BC Wine Deal: Sep 4th, 2014

The following VQA wines have been reduced in price at your local participating VQA and BCLDB stores.

Ancient Hills Gewürztraminer was $18.90 is now $15.99
Arrowleaf Pinot Gris was $17.95 is now $16.95
Bartier Scholefield Red was $19.90 is now $16.90
Bartier Scholefield Rose was $18.90 is now $15.90
Bench 1775 Chardonnay was $18.90 is now $16.90
Bench 1775 Chill White Blend was $15.90 is now $12.90
Bench 1775 Sauvignon Blanc was $17.90 is now $15.90
Blasted Church Hatfield's Fuse was $18.50 is now $17.99
Bonitas Merlot Artist was $33.95 is now $29.95
Cedar Creek Ehrenfelser was $18.95 is now $17.95
Cedar Creek Pinot Noir was $24.95 is now $23.45
Daydreamer Rose was $22.00 is now $20.00
Desert Hills Cabernet Franc was $26.90 is now $21.99
Diabolica Red was $15.99 is now $13.99
Diabolica White was $15.99 is now $13.99
Gray Monk Odyssey Meritage White was $23.99 is now $18.99
Harper's Trail Gewurztraminer was $17.95 is now $16.90
Hester Creek Character White was $17.95 is now $15.95
Inniskillin Chenin Blanc was $16.99 is now $14.99
Inniskillin Dark Horse Meritage was $24.99 is now $21.99
Inniskillin Pinot Blanc Reserve was $13.99 is now $11.99
Jackson Triggs Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was $16.99 is now $14.99
Jackson Triggs Sunrock Meritage was $34.99 is now $29.99
Jackson Triggs Gold Series Merlot was $23.99 is now $21.99
Jackson Triggs Sauvignon Blanc Private Reserve was $13.99 is now $11.99
Jackson Triggs White Meritage was $19.99 is now $18.99
Kalala Harmony White Blend was $13.95 is now $11.95
Kalala 3 Cru Traveller was $19.87 is now $14.90
Kalala 3 Cru Wanderlust was $14.87 is now $11.90
Kalala Harmony Red was $15.95 is now $13.95
Kalala Pinot Gris was $16.95 is now $13.95
Kalala Zweigelt was $19.95 is now $13.95
La Stella Lastellina Rose was $20.85 is now $19.00
Le Vieux Pin Petit Blanc was $19.85 is now $17.00
Little Straw Tapestry was $17.90 is now $16.90
Lixiere Gewurztraminer was $19.90 is now $18.50
Mission Hill Five Vineyards Cabernet Merlot was $16.99 is now $15.49
Mt. Boucherie Gamay Noir was $15.50 is now $12.00
Paradise Ranch Cabernet/Merlot Late Harvest 375ml was $18.90 is now $16.90
Perseus Viognier was $21.99 is now $14.90
Prospect Fats Johnson Pinot Noir was $16.99 is now $15.99
Prospect Pinot Blanc was $13.99 is now $11.99
Prospect Pinot Grigio was $14.99 is now $13.99
Prospect Regatta Red was $14.99 is now $12.99
Prospect Riesling was $12.99 is now $11.99
Red Rooster Pinot Gris was $17.99 is now $16.49
Rigamarole Red was $14.99 is now $12.99
Rigamarole Rose was $14.99 is now $12.99
Sage Hill Gewurztraminer was $28.85 is now $27.90
Sage Hill Rose was $28.85 is now $27.90
Sandhill Pinot Gris was $18.99 is now $16.99
Sandhill Sauvignon Blanc was $18.95 is now $17.99
See Ya Later Belle was $18.99 is now $16.99
See Ya Later Chardonnay was $16.99 is now $15.49
Stag's Hollow Heritage Block 1 was $24.99 is now $22.99
Strut Red Over Heels was $13.99 is now $10.99
Strut Risque was $13.99 is now $10.99
Strut Well Heeled was $13.99 is now $10.99
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Chardonnay was $13.99 is now $11.99
Sumac Ridge Stellar's Jay Brut was $24.99 is now $21.99
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Gewurztraminer was $14.99 is now $12.99
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Merlot was $15.99 is now $13.99
Sumac Ridge Pinot Grigio was $13.99 is now $11.99
Summerhill Ehrenfelser was $19.95 is now $18.95
The View Red Shoe Pinotage was $16.40 is now $13.85
Thornhaven Pinot Gris was $17.90 is now $15.90
Volcanic Hills Gewurztraminer was $18.90 is now $17.90
Wayne Gretzky Cabernet Syrah was $17.99 is now $15.99
Whistler Merlot Late Harvest was $16.90 is now $14.90
Young and Wyse Black Sheep was $26.90 is now $23.90

Monthly Picks: September '14 - Summer Favs

With Summer coming to a close and the grind of Fall about to start, we pause to showcase some of our favourite wines of the season.

