Named for the left (or Gauche) bank of Bordeaux, La Gauche is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Malbec that has been aged in French oak barrels for 19 months.
It is an intense wine with layers of ripe black raspberries, plums and cherries with hints of green olive, spice, dark chocolate and cigarbox. The palate is rich and full with flavours of dark fruit, spicebox, chocolate and mineral-rich earth. Very nice acidity with fine cocoa tannins clinging to the finish.
Well done.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 24th, 2010

As one of British Columbia's premium icon wines, Nota Bene has virtually become more famous than it's maker, Black Hills. There is little doubt this wine deserves praise for its power and concentration, but also for its consistency.
Made from similar quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 11% Cabernet Franc, the 2008 reflects its Cabernet base with potent cassis and green olive aromas layered with spicebox, dark plums and tobacco leaf. The palate is supple with lush black fruit, mocha and plenty of spice. It is nicely balanced and smooth across the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 20th, 2010

The punchbowl vineyard called Pewsey Vale is located far above the Barossa Valley Floor in Eden Valley. Standing on the lip of this wonderful hidden oasis and scanning its undulating rows of vines I wondered just how Joseph Gilbert stumbled upon it in 1847 and had the foresight to plant vines on this revered site. Thankfully he did and today Pewsey Vale still produces fantastic wines like this taut, fragrant Riesling. When you dive in, it offers aromas of lemon marmalade and honeysuckle with soft talc and mineral notes. On the palate, it is a mouth-watering liquid with lemon drop and honey flavours, the finish is long, pristine and bright.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 20th, 2010

This is a delicious, concentrated Cabernet with aromas of black currants and ripe black plums, spiced dark chocolate, vanilla and tobacco with a savoury core of roasted herbs and black olive. The palate is lush and supple with an earthy seam throughout - dark berries, warm mocha, spice and tobacco leaf flavours lead to a chocolaty finish. A firm, full wine with a smooth finish.
Blended with 4% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 1% Syrah that spent 18.5 months in French and American oak.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 19th, 2010

Released in June, this is a fantastic first vintage Syrah for Laughing Stock Vineyards. It is made in a northern Rhone-style (Syrah blended with a small amount of Viognier like the field blends in Cote Rotie) and is simply elegant.
Meaty, savoury and spicy aromas layered with black berries, leather, tobacco and dark earth, it has a very bloody (sauvage) hint to it too. The palate presents sweet, spicy berry flavours with dark chocolate and espresso lingering across the finish. Lovely balance, smooth and juicy...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 9th, 2010

Mission Hill's Select Lot Collection Syrah may need a bit of more time to mature but it will not disappoint. Still very youthful it presents aromas of dark chocolate, plums and wild berries, espresso and dark, mineral rich earth. The palate follows suit; it is dark, earthy and concentrated with savoury tones and plenty of hot spices.
Expect a powerful wine with fine, firm tannins.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 9th, 2010

An impressive, concentrated Zinfandel with a bit of age to smooth it out.
Sweet, sunwarmed berries, spice and chocolate aromas are echoed on the palate. It is dense, weighty and warm with nicely balanced acidity and a long smooth finish.
Made from CCOF certified organic grapes, this wine will pair well with spicy meat dishes and aged cheeses.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 27th, 2010

This little brother to Le Grand Vin Osoyoos Larose is quite brawny. Aromas of black fruits and plums, a layer of dried fruit and dark chocolate, espresso and spice with sunbaked earth and a savoury, meaty core. Concentrated but not supple with dark earthy flavours to echo the aromas - coffee and cocoa, tobacco and spice with fine, tight tannins across the palate. The acidity is obvious, the flavours are dense and the finish is lengthy.
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 6th, 2010

This British Columbia based winery makes sure you know what the story is by stating produced and cellared in New Westminster BC with grapes from the USA on their front label.
The wines are all very impressive - especially this Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blend. It is undeniably opulent and succulent with aromas of maraschino cherries, sweet spices and rich chocolate with toffee notes. The palate is concentrated with dense berry/cherry, espresso and cocoa flavours, it is luscious and smooth leaving a trail of spice lingering on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 16th, 2010

A job done well on this Rhone Valley-style white blend of Marsanne & Roussanne it has aromas of pear and melon, stone fruits, honey with light herbal tones and plenty of minerality.The palate is ripe and creamy with impressive power - expect flavours of melon and orchard fruits, a hint of pine and layer of herbs with citrus peel and spice lingering on the finish. There is obvious oak with caramel and vanilla flavours meant to round out the wine and add creaminess.
387 cases made.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 9th, 2010

