Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne 2016, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Chardonnay 100%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points 

🧩 Matured for 14 months (with 4 months in stainless steel tanks), 80% in French oak and 20% in stainless steel 

🔹 Exquisite nose with aromas of lemons, pears, orange zest, yellow apples and light mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied, the texture is entirely elegant, seductive fruit and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of citrus fruits, honey with mineral undertones.

🔸 What a classy bottle of wine! Oak is handled with care, giving this Chardonnay a delicious rounder texture and added complexity while leaving the quality of the fruit to shine. When a producer offers us such a delicious entry level wine, it makes you want to experience their entire lineup. What about pairing? With such an elegant wine, the pairing possibilities are endless. This would also make for a refreshing aperitif. Needless to say, strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends. 

Conde de Valdemar 'Finca Alto Cantabria’ 2016, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Viura 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🧩 Three months in new French oak

🔹 Attractive nose with aromas of peaches, apricots, orange peel, vanilla and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with a slightly creamy texture and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length, dry with a salty tropical fruit flavours.

🔸 What a shame that I don’t indulge in white Rioja more often. White Rioja may not be as well known as it’s red sibling and as a result, it often represents a better value. This is a delicious food wine which paired beautifully with a slightly spicy Kung Pao chicken. Hard to resist at this price and strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends.

Domaine Rolet Trousseau 2015, Arbois, Jura, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Trousseau 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

 🔹 Intriguing notes with aromas of Morello cherries, plums, tea, soft leather, red licorice and underbrush. On the mouthfeel, light to medium, dry, light minerality with soft tannins and lively acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of tart cherries, plums, vanilla.

 🔸 I have ventured out from my conform zone and tried out a varietal which I have never tasted before. I found Trousseau to be quite an interesting wine experience, somewhat similar to a Pinot Noir but with a beautiful minerality and earthiness throughout. This is a varietal, which is not that common and it does represent very good value. Best served slightly chilled. I do not recall seeing this many Tartrate Crystals (also know as wine diamonds) on a red before. I keeps these corks like a trophy, as you may know, Diamonds are wine lovers best friend. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Rivera Cappellaccio Aglianico Castel del Monte Riserva 2013, Puglia, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Aglianico 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 90-92 Points

🔹 Classic Aglianico nose with aromas of wild berries, black cherries, black currants, dried fruits and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with excellent freshness, textured by fine grainy tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium-long with a savoury edge, tart berries and espresso notes.

🔸 Interesting experience here! These notes are from one week ago. Last night I opened another bottle to a very different experience. I double checked my bottle to make sure that the store didn’t switch vintages. No, it was the same vintage, but the second Aglianico was much more tannic with more earthy and barnyard notes. Both bottles were very enjoyable, last nights bottle was more typical of what I expect from an Aglianico (Score 90), while the previous bottle was softer and more elegant with a wonderful combination of freshness and weight (Score 92). Based on these experiences there’s definitely some bottle variation, but either one of them are strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Vanessa Vineyard Syrah 2015, Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Syrah 92%

🍇 Viognier 8%

🧐 Alcohol 14.2%

🍁 My Score 92 Points 

🧩 Estate grown fruit, Syrah is co-fermented in small batches with Viognier, aged for 20 months in new and second use American and French oak, small production at 445 cases.

🔹 Elegant nose with aromas of blueberries, plums, dried figs, black pepper, floral and light toasty notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, velvet texture, very smooth and flavourful with fine silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium-long and smooth with seductive black fruit, dried herbs and mocha flavours lingering. 

🔸 This is even better than when I last tasted this Syrah, at the winery, this past September.  The kind of wine that makes you happy. This is a beautiful made wine, where the mouthfeel is definitely the star.  This Syrah is a terrific value, that would make any dish shine, but equally delicious on it’s own. I look forward to a visit at the winery again next month. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

The Hermit Ram Ancestral Method Müller-Thurgau 2019, Canterbury, New Zealand 🇳🇿

🍇 Müller-Thurgau 

🧐 Alcohol 10%

🔹 Fresh nose with aromas of tangerine, apricot, passion fruit, lemon zest and light yeasty notes. The is dry with light bubbles, fuzzy peach skin texture and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length, slightly tangy with loads of citrus fruits, lemon pit and light tropical fruits. 

