2008 Strut Well-Heeled White, Okanagan, British Columbia

Lots of tropical fruit and citrus on both the nose and the palate with this entry-level white wine. For the price, it will serve perfectly as that Tuesday-after-work patio wine. And, when someone wants to add ice cubes in the glass or mix it with soda, you won’t flip out. Read Kathleen’s full review on her blog Between the Vines

2004 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

Clocking in at 14% ABV, this wine is a deep ruby red, with just a hint of purple. Floral notes and red fruit mingle on the nose, while more red fruit—especially juicy cherries—well-integrated tannins and an earthiness find their way onto the palate to work perfectly with rich foods like osso bucco. We had no decanter (this wine should be allowed to aerate) so I used my Centellino Areadivino to help the wine open up.

Harvest Report: Okanagan Valley

This year saw a late spring and bud break followed by a long and hot summer throughout the Okanagan that led to one of the best post-veraison ripening periods the Valley has ever experienced.

2006 La Stella Allegretto

This Merlot comes from BC’s Okanagan Valley. I found plum, dark berries and rose petal on the nose. On the palate, it had supple tannins and a level of acidity that worked with flavors of plum, dark berries, black cherries and chocolate to provide a long, pleasing finish. I served La Stella Allegretto with barbequed [...]

2008 Le Vieux Pin Sauvignon Blanc

With partial fermentation in air-dried Billon French oak and the rest in steel tanks, this Okanagan Sauvignon Blanc presents with green grass, citrus and lemon drops on the nose. On the palate, it has citrus, pineapple, green apple and a little vanilla combined with great acid and a finish that hangs around. A super solo [...]

2007 Frescobaldi Castiglioni Chianti DOCG

This Chianti (which happens to be 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot) was clear and clean, showing a bright ruby (with just a hint of purple) color. On the nose, I found tobacco, spice, sour cherries and cherry pit. In my mouth, the wine was not-quite-medium bodied and supple. It was juicy, with cherries, sour plum, [...]

2007 Viña Undurraga Sibaris Pinot Noir

A bright ruby in my glass, this wine has typical varietal aromas on the nose, including raspberries, violets, forest floor and some spice. On the palate, there are more red berries, red fruit and a little bit of mint and spice followed by rose petal. It’s dry and juicy and silky in my mouth, making [...]

2006 HellBent

This medium-bodied bottle of wine delivered with plenty of ripe fruit. But it wasn’t nearly as jammy or plummy as I had expected; instead, it was juicy with dark berries, cassis and yummy pepper. The finish, while not terribly long, was pleasant and memorable. A perfect pairing to our dinner of slow-cooked ribs, baked beans, [...]

2007 Bitch

What comes to mind with this wine is Black Forest cake. I know Black Forest cake is not a flavor, per se, but the combination of flavors rushing onto my palate make me think of it: tart cherries, a little kirsch, dark chocolate and a creamy whipped-cream mouth feel. Please don’t confuse this mix [...]

2006 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec Reserva

This dark, purple-hued beauty of a red wine is rich and full bodied with a supple mouth feel. On the nose are blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, with a mineral undertone reminiscent of a summer rain on warm gravel. On the palate, this wine has fig preserves in front of more black berries, chocolate, leather [...]

Next Page »