Saturday, October 5, 2013

Monthly Picks: October 2013

In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October. For the US, it's November. The origins, too, are different, but the modern day traditional meal and cultural experience are quite similar: family, friends and food. Our Monthly Picks list for October is focused on perfect pairings for the ultimate Thanksgiving meal, no matter when you celebrate it.

With Turkey

Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir - $22
Deep, dark cherry and stewed plum aromas patrol the toasty oak nose supported by savoury sage and light spearmint notes. On the dry palate are pleasant, baked raspberry and cranberry flavours with savoury and earthy notes flowing through to the long finish. Mild-mannered tannins and refreshing acidity structure the palate nicely.
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JoieFarm 2011 Gamay - $25
A nicely rounded example of the spicy, juicy and funky Gamay grape offering impressive depth on the nose with wild raspberry, white pepper, stewed plum and cherry cola aromas. The palate follows-up with fresh, vibrant acidity, mild, fine tannins and a flavour profile that ranges from wild, alpine fruit to savoury notes like cured meats and smoked cedar.
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Stag's Hollow Winery 2012 Grenache - $30
Brimming with layers of aromatic flowers, sweet spice and a medley of ripe, red fruit aromas on the sensual and feminine nose. The palate offers amazing continuity - the wine truly tastes like it smells - rich, feminine and complex with concentrated red fruit creating the perception of light sweetness through to the long, balanced, rounded finish.
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With Ham

Chateau Des Charmes 2011 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay - $14
Lovers of toasty, buttery Chardonnay look no further, this barrel fermented example offers all the big peaches'n'cream aromas you crave at the impressive under $15 price point. Has the richness to stand-up to the sweetness of ham dishes.
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La Frenz Winery 2012 Alexandria - $20
Peach, apple, apricot, citrus and stonefruit aromas and flavours round-out the profile of this joyous, off-dry wine suitable for Sunday brunches or dreary Winter nights when you're dreaming of the warmth of Summer.
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Erath Winery 2012 Pinot Gris - $20
Sourced from multiple vineyards and then blended to deliver a Pinot Gris with beautiful orchard fruit and light floral aromas on the nose followed by a dry palate with an even balance of rich, apple and pear flavours to vibrant acidity. The finish is long and tangy with hidden citrus and spice elements completing a refreshing experience.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

BC Wine Deal: October 2nd

The following BC VQA wine prices have been reduced for September. Find them at participating BC VQA wine shops and BC Liquor Stores.

Andrew Peller Merlot was $14.99 is now $12.99
Andrew Peller Pinot Blanc was 12.99 is now  $10.99
Calliope Figure Eight was $17.95 is now $15.90
Cedar Creek Ehrenfelser was $18.95 is now $17.95
Cedar Creek Pinot Noir was $24.95 is now $23.45
Inniskillin Cabernet Sauvignon was $16.99 is now $14.99
Inniskillin Pinot Blanc Reserve was $13.99 is now $12.79
Inniskillin Pinot Noir Reserve was $18.99 is now $17.79
Jackson Triggs Reserve Riesling was $13.99 is now $11.99
Jackson Triggs Viognier was $13.99 is now $12.49
Kalala 3 Cru Wanderlust was $16.90 is now $14.90
Mission Hill Chardonnay Five Vineyards was $14.99 is now $13.99
Mission Hill Pinot Gris Reserve was $19.99 is now $18.99
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Pinot Noir was $18.99 is now $16.99

Open Merlot was $14.99 is now $8.99
Open Sauvignon Blanc was $14.99 is now $8.99
Perseus Merlot was $21.99 is now $19.99
Prospect Merlot/Cabernet was $14.99 is now $13.99
Prospect Pinot Blanc was $13.99 is now $12.99
Prospect Riesling was $12.99 is now $11.99
See Ya Later Pinot Gris was $19.99 is now $17.99
Stag's Hollow Sauvignon Blanc was $20.00 is now $14.99
Sumac Ridge Sauvignon Blanc was $13.99 is now $11.99
Summerhill Baco Noir was $24.95 is now $22.95
Tinhorn Creek Gewurztraminer was $18.49 is now $17.49
Wayne Gretzky Chardonnay was $15.99 is now $13.99
Wayne Gretzky Merlot was $17.99 is now $15.99

