Hillside Syrah - 6 year Vertical

A few years in the making, and with some help from the winery, I was finally able to hold my 6 year vertical of Hillside Winery's Syrah from BC's Okanagan Valley. A vertical tasting is when you try the same wine from the same winery but of different vintages. A horizontal tasting is when you try the same vintage, region, and grape but from different wineries.

This journey started when I opened their 2008 Syrah for Christmas 2013. The bottle was bought during my first wine tasting trip to the Okanagan and was the first bottle I had personally "aged" so it held some sentimental value.  The wine had aged beautifully and at the time was one of the best BC wines I had ever tasted. It was one of those ah-ha moments in wine for me; I had faint memories of tasting it at the winery and thinking it was young. I looked and called around but I could not find another bottle anywhere.

So it began, I collected the 2009, 2011, 2012, & 2013, from Vancouver VQA shops. Wanting to make room in my wine fridge, I contacted the winery last fall about tracking down the missing 2010 and on a whim asked about the delicious 2008. I was in luck as the 2008 was stocked as part of their library collection and I was graciously allowed to purchase one of the last of the 2010's!

Quick camping trip to the Okanagan = 6 year vertical complete.

My wife and I got together with two other wine savvy couples to celebrate the holidays and a new baby among the group. It was an informal tasting where we tasted the wines in pairs, in descending order and I shared a few notes on the different weather of each vintage.

The 2013 and 2012 were both drinking a little young but had great flavour profiles that will still open up and develop further. They both drink well today, but came off as lighter for Syrah with the 2012 being slightly better balanced. They both displayed black fruits with a nice spiciness, smooth tannin's and good acidity.

The 2011 seemed to be the forgotten bottle as the night progressed and was the last one to be finished. It's not that it was bad, it's a nice wine it just was no ones favorite. The 2010 is drinking fantastic and became most of the groups "benchmark" wines for the night. In comparisons it was always 'this' vs. the 2010. It was not young nor old just sitting in this nice picturesque drinking window. This wine comes in with black raspberries, currants, and the spice has nuances of clove and cardamom with a hint of espresso. It really opened up as the night went on and a shame there aren't many more around.

The 2009 and 2008 were very different wines from the rest of the group, and I can't see the 2010 showing the age of the 2009 in a years time. 2008 & 2009 were both very hot vintages and it really comes across in these wines. These drank as mature wines with lot's of nice tertiary flavours starting to develop.  As you can see from the empty bottle to the right there was a lot of sediment left behind in the 08 & 09. The 09 had a really interesting spicy salami note to it to go along with the other earthy and savoury aromas. Both had riper almost stewed blackberry cherry fruits with raisins, leather and cigar ash notes. A rich textured mouth-feel and a long developed finish of ripe dark fruits with a peppery gaminess.

I have been a little slow getting this blog out as I couldn't find my original tasting notes. The bonus to this is I recently tasted the 2014 and its flavour profile and structure is similar to the 08 & 09 but drinking young for it's potential. Pick one up to drink it in 5-7 years and you will be pleasantly surprised. I know I will be and maybe using it to start another vertical as 2015 was all around a great vintage too!

More info about winery and their wines:       http://hillsidewinery.ca/

(All bottles were stored long term in my wine fridge, and were purchased at retail prices)

Okanagan Wine Weekend

On the first weekend of June my wife and I had a beautiful trip to Vaseux Lake in the Okanagan to celebrate a friends anniversary. We would be staying at the same chalet they got married at which is owned by their friends family, and is usually booked all summer long with rentals. Even with the flood warnings and my back seizing on me Friday morning it was an opportunity you don't let pass. 

DAY 1 - Osoyoos to Oliver

First stop for our small convoy was MOON CURSOR which is on the eastern outskirts of Osoyoos and is worth the extra little drive. I have always loved their wines and I like going there first to calibrate my palate. We walked out with their Dolcetto to have with diner that night; the Malbec and the delicious age-able 2013 Tannat to lay down beside the 2102 already at home.

