November 16 2006
Cover Story
(Cornucopia-Tales from the inside of a bottle)
Canadian Wine Reviews
International Sips
Taste Bites
(Vancouver: Curry-in-a-hurry, Toronto: New-Globe Bistro)
Wine Diva-isms
(Of course, its so obvious...from football to wine)
International Wine Reviews
White
Hardy's Riesling Gewurztraminer, South Eastern Australia, 2005- A great
combo for white wine lovers! The aromatics of Gewurztraminer with the crisp
acidity of Riesling. Aromas of apple, white flowers and spice, citrus on the
palate with sweet clove and cardamom spices. Lovely lady lush on the tongue,
warm and generous with a long white grapefruit-y finish.
Excellent value!
$9.99 BC
(+448548 UPC
#09311043006791)
Wine Diva
tasted-November 14 2006
White
Rudolph Muller, Riesling-Chardonnay, Pfalz
Germany, 2004-
This intriguing German blend combines the freshness of 51% Riesling and the body
of 49% Chardonnay to achieve a mineral rich, smokey wine with ripe peaches and
blended orchard fruit. Warm, rounded and lightly spiced on the tongue with crisp
citrus and petrol. This wine is a good winter option to your lighter summer
Riesling's.
Wine Diva tasted
- November 4th, 2006
$11.99 BC
(+305417) UPC #04006542013665
Red
Man Vintners Shiraz, South Africa, 2003-Smoked
plums, char grilled game meat aromas, dark earth and black cherries. An inky red
wine with toasted oak, dried fruit and bittersweet chocolate. Soft tannins and a
hint of fresh acidity. A meaty Shiraz!
Wine Diva tasted -
November 5 2006
$12.99 BC CSPC
(+139915) UPC #06009669350444
Red
Tormaresca Neprica, Puglia Italy, 2004-Wine Diva
has been so impressed with the Tormaresca wines since first reviewing the Paiara
Rose early last summer then the Paiara Rosso late summer. The
Neprica is no exception. The name is a cheeky derivative from the actual
varietal blend NEgroamaro, PRImativo and Cabernet. It
has the requisite Italian rustic-ness of spice, leather, tobacco, red fruit,
chocolate and earth with a dusty finish. Like most Italian wines
the Neprica is a wine made for food!
$13.99 BC (+612036)UPC
#08026530000039
Wine Diva
tasted-November 11 2006
Red
Hardy's Nottage Hill Shiraz, Australia, 2004-Dark floral and
aromatic with herbs, sweet black cherries and blackberries and whiffs of sweet
oak. Smooth mocha, sweet spice and liquorice on the tongue with a soft
finish. Nice, easy drinking Shiraz.
$13.99 BC $12.60 ON
(+#375964) UPC #09311043050084
Wine Diva tasted - November 5 2006
Red
Lasira 'VF' Costieres de Nimes, Rhone France, 2004- This recognizable
wine with its VF logo is a lovely food friendly wine with black cherry and
spiced berries, leather with a hint of savoury herbs and tobacco.
$13.99 BC (+126029) UPC
#00631470000759
$10.95 ON (+669184)
Wine Diva tasted - November 9 2006
White
Virgin Vines Chardonnay, California, 2004-Butterscotch! Creamery butter
and melon-a voluptuous nose-full of candy and tropical fruitiness. Smooth and
velvety on the tongue, not too much oak and a sweetly spiced vanilla smoothness
that would be nice with medium creamy cheese, avocados and walnuts. Great value
for the price!
$14.99 BC
(+214023)
$13.95 ON (+19598) UPC #00082896047192
Wine Diva
tasted-November 14 2006
Red
Simonsig Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Stellenbosch South Africa, 2004- Intense
meaty aromas, black fruits and herbs. Charred , earthy flavours, with ripe
fruit, dark chocolate and leather in the mouth finishing with savory spices.
Needs to be paired with rich grilled and roasted dishes of equal intensity.
$15.00 BC (+186840) UPC
#00742598334005
ON (+520569)
Wine Diva
tasted-November 8 2006
White
Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio Verduzzo delle Venzie, Veneto Italy, 2005- This
refreshingly lush blend of Pinot Grigio and Verduzzo has bright citrus and ripe
orchard fruit surrounded by mineral, grassy/herbal and stone aromas. Fresh
yet oily on the palate it's intriguing aromatics of spice and apricots translate
through into taste. A unique wine worth hunting down and checking out. Food or
sipping this wine will impress!
$16.99 BC (+244681)
UPC #08002062001652
Wine Diva
tasted-November 11 2006
White
Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Sauvignon
Blanc, California, 2005- I would have thought if tasting this wine blind I
had a glass of fresh New Zealand Sauv Blanc. Lovely bouquet with aromas of
tropical fruit, chalky mineral, orchard fruits, gooseberry and grass. In
the mouth it's clean and tropically 'sweet' with hints of banana and finishes
crisp and clean.
Lip-smacking good!
$19.21 BC (+349647)UPC
#00081584130406
$17.95 ON (+459442)
Wine Diva
tasted-November 9 2006
Red
J Bookwalter Red Wine "Lot 19", Columbia Valley Washington- Intense sweet
blackberry and black cherry aromas, fresh obvious mint and a hint of pepper. A
smooth creamy and fresh mouthful of bright fruit. A sweetly rich wine,
perfect for Wine Diva's!
$19.99 BC (+523514) Private wine stores
Wine Diva
tasted-November 11 2006
Red
Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Pinot Noir, California, 2004-Old world
Burgundian style with the freshness of a new world Cali. Juicy berry and sour
cherry aromas, leather and earth with sweet spices and tobacco. Lovely balance
and acidity. Wine Diva calls this a wine
to dine (my choice, some mushroom pate and some Tomme de Savoie cheese).
$23.99 BC (+314252) Private wine stores
$21.95 ON (+657940) LCBO
Wine Diva
tasted-November 9 2006
White
Zefina 'Serience
White', Columbia Valley Washington, 2004-Zefina is owned by Corus
Brands which has vineyards in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Plantings in the
spectacular Alder Ridge vineyards in the Columbia Valley began in 1997 with
varietals such as zinfandel, Rousanne, Viognier, Sangiovese and Syrah to name
few. The Rhone-style blends are Serience White (Rousanne & Viognier) and
Serience Red (Grenache, Syrah, Counoise) Brimming with tropical fruit, peaches,
honey, minerals and orange blossoms with a round mouth-feel and crisp clean
finish. The Serience never dissapoints!
$33.95+ BC (+98418)
Wine
Diva tasted - November 9th, 2006
Red
Valdivieso Eclat, Maule Valley Chile, 2002- A blend of
50% Carignan, 43% Syrah and combined 7% Merlot and Malbec this is a bold and
masculine wine with smoked cherries, dark chocolate, earth and spice. In the
mouth bright sour berry, dark fruit, game meat flavours and tight chewy
tannins. Well structured, this wine will hold up to several years more of
cellaring...if you are so inclined!
$34.99+ BC (+296376) Private wine stores
Wine Diva
tasted-November 7 2006
White
Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc, Sonoma California, 2005-Aromas
of sweet tropical fruit, grass and hints of caramel. In the mouth
fresh mineral and stone with citrus, baking spice and toasty oak.
An elegant Sauvignon Blanc.
$27.99 BC (+354993)UPC
#00742651121191
Wine Diva
tasted-November 9 2006
White
La Chablisienne, 1er Cru, Cote de Lechet, Burgundy France, 2002-
Creamy pear and wonderful chalky minerals with hints of stone fruit, citrus
and white flower aromas, a beautiful Chardonnay that is a nice reprieve from new
world Chardonnay styles. A wine to impress your guests or give as a gift.
$37.99 BC (+366609)
UPC #03333241100961
Wine Diva
tasted-November 9 2006
Note-many of the La Chablisienne wines are available in Ontario LCBO
Red
Masi Costasera Amarone Classico, Veneto Italy, 2003-Bright cherry, lifted
fruit, hints of dark flower petals and a warm boozy aroma. Rich sweetish fruit,
smooth and velvety with baking spices and tobacco. The perfect Christmas
gift for wine geeks.
$43.99 BC (+317057)
UPC #08002062000051
Wine Diva
tasted-November 10 2006
Red
Valdivieso Caballo Loco N°7,
Chile-A concentrated and
potently aromatic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec.
At a recent tasting the N°7 was one of my favorites mostly due to
the addition of the lovely Malbec. The Caballo Loco label wines are not
vintage bit a continuous blend adding new vintages to small amounts of previous
ones creating a complex and unique wine. Chocolate, sweet cola
spices-intensly clove, blackberries and plums. Rich and boozy in the mouth,
smooth with integrated tannins and a long addictive finish.
$48.99 BC
(+396259)UPC #07802180089256
Wine Diva
tasted-November 7 2006
Red
Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2003- Plums and big juicy red berry aromas. Rich smooth and lush with creamy fruit
flavours and sweetly spiced mocha. Gorgeous, cohesive structure with solid
tannins on the finish. A truly impressive Cab.
$80.10 BC (#828541)
UPC #00626990052937
Wine Diva
tasted-November 10 2006
Go To Next Section
November 16 2006
Cover Story
(Cornucopia-Tales from the inside of a bottle)
Canadian Wine Reviews
International Sips
Taste Bites
(Vancouver: Curry-in-a-hurry, Toronto: New-Globe Bistro)
Wine Diva-isms
(Of course, its so obvious...from football to wine)
