Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Merlot 2015, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot

🧐 14.5%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

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Very expressive nose with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, black currants, baking spices, leather, chocolate and light toasty notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, broad texture, grainy tannins and light acidity. The finish is long, flavourful with black fruit and wood spices lingering.

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Nk’Mip Cellars (pronounced in-ka-meep) is North America’s First Aboriginal owned and operated winery. Qwam Qwmt (pronounced Kw-em, kw-empt) as spoken by the Osoyoos Indian Band translate to "achieving excellence" and is their premium tier of wines. The winery and vineyards are located in the town of Osoyoos (7 km from the US border and the State of Washington) in Southern Okanagan Valley.

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I am a longtime fan of Nk’Mip and all their quality wines across their portfolio. This was my last of three bottles purchased at the winery in 2018. This Merlot is like a warm blanket on a cold evening, very comforting. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Rivera Marese Bombino Bianco 2018, Doc Castel Del Monte, Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Bombino Bianco 100%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 89 Points 

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A beautiful, delicate nose with aromas of apples, melons, minerals, lemon zest and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel light bodied with a slightly creamy texture, fresh balanced acidity and flavours of citrus, melons and bitter almonds on the finish.

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I am quite familiar with the reds of Rivera, I have been a fan for many years.  On the other hand this is my first experience with one of their white and it’s also my first experience with this varietal.  A charming experience especially when paired with the right food. In this case it was paired with poached cod served with sautéed cherry tomatoes, chilli oil roasted crispy shallots and garlic toppings, fresh mint and coriander. The result of a perfect pairing is when the wine enhances the flavours in your food and the dish makes your wine even better. Awesome value at $18 🇨🇦 dollars, strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 

Paradigm Merlot 2014, Oakville, Napa Valley, California USA 🇺🇸

  

🍇 Merlot 94%

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 6%

🧐 Alcohol 14.4%

🍁 My Score 92%

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Gorgeous nose with aromas of blackberries, plums, tart cherries, violets, spices and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, lively texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long, dry with lots of spicy cherry flavours lingering.

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Wow! A great Friday treat, from it’s intoxicating nose, bright and lively texture and beautiful length on the finish. We did not decant this wine, however it would be a great idea, as the evening unfolded, this Merlot kept getting better and smoother.  A new addition in the store this week.  Every Thursday I arrive at the store, it’s like Christmas 😀 I am always excited to see what just came in. Now that I know what to expect, another bottle for my cellar, to enjoy same time next year. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Kay Brothers Hiilside Shiraz 2015, McLaren Vale, Australia 🇦🇺

🍇 Shiraz 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Very expressive nose with aromas of blackberries, black currants, stewed fruits, leather, raisins, cinnamon and toasty vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, rich texture, generous flavours, grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long, powerful with excellent depth of flavours.

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Once in a while you need to revisit an old favourite, like this delicious and flavourful wine. This is a classic Aussie Shiraz, a big wine for sure, with generous fruit, oak flavours still balanced and made without excess or jammyness. Unfortunately I have not been able to find this wine here in Victoria. This Shiraz was last purchased in March, during a visit to Calgary and former great place of work for me Kensington Wine Market.  Needless to say that I should have purchased more than this one bottle. Cheers my wine friends 🍷🙂

Fattoria Le Calvane Borro Del Boscone, Colli Della Toscana Central IGT, Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 100%

🧐 Alcool 13.5%

🍁 My Score 90%

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Interesting nose with aromas of sour cherries, plums, red currants, bitter chocolate, mineral and earthy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, earthy palate, dusty tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavour of leathery fruit, red currants and a touch of dry herbs lingering.