Next up was the ladies choice of FAUSTINO ESTATE CIDERY just north of Osoyoos. They have a great selection of ciders from their estate grown fruit including a range of sweetness's and some great blends like; Apple/Peach, Apple/Pear, Apple/Quince, plus others like the oaked Apple/Blueberry.

A bit further down the road we found ourselves at ROAD 13. They have a great range of wines in different price ranges. I've always enjoyed their old vine Chenin Blanc, Rose, and their Marsanne. We left with 2 bottles of Marsanne, and a bottle of THE SIMILKAMEEN COLLECTIVE - Roussanne; which has the same owners as Road 13.

A few minutes down the road we hit up HESTER CREEK which was busy and bumping with live music on the patio. The tasting bar was packed and after a few minute wait the Manager ushered the five of us, plus baby and dog to the patio for a private tasting. It was a wonderful experience with a fun energetic host. We walked away with their delicious Italian white Trebbiano and the Cab Franc which is a great varietal expression and one of my favorites.

Just down the hill from there we went to INTERSECTION which turned out to be the big surprise of the day. I have had their wines at tastings but this was the first time for all of us to the winery. It was a wonderful flight of thought provoking wines with a foot in the old world. Knowledgeable engaging staff with all wines reasonably priced for the overall quality. We walked out with the mineral rich Riesling, the barrel fermented Sauv Blanc, and their 2 single vineyard unfiltered Merlot's. The Merlot's are grown right next to each other but one has Alluvial soils (Alluvia) and the other has silicate sand (Silica). Both are mouth watering with long finish's and a great example of how terroir can affect the wine.

Last up for the day was TINHORN CREEK with their super friendly staff and another great lineup. At the door we were served their Pinot Gris and got into a great 10min conversation about the winery, flooding, and local geology. We left with their Oldfield Cab Franc, and a bottle from the last case of their 2011 Pinot Noir.




DAY 2 - Naramata Bench

Day 2 was a little more low key but with some great finds. The first stop was HILLSIDE as I had there wines recently at a trade event and was in need of the 2014 Syrah. In the winter I had done a 6 year vertical of their Syrahs ending with the 2013. The 2014 seems closer in style to the 08 & 09 vintages with many good years ahead of it. We bought the Syrah and my other favorite from there, the Old Vine Gamay Noir.

Next up was TERRAVISTA producers of small-lot specialty white wines. The previous owners of Black Hills have planted two Spanish whites on their estate vineyard, Albarino & Verdejo.  We purchased the crisp and refreshing Albarino in it's 3rd vintage, and their world first blend of Albarino and Verdejo, the Fandango. Also part of their lineup is an old world style Rhone blend, Figaro made with Roussanne, Viognier, and Marsanne that is delicious and age worthy.

LAKE BREEZE was next on the list. I hadn't been in awhile and was disappointed that the no longer had their Pinotage available. We did have a great flight and I was happy to learn they now have a Roussanne, so I had to pick one up to taste it against the one from Similkameen valley. We also grabbed their perfect patio sipper the Sauv Blanc.

A couple of minutes down the road we went to DEEP ROOTS. A family that has been growing in the Okanagan for generations and recently switched to vines. We left with a couple bottles of their Gamay Noir, and if we had hit them earlier in the trip I probably would of bought the Cab Franc and the Malbec as well.

Last stop for our trip was BENCH 1775 we were hoping to try their full range of Malbecs but found out most are only available to their wine club members. Including the intriguing Malbec Nouveau made in the same style as Beaujolais Nouveau with Carbonic Maceration. We bought the White Merlot; which is Merlot grapes made as a white wine, and their newly released Brut Rose bubbly that I highly recommend.  

All and all another great trip to the Okanagan and each time the wines seem to get better and better. I also seem to buy more and more each time I go. If you haven't been yet, book a trip and go explore the different terroirs of this great BC wine region.

For more info on Golden Mile Chalet, or for rental bookings, please see link below:

https://www.vrbo.com/313091

Wine of the Week - Natale Verga - Grillo-Catarratto 2015

Natale Verga - Organic Grillo-Catarratto - Sicily, Italy - 2015

BC Liquor Store - $14.99 (On Sale $13.99 for May)


I haven't done a Wine of the Week in awhile and felt it was time for a revival. As spring tries to grace us with it's presence new wines are also starting to pop up. I'm always looking for new grapes to try and this organic white blend had two new grapes native to the island of Sicily Grillo and Catarratto.

When it comes to Italian whites a lot of people don't get beyond Pinot Grigio but there are many others out there worth exploring. Soave, Vermentino, Verdicchio, Trebbiano... I enjoyed this little gem from the south as it is good value with a nice freshness to it.

On the nose there's fresh citrus with some nice herbal notes. On the palate it had fresh citrus fruits, medium+ body, balanced medium acidity with a bit of an oily character to it; a bit like the mouth-feel of a Gewurztraminer. Would pair well with appetizers, vegetarian dishes and light fish.


Happy sipping, let me know if you get to try this.

Wine Tasting - Cool vs. Warm climate

For my recent tasting I tried to show some of the differences between cool climate and warm climate wines. In general warmer climate wines are fuller body, with more tannin, more alcohol, but with less acidity than their cooler counterparts. Even the flavour profile can change depending on the climate. For example cool climate whites usually have citrus and green fruit profiles; as you get warmer you get into stone fruits, and eventually tropical fruits with some hotter climates. There are a few factors that may bend these rules like altitude, bodies of water, and some wine making techniques.

I paired the same grape from different climates and we mostly tasted in pairs except for the triplet of Pinots.


1. PORCUPINE RIDGE WESTERN CAPE - SAUVIGNON BLANC 2015- South Africa - $14.99 BCL

South Africa makes a range of nice wines and with Africa in the name you think hot, but the Benguela current coming up from Antarctica and the southerly wind known as the Cape Doctor give this region a varied range of climate.

This western cape wine has ripe nectarine, papaya, and pineapple on the nose with a little subtle tropical fruit on the palate finishing with a hint of minerality. Dry with medium body and acidity but a little hot in alcohol,

2. MARISCO THE NED MARLBOROUGH - SAUVIGNON BLANC 2016 - New Zealand - $15.49 BCL

New Zealand is the new world bench mark for Sauvignon Blanc. They are pronounced fruity wines with high crisp acidity. Most never see oak and is always a reliable go to refreshing sipper.

The Ned has pronounced notes of grapefruit, lime, and green apple with a little bit of greenness in there as well. Very crisp mouthwatering acidity well balanced and a great example of a New Zealand Sauv Blanc at a decent price.

3. MUD HOUSE CENTRAL OTAGO - PINOT NOIR 2015 - New Zealand - $19.49 BCL

France is king in cool climate Pinot, but not with my budget. New Zealand is known for some great new world Pinot Noir's. This one is from the south island's famous Central Otago region which also happens to be the worlds most southerly wine region.

This one showed light fresh cherry, cranberry, dried herbs and well integrated oak notes. Dry, high acidity with light body and a nice smooth mouth feel

4. PARKER STATION CENTRAL COAST - PINOT NOIR 2015 - California - $21.99 BC

The Central Coast runs south from San Jose down the coast to Santa Barbara, and is where the film Sideways was based around. California Pinot can be all over the map but shows well when from cooler sites and usually oaked with riper fruits.

On the nose this one had ripe raspberry, cherry, a hint of clove and a good dose of vanilla from the oak. The palate lingers with raspberry cherry jam and toasted coconut husks. Fuller bodied with less acidity than the New Zealand one and was the least favorite of the 3 Pinot's in the line up.

5. TABALI GRAN RESERVA PEDREGOSO LIMARI - PINOT NOIR 2015 - Chile - $19.99 BCL

Limari Valley is around 300KM's north of Santiago and benefits from the cool breezes coming in off the ocean. It is a source of some great cool climate Chardonnay, Syrah, and more recently Pinot Noir's. If you look there is definitely some good value Pinot in Chile.