🔸What an interesting new wine experience for me. Fifteen years ago when I graduated from my Sommelier program at Algonquin College we had no experience with natural wines, back then they would have been deemed faulty. How things have changed!  The younger generation of wine lovers are looking for something different, interesting, may I even say a funkier wine experience. As for this skin fermented Pet-Nat, low alcohol keeps it crisp and refreshing and this Sparkling reminds me of a summer beer with the last drop from the bottle much more like an unfiltered apple cider. An awesome experience, I am definitely looking forward to their Pinot Noir.  Cheers my wine friends 🥂

Domaine des Marrans Fleurie Clos du Pavillon 2015, Beaujolais, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Gamay 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

🧩 Granite soil, hand-harvested fruits from 60-80 year old vines, indigenous yeast.  Produced by talented winemaker Mathieu Mélinan, who is a star with the minimum intervention movement.

🔹 Exquisite nose with aromas of strawberries, plums, underbrush, spices, minerals and light floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful, great energy with fine grainy tannins and refreshing acidity keeping things fresh. The finish is medium length, elegant with seductive fruit flavours, minerals and spices.

🔸 Are you looking for a red on a hot summer day? Gamay served slightly chilled to the rescue. Like this, beautiful Beaujolais with it’s wonderful combination of freshness and weight with equal part fruity and earthy flavours. A Beaujolais for Pinot lovers, that is drinking beautifully right now and should keep improving for many years to come. Strongly recommended my wine friends. Cheers 🍷

Amalaya Gran Corte Malbec Cabernet Franc 2016, Valle Calchaqui, Salta, Argentina 🇦🇷

🍇 Malbec 85%
🍇 Cabernet Franc 10%
🍇 Tannat 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 89 Points

🔹Beautiful and very inviting nose with aromas of blackberries, blueberries, cigar box, cedar, vanilla and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied with delicious forward fruit, smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long with flavours of black fruit, chocolate and oak spices.

🔸 I tasted their 2017 vintage @vanwinefest  and loved it. Our store @vintagespiritsvictoria  placed an order, but we received the 2016 instead. While the 2017 was a stunning wine with firm tannins which required additional time in bottle this 2016 is drinking beautifully right now. It’s definitely in a style which should have a wide appeal. A big and flavourful wine that would work beautifully paired with a BBQ steak. I am definitely waiting for the 2017 to arrive here, but in the meantime this 2016 is definitely worth repurchasing. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Hidden Bench Felsesk Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016, VQA Beamsville Bench, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Pinot Noir 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹 Slightly shy on the nose with aromas ripe cherries, pomegranates, underbrush, graphite, spices and light smoke. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry, slightly rustic with fuzzy tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with sour-edged flavours of cherries and plums with underlying earthiness and minerals.

🔸 I fell in love with this Pinot, when I visited the winery last December. This is complex style of Pinot which would shine at the diner table. I can really see this wine being paired with a Coq au Vin. There is so much going on in this dish that the flavours of this Pinot would pair beautifully. Great potential to score even higher with a few extra years in bottle. Certainly glad that I have a few more bottles left. Cheers my wine friends🍷

St. Urbans-Hof Nik Weis Old Vines Riesling 2018, Mosel, Germany 🇩🇪

🍇 Riesling 100%

🧐 Alcohol 11%

🍁 My Score 92 Points

🔹 Very attractive nose with aromas of apples, lemons, tropical fruit, mineral notes and light petrol. On the mouthfeel light to medium bodied, off-dry, luscious mid palate and refreshing acidity. On the mouthfeel, long finish with flavours of limes, tangerines, mango, honey and underlining minerality.

