Alphabetical Reviews - D
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
Deinhard 'Lila' Riesling Sekt, Germany- Quite an effervescent
little sparkler (I suggest you wait until the bubbles have
dissipated somewhat before sticking your sniffer in the
glass-ouch!). Less creamy-more crispy but fresh with orchard fruit
and pretty floral (lilac?) aromas. Good dry finish with
mouthwatering acidity.
$13.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 24 2006
De Loach Zinfandel, Russian River Valley California, 1994-
From the Cellar: A
bottle, forgotten in the depths of the cellar, a varietal prized by many
for its ripe fruit jam and chocolate flavour profile was, the
Wine Diva suspected, far past its
prime. Opening bottles like this is the best form of wine education,
something you can’t read in an article but must experience first hand.
The Wine Diva likes the youthful
freshness of California zin so saving a bottle beyond 5-8 years seems a
waste. The age-ability of a wine depends on the grape varietal, the
vintage and the producer, but it can also depend on the individual
palate. The De Loach actually held up very well for being 12 years old,
the colour had changed dramatically to a very brickish-brown, with full
on raisin and sherry, tobacco and cedar box aromas yet was still
surprisingly bright in the mouth. Not to the
Wine Diva’s taste, but worth the experience nonetheless.
Desert Hills Pinot Gris, Okanagan BC, 2005-The pinot gris is
the first white wine Wine Diva
has tasted from this small family owned winery on the Black Sage
Bench and I was very impressed! Zippy grapefruit and sweet peach
samba with earthy smoked mushroom and clean mineral flavours. Well
made pinot gris and one to add to your 'must try' list!
$19.90 VQA and Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 18 2006
Dirty Laundry Riesling, Okanagan BC, 2005- Candied orchard fruit aromas
rounded off with floral notes, minerals and tropical fruit. Bright fruit
flavours in the mouth, grapefruit, lemony-zest, sweet spices and a perfumed
creaminess. A lovely wine!
$16.90 (sold out or very limited quantities available)
Wine Diva tasted-July
11 2006
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 'Thread Bare Vines' Gewurztraminer, Okanagan BC,
2005-
WD stumbled across this little gem at
another little gem-Mistral Bistro in Vancouver when I ordered it to
go with a gorgeous onion tart. Talk about your perfect pairings!
Apparently its very hard to get (which is why there aren't many
samples around I suppose). Mistral co-owner Minna Benoit told me
that only a couple of Vancouver restaurants and one licensee in
Richmond got allocation of this wine.
Unlike the WooWoo Gewurztraminer from Dirty Laundry (Wine
Diva was the first to write this wine up last year)
which is quite sweet, the Thread Bare is a dryer style
but still full of all the necessary elements-orange blossoms,
citrus blossoms and rosewater with orchard fruit, glycerin and
spice.
$15.90 (sold out-only in restaurants)
Wine Diva tasted-June 20 2006
Dirty Laundry
Vineyard 'Madam's Vines' Gewurztraminer, Okanagan BC,
2005-Seemingly trademark typical of
the D.L wines. Uber-ripe fruit aromas, rosewater, orange blossom and
Turkish fruit with honey white fruit, cold cream and cinnamon.
Texturally sensual, weighty and oily on the tongue. Honey soaked
apricots coat your mouth and (sweeter than the other D.L Gew's)
finishes with bold sweet spices.
Dirty Laundry Vineyard 'Woo Woo Vines' Gewurztraminer, Okanagan BC,
2005- Knock-your-socks-off aromatics of rosewater, Turkish
delight and sweet 5-spice. If you could smell sweet (which you
really can't, only make the correlation between certain aromas and
sweetness) you would think this was going to be dessert
wine-esque. But it's not.
Off-dry yes with an oily mouth-feel and
hot-spiced finale. My neighbor was making fresh Indian poori (small
super-thin discs made from-in this case-wheat flour) deep fried
until filled with steam, they puff up into lava-hot little balloons.
She studded them with crushed chili peppers and when she brought
them over we tried them with the Woo Woo...perfect!
$16.90
Wine Diva tasted-June 30 2006
Dirty Laundry
Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Woo Woo Vines, Okanagan BC,
2004- Semi-dry
with a lovely pinkish Wine Diva-hue.
Aromas of candied rose petals, lychee, glycerin and orchard fruit. Less
sweet than expected in the mouth, with a good balance of fruit, Asian
spices, licorice and white pepper.
$15.90 at private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- August 2005
Dirty Laundry
Vineyard Chardonnay (unoaked), Okanagan BC, 2004- An off-dry fruity unoaked
Chardonnay (Scherzinger was also an advocate of unoaked Chardonnay).
