Away from home, pizza night at the Hotel 🙂

Glad to be back in Ottawa and even happier to order a Pizza from Ricardo’s Pizza, which I have enjoyed for over 20 years. Visiting this pizzeria brought back many great memories and great to see that it’s still the same pleasant, customer focused staff still working there magic here.

As for the wine, one wine wasn’t enough 😜

1- Paul Jaboulet Aîné Saint-Joseph Le Grand Pompée 2016, Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Syrah 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

Beautiful, inviting nose with aromas of plums, blackberries, floral and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with smooth tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with lots of peppery plum and light earthy flavours lingering.

2- Prá Morandina Valpolicella 2018, Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Corvina 35%
🍇 Corvinone 35%
🍇 Rondinella 23%
🍇 Oseleta 7%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

Bright nose with aromas of strawberries, raspberries, red cherries and floral notes. On the mouthfeel, light bodied, fresh with lots of energy, fine grainy tannins and bright acidity. The finish is medium length and full of fruity flavour lingering.



🔹 Definitely interesting to compare these two wines with the pizza, darker fruit on the Saint-Joseph and red fruit on the Valpolicella, smoother tannins with the Syrah and much higher acidity with the Valpolicella. The Saint-Joseph is in a beautiful place right now and the Vapolicella is young with additional time in bottle to come soften up a bit. Both enjoyable in their own right but the Saint-Joseph was  the better pairing.

Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Touring Ontario Wine Country

This last Sunday with a visit to these three wineries 

🔹First stop at Rosewood Estate Winery and Meadery.  Even if it had been ten years since I last tasted this wineries Merlot, I could almost still taste it. To my surprise, they no longer make Merlot. Like many of their neighbours, they lost all of their Merlot after the vine-killing frost of 2014. A few wineries replanted their Merlot but most replaced with a more sturdy vines like Gamay. My favourites;

🍇 Pét-Nat 2018 (Pinot Noir/Gamay)

🍇 Chardonnay Renaceau Vineyard 2016

🍇 Pinot Noir BlackJack Vineyard 2017

A winery tailor made for my palate. Beautiful, aromatic, elegant wines with low alcohol. If like me, you enjoy local honey products and mead you will be delighted with a visit to this winery. Strongly recommended 👌😊

🔹Second stop Thirty Bench Wine Makers  This is my first visit to this winery. They do have a beautiful spot on the Beamsville bench and are known for their portfolio of Riesling. Strongly recommended. My favourite;

🍇 Small Lot Riesling Steel Post Vineyard 2017

🍇 Small Lot Merlot 2016

Beautiful, classic aromatics on their Rieslings with different levels of alcohol and sweetness and this Merlot is really delicious 🍷

🔹Third stop Hidden Bench Estate Winery  I have heard great things from Hidden Bench but never tasted their wines until today. Oh my Gosh! What a treat 😊 My favourites;

🍇 Pinot Noir Locust Lane Vineyard 2016

🍇 Pinot Noir Felsek Vineyard 2016

🍇 Terroir Caché 2016

All of these beauties are unfiltered 👌 A new favourite.  Period. 🙂  Such a delicious lineup from Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and their Meritage blend. Beautiful texture in their Pinot’s and their Terroir Caché (Bordeaux blend) is very flavourful. Thank you Melissa for this out standing wine experience 🙂

Happy Holidays to all of you and your families. The time to open something special is today 😊 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Touring Ontario Wine Country

Day two of three, with a visit to these three wineries in Niagara-on-The-Lake

🔹First stop at Ravine Vineyard It’s been a while since I last tasted Ravine wines. I remember them as beautifully made and on the lighter side. I am glad to see that nothing has changed. Beautiful and stunning wines. My favorites,

🍇 Cabernet Franc 2017
🍇 Reserve Red Unfined and Unfiltered 2016

Definitely my kind of wines, elegant, aromatic, well made with lower alcohol. I heard that starting with this vintage year they have a new winemaker. Hoping that she keeps the winery style pretty much the same 👌🙂

🔹Second stop Icellars Estate Winery, I had never heard of this family run winery, it was strongly recommended by industry people. It’s always incredibly insightful when the wines are being poured by Adnan Icel the winemaker. My favourite;

🍇 Cabernet Franc 2016
🍇 Merlot 2017

Highly recommended for a reason, beautifully structured wines, medium to medium-full bodied and incredibly delicious 😋 Small production with 200 cases for the Merlot and 300 for the Cab Franc.