🔸 Oh my god! This Riesling is such a treat. I still have such a great souvenir of visiting St. Urban-Hof in September of 2018. My hotel was able to book a last minute visit. My host was none other than Daniela Weiss. She was such a gracious host and offered us a great tasting experience. As for this wine, classic Riesling nose with a wonderful balance of residual sugar and acidity in perfect harmony. I am so happy that our store Vintages Spirits in Victoria are stocking three of their wines. As for the food pairing, a delicious spicy crusted cod. I would love to see how this would taste in about five years, but hard to resist right now. Cheers my wine friends 😊

Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2016, Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Sangiovese 90%

🍇 Malvasia Nera 4%

🍇 Colorino 2%

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 2% 

🍇 Merlot 2%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points 

🔹 Big and attractive nose with aromas of cherries, black plums, black currants, Asian spices, vanilla, smoke and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, surprisingly full bodied, bone dry, intense, structured with dusty tannins and refreshing acidity. 

🔸 From a superb vintage, this wine is a delicious every day wine and luckily many of us, widely available. Tannins and acidity provide a great framework and additional time in bottle should acquire more elegance and savoury character. I enjoyed this Chianti without decanting, but I would recommend decanting for a few hours and paired with meat instead of Italian pasta. Definitely worth multiple purchases to be enjoyed over the next 5-7 years. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Luigi Bosca 2016, Terroir Los Miradores, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 🇦🇷

🍇 Malbec 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14.4%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹 A rich and inviting nose with aromas of blackberries, black cherries, burnt sugar, cedar and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, with delicious forward fruit, oak spices with grainy tannins and lively acidity. The finish is long and flavourful with sweet berry fruit, spicy with cedar notes.

🔸On a relaxing Friday night, in my glass, was this always dependable Malbec from Argentina. The company of an old friend. I have enjoyed this Malbec many times, including this vintage, twice over the last few weeks. No bottle variation here, just a delicious and rich style of Argentina Malbec paired with a BBQ steak. Comfort wine for the soul. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Luis Seabra Xisto Ilimitado Branco 2017, Douro Valley, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍇 Rabigato 50%

🍇 Códega 20%

🍇 Gouveio 15%

🍇 Viosinho 10%

🍇 Other Varietals 5%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 93 Points 

🔹 Alluring nose with aromas of gooseberries, honeydew melon, citrus fruit and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with a beautiful purity of fruit and fresh acidity. The finish is very elegant with refreshing flavours of stone and citrus fruits, honey and underlying mineral notes.

🔸 I must admit that I had never heard of these varietals before. Have you?  This is a flavourful, well crafted, elegant blend.  A beautiful purity of fruit, with an underlying minerality throughout, combining both freshness and complexity. It’s love at first sip. Awesome wine experience my wine friends 🙂

Hester Creek The Judge 2014, Golden Mile Bench, VQA British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦 ⁣

🍇 Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon ⁣
⁣
🧐 Alcohol 14.2%⁣
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🍁 My Score 92 Points ⁣
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🧩 12 months in barrels, 75% French oak and 25% American oak⁣
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🔹 What a sensuous nose with aromas of field berries, plums, cassis, leather, charcuterie, toasted oak, vanilla and savoury herb. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, elegant and flavourful with silky smooth tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of soft seductive fruit and savoury herbs.⁣
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🔸 I believe that I have enjoyed every vintage of The Judge since 2009. For me, the last two vintage have been the best. On this vintage they nailed all elements of this blend. The nose is rather intoxicating, the mouthfeel is quite seductive and the finish is very flavourful. Nice bricking colour on the rim, drinking really well now. Looking forward to my 2015 & 2016 vintage. I declare “this is one sexy wine your Honour”. Cheers my wine friends 🍷⁣
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Domaine des Ouled Thaleb Syrocco 2017, Zenatta, Morocco 🇲🇦

🍇 Syrah 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 88 Points

🔹 Intriguing nose with aromas of black fruit, dried cherries, incense, undergrowth, herbs, spices and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, slightly tart flavours, grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of leathery fruits, dried raisins, minerals, pepper, mushrooms and  underlying earthiness.

