Friday, February 22, 2013

BC Wine Deal: February 22nd, 2013

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

3 Mile Gewurztraminer was $19.95 is now $18.90
3 Mile Pinot Gris was $19.95 is now $18.90
3 Mile Trio was $33.69 is now $31.90
Andrew Peller Merlot Private Reserve was $19.99 is now $17.99
Andrew Peller Chardonnay Private Reserve was $17.99 is now $15.99
Calliope Sauvignon Blanc was $17.00 is now $14.99
Fork in the Road White was $16.99 is now $15.99
Fork in the Road Red was $19.99 is now $18.99
Noble Ridge Chardonnay was $23.90 is now $16.90
Rigamarole Red was $14.99 is now $13.99
Rigamarole White was $14.99 is now $13.99
See Ya Later Ping was $27.99 is now $25.99
See Ya Later Pinot Gris was $19.99 is now $17.99
See Ya Later Pinot Noir was $22.00 is now $20.00
Sonoran Gewurztraminer was $17.90 is now $12.90
Sonoran Riesling/Gewurztraminer was $17.90 is now $12.90
Sperling Old Vines Foch was $26.00 is now $22.00
Sperling Sper...itz was $12.98 is now $11.99
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Chardonnay was $13.99 is now $12.99
Sumac Ridge Red Blend was $12.99 is now $10.99
Sumac Ridge White Blend was $12.99 is now $10.99

Saturday, February 16, 2013

In Anticipation of...

For the 2nd year in a row we will attempt to predict the must-try BC wines that are expected to be released in 2013. But first, a quick look back at the wines we featured last year.

Cassini Cellars 2009 Nobilus - Not Tasted
This wine has either yet to surface or was never produced.

Crooked Post Vineyard 2010 Pinot Noir - Delivered
An ever improving Pinot Noir that became the #1 searched wine on our sister site IconScores.ca.

Fairview Cellars 2011 Sauvignon Blanc - Delivered
This wine delivered as expected despite the sizable increase in production on previous vintages. SB proved to be a star grape of the cool 2011 vintage, it will be interesting to compare with the warmer 2012 vintage which will arrive in May.

Howling Bluff Estate Winery 2010 Summa Quies Pinot Noir - Not Tasted
Sadly we never got our hands on this wine and it has long since sold-out.

JoieFarm 2010 Reserve Chardonnay - Over-Delivered
This wine never disappoints, but the 2010 over-delivered cementing its reputation as one of a few premier Chards produced each year in BC.

La Frenz Winery 2009 Grand Total Reserve - Not Tasted
With no samples for critics and minimal need for distribution, La Frenz wines can be hard to get hold of unless you order direct or visit the winery. Sadly, we missed out on this one.

Stoneboat Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir - Delivered
Uber-consistent producer of Pinot did not disappoint and remains the best-valued Pinot Noir produced in BC. This wine will be distributed more widely in 2013 and much easier to find.

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2009 Oldfield Series 2Bench Red - Over-Delivered
Just missed out being the Icon Wine of the Year for 2012 and over achieved on the expectations front. Easily the most affordable "premium" blend on the BC market today.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Valentine's Day Wines

As we head towards celebrating a rather made-up "holiday", the annual ode to romance, our liquor store shopping habits tend to shift away from the usual towards the romantic with sweet and carbonated wines showing up in our shopping carts where normally a friendly, go-to dinner wine would be enough. Valentine's Day is an excuse to open a nice and celebratory bottle of wine and these are our three favourite categories:

Pink Bubbly
Often marketed as the perfect pairing for Valentine's Day and certainly undervalued as a dinner course companion, blush sparkling wine has many applications, the least of which is adding a bit of panache to any meal or celebration.