🔹Third stop Big Head Wines  So much buzz about this fairly new winery. For me it’s reminds me of @hatchwines  in B.C. There is a young energy to this winery, a young clientele and they are pushing the envelope. Many wines here including a raw series. My favourites;

🍇 Pinot Noir 2017
🍇 Bigger Red 2016
🍇 Raw Series Chenin Blanc 2017

I feel that I was barely introduced to the wide range of products from this winery. Really interesting and delicious wines here. Strongly recommended.

More wineries to come. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Touring Ontario Wine Country

Getting my feet wet last Friday with these two wineries in Niagara-on-The-Lake

First stop at Stratus Vineyards. It’s great to finally visit this winery, I have read so many great reviews about their wines. I tasted through an extensive selection of their wines from white, reds and sweeter wines, all led by the very knowledgeable Ben. My favorites,

🍇 Stratus Red 2016 a blend of all five Bordeaux varietals plus Petit Verdot and Tannat
🍇 Botrytis Affected Sémillon 2017
🍇 Riesling Ice Wine 2017

It’s obvious there is a lot of attention to details in everything they do at Stratus. The entire tasting was a real treat, specifically their Botrytis Affected Sémillon 😋

Second stop at Two Sisters Vineyards. I have rarely been a fan of Canadian Sauvignon, well let me tell you how stunning this 2018 Sauvignon Blanc was; I usually prefer my SB to be stainless steel only, with no oak to preserve this varietals crisp acidity. First year that they made their SB without oak and it’s a winner. The best Canadian SB I have ever had. It is very aromatic, with a flavourful, crisp and refreshing acidity. Overall a very pleasant tasting led by Melissa, very knowledgeable. My favourites;

🍇 Sauvignon Blanc 2018
🍇 Cabernet Franc 2015

More wineries to come. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Oban Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

A beautiful December evening at the @obaninn, where we are staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Duck confit is one of my favourite dinners, when I see it on a restaurant menu it’s a no brainer.

-Duck Confit with smashed sage potato, roasted Brussels sprouts in a Dijon cream sauce

-Maple berry crème brûlée with pistachio biscotti

Nothing has ever bested my favourite meal of duck confit that was prepared at Algonquin College, culinary school @RestaurantInternational where I received my Sommelier Certification. I have to say that Oban Inn’s duck confit challenged my previous favourite with it’s crispy skin, delicious tender meat and served with a flavourful Dijon cream sauce and beautifully prepared smashed potatoes. So good 😋 The dessert was also very good, almost forgot to take a photo in my rush to get started 😂 I almost forgot the wise words of @wyn8969. The camera eats first 😜

And the wine?

Megalomaniac Cabernet Frank 2017, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

The winery description "Forthright and sincere, our Cabernet Franc delivers a knockout punch with a velvet glove"

Right now it’s more like a soft leather glove, the velvet will come later after another year in bottle. Still a very enjoyable wine but it would have been hard to upstage this duck confit.

Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Wine acquisition from the Liquor Board of Ontario (LCBO)

What a joy to be returning to the LCBO. Did you know that after Costco, the LCBO is the second largest purchaser of wine and spirits in the world? This kind of leverage can make for ideal pricing. I am here to find my personal favourite wines and explore products recommended by their very knowledgeable staff. I was lucky to run into @torontovino  at the Queens Quay LCBO location. I had already nabbed the Muga Selección Especial (a favourite 🙂) but Victor helped me select a few more beauties to bring home. Thank you.  🙏 It was great chatting with you.

