Category Archives: Winery Review
Church & State, Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, 2012, 13.2% abv
Viognier – Fifty years ago, there were only 14 ha of this white grape planted in Condrieu AC and at tiny Chateau Grillet in the Northern Rhone’s Cote Rotie. However, now it’s literally planted everywhere in the world. It’s either a … Continue reading
Quails’ Gate, Old Vines Foch, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, 2009, 15% abv.
It’s Sunday morning and I stumble sleepily into the living room, fire up the iPad and think, “What a perfect time to catch up on a few posts.” I pull out the bottle and a glass so I can take … Continue reading
Thornhaven Estates, Gewürztraminer, Summerland, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, 2012, 13.5% abv.
Did you know? Gewürztraminer shares the same genetic footprint as several other white grapes including Savagnin, Paien (Switzerland), Traminer (Germany) and Traminer Aromatico (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy). It’s an aromatic grape that is thought to be a mutation of the Savagnin Rose … Continue reading
Andretti Winery, Sangiovese, Napa Valley, California, 2009, 14.9% abv.
Sangiovese is a black grape native to Central Italy and primarily Toscana whose name literally means ‘Blood of Jove’, the Italian name for Jupiter. It’s Italy’s most planted variety, is the only grape allowed in Brunello di Montalcino and is … Continue reading
Zinfandel, Mickey’s Block, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, California, 2011, 15.2% abv.
Oh Mickey, you’re so fine. You’re so fine, you … know the rest. Meet Mickey. We’ve held onto this Zinfandel wine for a year now to see what a little time in the bottle would do to it. It’s hard … Continue reading
Stoneboat, Chorus, White Blend, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2011, 11.5% abv.
What a nice find – two dusty bottles on the lower shelf in the back at a small liquor store out in Whiterock, BC. Lucky me… The Chorus is an old fave – a blend of 6 white varieties including … Continue reading
Wapiti Cellars, Viognier, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, 2011, 12.5% abv
Viognier – who would have thunk? Fun facts It’s either a half sibling or a grandparent to Syrah. It’s related to Freisia, which means it’s also distantly related to Nebbiolo. Fifty years ago, there were only 14 ha planted of … Continue reading
Old Vines Riesling, Tantalus, Okanagan Valley VQA, Kelowna, BC, 2008, 12.1% abv., C$30 (Tasted Dec. 2013, Jan. 2015, and April 2021)
Riesling – such a maligned grape and so often misunderstood. There is no valid reason for this. It’s the most versatile varietal around – a great grape of Germany, as well as the Alsace, and first class specimens are produced … Continue reading
Mission Hill Family Estate, Compendium, Okanagan Valley, 2008, 14% abv, $50
At 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, this classic Bordeaux blend or Meritage (rhymes with ‘heritage’) has been hand harvested and sorted and gravity fed into small French oak fermenting barrels. After fermenting for four … Continue reading
Tantalus, Riesling, Okanagan Valley VQA, Kelowna, BC, 2010, 12.2% abv
I pulled out ‘the good stuff’ when the parents were here last week. When Jancis Robinson declared earlier this year that the Tantalus Riesling 2008 was Canada’s best white wine, I managed to snag a half case plus several other … Continue reading
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