Last week was the first IVSA event for the wine, beer, and spirits trades people to find out about the newest bottles to arrive in BC. Here are 12 different wines from around the world that I thought were quite good. Enjoy them in 2018!
White Wines
Saget La Perrière M de Mulonniere Anjou Chenin Blanc, 2016, Lore Valley, France – Chenin Blanc is one of the white grapes that I wish more people knew about. It has a nice mouthfeel, typically stone fruit flavours, sometimes honey too. Chenin Blanc is a wine that goes very well with food. This wine has a very light stone fruit plus honey on the nose. It is fuller bodied and off-dry. Tasty peach, honey, almond and minerality on the palate. I noted that the fruit flavour explodes when you first sip it and then gently tapers off. Very good quality! 
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Saget La Perrière Domaine de Terres Blanches Sancerre Blanc 2016, Loire Valley, France – Sancerre as a quick geography lesson is on the eastern edge of the Loire Valley and is known for producing Sauvignon Blanc. In this bottle, the Sauvignon has a light green fruit nose. Its dry, roundish, with medium plus body and acidity. A blend of citrus, stone fruits, and green fruits up front, with an herbal component toward the finish. The flavours are light, which is different from a Sauv Blanc from New Zealand, where the flavours are very pronounced. If you like a more subtle Sauvignon Blanc experience, give this wine a try.
FYI: Saget La Perrière also produces La Petite Perrière Sauvignon Blanc and La Java Des Grandes Esperances Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, which are also quite good and I rate at 
– The Saget La Perrière wines are spec and come in cases of 12 bottles.
Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2015, California – has 7% Semillon in the blend. The wine is very aromatic, with lime, jalapenos and a smoky component. Medium body and acidity, with a continuation of the lime, jalapeno and a touch of smokiness. A bit of roundness due to the aging in oak barrels. A Sauvignon Blanc with finesse.
Barnett Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay 2016, California – Toasty oak, caramel and tropical fruit on the nose, with more on the palate, along with vanilla and sweet spices. On the tropical fruit side, I mainly picked up ripe pineapple on the palate. Full-bodied. This is a classic oaked California style.
Moreson Mercator Chardonnay, 2013, South Africa – A complex nose, with a blend of floral, apple and vanilla. Medium body, round, thick and soft mouthfeel. Light oak and tropical fruit, along with nutmeg spice. Medium acidity. Understated elegance.
Grand Bateau Blanc, 2016, Bordeaux, France – Yes Bordeaux produces white wine. It is typically a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. This bottle is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It has a light intensity aroma of green nettles and lime. Light bodied, dry, with flavours of green fruits, lime and a hint of nutmeg at the finish. Medium acidity. Very elegant.
Red Wines
Medici Ermete Concerto Lambrusco Frizzante 2015, Italy – Lambrusco is a red grape that is used to make a sparkling wine in Italy. If you have not tried a Lambrusco before you should. Lambrusco is made in Emilia-Romagna, which is in the central part of Italy where Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto ham. The bubbles and acidity to Lambrusco pairs nicely with the saltiness of the ham and cheese. It is also a good pairing with other fatty foods, and I have been told, pizza. This wine is a deep, bright ruby colour. The nose has a sourness to it, and fruit flavours covering red cherries, red apples and raspberries. It is dry, with higher acidity and medium tannins. Sour red fruit and apples on the plate. Light, small bubbles; more of an acidic prickle on your tongue.
Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2014, California – The Russian River Valley is a cooler region in southern Sonoma County. Perfect conditions for a cool climate grape like Pinot Noir. This wine has a very pretty nose, showing floral, red fruit and sweet spices. It is dry, light bodied, and light tannins. Flavours of red fruit, red cherries and nutmeg. Some pepperiness as well. A very balanced wine, between the fruit, acidity and tannins. Delicious. –
Vigneti Zabu Nero d’Avola 2016, Italy – The Nero d’Avola grape is an indigenous variety that is grown in Sicily. It produces a very deeply coloured red wine. Nero is black in Italian. This wine has a light raspberry and nutmeg aromas in the glass. It is medium bodied, round with ripe red fruit, in particular raspberry, flavours. Medium acidity and soft tannins. A really easy sipper. –
Il Poggio Monsanto Chianti Classico 2011, Italy – Nice light red fruit nose. Medium bodied with light mouthfeel. It is quite spicy tasty. Red fruit with a hint of vanilla and oak. Firm tannins. A very good quality wine, but I’d age it for 5-10 years before drinking it. –
Renieri Brunello de Montalcino 2012, Italy – Light, soft vanilla and red cherry on the nose. Medium plus body, round and dry, with firm tannins. Flavours of ripe sweet red cherries, red fruits, and vanilla. Dry, tannic finish. An excellent wine which can age easily 10+ years.
Kono Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand – An interesting nose of tea leaves, or ganja, along with red cherries. Medium body, dry with red cherries and more tea leaves / ganja flavours. Mineral streak as well as some pepperiness. Interesting nose and flavour.
