Alphabetical Reviews - S
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
St. Hubertus Pinot Blanc, Okanagan BC, 2005- Delicate orchard fruit and
citrus rind, green apples mineral and lovely, sweet orange blossom aromas. Fresh
and crisp on the entry but then it turns up the volume into rich and creamy
(aided by a very small amount of oak contact). This is an exceptional showing of
BC Pinot Blanc-kudos!
$12.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 2006
St. Hubertus Gamay Noir Rosé, Okanagan BC, 2005- Another great vintage of
the Gamay Rosé from St. Hubertus. Sometimes you want a bone dry rosé to
go with a lunch and sometimes you’re jonesin’ for a rosé with a hint of
sweetness, just to sip in the summer heat. St. Hubertus falls
brilliantly into the latter category. Gorgeous pure ruby hue swimming with sweet
ground berries and finishing with a slice of rhubarb pie sprinkled with spice.
Kind of like sangria a glass.
$12.99
Wine Diva tasted-April 2006
St. Hubertus dry Riesling, Okanagan BC, 2005- Green
apple and peach cobbler with a whipped, creamy topping. Slightly oily on the
entry becoming creamy rich. Surprisingly little acidity on this vintage instead,
a good long dose of sweet five-spice on the finish.
$13.50
Wine Diva tasted-April 2006
Sandhill Pinot Gris-King Family Vineyard, Okanagan Valley,
2005-Glass-hopping tropical fruit aromas in a garden of citrus blossoms. In
the mouth, flinty-mineral notes, sweet peaches, crisp lemon-lime with a
creamy-dreamy spiced finale.
$16.99
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006
Sandhill Chardonnay-Burrowing Owl Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, 2005- Ripe
melon and baked pear with whiffs of tropical fruits and the aromas of a
French patisserie. Hot spiced nuts with layers of lavender cream and vanilla on
the finish. Oooh la la!
$16.99
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006
Sandhill Gewurztraminer-Seven Mountain Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, 2005-
Peaches soaked in Asian 5-spice, orange blossom and grapefruit aromas.
Bright spiced fruit on the palate, nectarine and anise, subtly boozy with a
silky texture. Another divine vintage for the seven mountain Gew!
$16.99
Wine Diva tasted-July 30 2006
Sandhill SLP
Cabernet-Syrah 2003 (287 cases)-
Gorgeous and lush!
Ripe black cherries dipped in bittersweet chocolate, mint, black pepper
earth and chewy (leathery) tannins. Decant, decant, decant or hold in
your cellar for a year of three.
$29.99
Wine Diva tasted-February 12th
2006
Sandhill SLP Barbera 2003 (283 cases)- Smoked black cherries and
blueberries, violets and leather with earthy, game-y and tobacco aromas.
Velvety chocolate flavours produce a creamy mouth-texture followed by a
long peppery finish.
Thank you Howard Soon & Co.!
$26.99
Wine Diva tasted-February 12th
2006
Sandhill Small Lots Viognier-Osprey Ridge Vineyard, Okanagan BC, 2005-
A hint of old world elegance with a pinch of the
brazen new world.
*Wine Diva's preference (and since it's my
website) is a solid middle ground between old world Rhone Valley and new world
Californian/Australian Viognier.
Lovely lady lush-tropical and peachy (like Fergie), *lemon meringue
pie, orange blossoms and creamed honey stretched into a long sweetly
spiced finish.
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006
Saturna Island Pinot Gris, Gulf Islands BC, 2004-Baked apples
and orchard fruits, spiked with nuts and creamy vanilla. Leesy-rich
mouth-feel with sweet citrus crispness on the finish.
$13.95 Private and VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-June 8 2006
Saturna Island
Rosé,
Gulf Islands BC, 2004-
This brilliant ruby
rosé
is a blanc de noirs style blend of chardonnay and pinot noir.
This was Wine Diva's favorite
wine at the recent Saturna Island new product launch. Ripe berries,
cherries, earth and sweet spices, bright acidity with a light silky
body and just a hint of sweetness.
$9.95
Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-June 8 2006
Saxenburg Pinotage, Stellenbosch South Africa, 2000- Some
people cringe at the word 'pinotage' (similar reaction with white
zinfandel) but if you find a good representation this South African
hybrid of pinot noir x cinsault can be quite interesting. The
Saxenburg is all smoked beets, damp earth and sweet marshmallow. Hey
I did say interesting didn't I?
$26.95 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 25 2006
Saxenburg Select Shiraz 'Limited Release' Stellenbosch
South Africa, 2000- Every so often Wine Diva gets to try a wine that shows a
regions true capabilities. This wine is one of them. Sweet cherries, plums,
smoke, licorice and spiced bitter-sweet chocolate. Lush yet not jammy,
brightened up with a hint of acidity.
Lovely!
$99.00 Very limited private wine stores and fine restaurants
Wine Diva tasted- May 25 2006
Savardo Pinot Nero Superiore DOC, Breganze Italy, 2003-Bright
aromas of sweet raspberries and red cherries, smoke and pretty violets.
Dry and light-bodied with rustic flavours of earth and tobacco, velvety
texture lingers on the tongue with a long spiced finish.
$23.50
Wine Diva tasted-February
2006
Wine Diva tip- pinot nero is
pinot noir
Sawtooth Riesling,
Idaho, 2003- Potatoes and Wine…why not? A lovely Riesling, well made
and a real crowd pleaser, like a pretty country gal who makes it big in
Nashville. Classic petrol nose supported by ripe orchard fruit and lime.
Lush mouth-feel in an off-dry Germanic style. Long crisp finish with a
hint of citrus pith.
Private wine stores-$19.99
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Sawtooth Viognier,
Idaho, 2002-(77% Viognier, 23% Rousanne) Soft fuzzy-peach aromas
shimmying around in orange blossom, minerals and sweet anise. Smooth and
velvety on the tongue with soft orchard fruit and a long slick finish
without the new world booziness. The 6mos. oak aged Rousanne adds a
complexity to the blend and gives it a round, smooth mouth-feel and
weight. Lovely and elegant!
Private wine stores-$30.00
Wine Diva tasted-October 2005
Schloss Reinhartshausen, Hattenheimer
Wisselbrunnen Riesling Spatlese Qmp, Rheingau, 1994er- From the Cellar:As much as I
enjoy these wines I cry every time I deplete my cellar stock. I love to
open them for Riesling fanatics so we can share a
Wine Diva moment together. Lush,
honeyed mango petrol, green apples fresh citrus and just a hint of
minerality.
A perfect example able to convert even diehard red drinkers.
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Seghesio Old Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma California, 2003-Spring
seems an odd time to write up a zin, it's more a cozy-up-by-the-fire
wine. But I have always been a fan of Seghesio and hey, when
it's good, its good! Dried cherries, prune pie and cigarillo smoke
topped off with the opposing forces of fresh and raisined fruit. The
old vines really come through in the mouth. This is no young-stud
trying to get fresh with you...Structured and solid with dry-dusty
tannins and (Wine Diva thinks) he needs a couple more years to
soften up.
Kind of like Burt Reynolds, old-school rough and masculine, he's
been around forever, but somehow he still looks good.
$46.90
Wine Diva tasted-April 21 2006
Signatures du Sud, Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc
France, 2005-
Grape in glass here is Picpoul, not oft seen in these parts but if you
happen to stumble across this little beauty grab it! Clean minerally
flavours, sweet and chalky with ripe tropical and orchard fruit. Great
little quaffing wine for the summer!
$14.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-June 27 2006
Shenandoah Reserve Barbera, Amador County California, 2003 (organic)-Sweet
black cherries, earth, mocha and tobacco with hints of fragrant dark
flowers. Sexy and warm, a wine for romance, wining and dining...!
$39.99 Private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-May 25 2006
Sheridan Vineyard 'L'Orage' Washington, 2003-The
Sheridan estate wines are always intense, extracted and utterly decadent. The 2003
'L'Orage' is rich black cherry, blueberry chocolate, coffee, sweet
spices, vanilla and tobacco-elegant
and ultra velvety in the mouth. Ripe and lush with smooth tannins.(72%
Cabernet, 25% Cabernet Franc, 3% merlot)
$67.95 Private wine stores and restaurants
Wine Diva
tasted-
June 27
2006
Sobon Estate 'Old Vines' Zinfandel, Amador County Calif., 2004-Scrumptious!
Wine Diva
loves her 'zin-usually in the cooler fall months (but I will make an
exception in this case!).
Besides, a big fruity zinfandel is a perfect BBQ wine.
Dried fruit aromas, sweet ripe cherries and a hint of blueberry, tobacco
and rich chocolate.
Velvety smooth and sweet in the mouth with the bonus of being organic!
$25.00
Wine Diva
tasted-
June 27 2006
Sommariva Prosecco-Creamy
mousse, toast and citrus not bone-dry but not sweet either. A
sophisticated and elegant prosecco with a fresh and creamy mouth-feel.
BC LDB $24.99
Wine Diva
tasted-December 2005.
Stoneleigh Riesling, Marlborough New Zealand, 2004- Slightly
off-dry riesling with bright orchard fruit, mineral and petrol,
lemon- limey acidity racing all the way through to the finish line.
See, New Zealand is more than just gooseberries and sauvignon blanc! BC's best selling
NZ riesling.
$15.99
Wine Diva tasted-May 3 2006
Staete Landt Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough New Zealand, 2005-Passion
fruit, peaches 'n cream, gooseberries and grass with fresh apricots
and crisp citrus in the mouth. A lovely, lush lady and my favorite
sauvignon blanc of the recent New Zealand tasting.
