Trying what other countries have to offer is a great way to see if your palate can appreciate the multiple flavours that great wine other than our own can show you. I have chosen 2 regions that are about as different as apples and oranges. South Africa and Austria.

Starting with Austria, we have a Gruner Veltliner from Domain Gobelsberg.

A very surprising wine from a very quiet area. This wine has characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc’s as well as some Pinot Grigio’s but still manages to incorporate their characteristics and its own into a very crisp and dry white. You will get flavours of citrus and apples and a smoothness that makes this wine a perfect summer companion. It is also very good when paired with chicken, pork or fresh salads.

Off to South Africa for a taste of what Cathedral Cellars is offering.
The KWV Cathedral Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.
This is a well balanced full bodied wine that will give your nose some hints of smoke and leather with some mild eucalyptus. You will get cassis flavours and a spicy note that I think KWV is famous for, mostly due to their use of new French oak barrels. This is a wine for smoked meats and bold BBQ.

Do not let the sun stop you from going to a big red. There is always room for a big tasty red at my table.

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

As our around the world tastes continue we are going to start in Argentina in the Mendoza area of Maipu with the Santa Julia Magna.

An impressive blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Syrah that highlights notes of fresh bursting red fruits and a slight spice. This is a complex and elegant wine that has been aged in oak for a year and will give you subtle hints of tobacco and leather with mild vanilla flavours. This is a wine that you definitely want to drink on its own, just so you don’t miss anything it is offering. For pairing you can go for more gamey meats or more traditional BBQ and have a wine that makes your meal so much better.

Staying in the southern hemisphere we go to New Zealand and one of their best.

Kim Crawford 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region.

A classic in Sauvignon Blanc’s and what we have come to expect from the New Zealand wineries.
On your nose you will get citrus and cut grass and a fresh crisp aroma. When you drink you will get passion fruit, citrus and ripe stone fruit that will make your mouth water. Although I like many Sauvignon Blanc’s this is a very good example of what they should be. Kim Crawford has earned many medals and awards for their wine and it is easy to see and taste why. This is best drank on its own or with some fresh seafood or seasonal salads.

Bring on summer and bring on the patio wines.

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

Coal Harbour Liquor Store is proudly featuring some of our favourite wines from around the world coming to you at a discounted price. We have chosen wines from all the world-class growing areas and want you to be able to enjoy them too. The joy of wine is trying new wine as often as possible.

Treat yourself with some French Bordeaux’s or some outstanding Napa Cabs. Or go tropical and enjoy some of the wines from New Zealand or South America. Choose one of our favourites and relax into spring. Coal Harbour Liquor Store firmly believes wine has no calories on the weekend because that’s the way it should be!!

Featured Region Tastings at The Coal Harbour Liquor Store

May 3-5 South america
May 10-12 Europe
May 17-19 Australia
May 24-26 B.C. and California
May 29 Pelican Bay Annual Spring Tasting at Dockside Restaurant

To start our around the world travels, we are going to Napa Valley, California.

So for Napa let’s start with a Cab.
Sterling Vineyards 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon.
This little beauty has aromas of dark berries and cassis with subtle cedar notes that prep you for a smooth and dense mouthful. The tannins are well balanced and the flavours of ripe dark berries and some leather are completed with a mild eucalyptus.

Sterling Vineyards is definitely one of my go to wines. As they always seem to be very consistent in their wines it is a safe bet if you do not know what you want. Pair it with BBQ meats, roast meat or poultry or on its own is fantastic.

I know we are all used to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but the Napa Valley Rudd Sauvignon Blanc is oh so good!

A delicious blend of tropical fruit and buttery citrus is what you will get on your nose.
On your palate you will get some grassy notes and subtle spicy oak notes. This wine is perfect for patio weather with some fresh fish or seasonal salads.

Both wines are above average yet still friendly to your bank account.
Enjoy what should be enjoyed!

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

Two of B.C.’s best Pinot Noirs are our focus and WOW are they ever good.

Starting off with Blue Mountain Pinot Noir 2010

This wine uses only estate grown fruit and has come to represent a growing movement in B.C. to make world class Pinots. There are aromas of plums and red currants with smokey oak from the new French barrels. You will also get some mocha from the rich aromas coming from this wine. It is velvety soft on you palate and you will notice the exceptionally well rounded tannins. There is also a lingering fruit sweetness that makes your mouth water. Although this wine is drinking very well now, you can cellar it for a good 10 years. Enjoy on its own or with some light meats and seafood.

Now we come to Foxtrot Vineyard and their 2008 Pinot Noir.

Hard to find but oh so worth the look. The 2008 from Foxtrot will knock your socks off. The care and attention put into this wine is very noticeable on the first sip.

You will get hints of flowers and rich plumy fruit on your nose and when you drink you will get firm tannins with a supple velvety feel. This wine will linger on your palate long after you have finished it. The answer to that problem seems to have an easy answer… buy two.

Although these 2 pinots are impressive there are some up and coming vineyards that we have yet to talk about that will give them a good run for the money.

I am and always will be a fan of what our amazing province has to offer.

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

With our focus on B.C. wines, we are looking closer at what we have to offer.

Cassini Cellars 2008 Syrah, Collector’s Series.
From Osoyoos in the interior. This wine was done in the French style and has medium tannins that compliment the fruit with soft vanilla and subtle caramel. On your palate you will get blackberry and currant with a slight white pepper and some mild liquorice. This is a full bodied wine and can be enjoyed with beef or chicken or on its own. A great wine that is capable of being cellared for years or enjoyed now.

My preference is NOW, surprise!

