Category Archives: RED
The Hatch, Brut Rosé, Okanagan, BC, 12.6% abv, NV, C$28
I’m always on the search for a tasty Rosé. Here is one from a new winery with a plethora of options made from grapes sources from all parts of the Okanagan and a tasting room located in West Kelowna. We … Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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