Author Archives: winellama

About winellama

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

Tenuta Poggio Ai Mandorli, Chianti Classico DOCG, Gran Selezione, Italy, 2011, 13.5% abv. US$19

Posted on November 11, 2015 by winellama

I purchased this bottle at Trader Joe’s Bellingham store for about US$19, but it actually cost me a lot more in Canadian dollars because of the tax paid at the border. Medium ruby with a tinge of garnet, it has aromas … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Merlot, RED, Sangiovese, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged Chianti Classico DOCG, Gran Selezione, Italy, merlot, red wine, Sangiovese, syrah, Tenuta Poggio Ai Mandorli, Trader Joes | Leave a comment

Grüner Veltliner, Singing, Laurenz Five und Sophie, Austria, 2013, 12% abv, C$19++

Posted on November 11, 2015 by winellama

Grüner Veltliner (aka Gru-vee) is indeed a groovy, Austrian grape that makes great wine. Generally, Gru-vee is food friendly with a solid floral and fruit profile, elegant minerality and a peppery hit. This one is no exception. Made from Grüner grapes harvested … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER | Tagged 12% abv., 2013, Austria, Gruner Veltliner, Kremstal, Laurenz Five und Sophie, Laurenz V, Singing, Weinviertel, white wine | Leave a comment

La Porta di Vertine, Riserva, Chianti Classico DOCG, Toscana, Italia, 14.2% abv, 2009

Posted on November 9, 2015 by winellama

Located on amphitheater-shaped vineyards in tiny Vertine located in Gaiole (one of the five Chianti Classico regions) and north of Siena, this producer harvests organically grown grapes, uses indigenous yeast and employs minimal intervention in the cellar. The wine is comprised mostly of … Continue reading →

Posted in Canaiolo, Colorino, Italy, OTHER, RED, Sangiovese | Tagged Canaiolo, Chianti Classico DOCG, colorino, italia, La Porta di Vertine, red wine, Riserva, Sangiovese | 2 Comments

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

Posted on November 4, 2015 by winellama

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 Bordeaux, Château Carbonnieux, france, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, white wine | 3 Comments

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

Posted on October 31, 2015 by winellama

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 →

Posted in California, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged 2010, california, Carneros, pinot noir, red wine, Schug, Sonoma | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 24, 2015 by winellama

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 BC, biodynamic, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canada, Celestiale, Clos du Soleil, malbec, meritage, merlot, Petit Verdot, red wine, Similkameen Valley | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 18, 2015 by winellama

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 →

Posted in Italy, Ugni Blanc, WHITE | Tagged 12.5% abv, 2013, Cantine Colli a Lago SRL, Canucks, Desenzano di Garda Brescia, Italy, Lake Garda, Lombardy, Lugana DOP, Turbiana, white wine | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 17, 2015 by winellama

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 →

Posted in France, Loire, OTHER, Sauvignon Blanc, WHITE | Tagged 12.5% abv, 2013, france, fume blanc, Joseph Mellot, Kimmeridgian, Le Tronsec, loire, pouilly fume, sauvignon blanc, white wine | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 16, 2015 by winellama

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 →

Posted in France, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged 12.5% abv, 2008, Alsace, Domaine Ostertag, france, Fronholz, pinot noir, red wine, riesling manifesto, Vin d'Alsace | Leave a comment

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

Posted on October 15, 2015 by winellama

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 →

Posted in Italy, Nebbiolo, RED | Tagged 2009, Barolo DOCG, Cannubi, Damilano, italia, La morra, nebbiolo, Nelle Cantine di la Morra, Piemonte, red wine | Leave a comment