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 ⁣
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🧐 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 🍷