Author Archives: winellama

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About winellama

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

Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Château Carbonnieux, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2011, 13.5% abv, C$65

Today I learned I passed the French Wine Scholar course, so it is logical to celebrate with a French wine, mais bien sûr!  I opened the 2009 version a while back, but friends brought this 2011 over to share. A Sauvignon Blanc … Continue reading

Posted in France, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pinot Noir, Schug, Carneros, Sonoma, California, 2010, 14.5% abv.

With American Thanksgiving on the horizon, this is a California Pinot Noir that would be worth finding to pair with the turkey. On the eyes, this wine is the colour of raspberry juice with some garnet thrown in for tone.  Its … Continue reading

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Meritage, Clos du Soleil, Celestiale, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, 2011, 13.4% abv.

Straight from the heart of the Similkameen Valley in BC’s Okanagan, a veritable desert (yes, I know – non-believers have a hard time with that – there is actually a desert in Canada), here we have a  Meritage wine. What … Continue reading

Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lugana DOP, Cantine Colli a Lago SRL, Desenzano di Garda Brescia, Lombardy, Italy, 2013, 12.5% abv.

Marta, my Italian wine expert friend, found this at the Cambie Street BCLB and picked it up out of curiosity. Quite frankly, we were completely prepared to expose this wine as an insipid white Italian along the lines of most … Continue reading

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Sauvignon Blanc, Le Tronsec, Joseph Mellot, Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France, 2013, 12.5% abv. C$35

We stopped into the Joseph Mellot storefront in the centre of Sancerre when visiting the Loire in September 2014.  So, when looking for a Sauvignon Blanc recently, purchasing this white wine classic was an easy decision. The grapes for this … Continue reading

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Pinot Noir, Domaine Ostertag, Fronholz, Vin d’Alsace, France, 2008, 12.5% abv.

From all accounts, André Ostertag is one interesting guy. One blogger who published about his visit there in 2010 noted “The Committee Interprofessionnel du Vins d’Alsace (CIVA) says that ‘André Ostertag is an eccentric, a wacky winemaking freak surrounded by the sanity and … Continue reading

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Damilano, Cannubi, Barolo DOCG, Nelle Cantine di la Morra, Piemonte, Italia, 2009, 14.5% abv.

The 2010 Barolos are widely renowned as being part of the best vintage in a long time, but this 2009 was no slouch. From the famed Cannubi hill in La Morra, the Damilano is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes planted … Continue reading

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Clos du Joncuas, Gigondas AC, Southern Rhône Valley, France, 2006, 14.5% abv.

Gigondas (yes, you pronounce the ‘s’) is an appellation in France’s Southern Rhône Valley often referred to as the ‘little brother’ of better known Châteauneuf-du-Pape.   Its wines are known more for their power than their elegance and they are only allowed to … Continue reading

Posted in Cinsault, France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Boulder Bluff, Adelsheim, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2010, 13.6% abv.

It’s Thanksgiving again – so here is the requisite post about a Pinot Noir and pairing it with your turkey. Medium plus garnet with some ruby tinges and deep, broad aromas of plum with boysenberry and spiced tobacco, here is … Continue reading

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Viognier, Black Hills Estate Winery, Okanagan, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2013, 13.3% abv.

This wine screams ‘summer’ and since summer is about to leave us, I wanted to mark its passing. Pale lemon with distinct aromas of canned peaches, fresh apricots, white flowers and fragrant blossoms, this is a great match for white fish dishes … Continue reading

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