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Great Grenache

In honour of International Grenache Day on Friday, September 20th, we pay tribute to the unsung hero of the wine world, with an exploration of Grenache based wines coming out of the Okanagan Valley in recent years via Okanagan Falls producer, Stag's Hollow. As well, we offer up a few selections from traditional Grenache-producing regions around the world.

Stag's Hollow Winery has been trending towards Rhone Valley inspired wines for a number of years now. With the release of BC's first-ever 100% Grenache wine, this 'trend' has become more of a full-on devotion. The new release, sourced from vineyards in Penticton and Cawston during the hot 2012 vintage, shows that Grenache is viable in the Okanagan Valley when the site of the vineyard has been appropriately selected and the vintage conditions oblige the sun-loving grape. Future releases, not matching this select criteria, will go a long way to proving Grenache's long-term viability in the Okanagan Valley. Time will tell.

Below are our notes on Stag's Hollow's recent wines exploring the many facets of Grenache's personality.

A Solo Act
Stag's Hollow Winery 2012 Grenache - $29
Drinking this Grenache is pure joy. Brimming with layers of aromatic flowers, sweet spice and a medley of ripe, red fruit aromas on the sensual and feminine nose. The palate offers amazing continuity - the wine truly tastes like it smells - rich, feminine and complex with concentrated red fruit creating the perception of light sweetness through to the long, balanced, rounded finish.
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The Blending Partner

Stag's Hollow Winery 2009 Cachet No. 02 - $50
Released under Stag's Hollow's premier label, Cachet Wines, this beautiful Grenache-Syrah blend opens with a feminine nose of crushed violets, potpourri, dried cranberry, spiced oak and sweet red fruit. The complex and intense palate needs more time in the bottle for the rich red fruit, savoury characters, bright berry acidity and fine tannin elements will meld together further and evolve as expected over the next 2 years.
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Grenache Blanc
Stag's Hollow Winery 2011 GVM - $28
Consisting of  63% White Grenache, 22% Viognier and 15% Marsanne, this charming wine offers a subtle nose layered with citrus fruit, savoury herbs and Asian pear aromas. The palate explodes with a textural battle between the mouth watering effects of fresh acidity and the mouth coating qualities of rich tropical fruit and light tannins.
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Around The World
Domaine Saint-Damien 2010 Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes - $22
Opening with a pungent and powerful nose of meaty, forest floor this fabulous Côtes du Rhône gem may overload the sense of some wine drinkers. However, those willing to to be patient with the wine to open up and then venture forth will be handsomely rewarded.
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Xavier Vins 2009 Gigondas - $32-36
Gigondas, from the wine buyer's expectations perspective, should fit somewhere between quality Côtes du Rhône and entry-level Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Xavier offering fits the bill. A masculine Gigondas with spicy garrigue, cedar, dried plum, berry fruit and loads of river stone mineral aromas.
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Château de Beaucastel 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape - $90
An unmistakable Chateauneuf expression of concentrated, rich dark fruit, warm rock, garrique and tobacco characters. The opulent, ripe fruit is balanced nicely with crisp acidity and presented in the ultra-fine, silky smooth manner we expect from the iconic Château.
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Cellar Besllum 2008 Montsant - $20
Mustn't forget the lovely Grenache of Spain where the grape is known as Garnacha. This offering, a blend of equal parts Carignan and Garnacha, has plenty of character on the layered nose and smooth palate. Smoke, cured meats, strawberry, cranberry and leather make up an eclectic mix of aromas for the developed bouquet. The dry palate will open up beautifully when decanted properly, producing an array of flavours, similar to the nose, with added bitter chocolate, ripe red fruit and savoury spice notes.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca