Category Archives: RED

Brut Vintage, Gold Label, Lanson, Champagne AC, France, 1999, US$75.00

Posted on July 21, 2016 by winellama

I was awarded this bottle, oh yes I was… along with an engraved decanter for having the highest overall score in 2014 for WSET graduates in BC. As someone who doesn’t even work in the industry (alas, the blog doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir | Tagged brut, bubbles, champagne, france, gold label, Lanson, sparking wine, vintage | 2 Comments

Le Barrettage, La Sirena Winery, Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, 2009, 14.6% abv, US$52

Posted on July 15, 2016 by winellama

This is Heidi Peterson Barrett’s wine – yes, she of Screaming Eagle fame. Recipient of two 100 point wine scores from Robert Parker (if that kind of stuff is important to you), she has created many well-regarded wines since she … Continue reading →

Posted in California, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged california, Calistoga, Heidi Peterson Barrett, La Sirena, Le Barrettage, napa valley, red wine, Screaming Eagle | 2 Comments

Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, France, 2009, 14% abv, C$50

Posted on July 8, 2016 by winellama

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 →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Chasse-Spleen, france, merlot, Moulis-en-Médoc AC, Petit Verdot, red wine | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Byron, Santa Barbara County, California, 2012, 13.5% abv, C$36++

Posted on July 5, 2016 by winellama

In August 2014, I was introduced to Byron when at the Wine Blogger’s Conference in Santa Barbara. They’re not generally available up here in Canada, so when I found this one, I snatched it up knowing it would be a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged Byron, california, pinot noir, red wine, Santa Barbara County | Leave a comment

Bodegas Bula, DO Montsant, Spain, 14% abv, 2012, C$22

Posted on June 27, 2016 by winellama

Montsant is a DO that literally occupies a circle of land surrounding the higher ranking DOQ of Priorat in northwest Spain, just west by a few hours of Barcelona. They’ve been growing grapes there since Roman times and the names … Continue reading →

Posted in Carignan, Grenache / Garnacha, Mazuelo, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged Bodegas Bula, carignan, DO Montsant, grenache, Mazuelo, red wine, spain, syrah | Leave a comment

Pinot Noir, Free Form, Haywire, Okanagan Valley VQA, BC, 2014, 12.8% abv, C$41

Posted on June 10, 2016 by winellama

If I could drink this all day, every day, I would. Hands down. No question. Unfined, unfiltered, fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged for 8 months on the skins in amphorae. Pressed and then rested for two more months and … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged Alberto Antonini, BC, concrete egg, Free Form, Haywire, indigenous yeast, Matt Dumayne, Okanagan Valley, pinot noir, red wine, unfiltered, unfined, VQA | Leave a comment

Cabernet Franc, Poplar Grove, VQA Okanagan Valley, BC, 2012, 14.3% abv.

Posted on May 26, 2016 by winellama

Here’s a tasty drink from one of several wineries located on the Okanagan’s Naramata Bench in beautiful British Columbia. On the eyes, it sports a dense and deep ruby with aromas of crunchy raspberries, blackberry, pine, garrigue and minerals. The … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, RED | Tagged BC, cab franc, cabernet franc, Poplar Grove, red wine, VQA Okanagan Valley, wine | Leave a comment

Zinfandel, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, California, 2012, 15.2% abv, US$50

Posted on May 18, 2016 by winellama

Do you know how hard it is to get a bottle of Brown Estate? They sell out pretty much everything they make annually to their wine club and select Napa Valley and San Francisco restaurant wine directors. And no one … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Napa, OTHER, RED, Red, Zinfandel | Tagged BE, Brown Estate, california, Chiles Valley, napa valley, red wine, zinfandel | Leave a comment

Lacrima di Morro d’Alba DOC, Superiore, Stefano Mancinelli, Morro d’Alba, Italy, 2013, 13% abv. C$35

Posted on April 8, 2016 by winellama

To say this wine is intriguing would be an understatement. Producer, Stefano Mancinelli is widely acknowledged as one of the best producers of Lacrima di Morro d’Alba wines. Made from the Lacrima grape, I had to search hard for information … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, Lacrima, OTHER, RED | Tagged Ancona, italia, Italy, Lacrima di Morro d'Alba DOC, Lacrima grape, Morro d'Alba, red wine, Stefano Mancinelli, Superiore | Leave a comment

Viña Tondonia, López de Heredia, Rioja Alta, Spain, 2002, 13.5% abv, C$54

Posted on March 17, 2016 by winellama

Here I sit in the Toronto Pearson International airport because I missed a flight to São Paolo. It’s St. Patrick’s day, but I’m not drinking green beer with the rest of the traveling masses. Instead, I’m thinking about friendship, how … Continue reading →

Posted in Graciano, Grenache / Garnacha, Mazuelo, RED, Spain, Tempranillo | Tagged 2002, garnacha, Graciano, grenache, Lopez de Heredia, Mazuelo, red wine, Rioja Alta, spain, tempranillo, vina tondonia | 2 Comments