Alphabetical Reviews - C

You can see all my reviews in these archives. Reviews are organized alphabetically by the producer's name.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Rosé-
Ca' Del Solo 'Big House Pink', Santa Cruz California, 2004-

The recent resurgence of rosé is enough to make a Wine Diva blush with glee.
After all, what other wine is such a chameleon, so suitable for all occasions?
WD is tickled pink that everyone has decided to jump on the pink wagon (or in the case of the “Big House Pink”, the paddy-wagon)

Europeans have always known that rosé is the perfect bistro wine. It’s crisp and fresh enough for light, summer-fresh dishes and has enough backbone to stand up to richer, heartier fare. And any savvy restaurant with a patio in Vancouver knows rosé is a non-negotiable entry on this summers wine list.
The Ca’del Solo (from the makers of Bonny Doon) “Big House Pink” is a blend of carignane, sangiovese, charbono, zinfandel barbera and more-an interesting blend to say the least.
She is brilliant salmon-pink with sweet berry, sour cherry and rhubarb aromas. She literally ‘pops’ in your mouth with juicy watermelon, candied citrus rind, tobacco and strawberry. Wow!
Serious and refreshing, this is certainly not your mother’s white zin.

Screw cap and conversational cartoon label included (no extra charge). Pink bottoms up!
$18.99 Private Wine Stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 2006

Ca' Del Solo Malvasia Bianca, Santa Cruz California, 2004- Following in the Ca' Del Solo tradition of Italian Grape varietals and darling labels is the Malvasia Bianca (which is also the grape variety)Crisp, light and food friendly, the Bianca will be very appealing to sauvignon blanc fans. Fresh and light with lemon-lime, hints of crisp pear, white flowers and a pinch of apricot this wine will refresh and impress.
$23.99
Wine Diva tasted- May 26 2006

Calona Artist Series Pinot Gris, Okanagan BC, 2005-Fresh peach, apricot and honey, slight lees-y aromas. Creamy roundness to the mouth-feel yet crisp and refreshing-a perfect sipper.
$13.49
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006

Canoe Cove Chardonnay, Fraser Valley BC, 2005- Interesting combination of aromas in this particular Chardonnay. Earthy-mushroom aromas followed up by pineapple, ripe pears and creamy vanilla. The wine has six months of French oak barrel contact which makes it creamy and rich but not overwhelmingly oaky.
$14.95 VQA and private wines stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 27 2006

Carrick Pinot Noir, Central Otago New Zealand, 2003- Old world intrigue in a new world. Sweet red cherries, earth, tobacco spice and leather, good acidity, lovely structure and a long warm finish.
$64.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 31 2006

Castillo de Monséran Garnacha, Spain 2004-This charming little gal is made for food. Sweet and fresh with smoked cherries, earth and a coy whisper of quince. Soft and rustic with snappy acidity, dusty tannins and a long mouth-watering finish.
Made from Spain’s most cultivated red grape, Garnacha (aka Grenache) the Monséran is a welcome initiation into the wines of Spain without breaking the piggy bank.
She’s just arrived in town and Wine Diva suggests you introduce yourself.
$9.99
Wine Diva tasted- May 2006