Nederburg Wines 2012 Winemaster's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - $13
Few Cabernet Sauvignon in the under $15 category produce as pleasant a nose as the Nederburg Winemaster's Reserve does. Vibrant blackberry, nibs candy and vanilla-coke aromas are supported by an even blanket of sweet, oak spice and blooming flowers.
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Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars 2013 Sauvignon Blanc - $19
Elegant and layered, this is a Loire Valley-styled Sauvignon Blanc with a kiss of subtle oak, whose but de la vie is to deliver scrumptious, mineral-infused, citrus fruit aromas and flavours via its engaging nose and refined, balanced palate.
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Bench 1775 Winery 2013 Glow - $20
Possibly BC's most Provence-like rosé on the market today, Bench 1775's Glow is a gorgeous, orangy-salmon colour and boasts lovely, delicate aromas of strawberry, nibs candy, pomegranate, raw honey and sweet pot-pourri.
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Serendipity Winery 2013 Viognier - $20
A lovely example of the Rhone Valley variety presented in a balanced, New World, fruit-forward style with plenty of tropical and orchard fruit complimented by mineral notes and the fullness of extended lees contact.
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J Vineyards and Winery 2013 Pinot Gris - $20
The palate is rich from malolactic fermentation and ripe melon flavours, not from oak ageing, and is nicely balanced by grapefruit and lemon peel acidity, resolving into a long, crisp finish with hints of light spice.
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Tinhorn Creek Vineyards 2011 Oldfield Series Merlot - $30
A sweetly scented, complex Merlot blended with 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Syrah that offers a developed bouquet of beautiful, pot-pourri, ripe blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and exotic chai spice aromas.
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Upper Bench Estate Winery 2012 Merlot - $30
Given time to breath, the nose opens up to reveal sweet-scented, floral and vanilla-oak notes above the layers of dark berry and cherry fruit. Delightful. The palate is full of texture, restraint and fine tannins with dense dark fruit flavours complimented by oak, mocha and mineral notes.
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Monthly Picks: August '14 - WOSA

For August's monthly wine picks post we're showcasing a few wines from South Africa. If you're not familiar with the well-priced wines of the Rainbow Nation, look for in-store tastings and special discounts in 60 BC Liquor Stores throughout BC from August 5th to September 1st.

Nederburg Wines 2012 Winemaster's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - $13
Few Cabernet Sauvignon in the under $15 category produce as pleasant a nose as the Nederburg Winemaster's Reserve does. Vibrant blackberry, nibs candy and vanilla-coke aromas are supported by an even blanket of sweet, oak spice and blooming flowers.
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Thelema Mountain Vineyards 2011 Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc - $14
This South African Sauvignon Blanc opens with a generous nose of crab apple, honeydew and lemon curd aromas. Pleasantly rich, thanks to extended lees contact, coating your palate with juicy melon flavours before the tangy citrus fruit and cool mineral elements cut through, leaving the finish dry with lingering citrus peel and spice notes.
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Flagstone 2012 Longitude - $14
Vibrantly intense, dark and red fruit aromas and fresh, Chocolate Mint notes greet you on the nose of this well-priced, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec blend (50%, 30% and 20%, respectively) from the Western Cape.
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KWV Winery 2011 Roodeberg - $14
The middleweight palate offers an easy-drinking profile of ubiquitous 'dark red fruit' and sweet oak, licorice and light spice flavours. Not overly complex or long, but decent balance and good "drinkability", especially for the under $15 price-point.
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The Painted Wolf Wines 2012 The Den Cabernet Sauvignon - $15
Bursts out of the glass with attractive blackberry, cassis, cola, menthol and oak aromas. Palate offers similar, juicy flavours until a wave of wild berry acidity floods the fruit, lightening the body, creating more of a middleweight Cabernet, better suited for spicy stews and leaner meats, than for thick, marbled steaks.
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Graham Beck Wines 2011 The Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - $19
Over-delivers for the price with a uniquely South African Cabernet Sauvignon blend of smoky incense, mocha and spicy plum fruit aromas on the feminine nose. Acid is quite fresh, keeping the mouth feel vibrant and alive, while graphite tannins help frame the fruit and add some structure. Finish is balanced, but moderate in length.
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