Tag: Black Sage Bench

These are probably my last two BC red wines for me to taste in 2023.  The wines come from the Church & State Wines.  I have their Church & State Wines Cabernet Franc 2019 and Syrah 2019. While the winery started on Vancouver Island, they do make wines from Okanagan-sourced grapes as well.  The Cabernet Franc comes from the terraces…

Here are two musical compositions in wine from BC’s High Note Estate Winery.  Cadenza Red Blend 2021 (of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon) and Verismo Syrah 2021.  Wonderful wines to share with family and friends for the holiday season.  Let me tell you about these wines. My Wine Tasting Notes High Note Estate Winery Cadenza Red Blend 2021…

Sparkling wines are always appreciated.  They pair with many dishes and can be enjoyed on their own.  I have two traditional method sparkling wines from Church & State Wines.  A Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2018 made with Chardonnay grapes from their Black Sage Bench vineyard and a Gris de Noirs Brut 2019 made with Pinot Noir grapes from their…

BC makes some excellent Syrahs receiving accolades from foreign critics, as well as from me! I have two Syrahs made by Scorched Earth Winery, their Syrah 2018 and guilty pleasure Syrah 2016 (now Reserve). They are two different Syrahs in style and intensity.  They do mention on their website that their vineyard is organic and that they produce wines with…

Are you ever Nostalgic about something in your past?  Your favourite home cooked meal by your mom?  How your lap-dog or lap-cat would sit with you till late while you were studying for exams?  I and a few other wine media and Trade people had a virtual seminar with Nostalgia Wines about their wines and history. Gina and Sheila For…

The CheckMate Artisanal Winery is a project by the von Mandl family, who established the Mission Hill Family Estate Winery.  Mission Hill won the Top Chardonnay in the World in 1994 at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.  Their Chardonnay and Merlot vines, some which are now over 40 years old, are being used by CheckMate. As in…

BC’s father daughter team of Harry McWatters and Christa-Lee McWatters-Bond have collaborated to produce two lines of wine lately; Evolve Cellars and McWatters Collection.  For me Evolve Cellar’s wines are meant to be young and fresh and easy to drink, while McWatters Collection has more structured wines that you can put in your cellar for many years and enjoy. I…

Big deals seem to be happening often this year.  The latest deal was the purchase of a 63-acre vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench owned by C. C. Jentsch Cellars by Phantom Creek Estates. The vineyard was planted to Cabernet family varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec), Viognier, and Syrah. C.C. Jentsch Cellars, a family-owned winery, will continue to farm three estate…

This is a copy of the press release I received about their upcoming events in Vancouver. Enjoy! ~~~ Black Hills Estate Winery‘s 2014 Nota Bene wine will be available to the trade and public across BC on September 1st. This limited-release Bordeaux-style wine will be celebrated in Vancouver with a succession of events from August 28-31, including winemaker dinners, seminars,…

I first wrote this article in August 2015 when these 2 wines were first released during a walk about food & wine tasting, but then in the Fall I received a bottle of each wine again at home to re-taste. Since August, approximately 4 months have elapsed till this re-taste.  Both wines are under screw cap, so did the aromas…