Cecile Chassagne Rosé, Vin de Pays Vaucluse, France, 2004- Adorned with an adorable busy little bee buzzing about on the fresh yellow label!
Pretty nose… full on strawberry supported by smoke and minerals. Lightly refreshing, bone-dry, clean and crisp with good acidity and a peppery finish…perfect with patio fare!
$13.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Cécile Chassagne Les Amandiers Syrah, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse France, 2004- a perfectly simple, delicately structured bistro wine with fresh red berries, smoke, spice and a soft earthy finish. This is not your expected syrah, it has the body of a bold French rosé, which makes it the perfect summer red wine!
$13.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Cécile Chassagne Tempranillo, Navarra Spain, 2003- Ripe red cherries, earth, leather, smoke, meaty and spicy, lean yet complex fresh pepper and long sweet fruit finish. Simple and rustic but mouthwatering…pass the Manchego and olives!
$15.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Cécile Chassagne Gigondas, Rhone France, 2001-Cherries…sweet and sour, smoked meat and pepper, medium body but fully rounded and elegant, soft acidity and a spiced finish.
$28.99 at private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Cedar Creek Dry Riesling, Kelowna BC, 2005- Peaches, white blossoms and minerals. Spritzy acidity chock full of grapefruit and lime zest. Some BC Rieslings claim 'dry', this one is!
$15.99 Private wine stores and VQA
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Ehrenfelser, Kelowna BC, 2005- Is there a ballad about Ehrenfelser? Somthing that goes...sitting in the warmth of the sun, sipping my eh-ren-fel-zuur...? No, maybe not. But there should be The Cedar Creek (once again) does not fail to please. Beautiful candied aromas, tropical fruit, rose petals, pineapple and melon, pear and star anise. Bright grapefruit in the mouth spiced up with candied ginger.
$15.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Estate Select Pinot Gris, Kelowna BC, 2004- The Pinot Gris was bottled last summer and has 8 months of oak ageing to give it depth and make it more food friendly. Butterscotch, tropical fruit, grapefruit zest a creamy spiced mouth and quite a hot (13.8% alc) finish.
$19.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Estate Select Chardonnay, Kelowna BC, 2004- We all know that winemaker Tom Di Bello is no slouch when it comes to chard (or pinot or merlot...) he wins awards all over the place. In fact Cedar Creek produces 3 tiers of chardonnay starting at their 'classic' level $16.99 followed closely by the Estate Select (keep reading) and topped by the Platinum level $28.99. Trust me the lush Platinum is labeled as such for a reason with beautifully integrated flavours-even for you anti-oak folk. But bang-for-your-buck and availability I am writing here about the Estate Select. Bright tropical fruit, pears and leesy aromas, Werther's caramels minerals and soft spices.
$20.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Estate Select Pinot Noir, Kelowna BC, 2004- Mixed berries, cranberries and sour cherries. Bright and delicate, soft earth, leather and tobacco with bright acidity. A lovely showing!
$26.99 Private wine stores and VQA
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir, Kelowna BC, 2004-Welcome Back! We missed you! Due to the Okanagan fires of 2003 there was none of this Pinot Noir released last year. It was sorely missed on the shelves, in restaurants and in Wine Diva's glass. But it is back and promises to be wonderful. WD tasted it recently and it is coming along nicely. The release date is TBD but we are told it will be this summer. It's best to let this pretty wine sit a bit. We all agreed the acidity was a bit high at the time of tasting but WD thinks all the elements are there. Black cherry, sweetly spiced tobacco, chocolate shavings, earth and tea leaves. Velvety smooth mouth-feel turning to soft dusty tannins and obvious acidity.
Keep an eye out for the summer release!
$36.99 Private wine stores and VQA
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Estate Syrah, Okanagan BC, 2004- Stunning! A second vintage for the CC Syrah and may I say even better than the first!
Bold spiced plum, earth and leather. Smoke, fresh berries and dark chocolate with hints of violets. Elegant and velvety with superfine tannins. (2% Pinot Gris added for lift and colour set).
$32.99 (to be released in private wine stores mid-August 2006)
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006

Cedar Creek Platinum Reserve Merlot, Kelowna BC, 2003- Plums macerated in chocolate liqueur, vanilla hints, earth and leather. Velvety smooth, sweet luscious fruit and a long silky finish. Stunning!
$39.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Cedar Creek Platinum Reserve Meritage, Kelowna BC, 2003- Where the Merlot is velvet jam, the Meritage is layered and elegantly reserved (like a Bordeaux). Blackberry, plum and mocha. Subtle ripe smoky fruit on the nose with leather, tobacco, coffee and slight bell pepper. Silky smooth with a long dry finish and soft tannins.
$44.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 26 2006