🍇 from Spain 🇪🇸
-Muga Selección Especial 2014
-Urbina Rioja Gran Reserva 2006

🍇 from France 🇫🇷
-François Villard Jouvet Cornas 2016

🍇 from Italy
-Caparzo La Casa Brunello di Montalcino 2013

Pretty happy with the new addition to the family 😊 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Maxime Magnon Rozeta 2018, Corbières, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Carignan 40%
🍇 Grenache 30%
🍇 Cinsault 30%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

 🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 50-60 years old vines, grapes are fermented together, aged wine in previously use Burgundy barrels from a producer in Chassagne-Montrachet, natural, organic and biodynamic, neither fined or filtered and no sulphur added at bottling

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Beautiful nose with aromas of red cherries, raspberries, blueberries, floral, peppery and light earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, very fresh with an elegant texture, silky tannins and crisp acidity. The finish is medium length with savoury and slightly tangy flavours lingering.

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Lovely dining experience at Damas restaurant in Montréal this last Monday. Like always, I research the wine list before arriving at a restaurant. Unfortunately it was a waste of time since the wine list was out of date 🤷‍♂️ None of the wines which had caught my attention where available. Now, I did take up the offer for the Sommelier to review the wine list and help with my selection. Good wine list, mostly from France and Italy, with many natural wines. I was very happy with the wine selected, it went beautifully with our mix grilled platter. The food and the presentation as usual, was amazing. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Wine acquisition from the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ)

It’s always enjoyable returning to Montréal. There is so much to like, great restaurants, cafés and my favourite pastime of visiting the SAQ to find wines I can’t find in British Columbia. Such variety; One varietal that continues to evade me is Barbera d’Asti, there certainly was a very good selection of Beaujolais 👌 I finally settled with these six wines which will be returning home with me;

🍇 from Italy 🇮🇹
-Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato 2017
-Prá Morandina Valpolicella 2018
-Castello di Neive Barbaresco 2016

🍇 from France 🇫🇷
-George Descombes Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2016
-Paul Jaboulet Ainé Saint-Joseph Le Grand Pompée 2016

🍇 from Spain 🇪🇸
-Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja 2010

Looking forward to enjoying some of them soon. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito 2016, Ribera Del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸

Bodegas Cepa 21 Hito 2016, Ribera Del Duero, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Lovely nose with aromas of black cherrie, blackberries, plums, leather, cloves, vanilla and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, seductive texture, flavourful, fine grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavours of black fruit, peppery, earthy flavours all wrapped up in fine tannins.

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This wine ticks all the boxes for me, from it’s beautiful aromatics, superb texture and it’s flavourful and smooth finish. A powerful but elegant Tempranillo, with many pairing possibilities but also enjoyed on it’s own. Even better on the second night, which tells me it’s should keep improving over the next few years. Strongly recommended 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Unsworth Vineyards Allegro 2018, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Sauvignette 40%
🍇 Petit Milo 40%
🍇 Amiel 20%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 88 Points

🧩 Stainless steel tank fermented, extensive lees contact and full malolactic fermentation.

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Beautiful, expressive nose with aromas of peaches, pineapple, pink grapefruit, light floral and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, intense, electric texture and crisp acidity. The finish is long with bright delicious flavours of sweet tree fruit and crisp tart green apple with a touch of minerality.

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The word Allegro is a musical term referring to a cheerful, playful and lively tempo. Well it’s certainly lived up to the name, exotic and tasty, quite an oral experience. On the second night the acidity softened up a little bit. I recommend serving it well chilled. A well enjoyed first experience with Allegro. Recommended, even if it’s just to experience the taste of those hybrid Blattner varietals. Cheers my wine friends 🙂

Summers Andriana’s Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, California, USA 🇺🇸

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 77.5%
🍇 Merlot 16.5%
🍇 Petit Verdot 2.1 %
🍇 Petit Sirah 2.1%
🍇 Malbec 1.8%

🧐 Alcohol 14.1%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🧩 Fruit 67% from Sonoma County and 33% from Napa County
      Oak treatment: 16 months in French oak, 50% new oak

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Very attractive nose with aromas of cherries, wild berries, black currants, violets, leather and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, creamy oak covering the palate with silky tannins and low acidity. The finish is medium length with ripe fruit flavour and oak spices lingering.

