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November 22, 2007 
 risking serious liver damage to bring you more reviews....
 South Africa, Spain and Pinot Gris+Grigio


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It's that time of the year again.
If you haven't fit in your fall detox then forget about it. Wait until January.
From Whistler's Cornucopia food & wine fest in the second week of November it's a steady slide into the wonderous decadence of the holiday season which most certainly includes bubbles!
But Bubbles must wait (impatient and vivacious as she is) for next week when I will drown you in sparkling bliss and continue to seduce you with Bottles for Celebrations , gift giving and New BC bottles in December.
Early in January I'll tempt you with hangover cures in the form of my 2nd annual "Budget Bottles".
So stay tuned, there are barrels and tanks of reviews yet to come.

Me, hiccup, I'm just trying to keep up and talk my liver down off the ledge...

 South Africa
 Plaisir de Merle Shiraz, 2003

Plaisir de Merle Shiraz There is much history and romance behind the French Huguenot property of Plaisir de Merle, in fact the name itself translates into "pleasure of the blackbird'...Let's just hope the blackbirds don't get to the grapes before we do because it would be a sad day if they did.
The wines are some of the most elegant I have tasted from South Africa, always a pleasure to drink and a wonderful partner for food.
The Shiraz has bright berry aromas - raspberry and blackberry - creamy oak and spice aromas with herbal notes. There is intensity on the palate with a lovely weight, pure berry flavours, spiced chocolate and char with a seductively supple texture.
Pair with briased lamb loin or mushroom gnocchi
$34.99 BC private wine stores
(+713006)

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More wines from South Africa... 


 South Africa
 Lindemans Chardonnay 2006

Lindemans Chardonnay NEW!
Golden-hued with green glints and sweet buttery aromas of pineapple, pears, caramel praline and toasted brioche. Smooth and refreshing on the palate with ripe tropical fruit, spiced citrus, toasty oak and a mouth-watering finish.
There's great value in this delicious new addition to the wine shelf!
Pairs well with creamy cheese platters with fruit compotes and nuts.
$12.99
(+866475)

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More South African wine reviews... 


 South Africa
 Glen Carlou Syrah, Paarl 2005

Glen Carlou Syrah Blackberries and sweet herbal aromas with earthy- rootsy notes and smoked game. On the palate the Glen Carlou is velvety smooth with fresh dark berries, cocoa and char flavours and lingering peppery spices on the finish.
A sophisticated South African Syrah!
Pair with roasted meat or grilled veg.
$29.99
(+153841)

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More from South Africa... 


 More Reviews from South Africa...
 

South Africa Map ...similar to other 'new world' regions like Chile, Australia, New Zealand and even Canada we either have or continue to struggle to identify ourselves in the competitive world of wine. The wines from this region of the world are now being recognized for their 'sense of place' or 'terroir' and...





  • Leopards Leap
  • Lindemans
  • Nederburg
  • Fleur du Cap
  • Plaisir de Merle
  • Saxenburg
  • Stellenzicht


Continue reading... 


 Spain
 Espelt "Saulo", Cataluna 2005

Espelt 2005 In this bottle (with its darling label) is a blend of two of my favorite grapes, Carignan and Grenache.
Sweet berry, earth and spiced aromas with delicate notes of rose petals in the rain. Smooth on the palate with juicy red berries, minerals, tobacco and roasted coffee, shows good acidity throughout, soft tannins on the finish and lingering white pepper.
Pair with Spanish cheeses and chacuterie.
$14.99
(+151332)

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More from Spain... 


 Spain
 Bodegas Palacio "Glorioso" Rioja Crianza 2004

Palacious Glorioso This classically rustic Tempranillo will pair perfectly with all your meaty dreams--namely stews, game and roasted meat dishes.
Sweet red cherries, vanilla and dried fruit aromas with band-aid and tobacco notes. Medium-bodied on the palate with more cherry, oak and sumac spice, cocoa, toast and leather-y flavours with a smooth, warm finish and attractive price.
$16.99
(+361469)

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 Spain
 Bodegas Lomablanca Gabarda IV, Carinena 2003

Gabarda 4 NEW!
The Gabarda IV has a label that will appeal to your sense of style and the juice to make you say gracias
Spain.
Cherries and dark flowers abound amid rustic, earthy aromas of leather, smoked meat, white pepper and tobacco. On the palate it's creamy smooth with fresh berry/cherry, sweet spices and vanilla. The 19 months of time this wine spent in Hungarian and French oak has integrated nicely and the finish is silky.
Seriously good.
$32.99 BC private wine stores
(+760058)

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More Spanish wines... 