Chateau Des Charmes 2009 Rosé Sparkling Wine - $29
Produced in the traditional method with an off-dry palate bursting with cran-apple, cherry and nice yeast flavours all well balanced by mouth-watering acidity keeping the texture vibrant and refreshing.
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Summerhill Pyramid Winery NV Cipes Rosé - $30
Offers a nice mixture of fruity fun supported by an underlying richness which adds some depth and complexity. Gorgeous light cranberry hue makes for a lovely splash of colour on any table.
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Sweet Wines for your Sweetie
Treat yourself and the object of your desire to an equally elegant, intriguing and sexy wine whose only purpose in life is pure enjoyment. Whether it be a classic Sauternes, a fortified wine or Canadian royalty (icewine), sipping a sweet wine can be a passionate and sensual experience.

Château Bastor-Lamontagne 2007 Sauternes - $19
A good, entry-level Sauternes from the exceptional 2007 vintage (for white Bordeaux) which offers excellent value for money. Pair with a semi-sweet chocolate fondant cake for a sumptuous desert that will send you and your guest to frenzied sugar heaven.
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Cassini Cellars 2010 Moscato - $24
This charming, honeydew and spicy peach flavoured wine opens with a lovely nose of pecans, tangerines and violets and will compliment your favourite nutty pie or crème brûlée rather than compete with it.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series Kerner Icewine - $30
It's the juxtaposition of the sugary, fruit puree syrup and mouth-watering acid that makes for the uniquely icewine experience: an intense, lively texture, worth the price of admission.
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Worth a Splurge
A classified growth from Bordeaux doesn't necessarily pair with a great cut of beef any better than a quality Chilean Cabernet, yet Valentine's Day seems to amplify our inner voice that says "you deserve something special tonight." Treat yourself and your someone special to one of these beauties.

Stratus Vineyards 2009 Red - $44
This is not a "big red" blend but rather a nuanced wine offering layers of plum, blackberry, coffee grinds, green pepper and light tobacco characters. An altogether different wine than previous vintages yet recognizable by its impressive use of each varietal component.
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Painted Rock Estate Winery 2009 Red Icon - $54
A harmonious blend of 30% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and 1% Syrah delivering massive complexity and concentration that never overloads the dry palate rather evolves slowly in the glass to reveal layers of the flavour profile.
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Blackwood Lane 2007 The Referènce - $99
This attention to detail and use of elite components is all done to add complexity to the wine. Time must be taken with this wine to fully appreciate the complexity as it evolves in the glass revealing hidden layers and clues to its secrets.
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- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Friday, February 1, 2013

Monthly Picks: February 2013

February's big greeting-card-industry-promoted holiday is Valentine's Day, but wine suggestions for this event (or non-event for many of us) will be covered separately. This month we're going to focus on wines that may be in your cellar that you haven't tasted in quite some time.

Fairview Cellars 2008 Sauvignon Blanc - $20
This is a surprisingly well-preserved Sauvignon Blanc thanks, in so small part, to its Stelvin Cap enclosure. Age has developed a tasty unctuousness that wasn't present in 2009, making the palate more complex, though, the finish has suffered a little, ending sooner, yet still lingers with mouth-watering lime rind notes.
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SummerGate Winery 2009 Riesling Two - $20
At close to 4 years old, this impressive Riesling is still showing as youthful and energetic with the acid holding well and the mineral notes nicely intact. May hold past my original drinking window of 2011-2015, with the upside being more honeycomb characters on the palate.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2010 Viognier - $22
The 'yougest' wine on our list but one that has already developed beautifully. First tasted in October of 2011 and in the 15 months since has bloomed showing lush honeycomb and tropical fruit aromas and flavours balanced nicely by cool acidity and mineral notes. Delicious!
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Cassini Cellars 2009 Syrah - $34
Aging nicely with a deepening nose producing more toasted oak aromas within the still-developing bouquet. Palate is still maturing, moving from a bright mouth feel to a darker, denser one, yet, far from feeling tired.
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Stratus Vineyards 2007 Red - $44
Recently re-tasted alongside the 2009 vintage (an altogether different wine). The 2007 is just getting better and better and living up to the potential we lauded when awarding it our "Icon Wine of the Year" for 2010.
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