This one was a bit earthy with some pomegranate, wild raspberry, cherries and a touch of vanilla. Well balanced with soft tannin's and mouth watering acidity. This one was voted the favorite of the three Pinot's 

6. STAG'S HOLLOW - TEMPRANILLO 2013 - British Columbia - $25.99 BCL

Tempranillo grows all over Spain and Portugal, but is rarely found beyond those borders. A few in BC have embraced it and are making some great cool climate examples. The two that I tend to go to are this Stags Hollow and the one from Moon Cursor in Osoyoos.

This delicious wine has ripe plum, cherry, raspberry, and a whiff of a tobacco pipe stored in a cedar box. Like a lot of the Spanish wines this one saw 15 months in American oak. It was dry with high acidity, medium body, notes of red fruits and a hint of savoriness.  

7. CAMPO VIEJO  RIOJA RESERVA 2011 - TEMPRANILLO - Spain - $17.49 BCL

Rioja is the true heartland of Tempranillo and it makes everything from rose to light fruity reds, and aged wines that will last decades. Reserva means it has been aged a minimum of 3 years with at least one of those in oak. Gran Reserva is aged 5 years with 2 of those in oak.

This entry level Reserva had juicy cherry, plum, black pepper spice, with some vanilla and toasted coconut noted from the oak.  Nice balance with smooth tannin's and decent depth on the palate. 

8, CHAPOUTIER MEYSONNIERS CROZES HERMITAGE 2014 - SYRAH - France - $26.49 BCL

Crozes-Hermitage is the largest region in the Northern Rhone in France, and is considered value compared to the smaller highly revered Hermitage. But for this price point we will only read of such wines. The only red grape permitted in these regions is Syrah.

This entry level Crozes-Hermitage has notes of sour cherry, dark fruits, some earthiness, tobacco, and black pepper. Rich concentrated wine with nice nuanced complexities; a mere glimpse into what's possible with the superior wines of this appellation.  

9. CHRIS RINGLAND CR BAROSSA 2012 - SHIRAZ - Australia - $23.49 BCL

Australia makes some of the best warm-hot climate Shiraz/Syrah, and one of the best is the Barossa Valley. It is also home to some of the oldest vines still in production at over 170 years old.

This wine had riper fruits of blackberry, cherry, fuller body and nice milk chocolate vanilla mocha and some jammy fruits on the palate. It was a easy pick for most that this was the warm climate one due to the riper fruits.

The wines all showed as I hoped and everyone learned a bit about how climate can affect wine. Thanks for reading and comment below if you get to try any of these wines.

Happy Sipping

BC Albarino Tasting

Albarino one of Spain's gifts to the white wine world and one of my favorite white grapes. Albarino is not very common outside of Spain and Portugal, but is now starting to pop up in the USA, Uruguay, and now BC. I was happy to see a couple of wineries experimenting with this refreshing and delicious grape.

Albarino is a fresh neutral grape that pairs well with seafood and vegetarian dishes. Originally from the northwest corner of Spain and made famous by the Rías Baixas region. These wines can be expensive in Canada and there are few around. (Spain everywhere $5.00!) Discovering two Albarino's in BC after indulging in Spain was a sign I couldn't ignore so I convinced myself into a fall trip to the Okanagan. I have always enjoyed the wines from Stag's Hollow, and was excited to try Terra Vista's full flight of white wines. I blind tasted the the two BC Albarino's up against one from Spain to see how they would compare.



Terra Vista Vineyards- Albarino - BC - 2015 - $24.90

This wine is their second vintage and has so much potential, as does their blend of Albarino and Verdejo called "Fandango". The fruit comes from the Naramata Bench and the wine won gold at the 2016 National Wine Awards.

