November 2 2006

Cover Story (Retro Wines)
BC Wine Reviews (Four Pinots)
International Sips (An affordable selection from around the world)
Taste Bites (Cheese & crackers that bite, New restaurant-Connor Butler)
Wine Diva-isms (What I know for sure)

International Wine Reviews

White
Banrock Station Chardonnay SE Australia, 2004- Smokey and buttery with lush tropical fruit-pineapple and ripe melon-aromas. Fresh and crisp as it enters your mouth followed up shortly with nicely integrated oak and spice flavours finishing with juicy white grapefruit.
Not just cheap 'n cheerful!
$9.99 BC $9.50 ON (+463943) UPC # 09311043043673
Wine Diva tasted-October 27 2006

Bubbles
Banrock Station Sparkling Chardonnay SE Australia, NV-An affordable sparkling wine perfect for sparkling cocktails, mimosa's or quaffing. Crisp and dry with citrus rind, smoke and mineral aromas. Fresh green apple on the palate with a creamy yet zippy mouth-feel and a puckery finish.
$13.99 BC $12.65 ON (+534974) UPC # 09311043029967
Wine Diva tasted-October 18 2006

Red
Virgin Vines Shiraz, California, 2004-Music, flight and now wine.
Cherry jam and ripe berries in sweet spiced oak mixed up with dried herbs and dried aromatic flowers. In the mouth smooth and luscious with chewy tannins serious earth, bitter chocolate and coffee flavours on the finish. Good structure and serious attitude at this price point.
$14.99 BC (+214031) UPC #00082896047215
$14.95 ON (+18580)
Wine Diva tasted-October 30 2006

Red
Rex Goliath Shiraz, California, 2004- The blue label is reminiscent of an antique country fair poster boasting an illustration of a proud rooster wearing a belt of medals. And the wine itself is also a conversation piece, a jam-bomb full of black cherry, sweet vanilla oak and dark earth. In the mouth it’s solid with chewy fruit, dark chocolate and cracked pepper finishing with spiced, dusty tannins.
$15.99 BC (+551184) UPC #00081434031358
Wine Diva tasted-October 31 2006

White
White Truck White, Sonoma California, 2005-A blend of several white grape varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Chardonnay (and there may be some Rousanne and Marsanne in there) this is a fun refreshing wine, a conversation piece with a great label. Bright white orchard fruit (pear/apple), citrus, soft floral notes and mineral with just a hint of grass. Lovely mouth-feel crisp and rounded with zippy acidity and a clean finish. Just a hint of sweetness makes this Cline wine a great sipper or a perfect pair with Asian food.
$16.84 BC (+360784)UPC #00098652900014
$14.95 ON (+657999)
Wine Diva tasted-September 19 2006

White
Laurenz V 'Laurenz und Sophie Singing' Gruner Veltliner, Austria, 2005- It really will make you sing, it'll make your cheese sing too! A very pretty wine, crisp and clean with white flowers, stone and mineral, cold cream and bright pomelo citrus aromas. It has a nice oily element to its texture, rounded out with citrus zest, warm spices and a hint of herbs on the finish.
A new Wine Diva favorite!
$19.99 BC (+458034) UPC #09009500010633
Wine Diva tasted-October 29 2006

Red
Heartland Shiraz, Limestone Coast Australia, 2005-
Sweetly ripe black berries and plum on the nose with the requisite aromatic eucalyptus and spice. Lush and rich in the mouth full of spiced berry, earthy cocoa and tobacco on the finish.
$21.99 BC (+293225) UPC #00833152000020
Wine Diva tasted-October 27 2006

Red
Bouchard Père & Fils Bourgogne, Burgundy France, 2003- Sweet red cherry and berry aromas with forest floor and a hint of meat. Straightforward on the palate with bright acidity, cranberry and spice flavours finishing with tobacco, cedar and tight dusty tannins.
A solid entry level Burgundy to cut your teeth on or serve by the glass.
$23.99 (+493544) UPC #03337690104112
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006

Red
Kaesler Stonehorse GSM, Barossa Valley Australia, 2004-A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre the Kaesler is brimming with ripe blackberries and floral aromas followed by hints of eucalyptus and luscious dark chocolate, all grounded in dark earth. On the palate it has very Port-like flavours of cherries and dried fruit, sweet tobacco and spiced carob. The finish is amazing long with an abundance of anise and fennel. The 2004 is still under cork but the following vintages will be screwcap in an effort to keep the wine is as fresh as they day it was bottled
$ 25.95 BC (+25841) UPC #09329914000328
$19.95 ON (+6551)
Wine Diva tasted-October 24 2006

Red
Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz, Barossa Valley Australia, 2004-
Intense blackberry nose with smoke and sweet spice. Smooth chocolate with a bite of cracked pepper on the tongue finishing with warmly spiced oak. A bold, stylish and masculine Shiraz. A bottle to impress!
$39.74 BC (+46656) UPC #09329914000298
$29.95 ON (+4295)
Wine Diva tasted-October 24 2006

Red
Kaesler Old Vine Avignon GSM, Barossa Valley Australia, 2005-
Smoked red berry fruit aromas with a suggestion of dark flowers. The addition of the more delicate Grenache grape lends a feminine side to this wine that Wine Diva loves-making it aromatic and fresh. On the palate it has a firm structure and meaty flavour with a sweet and spicy finish.
(41% Grenache, 40% Shiraz, 19% Mourvedre)
$37.63 BC (+47415) Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 24 2006

Red
Domaine Lignères, Cabanon de Pascal, Corbières France, 2002- This wine has just arrived from one of Kendall Jackson Family's newly acquired French Estates. A blend of Grenache, Merlot and Mourvedre it is earthy and rustic in that true old world style. Red fruit, tobacco and leather aromas with a smoothly elegant texture, fresh ground pepper and cherry on the tongue with great acidity and smooth tannins. Wine Diva is looking forward to seeing the future development of these wines as a Kendall Jackson property.
$39.95 BC (+355214) Very limited availability
Wine Diva tasted-October 31 2006

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