Category Archives: RED

GSM, Lafage, Tessellae, Old Vines, Côtes du Roussillon AC, France, 15% abv, 2013, C$23

Posted on December 9, 2016 by winellama

There are so few really delicious wines available at the BCLB, that finding this one makes it a treasure at the end of that rainbow. And I’m always hunting for these – GSMs are my desert island wines. On the … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Grenache / Garnacha, Mouvedre, Monastrell, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged Cotes du Roussillon, france, GSM, Lafage, old vines, Tessellae | 2 Comments

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

Posted on December 6, 2016 by winellama

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 2004, barolo, Barolo DOCG, Belcolle Aziendo, italia, Italian wine, Montvigliero, red wine, Riserva | Leave a comment

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

Posted on November 22, 2016 by winellama

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 15% abv, 2006, Anaperenna, Australia, Barossa Valley, Ben Glaetzer, Cabernet Sauvignoon, Godolphin, red wine, shiraz | Leave a comment

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

Posted on November 16, 2016 by winellama

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 2013, Domaine de Cébène, Faugères, france, GSM, Les Bancels, red wine, south of france, southern france | Leave a comment

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

Posted on November 11, 2016 by winellama

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 2011, BC, Canada, Canadian wine, Culmina Family Estate Winery, Don Triggs, Hypothesis, okanagan valley vqa, red wine, Triggs Family | Leave a comment

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

Posted on November 9, 2016 by winellama

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 2009, Bordeaux, Château Kirwan, france, Grand Cru Classé, Jean-Henri Schÿler, Margaux, red wine, third growth | 2 Comments

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

Posted on November 6, 2016 by winellama

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 15.7% abv, 2005, Babylon, California Red Wine, Petite Syrah, Scholium Project, Tenbrink Vineyard | 4 Comments

Merlot, Upper Bench Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2012, 14.3% abv, C$26

Posted on October 26, 2016 by winellama

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 →

Posted in British Columbia, Merlot, RED | Tagged BC, Canada, merlot, Okanagan Valley, red wine, Upper Bench, VQA | Leave a comment

Tarima, Organic, Monastrell, Alicante DO, Spain, 14.5% abv, 2012, C$14++

Posted on October 7, 2016 by winellama

What exactly is Monastrell? In France it’s called Mourvèdre, and in Australia, Mataro. In those two countries, the grape is part the common blend called GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) with each of the grapes bringing something special to the blend. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mouvedre, Monastrell, RED, Spain | Tagged Alicante DO, Monastrell, mourvedre, organic, organic grapes, spain, Tarima | Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 30, 2016 by winellama

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 2014, Alexander Valley, ball hornin', Boontling, Boonville, california, Healdsburg, Philo, pinot noir, red wine, Signal Ridge Vineyard, Sonoma, Stephanie Riven, The Madrones, The Princess and the Peasant | 2 Comments