From Italy's east-central coast, this fantastic blend of Marche's traditional Montepulciano with Sangiovese also has a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure. You can expect alluring kirsch and licorice aromas, vanilla, chocolate and warm, sweet spices. It is stunning on the palate, full-bodied and dense with ripe berry/cherry flavours, chocolate and espresso flavours. This is a supple, weighty wine with lovely acidity and a long smooth finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 8th, 2010

The Naramata Bench estate Nichol Syrah is impressive to say the least with its ripe red fruit and savoury meaty aromas, wild herbs and minerals with spice-rub and just a hint of blueberry. The palate is juicy and it has very good structure. The palate echoes its aromas with berries and spice, grilled meat, tobacco and roasted herbal flavours. An elegant wine with a long, smooth finish that will pair well with aged goat cheese or game.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 7th, 2010

This blend of 52% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc comes from La Stella's sustainably farmed vineyards in the South Okanagan.
Expect very ripe aromas of chocolate and blackberries, cherry and vanilla with hints of cranberry and espresso. Its a rich wine, weighted on the palate, brooding and smooth with flavours that echo its aromas of cherries and chocolate, cranberry and spice with hints of leather. Its a lengthy wine with a smooth texture and is a great pairing with aged cheeses.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 2nd, 2010

The 2007 is a little bit more restrained than the 2006 Foxtrot, but I would take either vintage and be quite happy. Having reached almost cult status, the Foxtrot Pinot Noir from the Naramata Bench, continues to be sought by collectors and fine restaurants in BC.
It is a solid wine, presenting aromas of cranberry and raspberry, hints of beetroot and sagebrush, forest floor and minerals with fine spice and cigarbox notes. The palate is silky with a fine, powdery texture, fantastic acidity and great length. Fine tannins cling to the finish.
550 cases made, just starting to be released April 2010 - Very good.
*Owner Torsten Allander recommends cellaring for 6 months up to a decade.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 29th, 2010

From Quails' Gate's premium lineup, this bold Chardonnay was fully barrel fermented for one year in first second and third use barrels. And it shows with rich caramel and spice, buttery apples and melon aromas. The palate is a rich and creamy mouthful of sweet but spicy oak flavours, pralines and clove with citrus peel flavours lingering on the finish.
Pair with a rich, nutty risotto, smoked cheeses or creamy chicken and corn casserole.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 28th, 2010

Balthasar Ress was one of my favourite visits during a 2008 German wine tour - the wines are consistently delicious too.
The Hattenheimer Schutzenhaus is a mouthful to say and a joy to sip. Expect aromas of slate and green apples, honey, spring blossoms and bright citrus. On the palate it is off-dry but is balanced with lively acidity and tangy lemondrop flavours.
Pair with sushi, spicy Indian dishes or tangy cheeses.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 27th, 2010

A very impressive wine from what is considered a prime Malbec growing region in Mendoza - Lujan de Cuyo, this extracted wine hails from low-yeild, high altitude 40 year old vines.
Intense aromas of black cherry, berry and chocolate, prune and mocha with mineral notes and undertones of roasted meat and dried herbs. Dense and succulent in the mouth with concentrated berry flavours, molten chocolate and dried fruit with espresso powder, vanilla and fine spices. Fine, ripe tannins cling to a lengthy finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 15th, 2010

This "once-off" Proprietor's Private Release Shiraz has some built in cellar ageing done for you. It spent an amazing 60 months in new Nevers French oak and only 5 barrels were made.
The aromas are alluring - gobs of sweet berries, cocoa, forest fruit and crushed, dried herbs with savoury pepper and spice rub undertones. Supple and succulent on the palate, plenty of nice acidity still and lovely balance. It is laden with black fruits, char, roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavours with pepper lingering on an extended finish.
Impressive!
*Leopard Frog is owned by Vancouver Island native David Bates who now resides in South Africa.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 12th, 2010

A succulent Amarone, the Accordini is thick with aromas - cherry and dried fruit, molten chocolate and sweet spice with roasted hazelnut, toffee, a hint of banana and a dense, earthy core. Expect loads of spice, cocoa and rich berry flavours, it is full on the palate with nice acidity to brighten it up. It is dark and decadent - savoury flavours of herbs, roasted espresso beans and smoked, meaty tones hang on the finish. Nice depth, a pleasing chewiness with supple tannins on the finish.
Pair it with rich meat dishes or with hard aged cheeses, after the meal.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - March 18th, 2010

