October 5, 2006
Cover Story
(Gobble Gobble)
BC Wine Reviews
International Sips
(Tales from the Dark Side, Bringing Sexy Back)
Taste Bites
(Figmint, Indispensable 'C', Kiwiberries)
Wine Diva-isms
(Hilarious House of Frightenstein)
International Wine Reviews
Tales from the Dark side...
Red
Marques de Rojas Coleccion, Almansa Spain, 2005-
Sour cherry, rhubarb, leather and barnyard aromas on the nose. On the palate it
has an surprising amount of sweet red berry followed with leather and tobacco
finishing with a dust of tannins.
$9.99 (+317008)
Wine Diva
tasted-September
26 2006
Red
Tormaresca Paiara Rosso, Puglia Italy 2003- This wine is one of those
secrets you hate to give away (in case everyone actually reads this and buys it
all). It has all the rustic elegance of Italian wine-sour cherry, dark flowers,
sweaty leather, red berry and earth, a sweet velvety mouth-feel, tobacco and
spice with soft tannins-all at a price point that will make you giggle with
glee. Negroamaro and Cabernet Sauvignon.
$10.90 (+378182)
Wine Diva
tasted-September
19 2006
Red
Villa Chiopris Cabernet Sauvignon DOC, Friuli Italy, 2005-
Pronounced
(Key-oh-priss) this
easy drinking Cab has
bright mixed
berries, pretty violet aromas and hints of herbal on the nose. Soft, fresh and
clean on the palate. A great value Cabernet Sauvignon
$15.00+ (+519918) Private wine stores
Wine Diva
tasted-September
28 2006
Red
Haras Equus Carmenere, Upper Maipo Chile,
2005-Carmenere screams Chile!
Wine Diva tasted it recently with the
promise of “coming soon”-so watch for it! Blackberries, cherries and chocolate
with earthy, leathery aromas and herbs. Creamy in the mouth with sweet spices,
vanilla and rich dark fruit. A sexy wine with an alluring price point.
$15.00 approx.
Wine Diva
tasted-September
25 2006
Red
Masi Valpolicella Classico, Italy, 2004- Sometimes a
Wine Diva
just has to revisit a blast from the past. Recently the simple and recognizable
black Masi label yelled out my name. Fresh berry and sour cherry
with leather and tobacco, its a no-brainer, easy to
drink red with a nice acidity to balance your antipasti.
$14.85 (+285585) UPC #08002062000037
Wine Diva
tasted-September
28 2006
Red
L'Ostal Cazes "Circus" Shiraz, Vin de Pays D'Oc France, 2003-
A dark fruit kabob of cherry, blackberry and plum served up with a side of
dark chocolate and dried fruit. Remarkably fresh fruit on the palate, mocha,
sausage-y aromas, smoke and hints of tobacco with a with smooth, warm finish.
$16.84 (+25940) UPC #03760082812027
Wine Diva tasted-September
30 2006
Red
Saxenburg "Guinea Fowl", Stellenbosch South Africa, 2003- Just Arrived!
Rich and intense with dark chocolate, black fruit, smoked meat and bell pepper
aromas. Dense and masculine on the palate-roasted coffee beans, cocoa powder,
leather and earth finishing with jalapeno pepper and toasted oak.
A wine made for red meat. (49% Merlot, 32%Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Shiraz)
$17.50+ Private wine stores
Wine Diva
tasted-September
29 2006
Red
De Bortoli 'Deen Vat 4' Petit Verdot, Riverina, Australia, 2004-
Wine Diva is always willing to take Petit
Verdot for a spin! The De Bortoli has an abundance of sweet black cherries,
black berries and eucalyptus with black licorice, sweet chocolate and earth
swirled heavily into the mix. Smooth, lengthy and mysterious.
$17.99 (+80358)
Wine Diva
tasted-September
28 2006
Red
Geografico Chianti Colli Senesi Torri Reserva, Tuscany Italy, '03-
Looking for an affordable Chianti Classico? Yeah...hard
to find. But look no further this may be the one. Fresh earth, sour cherries and
berries, a hint of floral all wrapped up in leather and tobacco leaves.
$20.95 (+116566) UPC #08000757001086
Wine Diva
tasted-September
26 2006
Red
Claar
Cellars Cabernet-Merlot, White Bluffs Columbia Valley Washington, 2001-
(69% Cabernet, 31% Merlot)
Black Plums, chocolate, herbs, dry earth and bell pepper aromas translate into
inky dark fruit studded with leather, spice and tobacco on the palate. Great
balance, intensity, fresh acidity and chewy tannins on the finish.
This wine would be a great by-the-glass pour.
