Category Archives: British Columbia
Pinot Noir, Reserve, Mission Hill, Okanagan VQA, BC, 2012, 13% abv.
Drinking this, one should almost exclaim, “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” because it’s ruby red, as in ‘Dorothy’s-shoes-were-here,’ ruby red. With its deep aromas of Okanagan cherry, moss and cedar frond, this wine is characteristically BC; the green moss gets … Continue reading
Bella, Gamay Noir, Sparkling Rosé , Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2013, 11.4% abv.
Bella is run by husband and wife team, Jay Drysdale and Wendy Rose – and named after their dearly beloved, but departed dog, Bella. They specialize in sparkling wines and are proud of staying true to the traditional method. Their wines … Continue reading
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
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
Tantalus, Rosé, BC VQA, Okanagan Valley, Canada, 2014, 13.1% abv, C$19
Well, I have finally found a truly tasty one. It has taken some time, but patience has proved to be a virtue. The Tantalus 2014 Rosé is delicious. Made using the direct press method from Pinot Meunier and blended with Pinot … Continue reading
Amphora Viognier-Rousanne, Laughing Stock Vineyards, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2014, 14.2% abv. C$24, 500 ml.
When my certified expert in Italian wine friend called me to share a bottle of a made-in-BC wine using amphorae from Chianti, there was no hesitation on my part. Medium gold with a fleshy peach overtone and deep legs, the grapes … Continue reading
The Hatch, Brut Rosé, Okanagan, BC, 12.6% abv, NV, C$28
I’m always on the search for a tasty Rosé. Here is one from a new winery with a plethora of options made from grapes sources from all parts of the Okanagan and a tasting room located in West Kelowna. We … Continue reading
Church & State, Coyote Bowl Series, Malbec, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2011, 14.5% abv.
Purchased in September 2014 at the winery, we opened this on Saltspring Island with charcuterie and BBQ’d sausages in summer 2015. Opaque purple and very young with intense aromas of ripe, purple plum, black cherry, burnished leather and fresh pine, … Continue reading
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
Domaine de Chaberton, White, BC VQA, Langley, BC, 2013, 12.9% abv, C$12
While enroute to a weekend in Ucluelet, BC, we stopped in Coombs for lunch. There was one red and one white on the lunch menu – both from Langley, BC’s Domaine de Chaberton – available in mini bar bottles with … Continue reading
