Category Archives: RED

Domaine Jules Desjourneys, Moulin-à-Vent, Cru Beaujolais, France, 2009, 13.5% abv.

Posted on June 7, 2015 by winellama

Moulin-à-Vent is one of the most special of the Beaujolais crus and the wine can most closely resemble fine Burgundy when aged. In fact, this bottle doesn’t even mention Beaujolais on the label but instead, refers to red ‘Burgundy’. Make … Continue reading →

Posted in Beaujolais, France, Gamay, OTHER, RED | Tagged Burgundy, Cru Beaujolais, Domaine Jules Desjourneys, france, gamay, Moulin-à-Vent, red wine | Leave a comment

Gaston Chiquet, Tradition Brut, Premier Cru, Dizy, Champagne, France, RM, 12.5% abv, NV (Magnum) @ Marquis Wine Cellars

Posted on June 3, 2015 by winellama

A grower-producer from the cool named, Dizy located just north of Épernay, the Chiquet family has been growing vines and making Champagne for generations. The current crop of Chiquets include brothers Antoine and Nicolas with Antoine’s daughter Marion. Their 23 ha … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir | Tagged 12.5% abv, champagne, chardonnay, Dizy, france, Gaston Chiquet, Magnum, marquis wine cellars, nv, pinot meunier, pinot noir, Premier Cru, RM, Tradition Brut | Leave a comment

Pietradolce, Nerello Mascalese, Etna Rosso DOC, Sicilia, Italia, 2012, 14.5% abv.

Posted on June 1, 2015 by winellama

Here is a stunner straight from the north facing slopes of Sicily’s Mount Etna. Grown on bush trained vines at 600m above sea level, the name of the winery is a direct acknowledgment of the volcanic soil the vines are rooted in – … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, RED | Tagged Empson, Etna Rosso DOC, italia, Italy, Mount Etna, Nerello Mascalese, Pietradolce, red wine, Sicilia, Sicily, volcanic soils | Leave a comment

Domaine Serene, Pinot Noir, Two Barns Vineyard, Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2010, 13.7% abv, US$85

Posted on May 13, 2015 by winellama

The usual course of action in Oregon’s wine country has been for some of Burgundy’s most renowned winemakers to pick up and put down stakes in the (now) famous Willamette Valley. Take for example the Drouhin family and their 1980s move to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED | Tagged Domaine Serene, Dundee Hills AVA, oregon, pinot noir, Two Barns Vineyard, Willamette Valley | Leave a comment

Graham Beck, Cabernet Sauvignon, The Game Reserve, W.O. Western Cape, South Africa, 2011, 14.5% abv, C$19

Posted on May 7, 2015 by winellama

The Western Cape is a very large geographical unit that encompasses most of the eastern wine lands of South Africa – including the Breede River Valley, the Coastal Region, Klein Karoo and Olifants River. It’s massive. Enormous. And there’s a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, OTHER, RED, South Africa | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Graham Beck, red wine, South Africa, The game reserve, Western Cape | Leave a comment

Samantha, Syrah, Cerqueira Vineyard, Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, Oliver, BC, 2013, 13.6% abv.

Posted on May 4, 2015 by winellama

This wine was produced by the 2013 Vancouver International Wine Festival’s Sommelier of the Year winner, Samanatha Rahn as part of the Okanagan Crush Pad Winery’s wine campus program. Held in conjunction with the BC Hospitality Foundation, sale proceeds fund a … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged BC Hospitality Foundation, Okanagan Crush Pad Winery, Okanagan Valley, Oliver, Samantha Rahn, syrah, VIWF 2013, Wine Campus | Leave a comment

Qupé, Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California, 14.5% abv, 2005

Posted on April 30, 2015 by winellama

When I started planning the brief trip to Santa Barbara, I also began to plot my assault on a bottle of locally produced Qupé. It’s challenging to find in my corner of the world and this winery owned by winemaker Bob Lindquist … Continue reading →

Posted in California, OTHER, Red, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged Au Bon Climat, Bien Nacido, Bob Lindquist, Buellton, california, cool climate syrah, Hitching Post 2, Qupé, red wine, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Valley | Leave a comment

Lopez de Haro, Tempranillo, Crianza, Rioja DOC, Spain, 2010, 13.5% abv.

Posted on April 28, 2015 by winellama

Meh. I expected more from this wine. A 90% Tempranillo with 7% Garnacha and the remainder Graciano for perfume and colour, this is a Crianza version from a hillside at the village of San Vicente de La Sonsierra in Rioja, Spain. … Continue reading →

Posted in Graciano, Grenache / Garnacha, RED, Red, Spain, Tempranillo | Tagged garnacha, Graciano, Lopez de Haro, rioja, spain, tempranillo | 2 Comments

Ruché, Caresana, Castagnole Monferrato DOCG, Italia, 2013, 15% abv, C$30 (BCLB)

Posted on April 22, 2015 by winellama

There isn’t very much of this Italian grape around – only about 40 ha of vines exist in Piedmont. A DOCG since 2010, opinion is divided as to whether or not this is an indigenous Italian varietal or one that came from … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, OTHER, RED, Ruché | Tagged castagnole monferrato, Italy, red wine, Ruché | Leave a comment

Podere Brizio, Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italia, 2006, 14.5% abv, C$120

Posted on April 15, 2015 by winellama

This 100% Sangiovese is made by Roberto Bellini and Patrizia Mazzi. They had originally owned a lot of land in Montalcino (the larger Pieve di Santa Restituta estate) and then sold all of it except for 9 ha to Angelo Gaja … Continue reading →

Posted in Italy, RED, Sangiovese | Tagged Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Podere Brizio, red wine, Sangiovese | 2 Comments