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I first tasted, then purchased this Cabernet at the Vancouver International Wine Festival. I always appreciate the opportunity to sample before I buy. My enjoyment of food and wine is often about discovering new wines and styles that I am not as familiar with. Like this old world Cabernet Sauvignon that offers a rustic kind of feel, that is quite charming. A lovely wine experience, I would definitely do this again. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Carlos Serres Reserva 2012, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 90%
🍇 Graciano 10%

🧐 Alcool 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Sensuous nose with aromas of wild berries, cherries, plums, vanilla, leather and smoke undertone. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, smooth texture, flavourful with silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with excellent depth of flavours.

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What a great find at the European Vine Selections store, in Seattle, last month. I reviewed a few Reserva lately, where I said that it would keep improving over the next few years. This wine is what I was talking about, seven years old and it’s in a beautiful place right now. Incredible aromatics with all elements of this wine well integrated and a flavourful, elegant finish. At $16 US dollars for a mature wine like this one, the quality/price ratio is well in your favour. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bonamici Cellars Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2016, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 60%
🍇 Cabernet Franc 40%

🧐 Alcohol 14.9%

🍁 My Score 91%

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Elegant nose with flavours of blackberries, plums, cassis, strawberry jam, violets, savoury and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, flavourful texture, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long with flavours of red and black fruit, dark chocolate with a hint of spices lingering.

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The last of two bottles and what a delightful wine this was. The kind of wine that keeps you smiling the whole evening. Drinking beautifully right now, amazing aromatics, sensous texture with complex flavours. The most shocking is the alcohol, It certainly didn’t feel like a 14.9% wine to me. If it is, it’s incredibly well balanced. Amazing wine, great blend with a very fun label 🙂 Need I say, strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Bodegas Muriel Reserva 2014, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🧩 24 months in French & American oak than a further 2 years in bottle before re

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This Rioja opens up with a rustic bouquet of sour cherry/plum fruit, dried figs, cedar, leather, incense and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, robust texture, grainy tannins and low acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of dark fruits, bitter chocolate, earthy and peppery notes lingering.

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I have been enjoying Muriel’s wines for more than a decade now. This is a beautiful wine which should keep improving with a further 2-3 years in bottle, that should soften up it’s oak dominance. This is the kind of great value, crowd pleasing wine that could be a three bottle purchase, to enjoy as it developes over the next few years. How about a charcuterie platter with dried fruits and nuts?  Strongly recommended 👌😋 Cheers my wine friends

Gabbas Lillové Cannonau di Sardegna 2017, Sardinia Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Cannonau di Sardegna (Grenache) 90%
🍇 Other local grapes 10%

🧐 Alcohol 15%

🍁 My Score 90%

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A very expressive nose with aromas of raspberries, wild strawberries, plums, violets,cinnamon and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied and bursting with bright flavours, silky tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is long, the alcohol is more noticeable at this stage with lots of spicy red fruit flavours lingering.

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When attending a wine trade tasting, it’s normal that after a three hour tasting some wines are going to stand out. Like this Grenache, my favourite of the reds during an afternoon with the IVSA. A beautiful ruby red colour but the star 🌟 is the incredible aromatics, talk about a bright and lively wine, the mouthfeel is very flavourful. It’s not shocking to see a Grenache at 15% alcohol that is still balanced. There is so much going on and the acidity gives it a nice lift. As for serving temperature, too warm and the alcohol seems higher but slightly chilled it’s beautiful. The red fruit comes alive and alcohol is not as noticeable. Perfect temperature? Around 16 C  🙂 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Azienda Agricola Tiberio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2016, Abruzzo, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Wild ferment in tanks for 20 days with maturation in stainless steel tank for three months before bottling.

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A very inviting nose with aromas of cherries, blackberries, plums, tobacco, forest floor, spices and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium full bodied, tasty, slightly rustic flavours with fine silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long with flavours of sour cherries, underbrush and dried spices lingering.

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What a fantastic value and delightful Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. A very enjoyable, every day wine that’s very smooth but also full of flavour and character. Strongly recommended my wine friends and worthy of a multiple purchase. Cheers 🍷