Tag Archives: BC
Tantalus, Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley VQA, Kelowna, BC, 2010, 13.4% abv
Christmas is fast approaching and I always love to have a Pinot alongside the turkey and cranberry sauce. Gamay wines, Pinot Noirs and even Cab Francs go swell with holiday bird. They’re light enough and the tannins are subtle to … Continue reading
Church & State, Merlot, Coyote Bowl Series, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, 2010, 14.5% abv, C$25
Church & State is a long time favourite. We visited the Coyote Bowl premises in 2012 and purchased this bottle (plus several others) at that time. I always know that I’m going to get something enjoyable and worthwhile when I purchase … Continue reading
Cabernet Libre, Rose, Vista D’oro, Campbell Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2013, 12% abv
Here’s a grape I virtually guarantee you’ve not tried before – Cabernet Libre. It’s an uncommon hybrid developed by Valentin Blattner in Switzerland that has found a home on Canada’s cool, wet coasts. There’s a Blattner white and a red – … Continue reading
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
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
Meritage, Clos du Soleil, Celestiale, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, 2011, 13.4% abv
I’ve been waiting patiently for the delivery of my mixed case of Clos du Soleil wines via friends who made the trip to the Okanagan last week. One of the wines in this case is the Celestiale. The dictionary definition … Continue reading
Riesling, Orofino Winery, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, 2011, 11.8% abv, C$22
“Don’t you find the winters a little cold and lonely out here in the Similkameen?” we naively asked co-owner Virginia Weber. “Are you absolutely kidding? You’re talking to a Saskatchewan girl,” was the response. Fair enough – I mean, she … Continue reading
Pinot Blanc, Clos du Soleil, Grower’s Series Chegwin & Baessler, Similkameen Valley VQA, BC, 2012, 12.1% abv, C$20++
Only 185 cases produced of this refreshing gem and we recently opened a bottle on a warm summer Vancouver evening to enjoy with friends. Clos du Soleil is one of my new favourite BC wineries – I have developed a … Continue reading
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