Category Archives: RED
Tempranillo, Vina Bosconia, Lopez de Heredia, Rioja DOCa., Spain, 2009, 13.5% abv. US$50
I’m going to be dreaming about having enjoyed this bottle for a while yet. It’s a classic Riojan red blend from benchmark winery, Lopez de Heredia – one of my absolute favourite houses. A stunning blend of Tempranillo (80) with … Continue reading
Charity fundraising tasting
During Cov*d, I offered a wine tasting with paired hors d’oeuvres to a local Rotary Club fundraiser for the Victoria Hospice Society in the memory of my father-in-law, Ken, who spent his last days there. Of course, because of Cov*d, … Continue reading
Zinfandel, Split Rail, St. Anne’s Crossing Winery, Dry Creek Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California, 15.7% abv., 2020, US$44
On a recent trip to California, I met some truly fabulous people – people who treated me like a member of their own family, and who I can’t wait to host in BC some day. Brenda and Joe were two … Continue reading
Pinot Noir, Walraven Vineyard, Domaine Anderson, Anderson Valley AVA, California, 14.5% abv., 2019 US$70
Travelling down the highway from Mendocino on our way to Truckee, California, I yearned for a tasting at Domaine Anderson. We’d been to the Anderson Valley several years prior, but had visited their sister winery, Roederer at that time. Domaine … Continue reading
Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley, Purisima Mountain Vineyard, Qupé, Santa Maria, California, 2006, 14.5% abv., $80
In September 2023, I stopped while passing through Buellton, California for dinner at The Hitching Post II. I’d been planning this dinner in my head for a while and had already decided to order a special bottle to enjoy – … Continue reading
White Pinot Noir, Eclipse, Tenbrink Vineyards, Tolenas Winery, Suisun Valley AVA, Fairfield, California, 2022, 14% abv., US$37
This is pretty cool and happening stuff. While Pinot Noir grapes have been pressed and used forever as part of sparkling wines and blends, it’s rare to find white versions as still wine. This is the wine that won winemaker … Continue reading
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo – ‘3V’, Casa Madero, Val de Parras, Mexico, 2020, 13.7% abv.
Anyone who follows me on social media will know I was in Mexico recently with my family to celebrate 20 years of togetherness. What better way to toast our family’s union than to enjoy a Mexican wine from the oldest … Continue reading
Tempranillo, Viña Cubillo, Crianza, Lopez de Heredia, Rioja Alta, Spain, 2012, 13.5 abv., US$40
Classic, classic, classic – it doesn’t get much better than this developed, yet still bright, mostly Tempranillo wine from benchmark Rioja winery, Lopez de Heredia. The Cubillo vineyard has vines that are about 40 years old and the 65% Tempranillo … Continue reading
Pinot Noir, Clone Collection Dijon 777, Code Wines, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2020, 13.5% abv. C$34
Owners Shay and Harlee Code decided in 2016 to purchase land in Okanagan Falls on which they planted Viognier, Syrah, several clones of Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes. In 2021, they made the full time move once their home and … Continue reading
Sangiovese, Vigna Piuca, Azienda Agricola Castellinuzza e Piuca, Chianti Classico DOCG, Gran Selezione, Greve in Chianti, Toscana, Italia, 2017, 14% abv.
I liked colleagues Melanie and Giuseppe right away. I had booked a premier tasting at the Casa Chianti Classico in Radda to learn more about the structure of Chianti Classico. We connected quickly over a conversation about Canadian fish and … Continue reading
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