🔸 This was my first experience with a wine from Morocco and a great example why the world of wine is so interesting. Very compelling Syrah from experienced French Rhône Valley winemaker Alain Graillot. More baked fruit than fresh fruits, with a rustic feel, in the best sense of this term. Definitely a great wine experience and great choice for fans of terroir driven wines. BBQ lamb or steaks, perhaps a lamb tagine anyone? Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Winemaker’s Cut Rosé 2019, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Cabernet Franc 90%
🍇 Syrah 10%

🧐 Alcohol 11.5%

 🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Estate grown fruit, straight press with no skin contact, wild & organic yeast ferment and 100% stainless steel

🔹 What an elegant Rosé with aromas of citrus fruit, wild berries, rhubarb, apples and spices. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry with light tannin structure and crisp acidity. The finish is medium length with a nice mix of sweet and tart fruit, like apples, strawberries and grapefruit.

🔸 If summer is taking it’s sweet time to arrive let us lure it in with this refreshing, delicious Rosé. Winemaker’s Cut managed to craft a Rosé like I have never tasted before. For me it’s more of a serious wine, made to be paired with food. Bring on the charcuterie and cheese platter and enjoy outside when the summer and sunshine finally make an appearance. Strongly recommended 👍 Cheers my wine friends.

Monte da Ravasqueira Tinto Superior 2018, Alentejo, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍇 Aragonês 30%
🍇 Syrah 30%
🍇 Touriga Nacional 20%
🍇 Alicante Bosquet 20%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹 Attractive nose with aromas of blueberries, blackberries, red cherries, violets and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, elegant texture, delicious fruit forward fruit, smooth tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with sweet and tart fruit flavours like plums, red currants and blueberry jam.

🔸 Wow! What a terrific value. This blend was very fragrant, with an elegant, refreshing texture, fruit driven and made in a easy drinking style. Nothing too complex here, yet especially delicious and satisfying. I couldn’t agree more with the back label, suggesting the serving temperature between 14°c - 16°c. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Little Engine Silver Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Sauvignon Blanc⁣

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🧐 Alcohol 13.1%⁣

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🍁 My Score 90 Points ⁣

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🔹 A beautiful bright nose with aromas of lemons, gooseberries, honeydew melon, tropical fruit and fresh herbs. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied with great energy, refreshing flavours and crisp acidity. The finish is medium length with delicious forward fruits like lemons, apples and peaches. ⁣

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🔸 There’s no denying the fact that the aromatics takes you directly to the house of Sauvignon Blanc. This was my last of three bottles and no bottle variation here. They where all very good, refreshing and flavourful. Such a delightful food wine with many pairing possibilities. Now I just need to acquire their new vintage 2019. Should I wait till I visit them in September or should I order on line 🤔 Cheers my wine friends.

Township 7 Reserve 7 2016, VQA British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 56%

🍇 Cabernet Franc 29%

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 14%

🍇 Malbec & Petit Verdot 1%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points 

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Beautiful bouquet with aromas of cherries, plums, soft leather, light cedar, savoury spices and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, elegant structure, flavourful with fine silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavours of soft seductive fruit, toband silky waves of oak spices. 

