Great balance of superb aromatics, weight and acidity.
The newest release from Black Hills is this fragrant Viognier - front loaded with orangeblossom, stone fruit and exotic spice notes followed by undertones of fresh baked cookies, sandalwood, lemondrops and mineral. The palate is slick, peppery and spiced with brulee and citrus flavours, the finish is long and fresh.
Well done!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 8th, 2010

A fresh, verdant Sauvignon Blanc with a fantastic price tag.
Aromas of nettle, grass clippings and gooseberry, green papaya and passionfruit with a whiff of jalapeno. There is a hint of sweetness on the palate and it is not a shy wine - it's loaded flavours of nettle, snap peas and citrus peel that linger through the finish.
A very affordable crowd-pleaser.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

Great value!
A wine to pair with hearty meat sauces or rich tomato based pastas this is a delicious one with seductive aromas of warm, sweet black raspberry, roasted herbs and chocolate with very appealing notes of violets and cedar chips. The palate is supple, weighty and smooth - layered with dark chocolate, berries, spice and tobacco. The finish wraps up with savoury herbal flavours and fine, powdery tannins.
A blend of: Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Carmenere and 15% Syrah
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

This chewy blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Carmenere and 15% Syrah features savoury aromas of dark berries and roasted herbs, plenty of spice, mocha and a hint of bell pepper. The palate is supple, it's medium-full bodied with flavours of espresso and leather, dark fruits and grilled meat with toasted oak and green olives.
It is a hearty wine that is meant to be paired with hearty roasted meats or rich stews.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 9th, 2009

Only 180 cases of this delicious Pinot Noir were made, so check your local private wine stores quickly.
Abundant aromas - black raspberry and cherry, dry earth and spices, savoury herbal notes, coffee liqueur and a hint of beet greens. Nice complexity and structure on the palate with plenty of berry, cocoa and espresso flavours.The finish is powerful but the tannins are supple and it lingers with roasted spice and char flavours.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

An earthy Pinot Noir (more old world than new) that launches with aromas of rhubarb, sous bois (forest floor) and tart red berries with beet greens and roasted coffee beans. It is vey smooth on the entry, similar coffee and tart red fruits cross the palate; it is light-bodied with fine, firm tannins and a long, warm and slightly bitter finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

Fresh!
Aromas of green apple and citrus with hints of jalapeno, sweet herbs and flinty mineral notes. The palate is tart and clean, the flavours echo its aromas, layering fresh apple and green fruit/herbal flavours.
Very good value in a NZ Sauvignon Blanc!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

When I think about wines with charm, this one certainly springs to mind.
Expect aromas of pristine fruit - pineapple, white peach and pears, spring blossoms and a whiff of honey. It has just a faint prickle or vivace on the tongue and nice layers of sweet fruit, toasted spice and citrus peel. Creamy in the mouth with lovely weight and a long, smooth finish.
Very good!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

From Dunham Froese's certified organic estate vineyard, this very tasty Sauvignon Blanc is generally blended with other white varieties, but this vintage was so good, they knew they had to show it off!
It releases a fruit cup of aromas with creamy honey and undertones of sugar snap peas. On the palate the lovely sweet fruit continues, it is lively but with a slightly creamy edge and has a crisp zesty finish. It is a wine worth seeking out in private stores in British Columbia.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

This is a plush Pinot Noir with enticing aromas of black raspberry and cherries, coffee, cocoa and warm spices with hints of tobacco. It is fresh in the mouth - supple and sweet with similar berry/cherry and mocha appearing on the palate. It is also a mouth-filling Pinot with the liqueur-like intensity of coffee and kirsch - it has fine grained tannins and a long, smooth finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

An affordable and charming wine, this Semillon and Chardonnay blend presents aromas of melon and honey, lanolin and citrus with a smoky core. It has nice concentration and clings to the palate; there are plenty of toasty flavours layered with lemon, herbs, melon and spice. The finish is long and zesty with hints of lemonbalm.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 7th, 2010

This easy-drinking white blend from Australia's Canonbah Bridge Estate has loads of citrus peel aromas, honeycomb and minerals with guava. On the palate, the fruit pops - clean and crisp with great acidity and some tropical and citrus juice flavours.
A refreshing, affordable white for any occassion!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 14th, 2009

A compilation of leather and fresh cherry aromas with violets and cigarbox. The palate is juicy and lively with layers of red berry and cherries, tobacco and fine spices. Lovely acidity and fine tannins make for a perfect (and affordable) dinner wine. Pair with pastas, slow cooked meats or creamy taleggio cheese.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 6th, 2010

Winemaker Michael Bartier blends: Kerner, Gewurztraminer, Schoenberger, Muller Thurgau and Pinot Gris into this Riesling dominant white. And, he has outdone himself with this vintage; it is shamelessly aromatic offering lychee, stone fruit and tangerine peel notes, honey and apples, exotic blossoms and ginger. The palate is slick, nicely weighted on the tongue and slightly sweet but nicely balanced with mouth-watering acidity. Expect very nice concentration and a long, pristine finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 30th, 2010

