November 30 2006

Cover Story  (Counting Bubbles)
Liquid Dessert (Fortified, Icewine, Rarities and B-sides)
Bubble Reviews (From every corner and for every budget)
Taste Bites  (Chocolate Wishes and their Partners in Wine)
Wine Diva-isms  (Tis the season-and I'm a sucker for it!)

Fortified
                       Icewine
                      Rarities
                                                              and B-sides

 

Fortified

Pellegrino Marsala Superior Garibaldi Dolce, Sicily Italy, NV-I'm often amazed at how few people have tasted Marsala. Such a shame missing out on these unique Sicilian wines with their warm, oxidized flavours and extremely attractive price points. The Pellegrino Dolce (sweet) has a  velvety shade of amber-tobacco with enticing aromas of butterscotch, dried fruit and roasted coffee beans, creamy sweet and ultra-smooth on the palate with a warming spicy glowing finish.
Chocolate: pure dark, orange ganache filled, nut clusters, spiced chocolate
Cheese: Blue veined, strong, aged and crumbly
$12.99 BC 375ml (+411256)
Wine Diva Tasted-November 23 2006
 

Pellegrino Marsala Fine, Sicily Italy, NV- The Pellegrino Fine has the same glorious amber-tobacco shade as the Dolce but is less sweet. Sour cherries, dried figs and raisins with a lingering smoky aroma. Creamy smooth in the mouth, sherried flavours, lovely weight with a long spiced vanilla and caramel finish.
Chocolate: pure dark, orange ganache filled, nut clusters, spiced chocolate
Cheese: Blue veined, strong, aged and crumbly
$14.99 BC 375ml (+265439)
Wine Diva Tasted-November 23 2006

Quails' Gate FVF (Fortified Vintage Foch), Okanagan BC, 2003-
A favorite at a recent Juiced Wine Group chocolate and wine tasting. The FVF made from the BC-centric Marechal Foch grape has unique smoke, tobacco, dried fruit, mocha and earthy aromas, deep intense flavours with reserved sweetness that doesn't overwhelm the palate.
Chocolate: Quality 70%+ dark chocolate or Purdy's dark chocolate nut clusters. Also tasty with Hedgehogs or Hagensborg 'Truffle Pig' Bars in Mocha flavour!
Cheese: Strong, aged/crumbly and blue veined
$19.99 375ml Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-November 7 2006

Ferreira Late Bottle Vintage Porto, Portugal-Nothing warms a Wine Diva up like a glass of Port in the cooler months. The Ferreira is sweetly dense and chewy-almost fruitcake-like. It clings to the glass and coats the tongue. Aromas of dried cherries, hints of cocoa, leather and cedarbox . Sweet earthy and rich on the palate, it warms your mouth before sliding down your throat and warming your tummy!
Chocolate: Pure dark, Creamy milk chocolate ganache, Chocolate with orange ganache
Cheese: Blue veined, strong, aged and crumbly, creamy
$16.49 375ml BC (+61978) UPC #05601007425633
$ 18.95 750ml ON (+675751)
Wine Diva tasted-September 2006

                                                        (For more chocolate pairings see Taste Bites)

Graham's Six Grapes Vintage Character Port-
With its Rich purple/red hue the Six Grapes has a bright  fruitiness not found in vintage Porto's. Vintage Port is meant to be aged and therefore the character changes, leaving more intense dried fruit, tobacco and leathery aromas. Besides, the Six Grapes price is right-especially if you haven't been stocking your cellar with vintage! Ripe black berry and dark tree fruit aromas are primary but there are definitely dried fruit and sweet baking spice aromas swirling around. Concentrated flavours, sweet, warm, rich and spicy perfect for the holiday season.
Chocolate: Dark chocolate, nut clusters, Thomas Hass truffles in dark or milk chocolate or ganache filled dark chocolate squares.
Cheese: Strong, crumbly and blue veined, creamy
$ 26.99 750ml BC (+208405) UPC #05010867400245 
$14.94 375ml BC (+299727) UPC #05010867400481
$ 19.95 750ml ON (+208405) UPC #05010867400245 
Wine Diva Tasted-November 23 2006