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

Tasted at the winery last September, there was no doubt that this is my kind of wine. Definitely love at first sip where every element of the winemaking process was well executed. Beautiful aromatics, seductive mouthfeel with a nice purity of fruit and terrific oak integration. If you have only one bottle, a few more years in bottle should give it a more savoury character but it’s almost impossible to resist right now. I just wish that I had purchased more than this one bottle. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Elderton Ode To Lorraine 2015, Barossa Valley, Australia 🇦🇺

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 58%

🍇 Shiraz 37%

🍇 Merlot 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points 

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Beautiful, inviting ripe nose with aromas of black cherries, blackberries, plums, cassis, violets, tobacco, vanilla, cedar and savoury spices. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, luscious mid palate, smooth texture and fresh acidity. The finish is long, very flavourful with plenty of black fruit and blueberries covered with chocolate.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

In these difficult times, this is the kind of comforting wine I need. A delicious big juicy red blend, very aromatic, full of flavours, intense and a finish that begs for another sip. A gorgeous and delicious wine 💕. Need I say,  strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🍷 

FREE MY GRAPES 🍇 🇨🇦

Beautiful delivery today from Hidden Bench winery from Ontario 😊

Recently I was reminded of the wonderful wines I had tasted from this winery last December. With the limited space in my suitcase for my flight back home I opted to place an order online and have it shipped. Luckily I live in British Columbia (more on that later)

Latest addition to my cellar;

🔹 Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 x3
🔹 Locust Lane Pinot Noir 2016
🔹Terroir Caché 2016 (Merlot, Malbec & Cabernet Franc blend)
🔸Fumé Blanc Rosomel Vineyard 2018

All of these wines, except for the Fumé Blanc (which as just been released) where tasted on my visit in December. The wines arrived in perfect condition and in less than a week. Free shipping across Canada is definitely a great initiative. Thank you so much 😊

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Many people outside of Canada may not know how regulated the sales of alcoholic products are in this country. Could you imagine if you are living in Rome but couldn’t order wines from Piedmont or living in Lyon and couldn’t ordered wine from Bordeaux. People wouldn’t stand for this. But in Canada, each of the ten provinces have their own regulations, taxes and are reluctant to change this system which dates back to the prohibition era. We are working on free trade with many countries but we don’t practice free trade within our own country. The free movement of wine across the country could only benefit our Canadian wineries, the jobs they create and allow wine lovers like me to acquire rare and limited Canadian wines not available in your home province. Fortunately, some of these barriers are coming down. Three provinces including my British Columbia (the other two are Manitoba and Nova Scotia) allow shipping of wines from out of province. Regulations restricting interprovincial shipping to Ontario are set to expired on Canada Day July 1. Let us hope that Ontario wine lovers will be able to purchase online, Canadian wines, like I can, from anywhere in our beautiful Country 🇨🇦

Tiberio Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2018, Abrozzo, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Trebbiano Abruzzese 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Complex nose with aromas of grapefruit, lime, stone fruit and floral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry texture with mineral undertones and lively acidity. The finish is medium-long with flavours of citrus fruit, dried herbs and almonds.

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This was definitely a very pleasant wine experience and a superb food wine. The star of this Trebbiono is definitely it’s aromatics, so expressive, so inviting. I do enjoy the wines from Tiberio and the South of Italy, a simple wine, not overly manipulated, that represents a tremendous value. I had the opportunity to taste more of Tiberio wines at this year Vancouver International Wine Festival where the wine was poured by none other than there talented winemaker Cristiana Tiberio @cristianatiberio  It paired beautifully with a Greek chicken casserole with lemon and Greek feta. Cheers my wine friends

Painted Rock Red Icon 2014, VQA Skaha Bench, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 33%
🍇 Cabernet Franc 21%
🍇 Malbec 19%
🍇 Petit Verdot 16%
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 11%

🧐 Alcohol 14.3%

🍁 My Score 93 Points

🧩 100% Estate grown fruit, aged 18 months in 30% new French oak and unfiltered.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

 A rather intoxicating nose, with aromas of black fruit, black currants, leather, pencil shavings, smoky cedar, savoury spices and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, broad textured with great flavours, fine silky tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is long with flavours of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla and savoury spices.

