Category Archives: RED

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

Posted in Napa, OTHER, RED, Zinfandel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, Napa, OTHER, RED, Tempranillo | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in California, OTHER, RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in RED, Shiraz / Syrah | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Black Hills Estate Winery, Nota Bene, Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, 2010, 14% abv.

I bought this bottle at the winery in Oliver in August 2012 – and then brought it right back to the Okanagan to drink with Jennifer and Allan.  Fun! This is Black Hills’ renowned Meritage blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot … Continue reading

Posted in British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Meritage, Merlot, RED | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vinas Elias Mora, Toro DO, San Roman di Hornija, Valladolid, Spain, 2009 14.5% abv, C$19

Oh, Spanish wines – how we love and adore you.  Great deals, fabulous fruit, complexity… Let me count the ways. The Elias Mora is from the northwestern corner of Spain, directly west of Ribera del Duero.  Made from Tinta de … Continue reading

Posted in RED, Spain, Tempranillo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lambrusco di Sorbara, Emilia-Romagna, Tenuta Casolari, Vino Frizzante Secco, Italy, 11% abv, C$15

Kelowna is the centre of the BC wine universe, but I brought something just a little different to Allan’s this weekend. Lambrusco is both the name of the grape and the wine – and it comes from Italy’s north central Emilia-Romagna region. … Continue reading

Posted in Italy, Lambrusco, RED | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment