Join us for the second annual Spring Tasting coming in May 2012. Join our VIP club to be added to the special invite list and receive free tickets. More information coming soon.

Enough of chocolate and fine wine…NEVER

For example 2 wines that go great with chocolate and do not judge you.

Cedar Knoll Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

A flavourful large bodied cab with layers of dark plums, leather and a slight hint of eucalyptus.

Its finish takes quite a while and will impress you with well structured tannins and a silky smooth feel… This 2007 Napa cab is a definite treasure.

Another non judgemental wine is from our backyard, the Naramata Bench.

Kettle Valley Wineries Old Main Red

A tasty blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and 5% Petite Verdot and Malbec.

Full bodied and rich with dark fruits and chocolate and a mild spice that lingers on your palate and dares you to have more. This 2008 vintage is at its drinking prime, but if properly cared for could produce a long-term addition to your cellar, only to improve.
Although this is a big bodied wine it is very versatile with food and would go (does go) so good with roast lamb, ribs and big steaks. I would put this wine up against some of the big boys and this one would win.
A great B.C. wine!

Next week a few wines from Chile. A taste of what the Playhouse International Wine Festival will be showcasing. A show well worth going to.

Cheers
James and the 1er Cru at Coal Harbour Liquor store.

So we are back from our hiatus and will be talking about some of our own.

Joie PTG and Therapy Vineyards Alterego.

The Joie PTG is a light bodied wine made in the old world style of Alsace and Burgundy.
It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay. The Pinot Noir gives it a multilayered mouthful and the Gamay adds just the right amount of spiciness to it.
This is a delicate wine and has been aged in premium French oak that gives it the finesse that is well deserved by all of us.
Although it’s a red it would go well with white fish, turkey and light cheeses.

Now for the Alterego, its name is a play off of Therapy Vineyards Superego.
The Alterego is a blend of pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, viognier and chardonnay.
This is definitely a fruit driven wine but with layers. I have personally enjoyed this wine on its own, but pair it with pork tenderloin and you will be very happy.
Alterego has been aged in French oak and this has enhanced the subtle flavours of the fruit.
It is by no means a fruit bomb. It is a very well balanced and tasty offering from Therapy Vineyards and the 2010 is the inaugural release.
If their first try at it is this good I will definitely be trying the next release.

Cheers
James and the 1er Cru at Coal Harbour Liquor Store

For “Wine Wednesday” we are going to look at a local and an Argentinean.

Local first. From the Deep Creek Wine Estate we have the 2006 Old Vines Riesling. Produced in the Okanagan Valley and by design still following the “Wine Purity Law” of 1856 (Wein Reinheitsgebot) created without any chemicals or additives.

This Riesling shows aromas of citrus, green apple and a minerality that is understated. On your palate you will get fresh citrus with some steeliness accompanied by a slight nuttiness that makes it mouth-watering. This Riesling can be paired with many dishes, but on its own is a treat. You can cellar this wine for another 10 years and it will only get better.

Now our Argentinean Torrontes from Zuccardi. It is part of the Zuccardi family’s Series A Wines and is a high quality wine showing off Argentina’s best growing practises and areas. It comes from the high valleys of Salta in northern Argentina. The wine has aromas of pears, passion fruit, oranges and white flowers.

On your palate it is refreshing and long lasting and a delicate finish with some more of the white flower coming through. I would pair this wine with delicate white fish or a seriously spicy Thai dish.

Both wines are readily available at better quality stores and will definitely bring a smile to your face and warmness to your soul.

Cheers
James and the 1er Cru at Coal Harbour Liquor Store

Some of the best kept secrets out there are the quality of our own wines from the interior.

Many of our wineries are fantastic but to small to have a huge impact on your shopping. Here are 2 of my choices that I think exemplify our home grown quality.

Perpetua, chardonnay

• From Mission Hill Family Estate
• It is a single vineyard wine and is fermented in new French oak for 10 months and stirred by hand every 2 weeks.
• The finished product is rich and creamy with nice toasty notes on you palate with butter and smoke making it one of the best chardonnay’s out there.
• Mission Hill can impress when they want to and with the Perpetua they have certainly impressed me.

For our red this week I have chosen a new entry into the B.C. home grown market.
Painted Rock is only into its second vintage now and has created something even more special for us since its first release.

• Painted Rock Icon
• Estate grown
• It is a blend of Merlot at 30%, Cab Franc at 25%
• Malbec at 25% and Petit Verdot at 20%

It was aged in new French oak for 18 months and gives you a huge bodied red with fantastically ripe and concentrated fruit, with a deep deep red almost black in colour appearance. The ripe fruits explode on your palate but it does not resemble an Australian fruit bomb in any way. A true representation of what good wine making is all about.

Cheers
James and the 1er cru at Coal Harbour Liquor Store

Because the Spring is still trying to arrive, a small push from the land of Burgundy might just help.

The Chassagne Monttrachet, 2007 from Louis Jadot is one tasty tasty Chardonnay. It appears golden in colour and has fresh peaches, apricot and mango aromas that fill your nose. You get a full bodied Chardonnay with subtle herbs on your palate and a long lasting finish. Even in our crazy weather this little beauty will put some sunshine in your day.

For those of us who do not mind a big red wine any time of the year, I have remained in France and have chosen The Grand Vin of the Southern Rhone Valley.

Chateau de la Gardine from the world renowned Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation.

This is a smooth and velvety wine that goes well with food or on its own, (on its own works really well for me)
It has dark dense purple colour and a subtle smokiness that brings out the black currant and black cherry notes on your palate. This wine has a very full bodied mouth feel and finishes with velvety smooth tannins. Very hard to put down. A great go to wine when you want good quality and don’t have the time to test new wines prior to needing them.

If I was a wine critic both of these would be in my top 10 percent!!

As we get closer to spring and patios are in everyone’s mind, I have chosen 2 wines, one from our own back yard and one from the other side of the world that knows what sun is, Australia.

Australian first. Skillogalee Rose`. A Rose` with enough character to impress. Created in the Clare Valley, it s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes giving it a clean crisp fresh berry fruit taste with some savoury spices and clean acidic finish. The blend will give you a mouthful of rose` with a tendency to have a greater red wine feel. With the addition of the Malbec grape the wine has an unexpected flavour and bite that makes your mouth water.

The Skillogalee Rose` is best served slightly chilled and is a perfect partner to an afternoon of patios.

The wine from our own backyard is the Orofino Gamay. It is created in the Similkameen valley in a 6 acre property on the sun drenched Cawston Bench.

A Gamay is a new world name for Beaujolais and has many of the same qualities. A light and refreshing yet flavourful red wine that has hints of white pepper and raspberries on the nose taking you to a spicy vanilla and rich ripe red berries on your palate.

This will become a summer favourite for all your BBQ needs and will be a perfect evening wine after your Rose` earlier on the patio.

Both choices are a lighter style of wine specifically chosen to match to all patio weather. Even if it rains these wines will bring back the sun if only for a few minutes!!

James and the 1er Cru at Coal Harbour Liquor Store

Your Champagne specialists!

For my first wine blog I have no choice but to pick Napa Valley and 2 of its proudest accomplishments, Cabernet sauvignon and of course Zinfandel.

Fact is, it can be so hard to pick from all that Napa has to offer I have chosen 2 specific wines that really say We are Napa and damn proud!

First of all I would like to introduce you to Robert Baile Vineyards and the best Zinfandel it has to offer. Baile Vineyards “Black Chicken”.

The name comes from the days of prohibition when Napa was in its first stages of development. Due to the fact it was illegal for anyone to make or purchase alcohol some of the early pioneers in wine had to come up with a way to get their wines out to their customers. So if you came to them and asked for a “black chicken” you would walk out with a great bottle of Zinfandel.
Since then the name has stuck and become an inside joke to those in the know.
For those of us who are Zinfandel lovers you will not be able to pass this up.
A highly expressive wine although very easy to drink with intensely flavoured grapes showing finely structured black berry, cassis flavours and spicy notes.
This fruit driven style allows you to pair it with a wide variety of food.

Now for the Cabernet Sauvignon, I have chosen Clos Du Val, another famous and fantastic Napa creation.
An estate bottled cab of the Stags Leap District.
The wine maker John Clews carries on the tradition of balance, complexity and elegance with the Clos Du Val flagship wine. A complex mix of dark fruit and dried herbs,
aged in French oak for 24 months, it has silky tannins and a long drawn out finish.

A true classic is always in style

As a treat for yourself or to show off to your friends, both of the wines I have chosen will bring you back for more. Always remember part of the fun of wine is to experience all it has to offer, open mindedness has lead me to some amazing discoveries

Cheers

James & the 1er cru at Coal Harbour Liquor Store