2003 Three Bear Ranch Merlot. Rare stuff nowadays. Tasty, too. Chocolate-covered cherry flavours are going just slightly dried. Harsh acids and tannins from last year are long gone. Word has it the '03s are maturing rather quickly. Should you have a bottle laying around, I'd recommend drinking this one in the next six months or so. We have one more. Maybe Christmas.Saturday, August 4, 2007
Recently Tasted:
2003 Three Bear Ranch Merlot. Rare stuff nowadays. Tasty, too. Chocolate-covered cherry flavours are going just slightly dried. Harsh acids and tannins from last year are long gone. Word has it the '03s are maturing rather quickly. Should you have a bottle laying around, I'd recommend drinking this one in the next six months or so. We have one more. Maybe Christmas.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Leaping off the Wagon
This rose Cava was the first thing we drank after almost two weeks dry.It tasted like heaven. Pink, bubbly heaven.
If it's half as good as it was to us last night it's a hell of a bargain at $16.
Next time we're taking a bottle each down to the beach!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
ISG Wine Fundamentals II
The results are in!Both Robyn and Rory passed the International Sommelier Guild Wine Fundamentals Level 2 exam with flying colours. Rory scored an excellent 91% on the essay portion, while Robyn kicked ass on the tasting component with a score of 95%.
We now have justification for sharing (imposing) our opinions with (on) you!
Heed the blogs of Wino Forever!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Victoria Wine Week - Part One
More than a few wine tasting events occurring last week in in the city, including the Victoria Festival of Wine. We attended a few, and I've assembled some quick tasting notes to review a few key product lines, mostly from BC. Here's part one:
Pentage Winery Penticton, Okanagan Valley, BC
2006 Gewurztraminer: Intense rose petal and ripe, fragrant tropical fruit. Slightly oily mouthfeel, slight sweetness, low acidity. Like liquid Turkish Delight. Not the balanced, spicy Euro-style, but a certain crowd-pleaser. Serve chilled all summer long. Good value at $17.
2003 Pentage: The winery's big, signature red blend doesn't disappoint with typical Okanagan plummy fruit, cherries, and spice. Not as big and tannic as some, slightly lower acid as well. More of a "drink now" wine. Tasty, but maybe not quite worth its $28 price tag.
Didn't get to try the 2006 Pinot Gris, but I'm looking forward to its release in 3L box format. I'm a fan of boxed wines, as long as the quality is there. On its release, I'll review the box-format Gris and, if it shows near as well as the Gewurztraminer, Pentage Pinot Gris just might be my summer house wine.
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery Westbank, Okanagan Valley, BC
Estate Semillon: Un-oaked, oily mouthfeel, dry, but ripe and tropical with guava & lemon. Serve chilled. Very good value at $15.
Estate Ehrenfelser: Typical floral, orange blossom Ehrenfelser aromas. More rosy, honey and tropical notes on the palate. Similar to the Pentage Gewurztraminer in that it has that "instant gratification" of flavour and sweetness. 14% alcohol is well hidden. $16.
We also tasted a trio of uncommon reds, all new to Mt. Boucherie.
Summit Reserve Blaufrankisch: aka Lemberger. Soft, plum and berry, with a touch of spice. Tasty, and likely the best example of this rare grape I've tasted, but certainly not $25-good.
Summit Reserve Zwiegelt: similar tasting notes, but I don't have price info at the moment.
Summit Reserve Melange Noir: An unlikely blend of 30% Merlot, 30% Marechal Foch, 30% Michurinetz and 10% Gamay. Wait a minute... Michurinetz? What the Hell is that? Apparently, Michurinetz is a variety of Russian origin that exhibits (according to Mt. Boucherie's winemaker) characteristics similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. Certainly unique and a well-made wine, but I can't get over the hints of Marechal Foch, my old arch-nemesis. I just can't get into that grape.
Mt. Boucherie also produces the more traditional Summit Reserve Merlot and Summit Reserve Summit (Bordeaux-style blend), which I've greatly enjoyed in the past. The new vintages featured at the Victoria Festival of Wine failed to impress, however. Perhaps a bit more time on the bottle is necessary for those two.
