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Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Haut Faugรจres Saint-ร‰milion Grand Cru 2010, Bordeaux, France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท





๐Ÿ‡ Merlot  85%
๐Ÿ‡ Cabernet Franc 10%
๐Ÿ‡ Cabernet Sauvignon 5%

๐Ÿง Alcohol 14.5%

๐Ÿ My Score 91 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ
A very attractive and inviting nose with aromas of black cherries, plums, raisins, cassis, cedar and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, flavourful with grainy tannins and balance acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavours of bitter chocolate, leathery fruit and raisins.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

I tasted this Bordeaux at a trade show and there was no doubt that we would be stocking this wine with Christmas fast approaching. From an excellent vintage, this is a muscular Merlot blend that is closer in style to California than Bordeaux. That being said, this is a very aromatic, flavourful wine that needs beef or lamb to really shine. Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท

Friday, October 25, 2019

Pietracupa Taurasi 2012, Campania, Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น




๐Ÿ‡ Aglianico 100%

๐Ÿง Alcohol 14.5%

๐Ÿ My Score 92 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Sensuous nose with aromas cherries, wild berries, raisins, smoke, underbrush, leather and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied soft seductive fruit, silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium-long with leathery fruit, light mineral character and savoury flavours lingering.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

I really enjoyed the flavours and texture of Aglianico, it’s one of my favourite varietal. It’s hard to find this varietal in British Columbia. When I spotted this wine @marquiswinecellars  there wasn’t any doubt we were going home together. I love it’s intoxicating bouquet, silky, seductive texture and great depth of flavours. The most elegant Taurasi I have ever drank.  A beautiful wine experience and need I say, strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Arrowood Knight Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Sonoma County, California, USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ





๐Ÿ‡ Cabernet Sauvignon 80%
๐Ÿ‡ Merlot 16%
๐Ÿ‡ Malbec 4%

๐Ÿง Alcohol 14.8%

๐Ÿ My Score 91 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

A beautiful and inviting nose with aromas of blackberries, blueberries, plums, leather, underbrush, spices and smoky cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, leathery fruit, dusty tannins and balance acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavour of black fruit, plums and savoury notes lingering.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

I enjoy attending Trade tastings when wine is being pored, which we have in stock @vintagespiritsvictoria . I always make an effort to taste all wines which we carry, so I know how to describe them to our customers. So how would I describe this wine?  It’s a blend with great aromatics, complexity, texture and very flavourful. To be enjoyed today, after an hour decant with a great piece of beef ๐Ÿฅฉ or to cellar for a few years where it would acquire even more elegance. Strongly recommended and superb value.  Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท

Friday, October 18, 2019

La Frenz Merlot 2015 Rattlesnake Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ




๐Ÿ‡ Merlot

๐Ÿง Alcohol 15.1%

๐Ÿ My Score 90 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Intense nose with aromas of cherries, plums, black currants, coffee grounds, chocolate, vanilla beans and smoky, toasty notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, fantastic mid palate, richness and weight, silky tannins and balance acidity. The finish is long, savoury, sweeter and slightly tart flavourful with a rich combination of fruit.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

From a very hot vintage, this wine is definitely a bigger, bolder Merlot made in a crowd pleasing style . There’s lots going on here, rich flavours that coats your mouth, but yet still balanced, where the alcohol is not even noticeable. Gorgeous effort given the vintage. Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท

Friday, October 11, 2019

Quinta Do Vale Meรฃo Meandro 2014, Douro Valley, Portugal ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น




๐Ÿ‡ Touriga Nacional 40%
๐Ÿ‡ Touriga Franca 30%
๐Ÿ‡ Tinta Roriz 20%
๐Ÿ‡ Tinta Barroca 5%
๐Ÿ‡ Tinto Cรฃo 3%
๐Ÿ‡ Sousรฃo 2%

๐Ÿง Alcool 14%

๐Ÿ My Score 91 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Attractive and inviting nose with aromas of ripe berry fruit, plums, black cherries, dried violets, chocolate, leather and tobacco notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, flavourful with a velvet texture, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long with flavours of blueberries, plums, vanilla and chocolate.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

This was not my first experience with this wine but it always felt that I was opening them to early. This bottle was purchased on January of 2018 and the added months in bottle has given this wine incredible aromatics texture and great flavours. I have been enjoying wine for thirty years, so I really enjoy wines like this one, which is so different, that it stands out from most wines on today’s wine shelves. Look at all those interesting varietals! Strongly recommended Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Jean-Paul Brun Terres Dorรฉes Moulin-ร -Vent 2016, Beaujolais, France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท




๐Ÿ‡ Gamay 100%

๐Ÿง Alcohol 12.5%

๐Ÿ My Score 90 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Inviting and fruity nose with aromas of crushed wild strawberries, plums, blackberries, spices and slightly earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, broad texture with silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with darker fruit flavours, spices and smoky flavours lingering.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

Here is another wine which after I removed the foil, I find lots of dirt and bacteria on top of the cork and around the bottle.  After washing all of this with a warm cloth, I pull the cork which felt soft and almost wet. As I was pulling out the cork I did not have a good feeling, but to my surprise, there it was an explosion of strawberry, like I was in a middle of a field picking strawberries. A delightful Beaujolais in a style I really enjoy, juicy flavours, light tannins and great acidity. Enjoyed over two evenings, the second evening it wasn’t as fruity but it was just as delicious. It should keep improving with a few additional years in bottle. Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท


Saturday, October 5, 2019

Domaine Guisset Cรดtes du Roussillon 2016, Languedoc-Roussilon, France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท





๐Ÿ‡ Syrah 66%
๐Ÿ‡ Carignan 20%
๐Ÿ‡ Grenache 14%

๐Ÿง Alcohol 14.5%

๐Ÿ My Score 91%

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Great nose with aromas of ripe berry fruit, plums, red currants, spices and light floral notes.  On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, beautiful texture, flavourful with silky tannins and fresh acidity.  This finish is medium length, smooth with flavours of spices, stony minerality and soft seductive fruit.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

First experience with this producer and it won’t be the last.  Lovely blend, really enjoyable wine, flavourful with fine texture and harmony.  The quality price ratio is well in your favour. Enjoyed over two evenings and just as delightful on the second night.  Strongly recommended my wine friends.  Cheers ๐Ÿท

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Poplar Grove CSM 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ




๐Ÿ‡ Cabernet Franc 37%
๐Ÿ‡ Cabernet Sauvignon 27%
๐Ÿ‡ Syrah 16%
๐Ÿ‡ Malbec 11%
๐Ÿ‡ Merlot 9%

๐Ÿง Alcohol 13.4%

๐Ÿ My Score 90 Points

๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Savoury bouquet with aromas of blueberries, plums, field berries, exotic wood spices, soft leather and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, structure is entirely elegant, well integrated tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with soft berry fruit and savoury herbs like thyme and sage lingering.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น๐Ÿ”น

I have been enjoying wines from Poplar Grove for more than a decade but this is my first experience with this blend. I enjoy wines when Syrah is added to Bordeaux varietals. There are some delicious examples of those wines here in British Columbia. As I have mentioned on a few occasions lately, I love the 2014 vintage from B.C. This wine is almost impossible to resist from it’s beautiful, sensuous and savoury aromatics, where all it’s elements are well integrated. More savoury notes than fruit at this stage makes it for a lovely sipping aperitif style wine and a cheese and charcuterie platter. Cheers my wine friends ๐Ÿท


Unfortunately, this wine is only available to Club members and at the winery tasting room.