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After a two hour decant this beast was ready to roar. Oh my god! So delicious with a BBQ steak. There was so much going on, starting with it’s great aromatics, seductive mouthfeel with fantastic richness and weight and flavourful finish that begged for another sip. If you are lucky enough to have one of these in your cellar, the good news is, the best is yet to come. What a treat 👌😋 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Winemaker’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc 2019, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Sauvignon Blanc

🧐 Alcohol 12%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Estate fruit, hand harvested, wild & organic yeast, 85% stainless steel remaining 15% in Slovakian oak with a production of 800 cases.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

A classic nose of a Sauvignon Blanc with aromas of gooseberry, pears, hints of dry herbs, light floral and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, dry with a slightly creamy texture, complex flavours and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with sweet and tart flavours and mineral notes.

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As most of you may know, I usually prefer un-oaked SB but Michal Mosny wines are always well made, elegant showing us the beautiful subtlety of his winemaking style. The addition of the Slovakian oak softens up the acidity and ensures the wine has a beautiful texture and complexity, which makes this SB ideal for the dinner table or equally enjoyable on it’s own. Beautiful wine and strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends 🙂

Château Pesquié Ventoux Terrasses 2017, Rhône, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Grenache 60%
🍇 Syrah 40%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 91 Points

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Attractive nose with aromas of cherries, plums, pomegranate, licorice, floral, light cedar and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-bodied, fresh with bright flavours, fine tannins and lively acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of slightly tart red fruit, vanilla spices and peppery.

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For the last two years I have really enjoyed visiting Château Pesquié at this year Vancouver International Wine Festival. I am always impressed by the quality of their wines and their great value for money. So many great wines to choose from, Ventoux red, Quintessense and Artemis are my stand outs. This is my third bottle of Ventoux 2017 and was a great example of their quality. It’s a very aromatic red blend with a wonderful combination of freshness and seductive mouthfeel. Definitely a crowd pleasing wine, perfect for summer served slightly chilled. Terrific value and widely available. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Clos du Soleil Winemaker’s Series Cabernet Franc 2016, VQA Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Cabernet Franc 100%

🧐 Alcohol 14 %

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Production of 68 Cases, certified organic fruit, native yeast, 15 months in neutral French oak (3rd fill), unfined & unfiltered.

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Most intriguing nose with aromas of plums, blueberries, violets, dried leaves, underbrush and a touch of dried herbs. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, earthy, savoury palate with lovely acidity and fine, well integrated tannins. The finish is medium length, dry with flavours of plums, bay leaves and earthy notes.

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This is a very enjoyable, beautifully balanced Cabernet Franc with more earthy flavours than fruit. These earthy, underbrush characteristics can be found throughout this wine. So many different styles of CF made in this province. This one is middle road between a liner Loire Valley and fruitier California style. This wine was purchased from the winery last summer. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Luís Seabra Xisto Ilimitado 2016, Douro Valley, Portugal 🇵🇹

🍇 A field blend from Touriga Franca, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Rufete, Tinta Barroca, Malvasia               Preta & Donzelinho Tinto

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points 

🧩 Whole clustered fermentation, indigenous yeast and aged for 22 months in used French oak.

🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Exquisite nose with aromas of black cherries, blueberries, plums, violets and forest floor notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, flavourful with slightly dusty tannins and lively acidity. The finish is medium-long, slightly tangy with flavours of red and blue fruit, white pepper and fine mineral notes.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

What a delicious wine experience! Such an interesting, unique wine. At first, the aromatics felt like a Pinot but the mouthfeel was more like texture of Nebbiolo. Such an interesting wine, thank you @premiumportugalwines  for this delicious recommendation. I picked up this gem Cork & Barrel Spirits Merchant here in Victoria.  Beautiful wine boutique with a great selection and friendly, knowledgeable staff.  I will be back for more.  Load up the car!  🙂 Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Poplar Grove Merlot 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

🍇 Merlot 89%
🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 11%

🧐 Alcohol 14.1%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 21 months in French oak (25% new, the remaining in a combination of 1-3 years old), followed by a minimum of 12 months of cellar aging prior to release.

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Gorgeous nose with aromas of black plums, cherries, black currants, leather, underbrush, spices and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, good structured and complexity, fine grainy tannins and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with a flavourful mix of black fruit, peppery and savoury notes.

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Poplar Grove is one of my favourite B.C. Merlot and this vintage certainly doesn’t disappoint. I have tasted this wine at two separate trade tastings, it’s definitely improving nicely. Most likely a higher score in 5-6 years. I was lucky enough to pick up the only bottle left on the shelf. When I see it again, I will definitely pick up a few more bottles. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Villa Raiano Taurasi 2012, Campania, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Aglianico

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 88 Points

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Intriguing and intense on the nose with aromas of black cherries, coffee ground, charred wood, underbrush and lead pencil. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, bone dry, chalky texture, grainy tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of leathery fruit and bitter chocolate.

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Aglianico is one of the very few varietals that I could purchase without researching the product before hand. I love the flavours and structure of this varietal, but it is difficult to find here. This was definitely a different style of Aglianico that I am use to. An old school, rustic type of wine where the fruit takes a back seat to the earthy and mineral character. This was still a great wine experience, even with the restrained fruit character of this wine. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Winemaker’s Cut 2020 wine collection release.

There are few things in life more stressful then moving. The preparation, packing, unpacking, cleaning and reorganizing. The arrival of Winemaker’s Cut Spring wine release is definitely an additional unpacking I can definitely get behind 🙂 When I first tasted their wines last Spring, I became a fan of the winemaking style of winemaker Michael Mosny, who is originally from Slovakia show a European flair with wines that are beautifully balanced, with great elegance. Definitely a fan of his lower alcohol wines, which range from 11.5% to 13.5%.

I look forward to sharing with you, my thoughts and tastes of these wines in the near future;

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc 2019

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Grüner Veltliner 2019

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Muscat Canelli 2019

🔸 Winemaker’s Cut Boho Beat 2019 (Riesling, Kerner, Gewürztraminer & Viognier)

🔹 Winemaker’s Cut Rosé 2019

♦️ Winemaker’s Cut Syrah 2018 

♦️ Winemaker’s Cut Bohemian Cuvée 2018 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Syrah)

♦️ Winemaker’s Cut Boho Zen 2019 (Syrah & Merlot)

I strongly believe this small production winery is about to have their big coming out party, based on the outstanding quality of their wines. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Domaine Léon Beyer Riesling "R de Beyer" 2010, Eguisheim, Alsace, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Riesling 100%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 92 Points 

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A classic Riesling nose with aromas of pears, lime, petroleum, honey and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, dry, complex flavours with good tension and lively acidity. The finish is long, flavourful with mostly citrus fruit and mineral undertones. 

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This delicious Riesling was purchased at the winery from their library selection, in September of 2018. A travel souvenir that I truly enjoy. A beautiful, mature Riesling. A dryer style than I would usually purchase, that paired perfectly with a spicy stir fried Kung pao chicken. A delicious Riesling from the charming and beautiful region of Alsace. Cheers my wine friends 🙂

Bodegas Urbina Reserva Especial 2006, Rioja, Spain 🇪🇸

🍇 Tempranillo 95%
🍇 Mazuelo, Garnacha, Graciano 5%

🧐 Alcohol 14%

🍁 My Score 90 Points

🧩 Two years in barrels (75% American oak and 25% French oak) follow by seven years in bottle before release.

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Gorgeous, sensuous nose with aromas of blueberries, plums, mushrooms, leather, dried herbs, vanilla and light barnyard notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied smooth texture, flavourful with soft tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is medium length with earthy and savoury notes lingering.

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Wow! How can you get a delicious and mature wine like this for $40. If you would like to experience a mature wine without the high price point? I recommend that you start with a classic Rioja like this one. Urbina released this wine when they were confident it was ready to drink. It is definitely ready to enjoy now, I don’t see any reason for additional time in bottle. Endless pairing opportunities or delicious on it’s own. Thank you Urbina 🙏 It’s a delicious wine experience. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Purchased at the LCBO in Toronto last December.