The nose had notes of citrus, white peach, some melon with a hint of floral and wet rocks. Dry with the high crisp mouth watering acidity bringing citrus, fall flowers and a textured minerality on the palate. It had the highest acidity and alcohol but was really well balanced and was the favorite at dinner later that evening.




Stag's Hollow - Albarino 2015 - $20.25

Stag's Hallow has 30% aged in 2nd fill French oak barrels adding some depth to the flavours; with the majority aged in stainless steel. The fruit came from Okanagan Falls and this was their first release of Albarino.

This wine had lemon, green apples, apricot, a slight floral note with a little toasted coconut. On the palate it is dry, med body, with high acidity, but a little hot, with nice flavours of lemon, minerality, and a few toasted vanilla oak notes.





Abellio - Rias Baixas - Albarino - 2015 - $21.00

Rias Baixas wines range greatly in quality and this comes in as a entry level for the few available to us here in Canada. This would pair well with lighter seafood or a fresh salad lunch. It is dry with crisp acidity, with a deeper colour than the two BC wines, and just a touch of salinity to it.

This wine had notes of lemon, pear, some green herbaceousness and a subtle floral note. On the palate there was some refreshing lemon rind with peach and a nice minerality.




After the tasting my preferred wine was the one from Terra Vista as it was showing the freshest with the most complexity. I have one more bottle left of the Terra Vista that I want to taste with a premium Rias Baixas and perhaps one from Uruguay. As for the Stag's Hollow, I've cracked my second bottle and when tasted by itself it is a very lovely wine. But beside the other two the slight oak tended to mask the soft nuances of the variety. That being said, it paired well with our smoked cheese risotto and salmon last week and I would buy again. I recommend seeking both these BC wines out as they are a nice treat away from your everyday whites.


Thank for reading, and happy sipping!

Wine Tasting - Poor mans Value vs. Premium

For the last tasting I decided to try and do a poor mans value versus premium; which meant the average price of the 11 bottles came to  just over $20 after tax. We tasted them blind 2 at a time with each pairing being the same grape and mostly from the same region. Unfortunately the 2010 Rioja I bought was corked (TCA), so last minute I had to swap in a couple of Merlot's I had in the wine fridge. It was an informative tasting and a good blind exercise for all levels of palates.






1. CHENIN BLANC - CLOOF BUSH VINES 2016 - $8.99 BC Liquor

First pairing was a couple of Chenin Blancs to cleanse the palate. This Chenin Blanc from South Africa is from bush vines and is amazing value at $9. It has nice fresh acidity with notes of citrus and tropical fruits. A lot of the group preferred this wine over the french counterpart. In general there is really good value in S. Africa and this is one of a few wines I can recommend under $10.

2. VOUVRAY - DOMAINE DE VAUGONDY 2012 - $19.99 BC Liquor

The high end S. Africa Chenin I was looking for was sold out, so I swapped it out with the famous french Chenin. Vouvray is Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France and at $20 this is one of the cheaper entry level ones you can find. These can be long lived wines that develop great complexities as they age. This one has subtle notes of pear, green apple, and some citrus; followed up with a hint of wet wool. This is a telltale sign of Vouvray that not all people like. So if you smell wet wool in your glass it is not a fault; there is a good chance it's a Vouvray; If you smell wet dog it's a fault!

3. SHIRAZ - SMALL GULLY MR BLACK'S LITTLE BOOK 2013 - $18.99 BC Liquor

Next pairing was a couple of Shiraz from South Australia and most of the group called this one as the higher priced of the two; as it showed more depth and complexity with the aromas and flavours. Australia makes amazing Shiraz wines but they can come in all quality levels and pair with a variety of foods. This wine had notes of black currant, blueberry, sour cherry, cedar, and a hint of minty licorice. Well balanced with good acidity and a decent length on the finish. 

4. SHIRAZ - HENRY'S DRIVE MORSE CODE PADTHAWAY - 2015 - $13.99 BC Liquor

This Shiraz was definitely lacking the depth and concentration of the wine above, and it was a little light in colour for a Shiraz. It had notes of juicy ripe blackberry and cherry with hint of spicy forest floor that was short in the mouth. This wine was also lacking in acidity making it seem a little flabby on the palate. Australian Shiraz is one category I will go a few dollars more to ensure some quality and avoid cheap juicy generic blends.

5. CABERNET SAUVIGNON - SAN PEDRO GATO NEGRO 2016 - $7.99 BC Liquor

The next pairing was a couple of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon's. Chile in general has really good value right now and can make some nice quality wines. This $8 wine was definitely hitting above it's belt with well balanced notes of cherry, red berries and some vanilla. It is dry with soft tannin's and has a smooth easy drinking style which made it the preferred wine to half of the group.

6. CABERNET SAUVIGNON - INTRIGA MAIPO 2012 - $26.99 BC Liquor

This Cab Sauv has a splash of Cab Franc and Petit Verdot and seemed to be a little high in alcohol that made it stand out a bit. This wine will drink well in a few years and a little age may help to balance the wine out a some more. This wine was big and bold bringing notes of herbs, black currant, red fruits with some nice oak spice and hints toasted cedar. 

7. DOURO - VINCENTE FARIA ANIMUS 2014 - $13.99 BC Liquor

This pairing was for a couple of Portuguese Douro reds. Historically they have only been known for the production of Port, but they also make some delicious table reds from the same indigenous grape varieties. The are mostly blends but can provide some great value for fully bodied complex reds. This wine had some dusty red fruit, plum, cedar box, leather, and a nice savoury forest floor note. Dry with fine tannin's and good value for this entry level Douro wine. Again about half the group preferred this wine over the much bigger wine below.

8. DOURO - Quinto da Romaneira - 2009 - $29.99 BC Liquor

2009 was a good vintage that produced some big bold reds. This wine shows some finesse that has developed some great nuanced complexities and has a few more years left in it. This wine shows beautiful notes of ripe raspberry, blackberry, some spicy sweet vanilla, and is a bigger fuller bodied more complex wine then the one above. I love Douro reds and this was my favourite of the night.

9. Forbidden Fruit - Earth Series Merlot - 2014 - $26.00 Winery price

This was my last minute pairing thrown together with a couple of wines from the wine fridge so we didn't have to drink corked wine. Merlot tends to be a hard sell for most of the people in my wine club, so any chance to sneak one in there is is fun for me. This wine is blended from both Okanagan and Similkameen valley fruit and is smooth and well balanced. It offered up notes of plum, red cherry fruit, with a little vanilla and chocolate. On the palate it had red fruit, mocha, and some cedar. It was dry and had a great mouth feel with more complexities coming out as it opened up. 

10. Christian Moueix - Bordeaux - Merlot 2009 - $19.99 BC Liquor

This wine had been in my fridge for years as a little (forgotten) experiment. 2009 was an excellent Bordeaux vintage and one of the best in the last few decades. A $20 generic Bordeaux is definitely not made to be aged, but it was there, so let's see how it did. Paired against a much younger and fresher Merlot this wine came up flat and dull. It is definitely past it's prime and didn't have much to offer in the way of flavours or aromas. Very faint old red fruit and a bit of dusty attic,  not much on the nose or in the glass. It was a easy call for everyone on picking their favourite as the Forbidden Fruit Merlot was drinking quite well.

11. VALDEPENAS GRAN RESERVA - ANCIANO AGED 7 YEARS - 2007 - $12.99 BC Liquor

This is the wine  was going to pair against the the 2010 Rioja that was corked and decided to just throw it in as a mystery bottle to see if people could guess it's price range. This wine is incredible value for a 10 year old wine and still had more going on then the dull $20 Bordeaux. This wine had notes of red berries, cedar spice, with a little sandalwood and vanilla rounding out the finish. The group's price estimates ranged from $12-$20

All and all it was a great tasting. I think everyone learned a little bit more about what the kinds of wine they like and what the difference in a few dollars can make on taste and quality.

Looking forward to the next tasting!

November Tasting - Italian Reds

I had a few friends over for a tasting of Italian reds. A great diverse category that seems daunting to most with an estimated over 1000 different grape varieties. While creating a list of possible wines I easily got up over 20, and left many great wines off of it, like Dolcetto . All I knew is I was going to start with a Lambrusco and finish with an Amarone. I was happy no one had tried either; it was a successful flight and the wines showed as I had intended.





1. LAMBRUSCO REGGIANO - LINI 910 LABRUSCA - $17.99 - BC Liquor

Lambrusco is the name of the grape and wine made from it. It is a bubbly red wine and can range from frothy and sweet to dry and tannic with some spritz. It got a bad name from mass exported cheap sweet and frothy styles. This is a great dry version and I was curious how the crowd would perceive it. It was served chilled and by my surprise, 3 peoples top pick. This one had ripe cherry raspberry, blueberry and a little earthiness. It was dry with a bit of tannin and some nice easygoing bubbles.



2. CHIANTI - CECCHI - 2015 - $12.49 - BC Liquor

Chianti comes from the Tuscany region in Italy and is their most exported wine. Very food friendly wine that is always dominated by at least 75% Sangiovese. This wine had dusty red fruits like cherry, with a touch of oak. Dry, soft and easy drinking.






3. CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA - RUFFINO DUCALE 2012 - $27.49 - BC Liquor

Chianti Classico refers to the "classic" part of the region before the borders expanded. These tend to be the better hilly sites. The term Riserva is a bit loosely used in Italy in respect to quality, but by definition means more alcohol and a longer ageing requirement.
This wine had 24 months of ageing and shows dusty cherry, violets, tobacco with a little red fruit, vanilla and herbs on the palate. This was 2 peoples favourite of the night.




4. BARBERA D'ALBA - BATASIOLO 2014 - $15.99 - BC Liquor

Barbera D'Alba is made with the Barbera grape in the Alba region of Piedmont. Barbera should have high acidity with finer tannins and could have notes of sour cherry, red berries, and some earthiness. This one had some notes of raspberries and the typical earthiness. Another great easy drinking food wine. This was one persons favourite.

5. MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO - BIAGI RETRO 2010 - $17.99 - BC Liquor

Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is made with the Montepulciano grape and comes from the region of Abruzzo. This is the regions only red and sometimes gets confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; which comes from the town of Montepulciano but is made from Sangiovese. Are you confused yet? Yep, that's Italian wine. Anyways back to this wine which was great value for a 2010. It had notes of wild blueberries, red fruits, tobacco and a decent finish that lingered. It was enjoyed by all but no ones top picks.

6. AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE - BASILISCO BARILE TEODOSIO 2011 - $19.99 - BC Liquor

Aglianico del Vulture is made with the Aglianico grape and comes from the Basilicata region (instep of the boot). Aglianico is considered the best red grape of south Italy, has high acidity and tannin, and can rarely be found for $20. This one had ripe plum and blackberries, some cola, with nice oak notes of leather and tobacco. Spent 10-12 months in 2nd and 3rd fill french oak, a great entry level Aglianico! This was 2 peoples top pick.



7. BARBARESCO - RICOSSA 2012 - $21.99

Barbaresco and Barolo (below) are both made with the Nebbiolo grape and come from the Piemont region. Nebbiolo is a late ripening grape that is rarely grown outside the area and can age for decades. They are light in the glass like a Pinot but with more punch with high acidity and tannin. Barbaresco can be considered the little sister to Barolo as it can by drank earlier and and is a bit lighter on the palate and pocket book. This wine is a good entry level version with med body, velvety tannins, cherry licorice, earthy tobacco, and a dried floral note. Well enjoyed but no ones top pick.

8. BAROLO - BATASIOLO 2012 - $34.99

Barolo are the Burgundies of Italy; terroir nuanced wines, that can age for over 60-80 years and cost a fortune. By law they need to by aged 3 years half of it having to be in oak. Riservas are aged 5 years but most Barolo in general is aged longer. This one was aged for 2 years in Slavonian oak casks and 1 in stainless steel and is a good example for an entry level Barolo. This wine had a fuller body, integrated tannin, dried cherries, roses, some anise and a bit of the varietal tar note. This was mine and one other persons top pick, and Barolo in general is one of my favourite wines, they also make great gifts :)

9. VALPOLICELLA - FOLONARI 2014 - $13.49 - BC Liquor

Valpolicella is a wine from the Veneto region, and its main grape is Corvina, with Rondinella and Molinara playing important blending roles. They make 4 versions of Valpolicella; regular light and fruity Valpolicella, Valpolicella Ripasso, Amarone della Valpolicella, and the sweet Recioto della Valpolicella. This wine was the light and fruity type with red cherry candies with a bit of a herbaceous floral note. This was 1 person's top pick.


10. AMARONE CLASSICO - MASI COSTASERA 2011- $51.99

Amarone is one of the great wines of Italy, made with the same local grapes as it's little brother Valpolicella. It is made with the Passito tradition of taking good healthy grapes and laying them out on mates to dry in the sun, or on racks in vented rooms. They are left there anywhere from a couple of weeks to over 6 months. This leaves dry raisined grapes without much water but that have retained their acidity. Amarone's make a dry wine, with high acidity, full body and tends to have a thicker viscosity to it. This wine had ripe chocolate covered cherries, baked fruits, and some earthy spiciness with toasted tobacco, raisins and figs. This wine was 2 peoples top pick.






* The other Valpolicella mentioned above Ripasso is a hybrid between the regular light one and the Amarone. How they make this wine is to take the base Valpolicella and add the left over crushed skins from the dried Amarone grapes. It is allowed to re-ferment creating a hybrid wine with some fresh and dry fruit characters.


Let me know if you have any questions about these wines, or other Italian grapes, happy sipping!

Wine glasses

  What isth the vessel thy pourth mine wineth?

I have never uttered those exact words but I am sure I am guilty of questioning the glass I have been given for wine once or..., ...my wife says too many times. Do you need a cupboard full of high end Riedel glassware; no but at least a dedicated wine glass is a start. Example,  I now know I can not drink wine out of a martini glass. My habit to swirl was also accompanied by my habit of cleaning up wine stains. (sorry Johnny)

I have to admit I have a cupboard full of Riedel glassware all supposedly for different grapes. Most of them are one offs now that their mates broke years ago. I have learned I prefer certain shapes for certain styles of wine and I always prefer my wine glass to have a stem. Most recently I have been using my small ISO tasting glass's because they are small, provide good aromas, and force me to keep consumption down as in "Wow, I better slow down it's been 4 glass's already."


There are a couple of practical reasons to have stemmed glassware and being able to hold your pinky out to look cool while drinking isn't one of them.

The first being wine temperature, your hand can warm up the wine while you are holding it. When wine is at the right temperature the aromas will be the most pronounced. The other reason is dirty, smelly, or even clean disinfected fingers. Our hands carry a lot of smells and can effect your ability to smell the wine clearly, but that's like high end snobbery :)

Another key factor for wine glasses is they should never see dish soap or dishwashers. These will leave residues that can affect the wines flavours. All my wine glasses get hand washed with hot water only. I will also smell each glass before I pour my wine into it to ensure no vial smells are lurking.

I also prefer the new trend to have my bubbly served in a proper wine glass and not the traditional skinny Champagne flute. Nice sparkling wines have great aroma profiles that only get noticed when slightly swirled in a bigger bowled glass.

Stay away from metal and some plastics as they will taint your wine by leaving unwanted flavours. Also stay away from any lead cups, historically it hasn't worked out so good. To sum it all up no need to break the bank. Just get a wine glass that has a bowl, a bit of a rim to avoid stained carpet syndrome, and keep them away from soap :)

Happy sipping!