangs way off the edge of northwestern Spain, north of the border with Portugal where the grape is called Alvarinho. Hugging the Atlantic Ocean and cooled by its breezes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Albarino / Alvarinho, OTHER, Spain, WHITE | Tagged Albarino, Rias Baixas DO, spain, Val do Salnes, Vina Vedra, white wine | Leave a comment

Txakoli, Bodegas Gurrutxaga, Bizkaiko Txakolina DO, Spain, 11.5% abv, C$30

Posted on June 17, 2016 by winellama

A word to the marketing department at Bodegas Gurrutxaga. A little additional English on the bottle would help get the word out. Just sayin’… But then, perhaps they want to keep this one a secret – and I can certainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Spain, WHITE | Tagged Biscay, Bizkaiko Txakolina, Bodegas Gurrutxaga, spain, Txakoli, white wine | 2 Comments

Sauvignon Blanc, Free Form, Haywire, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2014, 13% abv, C$35

Posted on June 11, 2016 by winellama

This is a Sauvignon Blanc I can actually get behind. Now, I know many wine enthusiasts enjoy your favourite Sauvignon Blancs and that characteristic herbaceousness touched by citrus and gooseberry. So often though, they’re industrially made and sweetened, showing little … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Sauvignon Blanc, WHITE | Tagged BC, Canada, Free Form, Haywire, Matt Dumayne, natural wine, Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, Okanagan VQA, sauvignon blanc | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Free Form, Haywire, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2014, 12.8% abv, C$41

Posted on June 10, 2016 by winellama

If I could drink this all day, every day, I would. Hands down. No question. Unfined, unfiltered, fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged for 8 months on the skins in amphorae. Pressed and then rested for two more months and … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged Alberto Antonini, BC, concrete egg, Free Form, Haywire, indigenous yeast, Matt Dumayne, Okanagan Valley, pinot noir, red wine, unfiltered, unfined, VQA | Leave a comment

Cabernet Franc, Poplar Grove, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, 2012, 14.3% abv.

Posted on May 26, 2016 by winellama

Here’s a tasty drink from one of several wineries located on the Okanagan’s Naramata Bench in beautiful British Columbia. On the eyes, it sports a dense and deep ruby with aromas of crunchy raspberries, blackberry, pine, garrigue and minerals. The … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, RED | Tagged BC, cab franc, cabernet franc, Poplar Grove, red wine, VQA Okanagan Valley, wine | Leave a comment

Zinfandel, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, California, 2012, 15.2% abv, US$50

Posted on May 18, 2016 by winellama

Do you know how hard it is to get a bottle of Brown Estate? They sell out pretty much everything they make annually to their wine club and select Napa Valley and San Francisco restaurant wine directors. And no one … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Napa, OTHER, RED, Red, Zinfandel | Tagged BE, Brown Estate, california, Chiles Valley, napa valley, red wine, zinfandel | Leave a comment

Riesling, Red Newt Cellars, Finger Lakes, New York, 2013, 11.8% abv.

Posted on May 12, 2016 by winellama

In summer 2015, I’d planned a visit to New York’s famed Finger Lakes AVA which I couldn’t follow through on. However, I was able to snag this bottle via my favourite online wine sales company later that year. Do they … Continue reading →

Posted in New York, Riesling, WHITE | Tagged 11.8% abv., 2013, Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York, Red Newt Cellars, white wine, wine bloggers conference | Leave a comment