Author Archives: winellama
La Crema, Sonoma Coast, Chardonnay 2010, Healdsburg, Sonoma, California, 13.8% abv, US$16.99
This bottle is about C$30 in Vancouver, so I grabbed it at Safeway (!) the first evening we were in the US enroute to California. What llama doesn’t love a deal? Clear and bright, pale gold with legs noted, on … Continue reading
Chateau Montelena, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California, 2009, 13.6% abv, US$50
With the big trip to Napa on the horizon (can you say, ‘holiday’?) and Dad here for dinner, I pulled out the big guns to go with turkey, gravy from Granville Island, garden salad and all the trimmings. Clear and … Continue reading
WSET Diploma Unit 5 – Sparkling Wines of the World – Tasting
Tasting notes from a study group for the WSET Diploma, Unit 5, Sparkling Wines of the World course … Wine #1 Cava, Parés Baltà, Brut, Penedès, Spain, 11.5% abv, C$22.99 Clear and bright, pale gold, bubbles noted. Clean, light intensity aromas of … Continue reading
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Syrah 2009, BC VQA Okanagan Valley, 14.5% abv, C$29.90
Burrowing Owl’s tasting room was three folks deep with ‘splash and dashers’ last August when we dropped in for a peek. They wouldn’t give me an industry discount and weren’t terribly knowledgeable about wine in general to be honest. I … Continue reading
‘Napa Rocks’, Napa Valley Wines, Vancouver International Wine Festival, 2013
Th 2013 theme at the Vancouver International Wine Festival was California, so a Saturday afternoon spent in a tasting seminar of some of those was in order. The ‘Napa Rocks’ presentation featured various wineries from the region that boasts 16 separate AVAs, … Continue reading
Alvear, Pedro Ximenez, De Anada, Montilla Moriles DO, Spain, 17% abv, C$35 (375 ml)
Sherry, sherry, sherry – it’s so versatile. Drink Fino with salty snacks – great with almonds, mackerel, sardines, potato chips or olives. Or choose an Oloroso, an Amontillada or some Manzanilla. This Alvear Pedro Ximenez has been hanging around since … Continue reading
Dominio de Tares, Cepas Viejas, Mencia, Bierzo DO, Bierzo Alto, Leon, Spain 2008, 14% C$30
Purchased at a local specialty wine store, this is a great wine made from the Mencia varietal, aka ‘Jaen’. Mencia is grown primarily in North Western Spain, and especially in Bierzo, an up-and-coming DO. Ironic to say that as of … Continue reading
Black Hills Estate Winery, Nota Bene, Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, 2010, 14% abv.
I bought this bottle at the winery in Oliver in August 2012 – and then brought it right back to the Okanagan to drink with Jennifer and Allan. Fun! This is Black Hills’ renowned Meritage blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot … Continue reading
Vinas Elias Mora, Toro DO, San Roman di Hornija, Valladolid, Spain, 2009 14.5% abv, C$19
Oh, Spanish wines – how we love and adore you. Great deals, fabulous fruit, complexity… Let me count the ways. The Elias Mora is from the northwestern corner of Spain, directly west of Ribera del Duero. Made from Tinta de … Continue reading
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