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Author Archives: winellama
Champagne Gatinois, Aÿ Grand Cru, Brut Tradition, Champagne, France, NV, 12% abv. C$60
Here is a champagne from deep in the Marne in tiny Aÿ, located to the east of Épernay. This is a 90% Pinot Noir based champagne with 10% Chardonnay, but it’s 100% Grand Cru and grown on the 7.3 ha … Continue reading
Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, Pinot Noir
Tagged Ay, Champagne Gatinois, chardonnay, Gatinois, Grand Cru, Mailly, Pierre Cheval, pinot noir
2 Comments
Blackwood Lane, Meritage, The Reference, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2006, 14.2% abv, C$90
When I purchased this bottle back at the beginning of my journey into serious wine interests, I definitely expected more. Looking back, I think I was rather naive and most certainly I spent too much money. Ah well, live a … Continue reading
Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Malbec, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED
Tagged 2006, BC, Blackwood Lane, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, malbec, meritage, merlot, Okanagan Valley, Petit Verdot, red wine, The Reference
2 Comments
Pluma, Casa de Vila Verde, Vinho Verde DOC, Portugal, 10.5% abv.
There at the Wines of Portugal – Vancouver tasting table #40 was Ricardo Jorge Pinto Correia, the Director of Casa Santos Lima with a line up of wines to show Vancouver. Friendly, unflappable and enthusiastic about his wares, Ricardo happily explained … Continue reading
Posted in Arinto, Avesso, Loureiro, Treixadura / Trincadero, WHITE
Tagged 12% abv., Casa de Vila Verde, frizzante, Pluma, Portugal, Quinta de Porrais, rosado, rose, Tortuga, Vinho Verde DOC, white wine
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Le Clos des Grillons, Les Terres Blanches, Côtes du Rhône AC, France, 2012, 14.5% abv.
This wine is produced by vigneron Nicholas Renaud who came to winemaking from teaching in 2008. He works from 18 ha of 70-80 year old vines, 80% of which he rents. The soil of the Les Terres Blanches vineyard is … Continue reading
Posted in Carignan, France, Grenache / Garnacha, RED
Tagged 14.5% abv., 2012, carignan, Côtes du Rhône AC, france, grenache, Le Clos des Grillons, Les Terres Blanches, red wine
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Pahlmeyer, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, 2011, 15.2% abv, US$85
If violet coloured velvet were a wine, it would be this one. Plush and sensuous, it’s made with 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and a smattering of Malbec. The grapes came from three separate vineyards. On the eyes it’s a … Continue reading
Posted in California, Merlot, OTHER, RED
Tagged 2011, california, merlot, napa valley, Pahlmeyer, red wine
5 Comments
Miraval, Rosé, Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, Provence AC, France, 2014, 13% abv. 19.50 GBP / C$29 ++
There’s not much about this famous Brangelina – Perrin brothers product you can’t find on the internet. A quick search brings up a mere 27,900 links on Google. It was named on Wine Spectator’s 100 top wines of 2013 as the … Continue reading
Posted in Cinsault, France, Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, Rolle, ROSE, Shiraz / Syrah
Tagged 13% abv., 2014, AC Provence, cinsault, france, grenache, Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, Miraval, Rolle, rosé, syrah
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Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde DOC, Portugal, 9.5% abv, C$12.75 ++
Young and refreshing – just as promised in Portuguese on the label! This is cheap and cheerful at its best. Vinho Verde literally means ‘green wine’ but refers to the fact that it’s supposed to be enjoyed young. Make sure … Continue reading
Posted in Arinto, Azal, Loureiro, Portugal, Treixadura / Trincadero, WHITE
Tagged Arinto, Azal, Casal Garcia, cheap and cheerful, light alcohol wine, Loureiro, Portugal, Treixadura, Vinho Verde DOC, white wine
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Qupé, Syrah, Central Coast, California, 2012, 13.5% abv.
“Whose bottle is this!?” This bottle of Qupé flew to Saltspring Island, BC from Menlo Park, California and almost didn’t make it onto the plane due to someone forgetting it was actually in the hand luggage. Oops. In the post-911 flying … Continue reading
Posted in California, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah
Tagged 2012, Bob Lindquist, california, Central Coast, Qupé, red wine, syrah
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Pinot Noir, Cumières Rouge, Champagne Geoffroy, Coteaux Champenois AC, Champagne, France, 12.5% abv.
This is actually THE bottle that is the pictured headliner on this very site. I snapped that picture in June 2014 when visiting Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, his lovely wife and tribe of spirited daughters in Aÿ. The cork used is a traditional … Continue reading
Posted in France, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED
Tagged champagne, Champagne Geoffroy, Coteaux Champenois AC, Cumières Rouge, france, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, pinot noir, red wine
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AcÚstic, Garnaxa Blanca, Montsant DO, Spain, 2012, 14% abv. C$27 @ Marquis Wine Cellars
Montsant DO lies literally in a ring around tiny Priorat DOQ just inland on the northeastern shores of Spain, southwest of Barcelona. Oft ignored as ‘lesser than’ compared to the tinier but mightier DOQ it surrounds, this wine is proof … Continue reading
Posted in OTHER, Spain, WHITE, White Grenache / Garnacha / Garnaxa
Tagged Acustic, Catalan, Catalonia, Cataluyna, Garnacha Blanca, Grenache blanc, Montsant DO, spain, White Grenache, white wine
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