Category Archives: OTHER

Pinot Noir, Toulouse, Alexander Valley AVA, California, 2011, 14% abv., US$28

Toulouse is located near the northwestern end of the Alexander Valley AVA, a few short kilometers after emerging from the switchback drive through the Navarro River Redwoods State Park from Mendocino on the Californian coast. We visited there in August … Continue reading

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Cabernet Franc, Les Muriers, Anjou Villages AC, Loïc Mahé, Loire Valley, France, 12.5% abv. 2013, US$20

These are a few of my favourite things.  From a site located in the western part of Savennières and north of the Loire River, Brittany native Loïc Mahé grows bio/organic grapes on shale soils and makes unfiltered wines fermented with natural … Continue reading

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Tire Bouchon, D’Ourea, Adrien Roustan, Vacqueyras, IGP, France, 2014, 13% abv.

Quick, I’m going to test your memory of high school French.  What does tire bouchon mean?  Corkscrew! And you will want your corkscrew for this – so you can drink it all by yourself. Certified organic and located in Vacqueyras, … Continue reading

Posted in Aramon Noir, France, Grenache / Garnacha, Oeillade Noire, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chardonnay, Migration, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, 14.1% abv, US$32

About 10 days after we visited Migration’s Alexander Valley tasting room and winery in August 2016, it was sold as part of the Duckhorn Wine Company deal (which includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Goldeneye and Migration) to San Francisco-based TSG Consumer … Continue reading

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Chardonnay, Pur Prisme, Guiborat Fils, Grand Cru, RM, Cramant, Champagne AC, France, 12.5% abv. US$45

This Champagne was created by Richard Fouquet, a 5th generation vigneron and récoltant manipulant (someone who grows his own grapes, makes his own wine and markets them under his own name) in Cramant. We visited Richard and his wife Karine … Continue reading

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Meritage, Clos du Soleil, Estate Reserve, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, Canada, 2010, 14% abv.

A classic Meritage blend of Cabernet Franc 40%, Malbec 35%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%, and Petit Verdot 5%, this wine hails from one of BC’s coolest biodynamic vineyards.  Clos du Soleil is located in a unique microclimate of a region – … Continue reading

Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Malbec, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monastrell, Goru, Organic, Vino Ecologico, Jumilla DO, Spain, 2014, 14% abv. C$20

This is a red wine made from 100% Monastrell in the Jumilla DO southeast of Madrid between the Castile-La Mancha region and the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Monastrell is also known as Mourvèdre (in France) and Mataro (in Australia) and 85% … Continue reading

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Brio, Glenterra Vineyards, Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2014, 13% abv. C$25

Kudos.  Serious kudos. You’ve got to give Glenterra credit.  Dry farming grapes in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island in a sustainable manner is no easy feat and can’t be for the faint of heart.  They’re located in a tiny micro-climate, … Continue reading

Posted in Agria, British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, Dornfelder, Dunkelfelder, Fruhburgunder, Helfensteiner, Heroldrebe, Hungarian Blue, Lemberger, Merlot, OTHER, Pinot Meunier, RED, Samtrot, Zweigelt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Albarino, Vina Vedra, Val do Salnes, Rias Baixas DO, Spain, 2013, 12.5% abv, C$17++

Here’s another Spanish white for your sipping pleasure. On the eyes, medium lemon with aromas of nose-tingling rocks and salinity with lemon zest. On the palate, dry with medium plus juicy acidity and flavours of citrus – lemon, pomelo, pink … Continue reading

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Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus Vineyards, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, 1 litre, 2014, 14.8% abv, US$90

It doesn’t get much better or more stereotypical Napa Valley red than this! Caymus is an entrenched Napa brand.  Big time rich, deep, and larger than life, their wines are those one thinks of when lusting after one the luscious … Continue reading

Posted in cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, California, California, OTHER, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment