October 19 2006
Cover Story
(Garnishing Wine Diva's World, Wine Diva asks...)
BC Wine Reviews
(Sipping BC)
International Sips
(Down the Hatch with Oz, Vogue-ing with Voga)
Taste Bites
(How Cheesy, Wine
Dinners@Ocean 617 & Cru, olé)
Wine Diva-isms
(Corked Wine-the agony and the attitude, Pink Girls)
International Wine Reviews
Down the hatch
with Oz-
a selection from the
recent Australian Wine Event
White
Angove's Bear Crossing Chardonnay, South Australia, 2005-
Buttery tropical fruit and mineral aromas, clean and fresh on the
palate with very subtle hints of sweet spice. A bear-y good
value!
$9.99 (+592758)
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Angove's Bear Crossing Cabernet Merlot, South Australia, 2005-Fresh
black berries, eucalyptus, and peppercorns. Smooth mouth-feel with
hints of sweet spice, a creamy oak finish and soft tannins.
Excellent value.
$9.99 (+592766)
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
White
Yalumba 'Y' Series Sauvignon Blanc, South Australia, 2005-
Subtle aromas of cut grass, white fruit, and chalky minerals with
hints of spice. Fresh and citrus-y in the mouth with a long clean
finish. The 'Y' series is a BC favorite and this SB is no exception.
$16.99 (+476085) UPC #09311789000817
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Angove's Red Belly Black Shiraz, South Australia, 2004-Sweetly
fresh black berry and red fruit, lush in the mouth with velvety
chocolate and underlying game meat flavours, earthy with fine dusty
tannins.
$18.00 approx. (+607739) Private wine
stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Barossa Valley Estate Moculta Shiraz, Australia, 2004-Smoked
cherry aromas, brambleberries dusted with cocoa, dry earth and
eucalyptus. Dried fruit and coffee beans on the palate with
menthol flavours and a dry spiced finish with dusty tannins
$21.99 (+536383)UPC #09311347091851
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
Red
Penmara Merlot-Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Hunter
Valley/Orange, Australia, 2002- Sweet upfront fruit aromas,
eucalyptus, blackberry, smoked meat, tobacco and leather. Fresh and
meaty in the mouth with bright acidity and smooth dark vanilla
spiked fruit.
$21.99 (+293365) UPC #00819373001046
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Thorne-Clarke Terra Barossa Cabernet, Australia, 2003-Rich
baked dark fruit, dried fruit and ripe blackberry with undertones of
smoke and earth.
Earthy elegance.
$19.81 (+98301) UPC #00853065000528
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Thorne-Clarke Terra Barossa Shiraz, Australia, 2004-Sweet
blackberries and plum, dried fruit-prunes and tobacco.
Intense, and extracted chocolaty flavours and a long tight finish.
$19.81 (+98327) UPC #00853065000511
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Thorne-Clarke Terra Barossa Cuvee, Australia, 2003-Sweet
black cherries and blackberry aromas with savoury herbs, spices and
hints of game meats. Lush on the palate with cocoa,
earth and cedar.
(Shiraz, Cabernet and Mourvedre)
$19.81 (+323758)UPC #00853065000573
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Katnook Founder's Block Shiraz, Coonawarra Australia, 2004-ripe
red berry, sweet spice and licorice with a smooth, warm mouth-feel,
vanilla and pepper with oak hints and fine dusty tannins on the
finish.
Screwcap.
$19.99 (+263830) Private
wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
White
Yalumba Wild Ferment Chardonnay, Eden Valley Australia, 2004-Now
for something a little different-this wild ferment Chardonnay may be
unlike any Chard you've ever tasted. This
Wild child is sweet, yeasty, tropical fruit and
peachy-pears. Its creamy smooth and citrus-y crisp with vanilla has
spiced oak undertones and a long hot finish.
$21.99 (+528406) Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Red
Palandri Shiraz, Western Australia, 2002-Sweet and ripe black
fruit aromas-creamy blackberry, smoked meat and peppery spice with
nicely integrated tannins. Big and smooth!
$22.99 (+43588) UPC
#00836023000006
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
Sticky
Yalumba Museum Release Muscat, Victoria Australia, NV-This has
been a favorite of Wine Diva's
for more than a decade (when I used to have to go to Seattle to buy
it). A smooth and sweet caramel finale with hazelnut praline, sweet
spices and dried fruit with a hint of mature, liqueur-integrated oak
barrel on the finish.
$27.75 (+057919)
Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
White
St Hallett, Petaluma Chardonnay, Barossa Australia, 2003- Bright
citrus, creamy corn-on-the-cob flavours, ripe orchard fruit
and a hint of oak spice on the finish. Fresh and rich, a lovely
Chardonnay.
$34.99 (+117366) UPC #00098655000124
Wine Diva tasted-October 5 2006
More International
Sips
Vogue-ing with Voga
White
Voga Pinot Grigio, Veneto/Trentino Italy, 2005-If you are this
pretty on the outside do people care what's on the inside? Maybe,
maybe not. But just imagine if the inside is a pleasant surprise.
The Voga is just what it claims to be-light, refreshing and
clean with soft orchard fruit, fresh mineral and white floral
aromas. Crisp and bright this is an easy drinking white wine
that just happens to look fabulous on your table. Does that make us
shallow?
$14.99 (+248518) UPC #00021893795088
Wine Diva tasted-October 18 2006
A sexy zip-front polyurethane Voga jacket may be seen soon
on the runway er, table at a restaurant near you.
Red
J.Bouchon Carmenere Syrah Reserve, Maule Chile, 2005-Having a protein
rich meal? This intense, smoky wine with its sweet berry and dark
chocolate
will fit the bill admirably. Chewy black fruit, cocoa dust, dried fruit and
and oak spice to finish. A seriously meaty wine that is very good
value!
$13.00+ (+311977) Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
Red
Flor de Crasto Douro Tinto, Douro Portugal, 2005-Excellent
value! Rich and smooth with ripe red berry, plum, chocolate and
dried fruit aromas. Lush mouth-feel, Port-like flavours and
intensity with a sweetly spiced finish. Port without the sweet!
$13.99 (+691386) UPC #05604123001101
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
White
Viñedos Organicos Emiliana Adobe
Chardonnay, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2005- This 100% organic and
biodynamic house is producing some lovely wines. The Chardonnay is
full of fresh pears, tropical fruit and minerals with a smooth
creamy texture and has a nice long nutty spiced oak finish. Good
value!
$13.99 (+97527)UPC #07804320150628
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
Red
Viñedos Organicos Emiliana Adobe Syrah,
Colchagua Valley, Chile, 2004-Spiced red berries, chocolate and
coffee beans with ripe blackberry, herbs and smooth tannins on the
finish.
Also 100% organic and biodynamic.
Good value!
$13.99 (+5801)
UPC #07804320198521
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
White
Washington Hills Riesling, Columbia Valley Washington, 2005-
Iced tea in clear liquid-alcohol included. This is a sweetly fresh
Riesling with orchard fruit, green apple and a clean sweet citrus-y
finish. New to BC this is a must try if you don't mind a bit of
sweetness in your life-sourpuss!
$17.90+ (+237610)
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 20
White
Dona Beatrix Verdejo, Spain, 2005-Crisp and clean with cut
grass, and fresh herbs, a glimpse of of tropical fruit and
gooseberry aromas simple and refreshing and oh-so-perfect for
salads or light seafood.
$15.90
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
White
Bollini Pinot Grigio, Trentino Italy, 2005-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.
$18.95 (+611723) Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
White
St. UrbansHof Riesling, Germany 2004-Classic reserved mineral
and petrol aromas with hints of peach blossoms and citrus but in the
mouth is where the party really begins with sweet tropical fruit,
honey and fresh herbs with a creamy, slightly oily texture. Lovely!
$19.81 (+597997) UPC #04013231000684
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
Red
Arigolas Perdera Monica di Sardegna, Sardinia Italy, 2004-
Lovely floral and sour cherry aromas, spice earth and tobacco.
Simple and fresh bright acidity and a rustic elegance.
$21.99 (+457937) UPC #08010544320757
Wine Diva tasted-October 17 2006
White
Sauvignon Republic 'Stellenbosch' Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa,
2005- Pucker Power! Gooseberry, cut grass and
minerals with hints of sweet tropical fruit and herbs. Bold and dry
and ultra-citrus-crisp on the finish. A goldmine for Sauvignon Blanc
lovers!
$28.95 (+776948) private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October
Bubbles
Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, Austrlia-A
brand new label here in Canada the Bird in Hand will be a winery to
watch! This is a glorious sparkler, just a hint off-dry with a nice
round body and lovely elegance, red berry aromas and crisp clean
finish. Yummy!
$24.95 (+387591)
Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 18 2006
Red
Cambria Estate 'Julia's Vineyard' Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
California, 2004-Gorgeous
lush new world body in this California Pinot. Cherry, smoked
berries, leather and dried fruit, cherry wood and sweet tobacco,
velvety and rich on the tongue with a long creamy finish.
$37.00 approx. (+372508) Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 15 2006
Red
Matetic EQ Pinot Noir, San Antonio Chile, 2004- Rich black fruit with the
freshness of red berries, chewy chocolate, greenery and savoury
herbs, dark earth and tobacco. Intense weight and flavour with hints
of char and spice on the finish.
$40.00+ (+292557)
private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 15 2006
October 19 2006
Cover Story
(Garnishing Wine Diva's World, Wine Diva asks...)
BC Wine Reviews
(Sipping BC)
International Sips
(Down the Hatch with Oz, Vogue-ing with Voga)
Taste Bites
(How Cheesy, Wine
Dinners@Ocean 617 & Cru, olé)
Wine Diva-isms
(Corked Wine-the agony and the attitude, Pink Girls)