Estate Late Harvest Chardonnay: Sweet (55.9g/L residual sugar). Tasty apricot-honey aroma. Good value dessert wine at $16 (375mL)
Estate Late Harvest Pinot Noir: Sweet (55.9g/L residual sugar). Rich caramel aromas, stone fruit, honey and a touch of spice on the palate. $17 (375mL), but worth the extra dollar.
Pentage Winery Penticton, Okanagan Valley, BC
2006 Gewurztraminer: Intense rose petal and ripe, fragrant tropical fruit. Slightly oily mouthfeel, slight sweetness, low acidity. Like liquid Turkish Delight. Not the balanced, spicy Euro-style, but a certain crowd-pleaser. Serve chilled all summer long. Good value at $17.
2003 Pentage: The winery's big, signature red blend doesn't disappoint with typical Okanagan plummy fruit, cherries, and spice. Not as big and tannic as some, slightly lower acid as well. More of a "drink now" wine. Tasty, but maybe not quite worth its $28 price tag.
Didn't get to try the 2006 Pinot Gris, but I'm looking forward to its release in 3L box format. I'm a fan of boxed wines, as long as the quality is there. On its release, I'll review the box-format Gris and, if it shows near as well as the Gewurztraminer, Pentage Pinot Gris just might be my summer house wine.
Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery Westbank, Okanagan Valley, BC
Estate Semillon: Un-oaked, oily mouthfeel, dry, but ripe and tropical with guava & lemon. Serve chilled. Very good value at $15.
Estate Ehrenfelser: Typical floral, orange blossom Ehrenfelser aromas. More rosy, honey and tropical notes on the palate. Similar to the Pentage Gewurztraminer in that it has that "instant gratification" of flavour and sweetness. 14% alcohol is well hidden. $16.
We also tasted a trio of uncommon reds, all new to Mt. Boucherie.
Summit Reserve Blaufrankisch: aka Lemberger. Soft, plum and berry, with a touch of spice. Tasty, and likely the best example of this rare grape I've tasted, but certainly not $25-good.
Summit Reserve Zwiegelt: similar tasting notes, but I don't have price info at the moment.
Summit Reserve Melange Noir: An unlikely blend of 30% Merlot, 30% Marechal Foch, 30% Michurinetz and 10% Gamay. Wait a minute... Michurinetz? What the Hell is that? Apparently, Michurinetz is a variety of Russian origin that exhibits (according to Mt. Boucherie's winemaker) characteristics similar to Cabernet Sauvignon. Certainly unique and a well-made wine, but I can't get over the hints of Marechal Foch, my old arch-nemesis. I just can't get into that grape.
Mt. Boucherie also produces the more traditional Summit Reserve Merlot and Summit Reserve Summit (Bordeaux-style blend), which I've greatly enjoyed in the past. The new vintages featured at the Victoria Festival of Wine failed to impress, however. Perhaps a bit more time on the bottle is necessary for those two.
Estate Late Harvest Chardonnay: Sweet (55.9g/L residual sugar). Tasty apricot-honey aroma. Good value dessert wine at $16 (375mL)
Estate Late Harvest Pinot Noir: Sweet (55.9g/L residual sugar). Rich caramel aromas, stone fruit, honey and a touch of spice on the palate. $17 (375mL), but worth the extra dollar.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Victoria Festival of Wine
Tomorrow is the Victoria Festival of Wine! Robyn & I will be attending, so check back this weekend for our Best of the Fest blog, where we single out the most outstanding offerings of more than 100 wineries.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Wines of the Week
Our pick of the week:
Jean Marc Brocard 1er Cru Chablis Montmains 2004
Appellation Chablis Premier cru Controlee, Burgundy, France
13.0% alc/vol
$35.95 (BC)
The slight greenish tinge to this straw-yellow Chablis 1er Cru introduces a bit of a "green" theme with this wine, but that's not a bad thing. Indeed, this is an interesting and very satisfying wine. The nose is dominated by yeasty bread dough with mineral and a flinty brininess and a hint of green canned veggies. The palate is intense and dry with a mouthwatering acidity. Mouth-filling pear, apple and citrus flvours are accented with herbal/spicy anise notes. Medium-full bodied, well integrated alcohol and a clean, crisp, spicy and long mineral finish. Elegant and very good quality Chablis under screwcap (Bravo!). Drink now or hold short term.
