Category Archives: Merlot
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
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
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
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
Merlot, Upper Bench Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2012, 14.3% abv, C$26
I visited this winery in mid-August 2015 on the day they were actually harvesting Chardonnay for sparkling wine out back. Yes, in August! While I had real trouble getting the attention of those behind the bar for tastings, eventually I … Continue reading
Merlot, Charles Shaw, California, 2012, 12.5% abv, US$2.98
The Two Buck Chuck nickname is a bit of a misnomer in this day and age of inflation. Still, that’s about all this is worth – with its watered down body and astringent flavours and aromas. But let’s be … Continue reading
Rosé, Lumineaux, Hawks Butte Vineyard, Bink Winery, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino County, Anderson Valley, California, 2014, 14% abv.
Winemaker Deb Schatzlein has made some gorgeous treasures with Anderson Valley fruit and custom crushes at neighbour Balo. At their tasting room located in The Madrones (yes, you need to stay there or at The Brambles where we did), we … Continue reading
Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, France, 2009, 14% abv, C$50
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
Tenuta Poggio Ai Mandorli, Chianti Classico DOCG, Gran Selezione, Italy, 2011, 13.5% abv. US$19
I purchased this bottle at Trader Joe’s Bellingham store for about US$19, but it actually cost me a lot more in Canadian dollars because of the tax paid at the border. Medium ruby with a tinge of garnet, it has aromas … Continue reading
Meritage, Clos du Soleil, Celestiale, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, 2011, 13.4% abv.
Straight from the heart of the Similkameen Valley in BC’s Okanagan, a veritable desert (yes, I know – non-believers have a hard time with that – there is actually a desert in Canada), here we have a Meritage wine. What … Continue reading
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