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A most interesting blend here. I recall a few years ago, this was 100% Cabernet. It’s definitely a wine with great appeal, beautiful aromatics, well integrated oak, smooth texture and most enjoyable. An uncomplicated Cabernet that goes down easy. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Tenuta di Arceno Chianti Classico 2016, DOCG Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Sangiovese 85%
🍇 Merlot 15%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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A very inviting nose with aromas of cherries, blueberries, violets, forest floor, cedar and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, flavourful with fine grainy tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long with flavours of sweet and sour fruit, earthy and spicy notes.

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With Merlot in a supporting role, compared to Italian indigenous varietals, this is a more muscular and structured Chianti. Don’t be worried, the Sangiovese definitely comes through, giving us that sweet and sour excitement I love from this varietal and gives us both power and elegance.  This Chianti should blossom in your cellar. I will definitely need to repurchase this Chianti, highly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Turley Old Vines Zinfandel 2016, California, USA 🇺🇸

🍇 Zinfandel 100%

🧐 Alcohol 15.5%

🍁 My Score 88 Points

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Classic Zin nose with aromas of wild berries, black cherries, violets, light cloves and burnt brown sugar. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with fruity flavours, baking spices, soft tannins and low acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of ripe berries, dried raisins, vanilla and peppery notes.

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I really enjoyed this Zinfandel with a BBQ steak but by the end of the evening, on it’s own, it tasted a little jammy. Would have preferred more depth, structure and acidity. Base on my notes, I enjoyed the 2015 more than this vintage. Still a good Zin experience. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Cantina del Pino Barbera d’Asti 2016, DOCG Piedmont, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Barbera 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Gorgeous bouquet with aromas of cherries, plums, pomegranates, violets, soft leather and wood spices. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, beautiful, elegant texture, lively acidity and soft tannins. The finish is long with a red berry fruit explosion and peppery notes lingering.

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Purchased this gorgeous Barbera @vesselliquor  felt so lucky. The only bottle remaining, definitely calling my name. I am not sure why it’s so difficult to find Barbera d’Asti in British Columbia. There seems to be one bottle of Barbera from Asti compared to five from Alba. I prefer the style of Barbera from Asti, they are lighter, more elegant, with less oak and extraction, and still have that classic Italian acidity. This Barbera from a cooler vintage suits my palate just right, with wonderful freshness and bright fruit flavours. Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Domaine de Longue Toque Gigondas 2014, Rhône, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Grenache 60%
🍇 Syrah 40%

🧐 Alcohol 15.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

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Such a sensuous nose with aromas of black fruit, plums, leather, incense, old church wood, vanilla and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with an entirely elegant texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long, very smooth with soft fruit and savoury flavours lingering.

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It’s been way too long since I have opened a Gigondas. Purchased this a little over a year ago. This wine is in a great place right now. Every element of this wine is well integrated at this stage, resulting in beautiful aromatics, seductive flavourful mouthfeel and very smooth Gigondas. Enjoyed with a pasta dish of lamb sausage, which turned out to be a perfect pairing. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

River Stone Estate Merlot 2016, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.1%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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Beautiful, vibrant nose with aromas of cherries, plums, black currants, leather, stony minerals and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, dry with sour-edged flavours of berries, cherries and plums, fine grainy tannins and balance acidity. The finish is medium-long, slightly tangy with bitter chocolate with an underlying minerality lingering.

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Absolutely love this terroir driven Merlot, it’s definitely more old world style than new world. This wine needs food to really shine, like beef, lamb, pasta, pizza or cheese. It should blossom with an additional few years in your cellar. I purchased this one bottle at the winery last September and I definitely need to resupply, thankfully our store is the only one in Victoria that stock this Merlot. A fantastic value 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Available @vintagespiritsvictoria

Herederos del Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2014, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 90%
🍇 Graciano 7%
🍇 Mazuelo 3%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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Sensuous nose with aromas of blackberries, dark plums, dried figs, spicy, oak and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, smooth and elegant texture, grainy tannins and fresh acidity.The finish is medium-long, smooth with flavourful toasty oak and earthy flavours.

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Few meals makes me more happy than a charcuterie and cheese platter paired with a classic Spanish Rioja. With an strong umami flavoured meal like this platter it’s hard for me to think of any other wine that would work this well. As for this Rioja Reserva from Marqués de Riscal, a Classic Rioja with plenty of well integrated oak at this stage, beautiful texture, seductive mouthfeel and very flavourful. Definitely a great value.