Perhaps Vancouver PR and marketing maven Chris Coletta did go a little "haywire" when she and her partner purchased an old orchard in Summerland in 2005 and eventually becoming garagiste winemakers. But this just released, 168 first vintage cases of Pinot Gris shows a good, honest wine with an abundance of pretty aromas. It is a pristine fruit-cup of melon, Bosc pear and honey with spring blossoms and a hint of minerality. The palate is delicate, it is crisp and light with nice pomelo citrus and tree fruit flavours, the finish is long and clean.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 30th, 2010

I met Roger Wong several years ago - just after he started making wine at Gray Monk in Lake Country (just beyond Kelowna). I had been a huge fan of his private label Focus Riesling - a sturdy (un-Riesling-like) bottle with its crown cap topper. Well, Roger has delved in again, this time he is partners at the nearby Intrigue Wines. It is a busy time for a guy with two very young sons and a full time job (which he loves) at one winery while he manages to produce at his own. And as a heads up to those of you who remember (and loved) the Focus Riesling...it may return.
His Riesling is bright and crisp - fresh lemon and lime and tart apple with hints of stone fruits and honey blossoms. A very balanced kiss of sweetness makes the apple, apricot and citrus flavours pop. Nice concentration with a lovely slickness on the palate and a clean, crisp finish.
Well done.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 30th, 2010

This Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a solid wine at a very approachable price.
The aromas won't disappoint - darkfruits like black berries and plum, sweet chocolate and tobacco leaf. The palate is firm but juicy with layers of dark fruit, spicebox, cocoa and tobacco. Nice complexity with fine, grippy tannins on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 24th, 2010

A decadent but fresh Barossa Shiraz with sweet and smoky aromas of bleuberry, blackberry, sweet mint and espresso, fruitcake spice and leather with hints of cigarbox and dark earth. The palate is sweet and lush with great acidity to balance the layers of berry, spice and coffee flavours. Soft tannins on the finish and a long mocha linger...
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 24th, 2010

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

Made from estate fruit on Howling Bluff's Naramata Bench property this wine presents aromas of marzipan and creamed honey, musk melon and vanilla. Tart fruit leads the palate followed by melon, grass, marzipan and citrus peel flavours that are spiked with acidity.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 24th, 2010

This is a delicious wine with all the elements you desire in a balanced Riesling; appealing aromas of peaches and tangerine peel, lemon drops and honeysuckle flowers. There is kiss of sweetness in the mouth but with plenty of lively citrus flavours to balance it. It's fresh, has very nice concentration and a snappy finish. A wine that will pair nicely spicy vegetable samosas.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 24th, 2010

A delicious everyday Cotes du Rhone (the wines from here offer very good value), that has plenty of sweet berry, cherry and floral aromas, leather and earth with a layer of herbs and sweet spices. The sweet fruit and floral aromas are echoed on the palate - it has lovely acidity and a firm, smooth texture - fine spicebox flavours linger on the finish.
This simple yet elegant red is made primarily of Grenache with a bit of Syrah
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

NEW!
With the popularity of Malbec in Argentina, the birthplace of Malbec (also known as Cot or Auxxerois) in Cahors France, now wants to claim some of its recognition. The winery where Rigal is produced has been making Malbec here since 1755 and has developed this new label to bring a modern twist to an old variety...
This wine is predominantly earthy - cocoa, sunbaked earth, sweet dark chocolate and mocha rounded out with berry flavours. The palate follows suit with spicy black fruits and earthy flavours. It's medium to full-bodied, has a powdery texture with loads of acidity and cocoa tannins on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

A solid value blend that smells of mixed berries, grilled herbs and green olives with mocha and smoked spice. The palate is supple and spicy, concentrated and quite powerful with layers of blackberry, mocha and oakspice. You can chew on this wine or just pair it with roasted meat or mushrooms in a creamy herb sauce.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

This very affordable Chardonnay is toasty - roasted spices, browned butter and grilled pineapple with hints of nuts and fresh lemonbalm. The palate is fresh and juicy, flavours of pineapple and citrus are bound in a rounded, slightly creamy palate - the finish is bright and zesty.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

A new package on a old favorite!
This De Bortoli Family Selection red blend has obvious sunwarmed wild berry and eucalyptus aromas, chocolate, vanilla and a mineral/saline core. Sweet ripe fruit dominates the palate - notably juicy blueberry and raspberry - sweet spices and chocolate with a hint of tobacco. Supple and generous with a smooth lingering finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

An affordable Carmenere - great for hearty weeknight dinners or barbecues.
Smoked black cherry and plummy aromas, sunbaked earth, charred spices and a meaty/savoury core. The palate is firm with good intensity - flavours of espresso, cocoa and spice with a gamey layer. It has a powdery texture, some nice acidity and spicebox flavours on the finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 23rd, 2010

