-
World of Wine News- Echolands Winery Estate Vineyard Attains Organic Certification
- Rhône Valley Vineyards Launches Dynamic 2026 Integrated Communications Program in the US
- Republican Red Winery Wins Top Awards at 2026 Monterey International Wine Competition
- As AI Reshapes Wine Discovery, The Weinheimer Group Releases Industry Readiness Research and Launches VINTAGE² Educational System for Winery Operators
Category Archives: RED
Church & State, Cabernet Franc, Coyote Bowl, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2010, 14.7% abv.
I had to double check the label! On the first glass, I thought I was drinking a svelte Syrah from BC’s Okanagan Valley. Nope – Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet in colour, this wine offers classic Cab Franc aromas of pine … Continue reading
Posted in BC, Cabernet Franc, OTHER, RED
Tagged BC, cabernet franc, Church & State, church and state, Coyote Bowl, Okanagan Valley, red wine
Leave a comment
Church & State, Coyote Bowl Series, Malbec, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2011, 14.5% abv.
Purchased in September 2014 at the winery, we opened this on Saltspring Island with charcuterie and BBQ’d sausages in summer 2015. Opaque purple and very young with intense aromas of ripe, purple plum, black cherry, burnished leather and fresh pine, … Continue reading
Posted in British Columbia, Malbec, OTHER, RED
Tagged 2011, bc vqa, Church & State, church and state, Coyote Bowl Series, malbec, Okanagan Valley, red wine
Leave a comment
Champagne Gatinois, Aÿ Grand Cru, Brut Tradition, Champagne, France, NV, 12% abv. C$60
Here is a champagne from deep in the Marne in tiny Aÿ, located to the east of Épernay. This is a 90% Pinot Noir based champagne with 10% Chardonnay, but it’s 100% Grand Cru and grown on the 7.3 ha … Continue reading
Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, Pinot Noir
Tagged Ay, Champagne Gatinois, chardonnay, Gatinois, Grand Cru, Mailly, Pierre Cheval, pinot noir
2 Comments
Blackwood Lane, Meritage, The Reference, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2006, 14.2% abv, C$90
When I purchased this bottle back at the beginning of my journey into serious wine interests, I definitely expected more. Looking back, I think I was rather naive and most certainly I spent too much money. Ah well, live a … Continue reading
Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Malbec, Merlot, OTHER, Petit Verdot, RED
Tagged 2006, BC, Blackwood Lane, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, malbec, meritage, merlot, Okanagan Valley, Petit Verdot, red wine, The Reference
2 Comments
Le Clos des Grillons, Les Terres Blanches, Côtes du Rhône AC, France, 2012, 14.5% abv.
This wine is produced by vigneron Nicholas Renaud who came to winemaking from teaching in 2008. He works from 18 ha of 70-80 year old vines, 80% of which he rents. The soil of the Les Terres Blanches vineyard is … Continue reading
Posted in Carignan, France, Grenache / Garnacha, RED
Tagged 14.5% abv., 2012, carignan, Côtes du Rhône AC, france, grenache, Le Clos des Grillons, Les Terres Blanches, red wine
Leave a comment
Pahlmeyer, Merlot, Napa Valley, California, 2011, 15.2% abv, US$85
If violet coloured velvet were a wine, it would be this one. Plush and sensuous, it’s made with 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and a smattering of Malbec. The grapes came from three separate vineyards. On the eyes it’s a … Continue reading
Posted in California, Merlot, OTHER, RED
Tagged 2011, california, merlot, napa valley, Pahlmeyer, red wine
5 Comments
Miraval, Rosé, Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, Provence AC, France, 2014, 13% abv. 19.50 GBP / C$29 ++
There’s not much about this famous Brangelina – Perrin brothers product you can’t find on the internet. A quick search brings up a mere 27,900 links on Google. It was named on Wine Spectator’s 100 top wines of 2013 as the … Continue reading
Posted in Cinsault, France, Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, Rolle, ROSE, Shiraz / Syrah
Tagged 13% abv., 2014, AC Provence, cinsault, france, grenache, Jolie-Pitt & Perrin, Miraval, Rolle, rosé, syrah
Leave a comment
Qupé, Syrah, Central Coast, California, 2012, 13.5% abv.
“Whose bottle is this!?” This bottle of Qupé flew to Saltspring Island, BC from Menlo Park, California and almost didn’t make it onto the plane due to someone forgetting it was actually in the hand luggage. Oops. In the post-911 flying … Continue reading
Posted in California, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah
Tagged 2012, Bob Lindquist, california, Central Coast, Qupé, red wine, syrah
Leave a comment
Pinot Noir, Cumières Rouge, Champagne Geoffroy, Coteaux Champenois AC, Champagne, France, 12.5% abv.
This is actually THE bottle that is the pictured headliner on this very site. I snapped that picture in June 2014 when visiting Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, his lovely wife and tribe of spirited daughters in Aÿ. The cork used is a traditional … Continue reading
Posted in France, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED
Tagged champagne, Champagne Geoffroy, Coteaux Champenois AC, Cumières Rouge, france, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, pinot noir, red wine
Leave a comment
Iron Horse Ranch and Vineyards, Winter’s Cuvée, Sebastopol, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, 2008, 13.5% abv.
We visited this winery in the beautiful Russian River Valley and its 65 ha of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines in 2013. While there, we purchased two bottles – both for children’s high school graduation celebrations. When the second one … Continue reading
winellama 