$23.00+ (+282152) Private wine stores
Wine Diva
tasted-September
20 2006
Red
Scherrer Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley California, 2001-A
juicy complex Cabernet with great density and weight. An
approachable and delicious California style, your Riedel runneth over with fresh
cassis, rich chocolate, dried fruit and oak. It has a lush texture and firm
tannins with a long smooth finish.
$35.00 approx. at Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva
tasted-October
2 2006
Red
Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche, Piedmont Italy, 2000- One for the cellar!
This gorgeous Barolo is porcini mushrooms and truffles with dried cherries, dark
flowers and leather. Velvety smooth on the tongue with sweet spices and tobacco.
A good vintage with great long term potential but if you just can't
wait...decant and enjoy with Parmesan and salted quails eggs drizzled with a
little truffle oil. Yum!
$59.43 (+619254) UPC #00633913451166
Wine Diva
tasted-September
28 2006
Red
Château Pontensac, Médoc Nice intensity of
fruit-black plums and blueberries with chocolate, rich dark earth and tobacco.
Firm, dusty tannins, boldly spiced with hints of dried fruits on the finish.
$59.90 Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted-October 2 2006
Bringing Sexy Back
Eduardo Chadwick, president of Chile's Errazuriz made his yearly
stop in Vancouver this week for a tasting of his top tier red wines. In the past
two years Wine Diva has slurped her way
through an amazing selection of Chilean wines with unquestionable quality-so
different from the generic quaffers from the 1990's. Not only is Mr. Chadwick
exceedingly charming (back away ladies) and gracious but he makes stop-me-in-my-tracks
seductive wines.
Errazuriz Max Reserva Merlot, Aconcagua Valley Chile, 2004- Even the
opaque purplish-garnet hue of this wine looks velvety, but its the velvet in
your mouth that'll really impress you! Lush plums and juicy blackberries, smoke,
leather and a delicate whiff of mint on the nose. Soft and rounded black fruit
and fresh red berry on the tongue with warm sweet spices, cinnamon and vanilla.
Tightly controlled tannins and long smooth finish.
$19.90 (+295840)
Wine Diva tasted-October 3 2006
Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Aconcagua Valley Chile, 2004-
Bold and hearty with black and red berry aromas, chocolate and leather, fresh
dark earth and just a drop of green bell pepper and herbs. Smooth and gorgeous
in the mouth with sweet red fruit and softly spiced oak. Beautiful balance
throughout with a warm finish and light tannins.
$19.90 (+287805)
Wine Diva tasted-October 3 2006
FYI January 2004-in
an unprecedented tasting in Berlin, Errazuriz put its top three wines,
the 2001 Don Maximiano, the 2000 & '01 Sena and the 2000 & '01
Vinedo Chadwick up against the same vintages of the highly sought after and
recognizable names of Solaia, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour. The Errazuriz
wines placed 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th of the ten wines.
Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve, Aconcagua Valley, Chile, 2004-
In a spit or swallow tasting I hoped no one was noticing that I kept swallowing
this wine. Powerful sweet berry fruit aromas, freshly turned earth, chocolate
and lilac cream swirled with tobacco, mint and smoke. Chocolaty smooth and
supple on the palate with a beautiful sweet vanilla finish. A blend of Cabernet,
Shiraz and Merlot.
The 2003's are just arriving-we were tasting the 2004.
$71.90 (+501247)
Wine Diva tasted-October 3 2006
Errazuriz Vinedo Chadwick, Maipo Valley, Chile, 2004- For
sheer romance, you can't beat the Chadwick. The wines come from a vineyard in
the 'backyard' of Mr. Chadwick's family home near Santiago in Alto Maipo. The
backyard being a full sized polo field that Eduardo's father played on while
Eduardo watched as a child. No longer in use as a playing field, the red and
white goalposts remain to mark the memory the of its previous life.
The Chadwick is purely masculine with rich earth and game meat aromas
packed with ripe berries topped in vanilla cream. Ultra smooth on the entry with
fresh cassis and sweet spices, elegant and layered with tight tannins.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2002 is available.
$79.90 (+274852)
Wine Diva tasted-October 3 2006
Errazuriz Sena, Aconcagua Valley, Chile, 2004- Earthy, with smoked
blackberry and blueberry aromas that opened up into floral aromas of carnation
and lily, coffee liqueur and hints of jalapeno an tobacco. In the mouth more
earth with plums and mixed berries with liquorice on the finish. Elegant and
layered although sill young and tight when we sampled, it this wine is quite
stunning.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
We tasted the 2004. The Sena-a combined effort with Robert Mondavi is not
available in our market.
Wine Diva tasted-October 3 2006
Cover Story
(Gobble Gobble)
BC Wine Reviews
International Sips
(Tales from the Dark Side, Bringing Sexy Back)
Taste Bites
(Figmint, Indispensable 'C', Kiwiberries)
Wine Diva-isms
(Hilarious House of Frightenstein)