This fresh, easy Sauvignon Blanc sparkler will impress you with its solid varietal character.
The aromas are of crisp citrus fruits, nettle and fresh herbs, green apples and delicate floral notes with a hint of honey. A hint of sweetness on the palate is balanced by lively acidity and flavours of citrus and tart green apple are wrapped in a moussy mouthful of bubbles. The finish is smooth and with a citrus peel finish.
Good value!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 22nd, 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

And for you Riesling drinkers who like just a bit more honey in your glass, the Gehringer Classic Riesling offers peach jelly, ginger and candied citrus peel aromas. It is full and quite ripe in the mouth with loads of pink grapefruit and gingery flavours that lead to a long and zesty finish.
Samosas dipped in spicy peach/ginger chutney will pair nicely with this wine.
Another good value Gehringer Riesling!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 20th, 2010

I really love the delicate aromas in this wine...the soft honey and peach with more obvious gala apple and floral notes are very appealing. Iit is crisp, dry and light-bodied with bright lime and grapefruit flavours - finish is long and zesty but not aggressive. Perfect served with agadashi tofu or rice topped with a spicy peanut/curry sauce.
Excellent value!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 20th, 2010

For those who prefer their Rieslings tart and zesty, this bracing version is a glass-full of mineral, lime oil, marmalade and petrol aromas. It has a lovely weighted palate with check-sucking acidity and taut flavours of lime. Very good value and it will make a nice pairing with ceviche or poached fish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 20th, 2010

It seems to me that all of the Gehringer Rieslings are great value, but this Private Reserve at only $15 is not only my favorite of the trio but is an excellent value.
The aromas in this one are quite taut - mineral, vibrant citrus and green apple with a hint of apricot. The palate is an echo of tart fruit - snappy green apple and citrus peel with honey. It is a very dry style with bracing acidity and a long crisp finish that will pair well with light fish dishes.
©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 delightfully delicious and robust organic Pinot Gris that offers aromas of crisp apple and pear slices, melon and honeysuckle with a citrusy core. It is not bone-dry, but the sweetness is balanced with lively acidity. Flavours of ripe, fleshy fruit and hints of spice are impressive and the finish is lengthy. It also has very nice concentration (which is apparent and compliments of low yields) and weight in the mouth.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 19th, 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

Californian Sauvignon Blancs tend more toward fruit and floral as opposed to the nettle, cut grass and asparagus characteristics of their New Zealand counterparts.
The Charlotte's Home releases sweet melon and nectarine, spring blossoms and lemon balm aromas. The palate is tart and citrusy with a creamy edge and similar layers of melon and crisp nectarine. It is very clean with lovely weight and a mouth-watering finish - very tasty!
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 19th, 2010

This rustic, organic Chianti (a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino Toscany) will pair well with tomato based pastas or a platter of salami and antipasto.
Cherries, raspberry and black pepper aromas are layered with saddle leather, spice and dried herbs. Similar juicy red fruit appears on the palate with cocoa, earthy flavours and savoury spices. The texture is dusty, fine, granular tannins linger from start to finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 18th, 2010

An utterly charming red wine made from Sicily's indigenous Nero d'Avola grape.
It is a wine brimming with sweet cherry and grapey aromas, crushed violets and plums with hints of cedar and vanilla. The palate echoes those juicy berry tones with spiced cocoa, dark earth and espresso flavours. It is quite potent and chewy, but very tasty and it will pair nicely with rich meats, hard cheeses or hearty, rustic Sicilian caponata.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 17th, 2010

Here is an old world wine that will impress you with its intensity and bright character.
Vibrant aromas of black raspberry and cassis, spicebox and cedar, tobacco leaf and sweet spices. It is smooth on the entry and on the finish, the mid-palate has a slightly powdery texture and it is layered flavours of dark berries, spice and tobacco.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 17th, 2010

This is a simple savoury red, a dinner wine that will not empty your wallet.
Aromas of spiced cherries, smoke and dark earth with bittersweet chocolate. The palate echoes those spiced cherries and chocolate aromas, the texture is a bit dusty but it has great acidity and a smooth finish.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 17th, 2010

Winemaker Charlie Wagner makes his Silver Chardonnay in it's purest form - with no oak contact. It is 100% Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay that he makes in concrete vats. And, in what I think is a brilliant move, Charlie is releasing the 2008 vintage in gorgeous, gray ceramic bottles that represent those very concrete vats where the wine is made.
It is surprisingly golden in colour with rich, caramel and leesy notes woven with honeysuckle, mineral citrus, melon and pineapple. The palate is rounded and creamy with tropical fruit and melon but layered with crisp citrus flavours and followed by a long bright, lightly spiced finish.
Should be arriving in September 2010
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 12th, 2010

Here is a nice Cotes du Rhone that is perfect for simple, rustic meals.
It has aromas of sweet cherry and dusty red berries, leather, earth and hints of tobacco that lead to a juicy palate. Fresh, tasty and uncomplicated with firm powdery tannins and a spicy linger.
©copyright 2010 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - August 9th, 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