Category Archives: OTHER

Cuvée Centenaire, Domaine Lafage, Côtes du Roussillon AOP, France, 2015, 13% abv. C$22++

Truth be told, I don’t want to tell you about this wine – because when I do, you’re going to run to the nearest liquor store and buy it out.  And there won’t be any left for me. Unless I … Continue reading

Posted in France, Grenache blanc, Grenache Gris, OTHER, Rousanne, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bordeaux, Château Malartic Lagravière, Grand Cru Classé, Graves, Pessac-Léognan AC, France, 2010, 14.5% abv, C$100

I often find the names of Bordeaux wineries to be, well, kind of unusual.  This one is no exception.  After a little digging, I learned it started off as Domaine de Lagravière and in the late 1700s was owned by … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

L’Amateur, David Léclapart, Blanc de Blancs, Pas Dosé, Premier Cru, Trépail, Marne, Champagne AC, France, 12.5% abv

Late blooming Pinot Meunier is the most frequently planted grape in the Marne, so the fact that David Léclapart has got Chardonnay growing in the frost prone village of Trépail is very interesting. That he is a fervent devotee of … Continue reading

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Barolo, Riserva, Bel Colle Montvigliero, Barolo DOCG, Italia, 2004, 14% abv

We opened this wine at 12 years old on November 2016, at the end of its recommended drinking window (2010-2016). Although initially worried we’d missed the boat, we were relieved to find an elegantly developed drink. Winner of a bronze … Continue reading

Posted in Barolo, Italy, Nebbiolo, OTHER, RED, red wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anaperenna, Ben Glaetzer, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2006, 15% abv.

Australian winemaker Ben Glaetzer, descendant of German immigrants to the Barossa and Clare Valleys, has had a long list of wine awards come his way including  New World Winemaker of the Year (2006), 12 awards at MUNDUSVini 2007, being chosen … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hypothesis, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 13.5% abv, 2011

Culmina Winery owner, Don Triggs is no stranger to the really big wine industry business.  No, really.  I’m serious; as one half of the former Jackson-Triggs group (yes, that Jackson-Triggs), with his business partner, Don Triggs built and sold Vincor. … Continue reading

Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Merlot, OTHER, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Petite Syrah, Babylon, Tenbrink Vineyard, Scholium Project, California Red Wine, California, 15.7% abv, 2005

What do wine geeks love to do?  Out geek each other by bringing obscure wines to taste when they visit.  This particular one was hand delivered to Canada by a wine friend whom I met when taking the Court of … Continue reading

Posted in California, OTHER, Petite Sirah, RED | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pinot Noir, The Princess and the Peasant, Signal Ridge Vineyard, Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California, 2014, 13.9% abv.

We’ve been to Napa and Sonoma before and for sure, they’ve got the storied, now chi-chi vineyards – all buttressed by the legacy of that 1976 double blind Judgement of Paris tasting that introduced California to Europe.  They have their … Continue reading

Posted in California, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments