Friday, November 30, 2012

Top 25 Value Wines of 2012

We've selected the top 25 wines for 2012 that we feel represent the best value to the consumer. No price limit was applied to the list, nor was a simple price-to-points equation used. With this list we allowed ourselves to be subjective as to what "value" represents.

#1
MezzoMondo 2010 Negroamaro - $10
A very consistent bargain red from the South East of Italy using the Negroamaro grape native to the region, which year-after-year delivers excellent value for money with an expressive nose of black cherry, dried cranberry, prune, toasted oak and Christmas spice aromas.
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#2
Generation Seven Wines 2012 Nouveau - $12
Fruity and bright on the ultra-youthful, low-tannin palate, staying true to the varietal with nice spice and a hint of cured meat flavours beneath the prominent red fruit. A wine to be enjoyed in its youth, by the case throughout the holiday season - incredible value!
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#3
Chateau Des Charmes 2009 Cabernet-Merlot - $13
An impressive "budget" blend that over-delivers for the price with a nice nose of cassis, blackberry, vanilla spice and oak aromas followed by a medium-bodied, smooth-tannin palate with a good balance of mature dark fruit and savoury herbs'n'spice flavours.
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#4
Finca Sophenia 2009 Reserve Malbec - $14
This is the wine to seek out for folks who are tired of overly juicy and predictable Mendoza Malbecs that are generally available at this price point. Textured and well balanced with concentrated plum fruit and French oak characters of spicy vanilla.
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#5
Road 13 Vineyards 2010 Stemwinder - $15
Originally this wine was released at $22, several dollars more than the firm's popular Honest John's Blends. Seen, at the time, as a step-up in complexity and part of their plan to focus more on proprietary blends than on a large portfolio of single varietal wines.
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#6
Cellar Besllum 2008 Montsant - $20
This offering, a blend of equal parts Carignan and Garnache, has plenty of character on the layered nose and smooth palate. The tannins are fine and well balanced with good acidity resulting in a silky texture and long finish.
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#7
Gemtree Vineyards 2009 Bloodstone Shiraz - $16
McLaren Vale product has an appealing nose of sweet cherry fruit, menthol and mineral notes but it is the intriguingly moderate and terroir-driven palate that makes this a wine worth seeking out.
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#8
Geo Wines 2009 Chono Syrah Reserva - $18
Produced in the Elqui Valley, one of Chile's most northern and driest wine regions, this savoury, terroir expressing Syrah offers a gorgeous palate of oak spice, minerals, smoked meats, leather and dark, brooding fruit.
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#9
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2010 Private Reserve Gewurztraminer - $14
best known Gewurztraminer in BC is also one of the most consistently well made with a straight-forward, classic presentation of Goo with nice candied lychee fruit aromas on the pleasant nose and just a touch of residual sugar on the satisfying palate.
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#10
SpierHead Winery 2010 Pinot Noir - $18
Nice sweet cherry notes on the nose blend nicely with light French oak aromas and a hint of vanilla. The dry palate offers similar flavours and a nice vein of acidity. A touch of bitterness on the finish will be masked when served with foods like a Thanksgiving roasted turkey.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Tinhorn Creek's Fabulous 2012 Releases

For 2012, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards divided their wine releases into trimesters with Spring, Summer and Fall dates making for a steady flow of new wines for the consumer to select from. The Spring release was dominated by crisp 2011 white wines, the Summer saw the bulk of their 2010 single varietal reds released as well as a new reserve-tier Pinot Noir already 4 years old and the Fall trimester hosted the winery's small-lot, Oldfield Series reds from the hot 2009 vintage.

Working backwards from the most recent releases, here are the highlight notes from every wine released by tinhorn Creek in 2012 - a banner year for the Golden Mile Bench winery. To read our winery profile, click here.

Fall

2009 Oldfield Series Merlot - $29
A very consistent wine, year-to-year, perfect for red meat and chocolate plate pairings thanks to its combination of dense, dark berry and savoury, licorice'n'cola aromas and flavours.
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2009 Oldfield Series Syrah - $35
At already 3 years of age the ripe tannins have had a chance to mellow and frame the palate well while the mouth-watering acid keeps the heavy licorice and red fruit puree flavours feeling fresh and lively.
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2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
A blend of 45% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine boasts an enchanting bouquet of dark fruit and spicy vanilla wrapped in a prominent, smoky blanket of sweet tobacco and toasted oak aromas.
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2010 Merlot - $19
House-style is achieved with good tannin structure, solid fruit and palate-cleansing, fresh acidity. Good length and balance throughout. Would benefit from another 6+ months of bottle age and a long decant prior to serving.
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2011 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - $30 (200ml)

A remarkably consistent product from Tinhorn that boasts apricot, apple cider, lime and canned peach aromas on the gentle nose and similar flavours on the sweet and tangy palate.
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Summer