Tasted February, 2007 by RB, RC
Also tasted:
Chateau de Sancerre 2004
Apellation Sancerre Controlee, Loire, France
12.5% alc/vol $27.99 (BC)
This is a lean, stylish, yet moderately intense Sancerre with an interesting nose of mineral, flint, grapefruit & lemon-lime and an earthy, fungal quality. Nice intensity on the palate, too, with a crisp, mouthwatering acidity. The mineral and flinty character carries through, but more fruit in the mouth, including spicy citrus, green pear, crabapple and rhubarb. Very clean and crisp finish with decent length. Good quality. Drink now or hold short term.
Tasted February, 2007 by RB, RC
Jean Marc Brocard 1er Cru Chablis Montmains 2004
Appellation Chablis Premier cru Controlee, Burgundy, France
13.0% alc/vol
$35.95 (BC)
The slight greenish tinge to this straw-yellow Chablis 1er Cru introduces a bit of a "green" theme with this wine, but that's not a bad thing. Indeed, this is an interesting and very satisfying wine. The nose is dominated by yeasty bread dough with mineral and a flinty brininess and a hint of green canned veggies. The palate is intense and dry with a mouthwatering acidity. Mouth-filling pear, apple and citrus flvours are accented with herbal/spicy anise notes. Medium-full bodied, well integrated alcohol and a clean, crisp, spicy and long mineral finish. Elegant and very good quality Chablis under screwcap (Bravo!). Drink now or hold short term.
Tasted February, 2007 by RB, RC
Also tasted:
Chateau de Sancerre 2004
Apellation Sancerre Controlee, Loire, France
12.5% alc/vol $27.99 (BC)
This is a lean, stylish, yet moderately intense Sancerre with an interesting nose of mineral, flint, grapefruit & lemon-lime and an earthy, fungal quality. Nice intensity on the palate, too, with a crisp, mouthwatering acidity. The mineral and flinty character carries through, but more fruit in the mouth, including spicy citrus, green pear, crabapple and rhubarb. Very clean and crisp finish with decent length. Good quality. Drink now or hold short term.
Tasted February, 2007 by RB, RC
Sunday, February 11, 2007
new reviews coming soon!
i felt the need to share with you some of our recent efforts, which display an ongoing commitment to bringing you plenty of up-to-date reviews of standout wines. we are working at a brisk pace in order to to taste wines, compile and post reviews of great wine values for you. stay tuned for our thoughts on some of the labels you see here - plus many more!cheers!
rb & rc
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Wine of the Week
Chateau Roquetaillade La Grange 2001 
AOC Graves, Bordeaux, France
12.5% alc/vol $24.99 (BC)
AOC Graves, Bordeaux, France
12.5% alc/vol $24.99 (BC)
This deep brick red, medium bodied Left Bank red is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. Prominent herbal, woodsy, wet-earth aromas layer over red currant. More herbs on the palate, with mint, spice, bell pepper and mushroom. Fine, firm tannins and moderate acidity provide stucture and a dusty length. Good value. Drink now or hold short term.
Date tasted: 02/04/07
Tasted by: RB, RC
Monday, February 5, 2007
Wine of the Week
Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Marlborough, New Zealand
12.5% alc/vol $16.99 (BC) 
This clean, crisp Sauvignon Blanc shows ripe aromas of green pear, passionfruit, papaya and canned peaches along with the traditional New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc grassiness, gooseberry and asparagus. On the palate, it starts out ripe, with pear, grapefruit and gooseberry, then grassy notes and hints of banana and canned fruit salad. Acidity and alcohol are well-integrated, making this an easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing Sauvignon Blanc. At $16.99, it is priced at the low end of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc scale and combines typical New Zealand characteristics with riper, fruitier Okanagan-style juciness. Good value. Drink now.
Date tasted: 01/30/07
Tasted by: RB, RC
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