With September, comes the new season of tasting wines which have arrived in British Columbia, through the IVSA. There can always be found wines from every corner of the world, and also beer and spirits too. My wine picks come from across the world, and I hope you have a chance to try them sometime soon. Where I had the info, I put the prices and availability in the BC Liquor stores, or private stores.
White Wines
- Hunter’s Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2013 (SPEC, $19.99) – Nice sweet fruit, gooseberries and some herbal notes on the nose. Off-dry to start but finishes dry, this wine has a light body & acidity. Light citrus and green flavours on the palate, with some jalapeno pepper taste later on. An elegant Sauvignon Blanc.
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Darioush Napa Valley Viognier 2013 Colli di Lapio Fiano di Avellino, Italy, 2011 (SPEC, $19.99) – Fiano is a white grape from Southern Italy, and Fiano di Avellino is a DOCG within the Campania region of Italy. I enjoyed the stone fruit and honey aromas. This wine is light in body and acidity, and very smooth in your mouth. Stone fruit with a whiff of red cherries to taste. Peppery finish together with some minerality. Definitely an interesting wine to try.
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- Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, 2012 – If you want to try a very flavourful, classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, here is a good example. Very much green peppers and jalapeno peppers on the nose. Dry with high acidity and very bright green flavours.
Rating: - Darioush Viognier, Napa Valley, California, 2013 – Nice honey and peach nose. Medium-plus body, with a round, unctuous feel on the tongue. Light sweet spices, peaches and apricot flavours. Very nice.
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Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2013 Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, 2013 – It looks like September is the month to bring in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This is the third one I marked down as a favourite. The Loveblock has nice gooseberry and celery aromas in the glass, which lead to the palate. Dry and round with medium acidity. You get jalapeno peppers later on and support from a mineral backbone. Very good.
Rating:- Oops Sauvignon Blanc, Chile, 2013 (SPEC wine, $14.95) – This wine is a new label here from Vina Undurraga. It has a very playful label and should entice people to try it. It has a medium intensity gooseberry nose. Medium body with gooseberry and green pea flavors, followed by capsicum and jalapenos. Peppery on the tongue along with a streak of minerality.
Rating: - The Royal Chenin Blanc, South Africa, 2013 – Waxy, lemony nose. Dry with medium roundness, and nice minerality. Pears and honey on the tongue. Some pepperiness on the finish. Not a bad sipper that feels substantial in your mouth.
Rating: - Canella Prosecco Superiore di Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG (SPEC wine, $24.99) – In case you didn’t know Prosecco is a sparkling wine from Italy. This one has a light citrus nose. Dry with a light body and high acidity. Nice creamy bubbles in your mouth which lead to ripe apple flavours.
Rating: - The Furst Pinot Gris, Alsace, France, 2012 ($27.99) – This wine pours very thick from the bottle. It has light honey and stone fruit aromas. Off-dry and soft in the mouth; light stone fruit flavours together with honeycomb in the background. Finishes dry. Quality.
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Red Wines
Rickety Bridge Foundation Stone 2013 Rickety Bridge Winery Foundation Stone, South Africa, 2013 (One Time Buy, $19.99) – A red blend of 38% Shiraz, 23% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre, 9% Tannat, 8% Grenache, and 2% Viognier (the last one is a white grape). Quite a blend! It has an intense, smoky, dark fruit nose. You pick up the Cinsault on the nose. Nutmeg, ripe berry fruit, and plums on the palate, together with some chocolate. Dry with medium body. A fun wine to enjoy with something grilled.
Rating:- Cambria Julia’s Vineyard, Pinot Noir, California, 2011 ($29.99) – Nice nose, with jammy, ripe berries. Medium body, soft and dry, with raspberries, cherries, and some flowers. Nutmeg on the finish.
Rating: - Torreon de Parades Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, 2012 (SPEC, $18.95) – A bit of barnyard funk and dark fruit on the nose. Nutmeg and ripe raspberries in the mouth, followed by ripe dark cherries and chocolate. Fuller bodied. Some pepperiness.
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Belle Glos Pinot Noir Dairyman 2012 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Dairyman, Russian River Valley, California, 2012 ($42.99) – Nice red cherry nose together with some sweet spices. More nutmeg on the palate together with red cherries. Soft tannins. This is a very tasty Pinot Noir.
Rating:- Trapiche Gran Medalla Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina, 2010 ($22.99) – Ripe plums and cassis on the nose. Fully body, with ripe, jammy, black fruit flavours. Dry, with firm tannins to dry out your tongue, while cherry flavours dance above. Dry finish. Pair with cheddar cheese.
Rating: - Poderi Dal Nespoli “Il Nespoli” Sangiovese di Romagna DOC Superiore Riserva, Italy, 2010 ($22.99) – Light woody and red cherry aromas. Medium body, dry with red cherries and some spice. This wine get more peppery the longer it lingers in your mouth.
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