 Spain
 

Spain wine map


I'll be the first to admit that Spain is confusing.
So many wine regions, so many hard to pronounce words and don't even get me started on the Spanish grape names...
Saying that, I spent an intense long weekend in July with the Wine Academy of Spain...






More reviews of...
  • Bodegas Montecillo
  • Bodegas Ateca
  • Bodegas Piqueras
  • Penascal
  • Codoniu
  • Marques de Gelida
  • Raimat
  • Segura Viudas
  • Castillo de Liria
  • Osborne


Read all these and MORE! 


 Pinot Gris+Grigio
 Antinori Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio, Sicily 2006

Santa Cristina PG Straw coloured with amber glints the Santa Cristina has peach jelly and lemon cream aromas, it's scented with orange blossom, minerals and almond oil notes. Crisp and bright on the entry, softly rounded on the mid-palate and showing a lovely, refreshing zestiness on the finish.
Wonderful!
$18.99
(+758151)

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 Pinot Gris+Grigio
 Summerhill Pinot Gris Okanagan, 2006

Summerhill Gris Fragrant white peaches, honey blossoms and mineral aromas. Zippy on the palate with lemon-cream and vanilla spice flavours, it's softly rounded on the tongue yet refreshingly crisp with a clean, lingering finish. Serve with sweet crab on crostini with avocado/wasabi mousse.
$16.95
(+714741)

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More Pinot Gris+Grigio... 


 Pinot Gris+Grigio
 Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio Riserva,Trentino, 2005

Mezzacorona PG The price may be a bit higher than other Italian Pinot Grigios you normally quaff but the couple extra dollars is worth it!
Scented with peaches, honeysuckle, vanilla and sweet toasted nuts. Creamy in the mouth showing zesty citrus, more peach, slate and herbal flavours. It suggests voluptuousness and hints at oiliness but is wonderfully refreshing...
Do not miss this one!
$19.99
(+329219) Had this wine? Rate it!


Read more Pinot reviews... 


 More Pinot Gris+Grigio
 More reviews on...

PG cluster grapes
  • Danzante-Italy
  • Gray Monk-BC
  • Inniskillin-BC
  • Lamberti-Italy
  • Mission Hill-BC
  • Sandhill-BC
  • Pfaffenheim-Alsace
  • Tinhorn Creek-BC
  • SonoVino-Italy
  • Voga-Italy


Read these PG reviews and more... 


 Cheese of the Week
 Mousseron du Jura

Mousseron du Jura cheese Unpasteurized cows milk cheese from Jura France. I find it very similar perhaps a bit stronger (ergo tastier) than Comte de Montagne. Its a firm cheese with a lovely honey hue and thin inedible rind. It has a nutty, sweet earthy aroma and a smooth nutty, toffee/caramel flavour with a salty backbone. It comes in large drums so you can have yours cut to size.
Wine Pairing: Great with full-bodied red wines like Rhone Syrahs.
$4.25 per 100g
Stink Factor: Low


More great cheese... 


 Party Wine!
 Perfect for a crowd-affordable and bubbly and pink

Veuve du Vernay Rose Veuve du Vernay Brut Rose, France
There is no better time to drink pink!
Following the trend of pink, more and more roses are showing up on the wine store shelves including the funnest of all--bubbly pinks! A sibling to the very affordable Veuve du Vernay Brut comes the Brut Rose perfect for parties and holiday celebrations.
Light cranberry in colour with currant, blackberry and pomegranate aromas with notes of subtle lilac and candied citrus.
It's assertive on the palate with persistant bubbles that release flavours of dried sweet berries, spice and juicy citrus and has a zesty finish that sticks around.
$13.99
(+610048)
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Read all of WD's new reviews... 


NEXT WEEK...
See you in the Champagne Glass!

Pink and Cheeky...

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