Category Archives: OTHER

White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Oregon 2009, 13.9% abv, US$70

Bucolic and pastoral hazelnut and walnut groves dotted amongst picturesque red barns and vineyards – that’s what the Willamette Valley is made of. Having first tried the Dundee Hills AVA White Rose Estate wines at a Vancouver, BC tasting in … Continue reading

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Rosemary’s Block, Zinfandel, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, Brown Estate, 2011, 14.9% abv.

The Queen must have showed up tonight. I did mention in my Brown Estate review that she would have to be here for me to open this bottle. She was definitely here, figuratively speaking. Liz may have have shown up, … Continue reading

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Zinfandel, Rosemary’s Block, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, California, 2011, 14.9% abv.

The Queen must have showed up tonight. I did mention on March 24th in my Brown Estate review that she would have to be here for me to open this bottle. She was definitely here, figuratively speaking. Liz may have … Continue reading

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Riesling Lab, Hard Pressings, Tantalus, Okanagan Valley VQA, Kelowna, BC 2011, 12% abv

When Jancis Robinson declared earlier this year that the 2008 Old Vines Tantalus Riesling was the best white wine in Canada, hundreds of wine geeks including ‘yours truly’ called them in Kelowna, BC that same morning to plead and grovel … Continue reading

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Flying Trout, Deep River Red, Columbia Valley, NV, Washington, USA 14.8%, US$30

I like fish, trout to be specific. I like this wine too, but now it’s all gone and I realize it took us more time to taste the wines in Ashley Trout’s tasting room than it did to drink the … Continue reading

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Monmousseau Cuvée JM, Brut 2007, Blanc des Blancs, Touraine AC, France, 12% abv, C$19.99

With the WSET Sparkling Wines of the World Diploma exam on the horizon, this bottle was sacrificed for a study session. A tradition in the Loire Valley since 1886, this sparkling wine is 100% Chenin Blanc and produced in the traditional … Continue reading

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Tempranillo, Miner Family Vineyards, Sierra Foothills, Silverado Trail, Napa Valley AVA, California, 2010, 14.5% abv, $US28

We’re back in Canada from our trip to Napa – and you know what that means.  Taxes and duties on alcohol at the border. I paid duty and taxes at the border on the 20 non-exempt bottles of wine to … Continue reading

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Walla Walla Valley Wineries, Washington State

Warm and friendly, comfortable and low-key, yet classy and top notch wines. This is the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Walking down Main Street, we started getting a little concerned; apparently Wednesday is everyone’s day off in Walla Walla. However, as … Continue reading

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Syrah, Porter Creek, Timbervine Ranch, Russian River Valley, California, 2010, 14.5%, US$46

We walked into Yountville’s best wine store Groezinger’s and asked owner Rick, “If there was one wine in this store we should buy, what would it be?” What followed was the most hilarious rant I’ve ever experienced from a wine … Continue reading

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Beaux Frères Winery, Newberg, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

We really only had one full day in Willamette and hadn’t planned appropriately by calling ahead and reserving tastings. So, when we pulled up in front of the venerable Beaux Frères vineyard, I curled up in embarrassment in the front … Continue reading

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