Category Archives: RED

Banrock Station, Sparkling Shiraz, Southeastern Australia, 14% abv, C$14.99

I fancy myself an open minded sort, but even I have to admit this wine tested the limits of my esotericism. There is something weird and unsettling about tannin, oak and leather with your bubbles. I have been known to … Continue reading

Posted in RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Sparkling Wine | 2 Comments

Sondraia, Bolgheri DOC, Poggio al Tesoro, Bolgheri, Italy, 2008, 14.5% abv, C$62.00

This wine hails from the Bolgheri DOC in Italy. There is a Bolgheri DOC and a Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC in Tuscany, but I didn’t know that Bolgheri wines don’t list the varietals on the label because of course, they are … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Italy, RED | Leave a comment

Zinfandel, Rosemary’s Block, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, California, 2011, 14.9% abv.

The Queen must have showed up tonight. I did mention on March 24th in my Brown Estate review that she would have to be here for me to open this bottle. She was definitely here, figuratively speaking. Liz may have … Continue reading

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Rosemary’s Block, Zinfandel, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, Brown Estate, 2011, 14.9% abv.

The Queen must have showed up tonight. I did mention in my Brown Estate review that she would have to be here for me to open this bottle. She was definitely here, figuratively speaking. Liz may have have shown up, … Continue reading

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Cabernet Sauvignon, La Gauche, Rollingdale Winery, Okanagan Valley, 2008, 13.5% abv, C$39.90

In 2010, Rollingdale Winery was recognized by the website Organic Wine Review as one of only two wineries in BC as being fully organic. Usually renowned for their ice wines, Rollingdale even beat out Willamette Valley’s Sokol Blosser Winery for … Continue reading

Posted in BC, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, RED | Leave a comment

Flying Trout, Deep River Red, Columbia Valley, NV, Washington, USA 14.8%, US$30

I like fish, trout to be specific. I like this wine too, but now it’s all gone and I realize it took us more time to taste the wines in Ashley Trout’s tasting room than it did to drink the … Continue reading

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Malbec, OTHER | Leave a comment

Tempranillo, Miner Family Vineyards, Sierra Foothills, Silverado Trail, Napa Valley AVA, California, 2010, 14.5% abv, $US28

We’re back in Canada from our trip to Napa – and you know what that means.  Taxes and duties on alcohol at the border. I paid duty and taxes at the border on the 20 non-exempt bottles of wine to … Continue reading

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Syrah, Porter Creek, Timbervine Ranch, Russian River Valley, California, 2010, 14.5%, US$46

We walked into Yountville’s best wine store Groezinger’s and asked owner Rick, “If there was one wine in this store we should buy, what would it be?” What followed was the most hilarious rant I’ve ever experienced from a wine … Continue reading

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Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Syrah 2009, BC VQA Okanagan Valley, 14.5% abv, C$29.90

Burrowing Owl’s tasting room was three folks deep with ‘splash and dashers’ last August when we dropped in for a peek. They wouldn’t give me an industry discount and weren’t terribly knowledgeable about wine in general to be honest. I … Continue reading

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Dominio de Tares, Cepas Viejas, Mencia, Bierzo DO, Bierzo Alto, Leon, Spain 2008, 14% C$30

Purchased at a local specialty wine store, this is a great wine made from the Mencia varietal, aka ‘Jaen’. Mencia is grown primarily in North Western Spain, and especially in Bierzo, an up-and-coming DO. Ironic to say that as of … Continue reading

Posted in Mencia, RED | Leave a comment