Quinta Do Noval Late Bottled Vintage Port, Portugal 1999- For the price, this  LBV is a bargain. Its a perfect gift bottle-ready to drink now so you might want to convince the receiver to crack it open and share it with you.
Lush ruby/garnet hued with aromas of exotic dark flowers, dried cherry and honey roasted nuts with whiffs of cedarbox and tobacco. Smooth, sweet and thick on the tongue with a tease of spiced vanilla leading a long warm finish. Delish!
Chocolate: Pure dark, Creamy milk chocolate ganache, Chocolate with orange ganache, spiced chocolate
Cheese: Blue veined, strong, aged and crumbly, creamy
$31.99 BC (+570374)
AB (+70031)
MB (+855932)
Wine Diva Tasted-November 28 2006

Peter Lehmann The King, Barossa Valley Australia, 1996- Who says Port-style wines can only be made well in Portugal? The King (well named) is a fortified Port-style dessert wine made from Touriga Nacional (classic to Port), Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a knock-your-socks-off potent wine. Purely masculine and highly aromatic with a deep tobacco-red colour, it had loads of cola-spice aromas, hints of eucalyptus, ripe dark fruits, rich earth and sweet vanilla oak and cedar aromas. On the palate the King is concentrated with dried fruit, sweet spices and smoked tobacco. Watch your hand, this King has a few aces up his sleeve. Long live the King!
Chocolate: Pure dark, Creamy milk chocolate ganache, Chocolate with orange ganache, spiced chocolate
Cheese: Blue veined, strong, aged and crumbly, creamy
$35.00+ (+299958) Private wine stores
AB (+299958)
MB (+299958)
Wine Diva Tasted-November 28 2006

(For more chocolate pairings see Taste Bites)

Icewine

Inniskillin Vidal Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2004- Vidal is much more recognizable in  Ontario where it's more prominent. In BC its far more rare but certainly a very nice alternative to Riesling. The Vidal grape is a hybrid with rather neutral flavours but it responds well to becoming late harvest and Icewine. The Inniskillin Vidal has delicate woodsy aromas with sweet herbs, exotic blood orange and vanilla. In the mouth is has a soft texture, sweet but crisp with a warm baked spiced apple finish.
Chocolate: Spiced chocolate,  sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's Hedgehogs. (see Taste Bites)
Cheese: Yes!
$52.54 375ml BC (+558452) widely available
$52.50 AB
                                    Wine Diva Tasted-November 25 2006


Peller  Estates Private Reserve Trinity Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2004- Trinty-meaning three and in this case a blend of Vidal, Riesling and Ehrenfelser. A sparkling golden-yellow shade, the Trinity has honeyed aromas of tropical fruit, apricots, pears in syrup, orange blossom and baking spices. Sweet and silky, slippery on the tongue with flavours of sun ripened blood oranges, vanilla and candied citrus peel. A triple treat!
Chocolate: Spiced chocolate,  sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Yes! Especially blue veined
$54.99 BC (+199752) BCLDB and Private wine stores
Wine Diva Tasted-November 29 2006

Peller Estates Ehrenfelser Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2004-A beautiful golden hued liquid, oozing aromas of exotic spices, quince, tea leaves and honey. Wowza-fresh, thick and and zesty in the mouth with candied citrus peel, mandarin, ginger and vanilla soaked apricots. The finish is a smooth stroke of smoke and sweet warm spices . Layer upon layer of sweet, complex flavours-well done!
Chocolate: Spiced chocolate,  sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Yes! Especially blue veined.
$59.99 (+ 425975) Private wine stores and Kelowna winery
Wine Diva Tasted-November 29 2006

                                                      (For more chocolate pairings see Taste Bites)