$27.99
Wine Diva tasted-May 31 2006
Sumac Ridge
Private Reserve Rosé, Okanagan, BC, 2004- I’ve noticed a trend in BC
rosé this season, less sweet, made in a more old world style which in
turn makes it better as a food wine. I love the brilliant ruby hue and
aromas of fresh strawberries, lemon and lime zest, hints of mineral,
zingy, crisp and refreshing. Keep this one around for the Thanksgiving
dinner!
$10.99
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Sumac Ridge Sauvignon Blanc,
Okanagan BC, 2005- Fresh cut grass, pineapple and lemon with
quite a round, leesy mouth-feel. Whether you like sauvignon blanc or
not, this wine will impress you with its up-front fruit flavours.
$13.99
Wine Diva tasted-May 18 2006
Sumac Ridge Steller's Jay Brut, Okanagan BC, 2001-Gorgeous amber colour
with persistent bubbly mousse. A blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc with aromas
of creamy green apple, peaches, pears and tasted nuts. Lovely refreshing
texture, creamy, crisp and toasty and certainly worthy of a second bottle!
$24.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Pinot Blanc, Okanagan BC, 2004-
Tropical whipped cream, ripe peaches and sweet vanilla finish. Fresh, easy and fun.
$12.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve
Chardonnay, Okanagan BC, 2004- This Chard has a very delicate
hand with the oak. Bright, clean citrus and mineral notes. In the mouth, buttery
pear and creamy nut flavours. A lovely, easy drinking Chardonnay for folk that
don't like too much oak.
$13.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve
Gewurztraminer, Okanagan BC, 2005- A classic! Lovely
fresh Gew aromas, creamy tropical fruit, lychee, rosewater and honey all in a
rich (not thick) mouth-feel topped off with a sprinkling of sweet spices.
$13.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Rosé,
Okanagan BC, 2005- Bright summer aromas of fresh BC strawberries, mixed summer
orchard fruit, minerals and citrus peel. Clean, just off-dry with more berry
flavours in the mouth topped off with sweet spices. Blend of Ehrenfelser and Gamay. Refreshing and prettily pink!
$10.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge Private Reserve
Merlot, Okanagan BC, 2004-
Cherries, plums and fresh, earthy forest undergrowth. Light-medium bodied with a
hint of greenery and blackberry fruit, and pepper.
$15.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge Private
Cabernet/Merlot, Okanagan BC, 2004-Half-half Cab and merlot
this is another classic go-to BC wine. The offerings in the inexpensive BC
red wine category has narrowed but the Sumac Cab/Merlot is always a reliable
wine. Flavours of smoked cherries and blackberries, a velvety mouth-feel,
finishing with spiced tobacco and cocoa.
$13.99
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Sumac Ridge 25th Anniversary 'Pipe', Okanagan BC- A BC made fortified red
wine (meaning sugar and alcohol added-like Port) that spent three years in oak
barrels before being bottled just prior to Wine Diva's tasting.
Super-ripe berry and dried fruit aromas, tobacco, cedar and nuts mixed in with a
swirl of dark chocolate...dessert-in-a-glass!
Wine Diva tasted- July 11, 2006
Summerhill
Ehrenfelser, Okanagan BC, 2005-Smartly, Summerhill knows which
side their bread is buttered on-the Ehrenfelser and Cipes
side which is why they have increased production on both of
these lovely wines. The 2005 Ehrenfelser is chock-full of rich
tropical fruit, Turkish delight, anise spice and rose petals. The
mouth is simply...voluptuous
$18.95 Private wine stores and VQA
Wine Diva tasted-May 18 2006
Summerhill 'Cipes Ice' Sparkling Wine, Okanagan BC- A riesling based
sparkling-like the classic Cipes Brut except-this one has a sweet
addition or "dosage" (a la Champagne) of (in this case) icewine. The
icewine makes it a tad sweeter, but fun with a zip. Bright apple aromas with
hints of honey blossoms and minerals. Crisp and clean with a soft mousse and
citrus rind finish.
$35 Private wine stores and at the winery
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006
Summerhill Gewurztraminer Okanagan BC, 2005-Soft aromatics, tropical
lychee and rose petals with more austere, lean flavours, dry and spicy
with hints of dill on the finish.
$16.95 private wine stores and at the winery
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006
Summerhill Cipes Brut, Okanagan BC- Always a favorite, this
riesling sparkler (they have upped their production
thank goodness) is fresh and fruity but still dry. A full mousse
releases sweet apple blossom and pear aromas. Crisp, but with a
round creamy mouth-feel. Always keep a bottle nearby (for
emergencies or surprise Wine Diva
visits).
$22.95
Wine Diva tasted-May 18 2006
Summerhill 'Solus' Foch, Okanagan BC, 2004-Big red
fruit aromas, meaty and peppery. In the mouth it is leaner than first expected
with red berries, smoke, earth and leather and a spiced finish. A wine for your
barbeque.
$19.95
Wine Diva tasted-July 12 2006