As it is spring somewhere, I want to talk whites and one of my favourites is a Riesling.

Calliope Riesling 2010 from Oliver.
This vineyard is the little brother to Burrowing Owl Vineyards and is very tasty. On the nose you will get some ripe grapefruit and mild peach. You will be impressed with the way the wine fills out in your mouth with more peach and pear flavours and with crisp grapefruit to refresh your palate. You can pair this with the usual or with some lemongrass chicken that would make the wine and the meal very memorable.

Our B.C. wine adventure will continue next week

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

Today we have two delicious reds to transition us over to spring. One is an obscure and heavier red for those that love their bold wines, and the other is a lighter bodied tasty treat from a BC favourite. Both will please a red lovers palate.

First we have the Quails Gate Old Vines Foch Reserve. Foch, although not the most popular of grapes, is something that our province does extremely well. Named after a French marshal, Marichel Foch, it is characterised by strong acidity, black fruit, and chocolate and coffee notes. Quails Gate is no exception. Made in the style of Australian Shiraz, QG’s Foch is very juicy, with lots of cinnamon spice, candied cherry, bitter chocolate and tobacco. A delicious barbeque wine as the weather changes this season.


Secondly, on the lighter side we have Nk’Mip’s Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir. The Qwam Qwmt series is Nk’Mip’s higher tier and delivers exceptional quality. With delicate tannins and balanced oak, this Pinot Noir give you rich rhubarb and field strawberry on the nose, with layers of pepper, spice, and earthy characteristics, making it an easy sipper on it’s own, or a great red patio wine.

Both help us look forward to more sun, and the hope of saying goodbye to April showers.

We are back to B.C. wines and loving it. The new releases are just beginning, and I will try as many as possible just to be able to give you the information. Research with benefits!

Before we get to the new releases I wanted to talk about 2 of our own that are excellent choices.

From Young and Wyse the Collection, a Bordeaux blend of 33% merlot, 30% syrah, 24% cabernet sauvignon and 13% cab franc. You will enjoy many aromas from this wine, including espresso, some exotic spices and some light licorice. On your palate you will get rich dark fruits and smooth tannins that give it a silky smooth feel with a long and complex finish to savour. This wine will impress you with its versatility for food pairings and its outstanding ability to be enjoyed on its own.

The next wine is from Jackson Triggs. Proprietors Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Viognier Gold label. 2007.

Jackson Triggs comes along with these little beauties every so often and they are worth trying. With the addition of the Viognier the aromas of the wine are elevated and you will get rich and sweet exotic fruits. The Viognier also give this wine a dark rich purple hue (have a toothbrush handy).On your palate you will get all the dark fruits, ripe blueberries and black currant with some typical notes of pepperyness from the Shiraz and a mild hint of eucalyptus from the Cabernet. This is a truly well made wine and another one of our homegrown surprises. Outstanding with grilled and roasted meats. I had it with grilled vegetables and it was mouth watering. Expect some new vintages next week that our award winning wineries will be releasing.

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

If you have never heard of Lane Tanner Pinot Noir, now’s the time.

The 2006 Lane Tanner Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley in California is by far an excellent example of what a pinot noir should be. A dark pinot with strong aromas of cherry, plum and blackberry. On your palate you will get hints of vanilla and a hint of chocolate that blends well with the plum and cherry flavours. The finish is long and velvety with light tannins adding just enough texture to the wine to be one of your upcoming favourites.

Although you want to drink this treat, you can also cellar it for a good 10 years. I would drink one now and cellar one for tomorrow, I don’t think I could wait 10 years but it is a nice thought. Pair it with all kinds of poultry, salmon or seared tuna, or enjoy on its own.

From our own backyard comes the Hainle 2003 Riesling, an estate bottled organic beauty.
A dry Riesling that will give you notes of citrus, apricot and light mineral aromas, followed by crisp and slight
Although this wine is versatile and can be paired with all kinds of seafood and spicy Asian cuisine, it can also be enjoyed on its own, my favourite!

This wine is a 2003 but do not let that fool you, the wine maker does not release his wines without proper aging and very careful cellaring practises to ensure you are getting their best. You can cellar this for at least 4 more years, but is it ever drinking well now.

I will be focusing on B.C. wines for the next few weeks and hope your discovery of some of our own best kept secrets will be as amazing for you as it was for me.

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

Wow, the Playhouse is over for another year and we got a lot of ideas from them for our Chilean wine.

I will start with a new wine that we have just brought in.

Cordillera De Los Andes
2007 Carinena, Merlot, and Syrah blend
Reserva Privada

This is a fantastic example of some of Chile’s unique and very well done wines. A deep ruby red colour and floral notes is what you will see and smell. As for what you will taste, the floral notes on your nose will translate to a very smooth and well balanced wine with some extra hints of Bay leaves and an ever so slight mint. A true find that was worth looking for. New wines are not scary but rather fun in tasting and getting new flavours and being able to write or talk about them. You can pair this find with cured meats and roasted vegetables and just about any roasted or braised meats.

The second wine is from the Colchagua Valley in Chile, produced by Montgras.

The Montgras Reserva Carmenere, 2009.

Although originally from France the Carmenere is now unique to Chile and they are the only significant source for the varietal. This is a rich concentrated red with a deep purple colour. This Carmenere has powerful spicy aromas that you will find mingles with some mint and wild herbs. Just the smell will get your mouth watering. Once you taste this rich and powerful wine, you will get very well rounded tannins that combine with soft vanilla bean and some toasty flavours left from the oak aging. I would pair this wine with lamb and all the gamier meats like venison and all South American meat dishes.

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