I would especially like to mention my favourite butcher shop, here in Victoria @farmandfieldbutchers. It’s always a great shopping experience, beautiful layout, clean store, friendly and helpful staff and beautiful appetizing meat counter. Their selection of cured meat is top notch. For this platter;

-Bison and elk salami
-Duck noisette salami
-Triple fennel ale salami and
-Two rivers spicy Coppa

All of them very delicious. Cheers my wine friends 🍷🙂

Meyer Family Vineyard Old Block Pinot Noir 2015, McLean Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points 

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Intriguing nose with aromas of wild strawberries, plums, tart cherries, pomegranate, violets, baking spices, smoke and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with balanced acidity and silky tannins. The finish is medium length with flavours of smoky cherries, sweet oak and leafy underbrush.

Purchased this gorgeous Pinot at the winery in September of 2017. For me, it beautifully blends of sweet and sour fruit and earthy flavours. The result is a complex and very flavourful Pinot with superb texture. An exquisite wine from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialists at Meyer’s. Needless to say, I am a big fan of this winery. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Haut Faugères Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2010, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Merlot  85%
🍇 Cabernet Franc 10%
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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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.

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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 🍷

Pietracupa Taurasi 2012, Campania, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Aglianico 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

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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.

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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 🍷

Arrowood Knight Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 80%
🍇 Merlot 16%
🍇 Malbec 4%

🧐 Alcohol 14.8%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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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.

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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 🥩 or to cellar for a few years where it would acquire even more elegance. Strongly recommended and superb value.  Cheers my wine friends 🍷

La Frenz Merlot 2015 Rattlesnake Vineyard, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot

🧐 Alcohol 15.1%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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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.

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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 🍷

Quinta Do Vale Meão Meandro 2014, Douro Valley, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍇 Touriga Nacional 40%
🍇 Touriga Franca 30%
🍇 Tinta Roriz 20%
🍇 Tinta Barroca 5%
🍇 Tinto Cão 3%
🍇 Sousão 2%

🧐 Alcool 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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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.

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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 🍷

Jean-Paul Brun Terres Dorées Moulin-à-Vent 2016, Beaujolais, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Gamay 100%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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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.

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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 🍷

Domaine Guisset Côtes du Roussillon 2016, Languedoc-Roussilon, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Syrah 66%
🍇 Carignan 20%
🍇 Grenache 14%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91%

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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.

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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 🍷

Poplar Grove CSM 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Cabernet Franc 37%
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 27%
🍇 Syrah 16%
🍇 Malbec 11%
🍇 Merlot 9%

🧐 Alcohol 13.4%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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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.

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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 🍷


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

Intersection Unfiltered Silica Merlot 2014, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.8%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Most interesting nose with aromas of plums, black cherries, violets, crushed stone and toasty vanilla oak. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, dry, intense with a mineral character, silky tannins and balance acidity. The finish is long with slightly unripe blackberries, dark chocolate with a stony mineral texture lingering.

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I was really surprised and very intrigued when I first tasted this wine at a trade tasting last spring. It’s unlike any Merlot I have ever tasted from B.C. A stunning, bold Merlot full of character and with a mineral character throughout. One of the interesting elements is that the finish is dryer than the aromatics would suggest. I have been enjoying the 2014 wines from British Columbia lately. They are in a very good place right now and drinking beautifully. I stopped by their winery in Oliver last month and pick up their Meritage blend Axiom 2014. Another stunner 👌 Cheers my wine friends 🍷🙂

Rutini Single Vineyard Guallallary Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Uco Valley, Argentina 🇦🇷

🍇 Malbec 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.2%

🍁 My Score 92%

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Beautiful nose with aromas of blackberries, blueberries, plums, mocha, savoury herbs and lightly toasted notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, elegant texture, silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium-long with a fine grained texture and savoury flavours lingering.

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Tasted and purchased at Vancouver Wine Festival last February, it blew me away on how different this Malbec was from the others, I usually drink.  Most Malbec are like Bang!  I am a Malbec.  This one on the other hand was very elegant with a delicate texture, seductive mouthfeel.  Balance is everything with this Malbec.  A beautiful wine with lots of appeal. Strongly recommended Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Kalala Organic Estate Rosé 2018, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Gewurztraminer 65%
🍇 Zweigelt 20%
🍇 Pinot Noir 10%
🍇 Merlot 5%

🧐 Alcohol 11%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

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Lovely nose with aromas of wild strawberries, watermelon, and light spices. On the mouthfeel, light bodied, refreshing flavours and acidity. The finish is medium length, dry with ripe berry fruit and grapefruit freshness which begs for another sip.

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An interesting blend isn’t it?  I am not one of those who believe that Rosé are made for the summer only.  I tasted this Rosé at Bloom Spring Release and really enjoyed it.  I suggested that the store order a few cases, thanks Nathan 🙏🙂  Researching this wine I was quite surprised to find out the high portion of Gewurztraminer, because I don’t usually enjoy this varietal.  I’m happy to report that I didn’t smell any lychee in the Rosé 😂  Instead a beautiful fruity nose, great acidity and a dry flavourful finish. This would pair well with food or simply on it’s own. Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends.

Domaine Steeve Charvet Chiroubles 2018, Beaujolais, France 🇫🇷

Domaine Steeve Charvet Chiroubles 2018, Beaujolais, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Gamay 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

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Very expressive and interesting nose with aromas of dark plums, tart cherries, violets, spices, earthy and animal undertones. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry with firm, grippy tannins and crisp acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of dark fruit, spices and woodsy, earthy flavours lingering.

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This is my first experience with Beaujolais from Chiroubles. Definitely difficult to find here compared to those from Brouilly, Fleurie and Morgon. Chiroubles is the highest and the coolest region of the cru Beaujolais, usually the last to harvest. It definitely felt like a very young wine, where the flavours have not quite blended together yet, where the tannins needs to soften up and lose some of their grip. If you have one of these, I suggest you decant for a few hours, or even better, give it a couple more years in bottle. Much smoother on the second evening 😉 Great potential to score 90-91 points in a few years. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Cassini Cellars Collector’s Series Quattro 2014, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

Cassini Cellars Collector’s Series Quattro 2014, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦 ⁣
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🍇 Merlot ⁣
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon ⁣
🍇 Cabernet Franc ⁣
🍇 Petit Verdot ⁣
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🧐 Alcool 15%⁣
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🍁 My Score 90 Points ⁣
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Gorgeous aromatics with aromas of dark plums, ripe blackberries, cassis, baking spices, prunes and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, really flavourful, refreshing acidity and ripe silky tannins. The finish is long with lots of ripe berry fruit, vanilla, cocoa, peppery notes and a underlying minerality.⁣
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I originally purchased two of these, 1 1/2 years ago. We opened one soon after and I kept the remaining bottle until now. What a difference time made in the development of this Meritage blend. As I have discovered, there are times you don’t have the time to stage a photo, dinner is ready and I need to take a photo for my own record. But this wine is so good, so well balanced so flavourful that I couldn’t pass the opportunity to share with you all. Who cares about the butter dish, reading glasses and whatever else 😂😂  And at $26 🇨🇦 dollars, this wine is such a great value. OMG so good. Cheers my wine friends 🙂🍷
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New Decanter 😊

Not only am I returning home with four cases of British Columbia wine from my Okanagan wine trip but I am also returning home with a new Decanter. I have been on the lookout for a new Decanter for a while now but when I saw this one, I new that I had found the One.

From product designer Richard Brendon and with the collaboration of the world-renowned wine expert Jancis Robinson this beautiful crystal collection made in the United Kingdom for wine lovers like me. This decanter is called The Young Wine Decanter, I love it’s simple design, mouth-blown, lead free crystal, the wider surface area allows for maximum oxygen, that allows the wine to express itself. The bowl is large enough to accommodate a Magnum. Now I can look forward to it’s first use.  Stay tuned 😀

I am glad to report that two of the wines I was looking for have been found 😀 First all sold out at Orofino Winery is their Beleza 2016 and from Bartier Bros. also sold out is their Cabernet Franc 2017 both found at BC Wine Info Center.  How lucky are BC wine lovers from the Penticton area to have access to such a beautiful store, friendly staff, with such an extensive selection of wines from British Columbia.

Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Alpha Estate Xinomavro 2012 Hedgehog Vineyard, Amyndeon, Greece 🇬🇷

🍇 Xinomavro 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

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Beautiful, expressive nose with aromas of wild berries, black plums, leather, leafy underbrush, spice box and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, very flavourful, firm grainy tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long with spicy black fruit and savoury flavours lingering.

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I purchased this wine over one year ago and was told I should lay it down for a short while to allow the tannins to soften up a bit. I don’t have much experience with Xinomavro, but let me tell you that this wine was such a happy surprise. Beautiful aromatics, superb texture and very flavourful. It more than exceeded my expectations. Wine lovers who are looking for a different kind of experience should consider this beauty. Strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 🍷

La Stella Fortissimo 2016, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 76%
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 9%
🍇 Sangiovese 8%
🍇 Cabernet Franc 7%

🧐 Alcohol 14.3%

🍁 My Score 90%

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A seductive bouquet with aromas of black cherries, plums, pencil shavings, leather, cured meat, baking and savoury spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, firm, earthy palate, silky tannins and fine acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of wild berries, chocolate and herbal notes

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To be called Merlot, in accordance with B.C. VQA rules, a wine must be at least 85% Merlot grape. I have always enjoyed this blend, especially with the addition of Sangiovese which is pretty rare here in B.C.. The addition of Sangiovese adds another layer of complexity, flavours and above all a nice lift of acidity. Perfect pairing? How about beef or lamb on the BBQ 😋 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Viña Ventisquero Vertice Apalta 2015, Colchagua Valley, Chile 🇨🇱

🍇 Carménère 51%
🍇 Syrah 49%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91%

🧩 Chile meets Australia in this blend by Chilean winemaker Felipe Tosso and Australian winemaker John Duval

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Very attractive and inviting nose with aromas of blackberries, plums, chocolate, clove, vanilla and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, gorgeous velvet texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length, very smooth with flavours of spicy ripe berry fruit, dried figs and bittersweet chocolate.

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What a delicious experience! Simply a gorgeous effort by both winemakers who put this well balanced, flavourful blend together for our pleasure.  The oak is well integrated and nothing is over done, letting the quality of the fruit shine.  Definitely a wine with lots of appeal, where quality vs price ratio is well in your favour. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

El Enemigo Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷 ⁣ ⁣

El Enemigo Malbec 2014, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷 ⁣
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🍇 Malbec 85%⁣
🍇 Cabernet Franc 15%⁣
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🧐 Alcohol 13.5%⁣
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🍁 My Score 90%⁣
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Pretty nose with aromas of blackberries, dark plums, wild berry jam, tobacco, vanilla oak spices and light earthy notes.  On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, very smooth texture, silky tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long with flavours of peppery blueberries covered with chocolate. ⁣
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Purchased almost one year ago.  The added time in bottle allowed all elements to be fully integrated providing an easy drinking wine, full of creamy oak flavours and loads of crushed berries, made in a crowd pleasing style. It was everything I was expecting and then some 😋.  Strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷⁣
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Marqués de Murrieta Limited Edition Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

Marqués de Murrieta Limited Edition Gran Reserva 2011, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸 

🍇 Tempranillo 91%

🍇 Mazuelo 4%

🍇 Graciano 3%

🍇 Garnacha 2%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 94%

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Exquisite nose with aromas of wild berries, plums, dried figs, exotic wood spices, leather and a hint of tobacco. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, very flavourful, multi layered texture, grainy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long with layered dark fruit, chocolate and wood spices all wrapped up in fine tannins. 

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It would be difficult to find a better value, than this aged Rioja. Definitely a stunning, classic Rioja from Marqués de Murrieta, with it’s sensuous aromatics, multi layered texture and long flavourful finish. An exceptional addition to your cellar, which should keep improving over the next decade. Enjoyable now after being decanted for a few hours. A remarkable wine 👌😋 Cheers my wine friends 🍷