Château De Nages Réserve, Costières de Nîmes France, 2002- Primarily Grenache with about 30%Syrah. Sweetly smoked plum aromas, earthy, forest floor aromas, game, leather and spice. Rustic dusty tannins and a bit of soft acidity on the finish. Great value in this old world charmer!
$16.95 (shown left)
Wine Diva tasted-June 30 2006

Michel Gassier Château De Nages, Costières de Nîmes Rhone France, 2001- Earthy and sexy! Some things make a Wine Diva's toes curl and this is one. This southern Rhone producer never fails to impress WD and this vintage (95% syrah, 5% mourvedre) is no exception. Subtle, restrained power with blackberry, cherry, sweaty leather and earth aromas. Vaguely ripasso (dried fruit) with a gorgeous texture and fine tannins.
$28.95 (not shown)
Wine Diva tasted- June 27 2006

Chateau Lamartine, Cuvee Expressions, Cahors France, 2001-This 100% malbec is gorgeous. Deep grape/purple colour with a flavour intensity to match. Cola, dark flowers, game, smoke and lush spiced cherries. Brawny and chic with big, chewy tannins.
$56.95 Private wine stores and restaurants
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Christine Woods Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley California, 2001- I had never heard of Christine Woods wines before my recent speed-date with this gorgeous pinot noir. This wine is reminiscent of an old-world pinot, unfiltered and swimming with aromas of smoke, cherries, quince, strawberries and earth. Light bodied, good acidity with chewy leather and cedar with dusty tannins on the finish.
$49.90 Private wine stores and restaurants
Wine Diva tasted-May 25 2006

Cline Zinfandel, Sonoma California, 2003-Intensly shaded opaque purplish.
Slightly rustic vs. ripe jammy fruit with cedar box, raisin fruit, tobacco, hints of vegetation and tea leaves.
Solid wine, a crowd pleaser that sells well in our BC market.
$19.99
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Clos de L'Oratoire Des Papes, Chateauneuf du Pape, France, 1999- Wet leather, earth, mushroom, sour cherry and barnyard aromas (sounds worse than it is). On the palate sweet and fresh red cherry and hints of plum, spice, herbs and tobacco.
$N/A
Wine Diva tasted- September 2006

Coates Organic Shiraz, McLaren Vale Australia, 2003- France meets Oz, ergo earthy elegance lifted by ripe-juicy fruit. Blackberry, eucalyptus and pepper softened by more delicate red cherries. The Coates finishes with a soft earthiness and a suggestion of bright acidity.
Less than 300 cases produced of this fine wine.
$49.95 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006

Columbia Crest Riesling, Washington, 2004- The $16-ish category seems to be the 'hot zone' for good riesling today. The C.C is another sweet-ripe offering with full on peaches, citrus blossoms, lime rind and minerals. Fresh yes, but with a lush, oily mouth and crisp finish. Bravo!
$16.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 3 2006

Cousiño-Macul Doña Isidora Riesling, Maipo Valley Chile, 2004- This is a unique riesling but German riesling lovers beware it is quite different. Impressive nose, full petrol, lemon zest, mineral and peach pit. In the mouth is where the difference lay, hot with deep smoke and flinty aromas, honey spiced peaches and sour grapefruit in an oily texture.
$14.99 very limited-specialty wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- May 14 2006

Cullen ‘Mangan’ (Petite Verdot, Malbec, Merlot), Margaret River Australia, 2002-Wonderfully barn-y, leathery smoky and earthy with rich black fruit and red cherries, meaty, elegant, intense and velvety. Smoothly lush with fine grained tannins. A wordy description yes, but the combination of these three grapes makes for an intriguing and gorgeous wine!
$49.95 Private wine stores and restaurants
Wine Diva tasted-February 2006