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz 2015, South Australia, Australia 🇦🇺

🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon 53%

🍇 Shiraz 47%

🧐 Alcohol 14.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points 

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Rich and intense nose with aromas of black fruit, burnt brown sugar, wood smoke, leather and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied, generous and broad textured, firm tannins and balanced acidity. The finish is long, intense with black cherries and blackberry fruit, bitter chocolate and vanilla notes. 

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I was cleaning up my cork collection recently and I couldn’t believe how many Penfold corks I have. I realize that many of their wines don’t come with cork closure any more, but the wines I have purchased from them were mostly from the Bin Series; Bin 28, 128, on many occasions 389 and on one occasion 407. I have a previous  blog post that shows me spending $79 for a 2008 Magnum of Bin 389. Now, this regular size bottle was purchased for $100. Wines purchased at this price are rare for me and are definitely a treat. The reason I haven’t purchased these Penfolds wines lately is that the quality hasn’t kept up with the outrageous pace of their price increases. This is a nice wine which should keep improving over the next decade, but next time I want to splurge, I will look somewhere else. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2015, VQA Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹

🍇 Sangiovese 80%
🍇 Canaiolo and other varietals 20%

🧐 Alcohol 13.5%

🍁 My Score 92%

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Very attractive nose with aromas of sour cherries, blackberries, tobacco, earthy and cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, intense flavours, beautiful textured tannins and fresh acidity. The finish is medium-long with black fruit, tobacco and earthy, smoky flavours lingering.

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I have been a fan of the classic Italian winemaking style from Carpineto for many years. Really enjoyed visiting their table at the Vancouver International Wine Festival last February and tasting some of their wines for the first time. Two of my favourites that day, were their Molin Vecchio 2010 (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend) and this delicious Chianti from the super 2015 vintage. I am looking forward to opening their Chianti Classico 2016 and their Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2015, patiently waiting in my cellar. Cheers my wine friends 🍷

New wine additions

Yesterday I was quite excited to receive six bottles from Icellars Estate Winery.  I took advantage of free shipping across our big country Canada 🇨🇦 from Icellars. I had visited Niagara Region in Ontario, this past December, for the first time and was very impressed by the quality of Icellars wines. Unfortunately I could not purchase any wines since I had no additional room for wine in my checked bag, for my return flight. Who can remember when we could travel with wine in our carry on? I so miss that. Here is my purchase, including my two standout that I highlighted in my December post.

Icellars Arinna 2016
Icellars Cabernet Franc 2016 x2
Icellars Merlot 2017 x2
Icellars Reserve Red 2017

Thank you Icellars 🙏   The box was well packaged up, wines arrived at cellar temperature after crossing the Western provinces with no sign of freezing. Can’t wait to share these beauties with all of my wine friends. Cheers 🍷

Diffonty Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015, Rhône, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Grenache 65%

🍇 Syrah 25%

🍇 Mourvèdre 10%

🧐 Alcohol 15%

🍁 My Score 91 Points 

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Exquisite bouquet with aromas of plummy-blackberry fruit, dried herbs, wood smoke and light cedar notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, seductive, spicy texture with silky tannins, terrific oak integration and balanced acidity. The finish is medium-long with a plummy, vanilla and a savoury edge.

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I usually prefer my CDP when Syrah is the dominant varietal, that being said, I really enjoyed this CPD. From it’s nose, the spicy red fruited aromatics were a give away that Grenache was the dominant varietal. It’s a very pretty, elegant, finely textured, fruit driven and flagrant CDP. Purchased @lcbo in August of 2018 and superb value at $39. Beautiful slightly chilled, to lower the impact of the alcohol, which gives the fruit more of a chance to shine. Cheers my wine friends 🍷