An impressive first vintage for this Bordelais-style red blend from one of BC's newest wineries. Made from estate grown fruit, the Red Icon is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
Plush black cherry and berry aromas, cedar and coffee gounds, hints of crushed dark flowers and dried herbs, vanillin oak and just a whiff of jalapeno. The palate is powerful - concentrated fruit, leather, tobacco and spice flavours - the entry is velvety but the tannins are young and grippy. There's a lot of great acidity in this wine to keep it bright but a couple more years in the cellar wouldn't hurt.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - March 11th, 2010

Made solely from Signorello Vineyards Napa Valley Estate fruit, this fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon (blended with 18% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc) is sexy to say the least.
Enticing aromatics - rich cassis and sunwarmed raspberry, saddle leather and graphite, shavings of dark chocolate and dried tobacco leaf. It is a potent wine, rich and almost brooding - it layers silky fruit, molten chocolate and espresso, warm spice and hazelnut flavours. A concentrated wine, chewy and lush with powdery tannins and fine spice lingering on the finish.
Bravo!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - March 3rd, 2010

A BC favourite, the Burrowing Owl Merlot presents voluptuous aromas of ripe cherry and rich chocolate, vanilla, sweet spices and mint tea. The palate is fresh and smooth with plenty of juicy fruit and fine, espresso, mocha flavours and bittersweet cocoa flavours lingering on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 3rd, 2010

This is a concentrated Syrah for those who like to sink their teeth into their wine!
Gobs of blackberries and rich black cherries swimming in chocolate, a suggestion of dried fruits, tobacco leaf and sweet, lifted herbal notes. The palate is dense, thick and chewy with smoky cocoa, loads of chocolate, espresso and dark berry flavours, savoury, peppery spice rub and meaty hints - the finish grabs hold with dry, firm tannins.
A forthright wine, not for the meek.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - January 21st, 2010

A chic, powerful and complex Champagne, the 2000 vintage Cuvee has plenty of crisp orchard fruit - apple, pear and citrus aromas - sweet spice and ginger with a doughy/yeasty core. On the palate you'll find fantastic vibrancy, a super fine texture, creamy mousse and nutty/toasty flavours bound tightly in bright tree fruit. The finish is clean and elongated.
Pairs extremely well with creamy cheeses and sweet, fresh shellfish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 15th, 2009

It's hard not to gush over such a fantastic bottle of wine but the Dom Perignon Cuvee Rose,1998 is worthy.
It's a lovely pinky-salmon colour and is a fragrant potpourri of cedar, summer berry and crushed floral aromas followed by peach stone and sweet anise spices. The texture is seductive, creamy and weighty with fantastic complexity and mixed berry, citrus peel and spice flavours. The finish is almost unending...
This is the kind of elegance that draws fans of great Champagne to pay for wine of this stature.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 15th, 2009

One of the new release from Mission Hill's Legacy Series is primarily Merlot with 19% each Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon with 10% Petit Verdot. It has bold, juicy aromas of wild berries and plums dark flowers, mocha and vanilla with savoury herbs and grilled bell pepper undertones. There is plenty of ripe berry fruit and bittersweet chocolate on the palate. Expect good concentration and balance with a powdery texture throughout and a long dark finish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 7th, 2009

This titled 'pretty' Pinot Noir from Le Vieux Pin releases savoury, rustic notes of cherries and sadlle leather, sunbaked earth and cigarbox with undertones of forest floor and fine spice. the palate is silky, the flavours echo the aromas - leather and cherries, cedar and spice. It's a concentrated Pinot with fairly dominant tannins on the finish.
Old world in style but very masculine.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 3rd, 2009

This "made and cellared in Canada from USA grapes" (clearly stated on the front label) Cabernet has the addition of 18% Merlot to flesh it out.
Spicy blackcurrent aromas take the lead followed by rich dark earth, chocolate and a hint of prune. The palate is powerful and focused but still bright, it has plenty of cedarbox and spice flavours with firm, chewy chocolate tannins on the finish.
Despite the age, this wine could still use some cellar time, or decant and serve with some hard aged cheese or dense protein dishes.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 17th, 2009

A well-made blend of 41% Syrah, 32% Merlot, plus equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc this premium will impress.
On the nose expect assertive black cherry and briary berry aromas, vanilla and clove a hint of crushed flowers and allspice with savoury and herbal undertones. The palate texture is quite supple. Expect plush cherry and plums, vanilla and espresso with spicebox flavours lingering on the finish. The tannins are ripe and still chewy, the finish is long and chocolaty...
You could drink now, but it would benefit from 6 months to a year more in the cellar.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 5th, 2009