From one of my favorite Primitivo producers A Mano comes this newly released white, a screw-topped 50/50 blend of the indigenous varietals Fiano and Greco di Tufo.
A rich straw colour with gold glints the Bianco reminds me of my favorite lemon/lime Calippo ice-pops showing lime and sweet lemon, stone mineral and honeysuckle aromas. On the palate it's crisp on the entry with citrus zest then smooths out mid-palate with sweet herbal flavours and has a refreshing finish with lingering lemon-pepper.
Intriguing!
©copyright 2007 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 15th, 2007

From one of my favourite Puglian producers A Mano is this always delicious Primitivo. Very easy drinking and fresh, oozing blueberry, raspberry and blackberry liqueur aromas with sweet spices and tobacco notes. It's supple and spiced with soft tannins on the finish.
Easy access screwcap and perfect for a summer barbecue!
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 6th, 2008

A delight of honey, apple peel, stone fruit, fragrant floral, straw and mineral with a hint of almonds. It has fantastic acidity, fine bubbles and impressive complexity for the price. It also has a creamy mousse and leesy flavours with a zesty citrus linger.
This is a wine produced for, and served in Joseph Bastianich and Mario Batali's restaurants in the U.S. This is the first time it has been sold in Canada!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - November 3rd, 2009

This IGT blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Picolit is one of two of celebrity Chef Lidia and restauranteur son Joseph (business partner with Mario Batali) Bastianich's white wines currently available in BC Liquor stores.
It's a complex wine, golden in colour with loads of mineral, green pear and melon, honey, caramel and citrus. It has a nice weight on the tongue with plenty of caramel, oak spice and citrus flavours. The finish is crisp and minerally.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 21st, 2009

This stylish Sauvignon Blanc is a new offering from a winery owned by celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich and her restauranteur son Joseph (business partner to Chef Mario Batali). Mineral aromas set the stage, followed by melon and bright citrus, suggestions of toast, almonds, a hint of vanilla and savoury herbs. Lively, presenting crisp white fruits - the melon, almonds and citrus peel reappear on the palate. It has impressive complexity, a lovely weight and long snappy finish.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 9th, 2009

Great packaging!
The de Fuego is made from grapes from a 60-80 year old vineyard and has rich aromas of cocoa, ripe red berries and spiced cherry, earth and dark flowers. On the palate it has layered flavours of bitter chocolate, herbs, earth and tobacco.
An excellent value!
©copyright 2007 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - March 20th, 2007

This delicious100% Tempranillo sports a very impressive new label.
It is a very fragrant red with loads of cedar, dried flowers chocolate and rich, jammy cherry/berry aromas. It is a plush wine, oozing juicy purple fruits, cigarbox and sweet spices with hints of espresso. The finish is soft and lingers with a potpourri of spice, floral and cedar...
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 18th, 2009

This high altitude Monastrell entices and digs deep with smoky carob, dark earth and wild savoury herbs and pepper aromas but it doesn't lack fruit - cherry and berry with just a hint of licorice lift the nose. The palate is smooth and smoky, it presents layers of shaved dark chocolate, hazelnuts and rich berry flavours - it will never bore you!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 18th, 2009

A lush Pinot Grigio with creamy orchard fruit flavours, fresh mineral and stone aromas, citrus and herbs with just a hint of pretty white flowers.
©copyright 2006 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - October 17th, 2006

Long, one of my favourite, complex Pinot Grigio's the Bollini will entice you with aromas of apple and ripe pear, almond skin and spring flowers with gorgeous mineral tones. The palate is both creamy and crisp, the acidity fresh but not aggressive, the flavours are clean and the finish long...
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 15th, 2009

This newly arrived IGT Cabernet features aromas of cherries and loads of fine spice, saddle leather and chocolate with rustic undertones of sunbaked earth, tar and pencil shavings. The palate shows fantastic acidity and plenty of juicy cherries and spice, leather and tobacco. The texture is supple with fine tannins.
Pairs nicely with tomato dishes or fresh cheese.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - July 23rd, 2009

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

This patio perfect cocktail from Canella, Vento blends Canella Prosecco with the fresh juice of Sicilian Blood Oranges. The third of it's kind in the Canella portfolio (following Bellini and Rossini) I feel partial responsibility for the name "Mimosa" on the label...Last year during Vinitaly Lorenzo Canella asked me if what I thought of the name - in Italy Mimosa has a different conotation - I thought it was the best option in our market.
Juicy, low alcohol and fresh, the sweet/tart vibrancy of this cocktail will impress you and the hint of Prosecco bubbles gives it a fun lift.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 14th, 2009

Another patio perfect cocktail from Canella, Vento blends Canella Prosecco with the fresh juice and pulp of crushed strawberries. One of three of it's kind in the Canella portfolio alongside Bellini (peach) and Mimosa (blood orange).
Fragrant strawberries blended with a slightly bubbly Prosecco are a perfect summer combination - the acidity is fresh (less than the Canella Mimosa) and the alcohol low making it a great aperitif or refreshing afternoon sipper.
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 14th, 2009

A bubbly and an aperitif all in one!
Not a slushy-style Bellini but the more traditional style as served in Harry's Bar in Venice Italy. Bellini-in-a-bottle is made with real Canella Prosecco from Veneto, blended with local fresh white peach juice and pulp and a touch of raspberry juice for added colour. All natural - gently effervescent and peachy, peachy, peachy. Wonderful flavours and aromas, made for summer sipping.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - April 3rd, 2008

A clean, pale yellow colour with greenish glints-the Canella is a favorite WD Prosecco.
Zippy and fresh with citrus, apple skin and hints of white flowers, minerals and herbs. A creamy-stylish Prosecco with a delicate mousse...perfect sipping, brunch or with light appetizers.
©copyright 2007 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - June 28th, 2007

Dark garnet coloured with dried cherry and blueberries on the nose followed by cedar-wood, leather, earth and warm spices. Full-bodied and smooth on the palate with flavours that mimic its aromas adding hints of cassis, cocoa and iodine with bright acidity and fine tannins on the finish.
A very tasty blend of: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Garnacha.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - March 10th, 2008

It'll seduce you wilth its aromas - gobs of blueberry and raspberries smashed into chocolate, warm spice and blackberry undertones, vanilla and oak hints. Supple and sweetly ripe with spiced vanilla and mocha with just a hint of bacon fat on the tail. Lifting acidity and supple tannins...You'll wonder if you should drink it or slather it on...
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - February 25th, 2009

Another fantastic vintage for this fruit forward Barossa blend. Made from Shiraz with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon it smells of blackberry jam and sun-warmed blueberries, sweet vanilla and mint chocolate patties with espresso and cigarbox. The palate is opulent, oozing juicy purple berries, bittersweet chocolate and leather with fine, peppery spices. Ripe tannins on the finish with flavours of roasted coffee beans lingering.
Delicious, and $5 less than last vintage!
©copyright 2009 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - September 22nd, 2009

Dense ruby/purple in colour with gobs of ripe mulberry aromas, mint and savoury herbs, chocolate and spiced mocha. Plush - supple and laden with blueberry and mulberry flavours, spices and cocoa. Great structure and acidity, polished tannins with lingering espresso and spice on the finish.
©copyright 2008 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Diva reviewed - December 5th, 2008