Nk'Mip Qwam Qwmt Riesling Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2005-
Nk'Mip has been producing some of Wine Diva's favorite BC wines in their rather youthful (but prestigious) life. The Qwam Qwmt (aka Q2 in case you cannot pronounce it) label is Nk'Mip's top tier and winemaker Randy Picton chooses only the best for the Q2 series. The Q2 Riesling Icewine is one of the most elegant I've tasted. Oodles of apricot and roasted apples, hints of classic riesling petrol aromas and beautiful lifted kumquat citrus. Yellow hued with golden glints it's crisp, not too sweet on the tongue with a long clean finish.
Chocolate: This Icewine loved the spiced chocolate I sampled with it, as well as the sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Yes!
$60.00 BC 375ml (+988535) BCLDB and Private wine stores
Wine Diva Tasted-November 25 2006


Jackson-Triggs Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2005-Lovely aromatics abound in this golden coloured Icewine. Apricots lounging in honey, Earl Grey tea and honeysuckle flowers on the nose with luscious peachy and zippy sweet citrus. Thick and oily textured in the mouth, especially in the mid-palate but not cloying and the finish is long, smooth and clean.
Chocolate: Spiced chocolate,  sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Yes!
$60.00 375ml BC (+597120) Private wine stores and winery
Wine Diva Tasted-November 25 2006

 

Mission Hill SLC Riesling Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2004-Simply lovely! I was tasting this Icewine with Tim Keller from Rare one restaurant in Vancouver. Both of us had the same silly smile on our face as we tasted and agreed that we always forget how good Icewine can be until we taste it again. The second time was with a stupendous BC cheese plate on the Terrace at Mission Hill and combined with the view-heavenly. The SLC is as richly flavoured as it is coloured oozing with with baked apples, honey, peach/apricot marmalade and sweet lemon tea. Unctuous and sweet but with a nice dose of acidity and a long warmly spiced finish.
$79.99 (375 ml) Private wine stores and winery
Wine Diva tasted-June 7 2006/July 11 2006

Peller Estates Pinot Noir Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2004- Icewine made from red grapes is still a surprise to many people. The one thing Wine Diva finds is that they tend to have  bolder structure and a hint less sweetness (actual or perceived?). The Peller Estates Pinot Noir Icewine is a gorgeous amber colour smartly housed in a clear bottle. It has warm and earthy aromas of dried berries and figs, smoky wildflower honey, warm spices and a hint of cedar. Smoky, toasted nut flavours with lovely sweet tobacco, clove studded oranges and cinnamon sticks. The finish is captivating-evolving and like the energizer bunny, it just keeps on going....
Chocolate: Spiced chocolate,  sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's Hedgehogs. (see Taste Bites)
Cheese: Yes! Especially blue veined.
$79.99 (+725325) Private wine stores and Kelowna winery
Wine Diva Tasted-November 29 2006



Claar Cellars Late Harvest Riesling, White Bluffs Washington, 2003-Not an Icewine, but a wine made from grapes harvested later than those for table wines. Honey preserved apricots and peachy aromas. A hint of classic Riesling petrol aromas and minerality. Sweet, not cloying but refreshing with a nice clean finish. Nice balance and body. Perfect size for a gift basket or a dinner party for four.
Chocolate: Sweet ganache filled truffles and Purdy's milk chocolate Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Yes!
$20.00+ 375ml (+311753) Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-November 7 2006

Rarities

Cocchi Barolo Chinato, Piedmont Italy NV-Sometimes even
 Wine Diva is speechless. This is one of those things that
must truly be tasted to be understood. Roberto Bava seems to be a bit of a Renaissance man-Chocolatier, Slow Food aficionado, winemaker...which stands to reason why he'd make a "noble sipping wine" that is aperitif, digestif and chocolate colleague  all  in one tall elegant bottle. The Chinoto is made from DOCG Barolo, flavoured with quinine bark, rhubarb stems and root ginger as well as aromatic spices like cardamom.  Intriguing-yes, but wait until you taste it. The colour is like a dark reddish sherry with rich aromas of coffee liqueur, spices and fragrant outdoor woodsy nuances, of pine needles, cedar wood and warm sweet spices  (I'd love a men's cologne made of this stuff). Layered masculine flavours-somewhat Port-like with tobacco, coffee beans and a long velvety bitter-sweet chocolate finish.
*Wine Diva's gift choice for the wine geek on your shopping list!
$50.00+ (+575597) Select Private wine stores like:  Broadway International Wine Shop, Dundarave and Kitsilano Wine Cellar, Liberty Wine Stores
Wine Diva Tasted-November 25 2006

(For more chocolate pairings see Taste Bites)

Domaine Boudau, Rivesaltes Grenat Sur Grains, France, 2004-Want to impress wine lovers? Those hard to buy for friends? Friends that may have heard of the nearby wines from the region of Banyuls will appreciate this fortified Grenache from the south of France. As an aperitif or dessert wine this Vin Doux Naturel is not too sweet and nothing close to cloying with Christmas cake elements of sweet dried fruit, spice and nuts. Lovely, lush and velvety.
Chocolate: Pure dark chocolate, milk chocolate hazelnut truffles and chocolate covered nuts and dried fruit.  Hagensborg 'Truffle Pig' Bars in Traditional Milk Chocolate or Purdy's chocolate covered nuts or Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Strong and crumbly or blue veined
$34.99 Liberty wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-November 7 2006

Jackson-Triggs Reserve Sparkling Icewine, Okanagan BC, 2005-
I applaud whatever science allows bubbles to actually float in such a viscous liquid. The JT Sparkling Icewine will spark conversation on physics and its a great gift idea to boot! This intense gold/amber hued liquid with its drunken bubbles has lovely aromas of apricots and honey, citrus peel and candied ginger. The Icewine hits your palate coating your tongue with sweetness then the bubbles jostle in and clean up leaving a refreshing and spiced conclusion.
Chocolate: Milk Chocolate truffles or ganache filled chocolates, Hagensborg White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Pig Bars, Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Blue veined, strong and creamy
$60.00 375 ml  BC (+612275) Private wine stores
 

B-Sides...meaning Beer!

Okay I'm a pink girl-I make no apologies I looove this beer!

Rose des Remparts, Fruit Beer, Belgium- A petite
pinky-red bottle with a flower on it. I am so there. Smooth raspberry cream flavour without a bitter aftertaste. A small bottle so it even looks delicate and feminine. Wine Diva tasted this beer with a selection of chocolate and cheese (see Taste Bites).
Chocolate: White chocolate raspberry truffle cream filled Hagensborg bar , Purdy's 70% dark and Milk Chocolate Hedgehogs.
Cheese: Goats cheese or mild soft-medium cheese.
Avoid: Blue Cheese
$2.50+ 250ml (+353904) Private Beer and Liquor Stores
Wine Diva tasted-November 25 2006

(For more chocolate pairings see Taste Bites)

KB Craft Brew, Winter 2007 Edition Double Chocolate Ale- This BC Made "Signature Series" ale has incorporated Purdy's Premium Dark Chocolate into its brewing. The 650ml  bottle has an attractive label and comes encased in a solid (perfect gift giving) box . Now, Wine Diva will never pretend to be a beer aficionado but the Chocolate Ale has intensely earthy aromas with cocoa and coffee bean. In the mouth its smooth, rich  and chocolaty with a bold hopp-yness. KB suggests fondue, chocolate and cheese to pair with this delightful ale-Wine Diva found...
Chocolate: Purdy's Own dark chocolate and Organicfair's spiced "Chiapas" chocolate (see Taste Bites) to be a wonderful beer friend.
Avoid: Blue Cheese, Goats cheese
Only 1000 cases produced so run quickly!
$7.95 (650ml) BCLDB (+173153)
Wine Diva tasted-November 25 2006

Go To Next Section

November 30 2006

Cover Story  (Counting Bubbles)
Liquid Dessert (Fortified, Icewine, Rarities and B-sides)
Bubble Reviews (From every corner and for every budget)
Taste Bites  (Chocolate Wishes and their Partners in Wine)
Wine Diva-isms  (Tis the season-and I'm a sucker for it!)