Tag Archives: French wine

A Toast to Memories – Pinot Blanc (Weisser Burgunder), “Kalkgestein”, Weingut Friedrich Becker, Deutscher Qualitatswein trocken, Pfalz, Germany, 13% abv., 2023 and Merlot, Château Fombrauge, Bernard Magrez, Saint Emilion AC, Bordeaux, Grand Cru, France, 15% abv., 2009, C$55

Posted on June 1, 2026 by winellama

My mom would have turned 84 this May, so to remember her, we joined with one of my sisters, her husband and a niece to enjoy dinner at one of Mom’s favourite restaurants, toast her and laugh over some great … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Germany, Merlot, OTHER, Pinot Blanc, RED, Red, red wine, WHITE | Tagged Bernard Magrez, Bordeaux, Chateau Fombrauge, france, French wine, german wine, Grand Cru, kalkgestein, limestone, merlot, Pfalz, Pinot Blanc, red wine, Saint Emilion, Weingut Friedrich Becker, weiss burgunder, weisser burgunder, white wine | 1 Comment

Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château La Tour du Pin Figeac, Saint Émilion, Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France, 12.5% abv., 1998, US$37 (opened October 30, 2025)

Posted on November 7, 2025 by winellama

I panicked a little while searching for something to take to a friend’s for dinner. I found this 1998 sitting at the bottom of the wine cabinet. I had honestly forgotten it was there. Initially, I was concerned I’d missed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, France, Merlot, OTHER, RED | Tagged Bordeaux, cab franc, cab sav, cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau La Tour du Pin Figeac, Chateau la Tour Figeac, Cheval Blanc, French wine, Grand Cru, merlot, red wine, st. emilion, travel, wine, wine-tasting | Leave a comment

Watching the 2025 Harvest at Le Romanée-Conti – Chardonnay, Gerard Boyer, ‘Aux Gravains’, Savigny-les-Beaune, Premier Cru, Bourgogne, France, 2023, 13% abv., 35 Euros (C$58)

Posted on September 18, 2025 by winellama

Doubters of global warming will continue to rail against obvious signs, but while I was in Burgundy for Harvest 2025, it was hard to ignore the facts about the effects. This year was extremely hot, and there were vineyards being … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, WHITE | Tagged Aux Gravains, Bourgogne, Burgundy, CDN, chardonnay, Cotes de Nuit, DRC, europe, france, French wine, Gerard Boyer, Nuit saint George, red wine, Romanee Conti, travel, travel in burgundy, travel in france, white wine, wine, wine-tasting | 2 Comments

Watching the 2025 Harvest at Montrachet – Chardonnay, Domaine Joseph Pascal, Puligny-Montrachet, Premier Cru, Les Chalumaux, Bourgogne, France, 2022, 13% abv., 31 Euros/glass (C$50/glass), 90 Euros/bottle (C$147)

Posted on September 17, 2025 by winellama

If I had tried, even just a little, to make it happen and to arrive at Montrachet on the day they were harvesting, there is no hope I could have done it. But there I was, on my mauve rental … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, Chardonnay, France, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, caveau de puligny-montrachet, europe, france, French wine, joseph pascal, puligny-montrachet, travel, white wine, wine | 2 Comments

Vermentinu, Natiu, Domaine Mlle. Devichi, AOP Patrimonio, Barbaggio, Corsica, France, 13% abv.,

Posted on November 8, 2024 by winellama

When we were deciding where to go on our European adventure, I pushed hard for Corsica. I’d wanted to go there ever since taking the WSET Diploma ‘Light Wines of the World’ course. I set to it, started researching well-known … Continue reading →

Posted in Corsica, France, OTHER, Vermentino, WHITE | Tagged Barbaggio, Corsica, corsica france, Corsican wine, europe, france, French wine, history, LGBTQ2+, Mademoiselle Devichi, Mlle. Devichi, Patrimonio, travel, Vermentino, Vermentinu, Vin Blanc, white wine | 2 Comments

A ‘No Spit’ Bucket List Day in Burgundy’s Côte D’Or with Hautes Côtes

Posted on June 18, 2024 by winellama

When we started planning a trip anchored to the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, I knew I also needed to plan a stop just up the road in Burgundy. Now, Burgundy is a hallowed wine region, and one which demands much … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, France, OTHER | Tagged Burgundy, chardonnay, Clos Vougeot, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, DRC, france, French wine, Hautes Cotes, Musigny, Pierre Denis, pinot noir, White Burgundy | 4 Comments

Aleatico + Nielluciu, Le Rappu, Clos Paoli, AOP Coteaux du Cap Corse, Morsiglia, Cap Corse, Corsica, France, NV, 15% abv., 16 €

Posted on June 17, 2024 by winellama

Ever since I studied the wines of Corsica during the WSET Diploma Wines of the World course, I have wanted to visit the island, birthplace of Napoleon, and see it for myself. We made a trip in June 2024 and … Continue reading →

Posted in aleatico, Corsica, FORTIFIED WINE, France, Le Rappu, OTHER, RED | Tagged aleatico, AOP Cap Corse, AOP coteaux du Cap Corse, Clos Paoli, Corsica, Dominique Lappi, fortified wine, france, French wine, Morsiglia, Napoleon, Niellucio | Leave a comment

Charity fundraising tasting

Posted on November 18, 2023 by winellama

During Cov*d, I offered a wine tasting with paired hors d’oeuvres to a local Rotary Club fundraiser for the Victoria Hospice Society in the memory of my father-in-law, Ken, who spent his last days there. Of course, because of Cov*d, … Continue reading →

Posted in cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, California, France, Grenache / Garnacha, Italy, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Petite Sirah, Plavac Mali, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Zinfandel | Tagged Abruzzo, Bastides Miraflors, Brac, California wine, Caymus Suisun, Christiana Tiberio, cotes catalanes, Croatia, French wine, Italy, Lafage Winery, Petit Sirah, Petite Sirah, Plavac Mali, red wine, Stina, Stina Vino, Suisun Valley, Tiberio, Tiberio winery, US wine, Walking Fool, zinfandel | Leave a comment

Chenin Blanc, David Monopole, Arnaud Lambert, Brézé, Saumur AOC, Loire Valley, France, 2020, 13.9% abv., US$88

Posted on October 12, 2023 by winellama

In September 2023, we dropped into Monterey, California for the Rennsport 7 Reunion, a kind of convention for Porsche enthusiasts. On the last night, and to celebrate 20 years of being together, we dined at ‘Passionfish’. We are no slouches … Continue reading →

Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, Loire, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged arnaud lambert, california, chenin blanc, france, French wine, loire valley, Loire Valley AC, Monterey, monterey california, Passionfish, Saumur AOC, white wine | 2 Comments

Chardonnay, Premier Cru Chablis, Kirkland Signature, AOC Chablis, France, 2019, 13.5% abv., US$17.79

Posted on March 23, 2022 by winellama

While perusing the shelves at Costco Lihue, I picked this Premier Cru Chablis up for a song. Aged in stainless steel for a year, this was a great wine to enjoy in the warmth of Kauai on the lanai. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, France, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged AOC Chablis, chablis, Chard, chardonnay, costco, costco wine, france, French wine, Kirkland signature, Pierre Brissy, Premier Cru, white wine | Leave a comment