Tropical fruit, soap leaves, white flowers, fresh cream and candied
limes. The sweet, ripe fruit comes through on the palate fresh from the
orchard and is then washed down with a crisp citrus finish.
$17.90 at private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Dirty Laundry Chardonnay (unoaked), Okanagan BC, 2005- A lusciously
perfumed wine with melon, pear, honey and rich pit fruit aromas. Round and yet
quite delicate in the mouth, fresh and creamy, off-dry with a clean crisp
finish.
$17.90 (sold out or very limited quantities available)
Wine Diva tasted-July 11 2006
Domain Albert Mann Cremant
d'Alsace- Champagne has Champagne, Spain has Cava, Germany has Sekt,
Alsace has Cremant (as do other French regions). The Albert Mann
Cremant is made in the traditional style (méthod
champenoise) as is Champagne.
This luscious bubbly is fresh and creamy with pineapple, green apples,
citrus, anise and caramel nuts.
It's not only scrumptious but is also cheaper than classic Champers!
$27.90
Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted-June
6 2006
Domain Albert Mann, Riesling Cuvée Tradition,
2004-Orange pekoe tea, mineral, petrol, lemon rind and white flower
aromas. Crisp and more reserved in sweetness than the other two rieslings
(as follow) with plenty of refreshing citrus on the palate.
$25.90 Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted-June
6 2006
Domain Albert Mann, Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru, 2002- Ripe mango,
apricots and peach pit, licorice lemon peel, petrol. Zippy sweet and fresh!
$41.90 Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva
tasted-June 6 2006
Domain Albert Mann, Riesling Rosenberg 2002-Orange peels, honey apples,
minerals, petrol and tea leaves. Off-dry, clean and crisp!
$43.90 Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted-June
6 2006
Domain Albert Mann, Pinot Gris Furstentum Grand Cru, 2004-Sweet aromas
of chalk candy (think cello-wrapped rockets at Hallowe'en), minerals,
orchard fruit and flowers. Slightly off-dry with a creamy yet crisp
mouth-feel.
$41.90 Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted-June
6 2006
Domain Albert Mann, Gewurztraminer Furstentum, Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru,
2004- Aromas of grandma's rose perfume, cold cream, tropical fruit and
star anise. Pretty and sweetly lush in the mouth not cloying and just a hint
of spice on the finish.
$41.90 Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted-June
6 2006
Domaine Carneros, The Famous Gate, Pinot Noir, Carneros Valley Calif., 2001- Another stunning California Pinot Noir which hit arrived this past spring at a great discount. Classic pinot aromas of barnyard, tobacco, earth, sour cherries, ground berries and fruit leather. The flavours sing with red berries, sweet grass, tobacco and cedar and finishes with refreshing acidity and smooth tannins.
Limited availability at private wine stores approx. $90.00 LTO $50.00
White-
Domaine de
Chaberton Bacchus, Fraser Valley BC, 2005- This
was one of the wines so nicely provided to me for my "Summer Sippers
and Patio Wines" seminars at EAT! Vancouver May 26-28th. Those who
are familiar with Domaine de Chaberton know how perfect their
wines are as summer sippers. The Bacchus is off-dry bordering
on sweet but is well balanced with crisp acidity. Super-ripe
peaches, honey-muscat aromas, hints of grass and a long slightly
spiced finish. The seminar goers loved it!
(Wine Diva tip-
Bacchus is a hybrid grape variety developed from Riesling-Silvaner x
Muller Thurgau)
$12.95 VQA and private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 27 2006
Domaine de Chaberton,
Gewurztraminer, Langley BC, 2004- Get it while you can! This Governor
General's award winner will not be made (at least not from this
particular vineyard site) next year. Gorgeous Gold-apricot hue with
aromas of candied rose petals, lychee, pineapple, mango, mineral and
anise. Sweet pink grapefruit, cardamom and cloves on the finish gives
lends zip to this slightly sweet charmer.
$14.90 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Domaine de
Chaberton, Gamay Noir, Fraser Valley BC, 2004- Red and black berry
with some stemmy-ness (green aromas/flavours) and spice. Very light body
with a slight prickle on the tongue long licorice and pepper finish.
$13.90 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- August 2005
Domaine de Beaurenard, Côtes du Rhône, France, 2003-
Not your typical Côtes du Rhône-better!
Bright cherry fruit, fresh berries, violets, earth and leather
(sounds a bit like a pinot). Soft chalky minerals and white pepper
with light dusty tannins long intriguing finish, reminiscent of
smoked duck fat, that coats the tongue and lingers on the palate.
Wine Diva's father was visiting and gave it two thumbs
up!
$20.95 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-April 21 2006