Category Archives: France

GSM, Lafage, Tessellae, Old Vines, Côtes du Roussillon AC, France, 15% abv, 2013, C$23

Posted on December 9, 2016 by winellama

There are so few really delicious wines available at the BCLB, that finding this one makes it a treasure at the end of that rainbow. And I’m always hunting for these – GSMs are my desert island wines. On the … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged Cotes du Roussillon, france, GSM, Lafage, old vines, Tessellae | 2 Comments

Champagne, Perrier-Jouët, Brut, Belle Epoque, Epernay, Champagne AC, France, 2006, 12.5% abv.

Posted on November 29, 2016 by winellama

Over two centuries, Perrier-Jouët has only had seven cellar masters. It was also the first House to create a dry Champagne in 1856. Then there are its famous art-nouveau bottles – and this one has been hand-painted. Since 1902 when … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Sparkling Wine, WHITE | Tagged 12.5% abv, 2006, Belle Epoque, brut, bubbles, champagne, Champagne AC, Epernay, france, Perrier-Jouët, sparkling wine | 2 Comments

Les Bancèls, Domaine de Cébène, Faugères, France, 2013, 14% abv, C$29

Posted on November 16, 2016 by winellama

What a lovely wine. Grown on classic slate terraces peppered with decades old organic vines at 320 m in southern France, this is a GSM you really must try. The Grenache and Syrah are grown on north and east facing … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged 2013, Domaine de Cébène, Faugères, france, GSM, Les Bancels, red wine, south of france, southern france | Leave a comment

Bordeaux, Château Kirwan, Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, France, 2009, 13.5% abv. C$100

Posted on November 9, 2016 by winellama

Just yesterday (November 7, 2016), Jean-Henri Schÿler, owner of this Bordeaux third-growth, Château Kirwan, and négociant Maison Schröder & Schÿler passed away at age 85. The Kirwan name actually has Irish roots (from the Gaelic meaning black). In the mid … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, RED | Tagged 2009, Bordeaux, Château Kirwan, france, Grand Cru Classé, Jean-Henri Schÿler, Margaux, red wine, third growth | 2 Comments

Cairanne, Peyre Blanche, Famille Perrin, Côtes du Rhône Villages AC, France, 2012, 14.5% abv, C$24++

Posted on September 15, 2016 by winellama

Today I ran into a friend who also reads this blog and made my day by saying she loves it! Usually I get, “Yes, well, ummm, I’m kinda busy. Isn’t it good enough that I subscribed? You mean I have to … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged 2012, Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Famille Perrin, france, grenache, Peyre Blanche, red wine, syrah | 8 Comments

Les Cornuds, Famille Perrin, Vinsobres AC, France, 2011, 14.5% abv. C$20++

Posted on July 22, 2016 by winellama

Here’s a classic 50-50 Syrah and Grenache blend from Vinsobres which is located in the northern part of France’s Southern Rhône Valley. Vinsobres became its own AC in 2006; before that it was part of the Côtes du Rhône Villages. … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Grenache / Garnacha, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged 2011, Famille Perrin, france, grenache, Les Cornuds, red wine, syrah, Vinsobres AC | 4 Comments

Brut Vintage, Gold Label, Lanson, Champagne AC, France, 1999, US$75.00

Posted on July 21, 2016 by winellama

I was awarded this bottle, oh yes I was… along with an engraved decanter for having the highest overall score in 2014 for WSET graduates in BC. As someone who doesn’t even work in the industry (alas, the blog doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir | Tagged brut, bubbles, champagne, france, gold label, Lanson, sparking wine, vintage | 2 Comments

Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, France, 2009, 14% abv, C$50

Posted on July 8, 2016 by winellama

Wine Spectator gave this a 90 points when it came to the market. I bought it along with several others at the BC Bordeaux release in 2010. Tucked away for a little ageing and forgotten in a box, when we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Chasse-Spleen, france, merlot, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, Petit Verdot, red wine | Leave a comment

Domaine Huet, Le Mont, Sec, Vouvray AC, France, 2011, 13.5% abv. US$30

Posted on April 18, 2016 by winellama

Do a quick search on this site and you’ll find five other reports on Huet wines that I’ve enjoyed over the past several years, as well as an accounting of our trip there in June 2014. One of my favourite … Continue reading →

Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, Loire, WHITE | Tagged biodynamic, chenin blanc, domaine huet, france, Le Mont, loire valley, sec, Vouvray AC, white wine, wine | Leave a comment

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