2008 Oldfield Series Pinot Noir - $30
With this Oldfield Series release, which sees an extra year in bottle, you get a little more of, well, everything. A little more elegance, a little more intensity, a little more fruit and a little more harmony in the overall presentation when compared to the varietal-tier release.
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2009 Pinot Noir - $20
The 2009 edition varies a little from the 2008 release with more bitter notes on the dry palate, making it more of a food companion than a stand-alone sipper, but otherwise follows a similar script: pleasant, baked raspberry and savoury, spicy earth characters with restrained oak influence.
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2010 Cabernet Franc - $20
Cool-climate "funk" is back in a big way for the 2010 edition with pungent aromas of blue cheese caressing the concentrated blue fruit, cola and sweet black licorice notes on the expressive nose.
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2011 Chardonnay - $18
A somewhat muted nose of stonefruit, golden delicious apples, vanilla and sweet orchard fruit aromas precedes a more vibrant palate of similar flavours with more mineral and oak influence.
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Spring

2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench White - $23
Both opulent, with rich orchard fruit by the bushel, and light with delicate, aromatic notes'a'plenty. Melon, grapefruit and minerals round out the flavour profile with a touch of lingering spice on the long finish. Just delicious!
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2011 Gewurztraminer - $18
Blessed with natural fullness and a creamy mouth feel, this release succeeds by reigning in the body with vibrant, mouth watering, citrus acidity that structures the Asian pear, apple and lychee fruit characters beautifully.
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2011 Pinot Gris - $18
Succulent orchard fruits and masculine mineral flavours mingle effortlessly culminating in a well balanced, long finish with lingering lemon and subtle, green apple notes.
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2011 Oldfield Series 2Bench Rosé - $23
The balance is spot on with refreshing cranberry characters mingling with sweet strawberry fruit beneath a weave of stainless steel and river stone flavours. Soft tannins linger on the tangy, long finish.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Friday, November 2, 2012

BC Wine Deal: November 2nd, 2012

The following wines have been marked down at your local BC VQA and participating BCLDB stores.

Calliope Riesling  was $14.99 is now $12.99
Chaberton Canoe Cove Cabernet/Merlot  was $19.99 is now 14.99
Church and State Coyote Bowl Meritage  was $34.90 is now $25.90
D'Angelo Setta Coppa  was $21.90 is now $15.90
Fork in the Road Red  was $19.99 is now $18.99
Howling Bluff 3 Sisters Pinot Noir  was $27.90 is now $24.90
Jackson Triggs Reserve Riesling  was $13.99 is now $12.49
Laughing Stock Blind Trust White  was $25.00 is now $20.00
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Cabernet/Merlot  was $16.99 is now $15.99
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Chardonnay  was $14.99 is now $13.99
Soaring Eagle Intermission  was $16.90 is now $14.90
Saturna Island Rose  was $11.99 is now $9.99
Township 7 Sauvignon Blanc  was $18.99 is now $17.49
Volcanic Hills Eruption Red Blend  was $29.90 is now $23.90

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Monthly Picks: November 2012

November brings us long nights and cool, rainy days. Time for a glass of bold, red wine that will warm you up as you enjoy a good book, show or bath and dream of warmer times.

Chateau Des Charmes 2009 Cabernet-Merlot - $13
An impressive "budget" blend that over-delivers for the price with a nice nose of cassis, blackberry, vanilla spice and oak aromas followed by a medium-bodied, smooth-tannin palate with a good balance of mature dark fruit and savoury herbs'n'spice flavours.
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Maison Calvet 2010 Reserve - $16
A good entry-level red Bordeaux to explore how Old World blends form a medley of terroir and fruit characters at a bargain basement price.
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Fort Berens Estate Winery 2011 23 Camels Red - $19
A youthful wine, by design, that aims to please with a blend of dry blue fruits, hard cherries, smooth spices, soft tannins, vibrant acidity and herbal notes. Each element compliments the other making this easy-going brew of 65% Cabernet Franc, 17.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17.5% Merlot a fine addition to your Fall feats of roast beef, meatloaf and savoury pork dishes.
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JoieFarm 2010 PTG - $24
This year's PTG sees the Gamay Noir rise to 52% of the traditional Burgundian "Passe-Tout-Grains" blend with Pinot Noir. A welcomed rise which infuses more tangy and spicy red fruit on to the concentrated nose and lush palate.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - $30
A blend of 45% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine boasts an enchanting bouquet of dark fruit and spicy vanilla wrapped in a prominent, smoky blanket of sweet tobacco and toasted oak aromas.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Renaissance Pinot Noir - $35
Concentrated and relatively robust, not a Pinot for the faint of heart. Both the nose and palate transition nicely from an intense red fruit intro through to a more reflective warm earth finish. Complex, long and very tasty.
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Cakebread Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon - $100
At five years of age this Cabernet is still quite youthful in appearance, a dark ruby hue, and in its development. Concentrated, sweet cassis and blackberry pie fruit aromas blend nicely with French vanilla, mocha, licorice and toasted oak notes on the intense nose.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca