Our wine reviews
A smooth, complex red blend from Côtes du Rhône Villages at a tremendous price… This Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend, Plan de Dieu from Domaine Le Grand Retour in Côtes du Rhône Villages offered plenty of complexity in both the nose and mouth. Ostensibly part of God’s plan—hence the name—we appreciated the smoothness of this wine, … Read more
A balanced, easy-drinking Soave from Northern Italy… This 2014 Suavia from Soave in Italy, made from 100% Garganega, offered plenty of citrus flavours to complement almond, mineral, and white pepper notes. We particularly enjoyed the hints of spearmint and ginger in the nose, although we found the bitterness in the finish a little off-putting. Light-to-medium … Read more
A fruity, fragrant, and intense Gewϋrztraminer from Alsace… This Gewϋrztraminer from Maison Pierre Sparr Successeurs in Alsace, France, a full-bodied, nicely balanced white, offered a concentrated bouquet of tropical and floral notes on the nose and an intense mix of sweet, ripe fruit, honey, lemon rind, as well as a hint of spice in the … Read more
A fantastic, intense expression of Tempranillo… We adored the intense aromas and tastes of this fantastic 2011 Numanthia from Bodega Numanthia in Toro, Spain. With outstanding balance and complexity, this Tempranillo offered a wonderful bouquet on the nose, including tobacco, leather, hickory spice, vanilla, anise, and grilled steak. In the mouth, more grilled steak emerged, … Read more
A bold, balanced, and sumptuous red blend from Mendoza… This Argentinian red blend, Viñalba Reserva, a combination of Malbec and Touriga Nacional, impressed us in terms of its balance, complexity, and structure. With an intriguing bouquet on the nose, including grilled meat, dark plums, and anise, it offered plenty of fruit in the mouth, combined … Read more
A very good Blauburgunder from Sϋditrol-Alto Adige… This Blauburgunder (another name for Pinot Noir) offered a fruity, fragrant nose with a tart, vibrant mouth. The tannins came across as somewhat sharp, yet not over-bearing, and the high degree of acidity added a welcomed touch of crispness. We paired it with an Italian-style margherita pizza and … Read more
A very good Bordeaux-blend with a twist… This Bordeaux-style blend, produced in British Columbia by Le Vieux Pin, impressed us in terms of complexity, ease of drinkability, and value. Similar to many blends produced on the Right Bank in Bordeaux, where Merlot dominates Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, the twist of Petit Rouge comes in … Read more
In the end, the Spanish red blend took the honours in this blind tasting… Wanting to hone Emilie’s tasting skills, Ryan surprised her with an impromptu blind tasting on a gorgeous summer night. It was a good way to see if the skills she developed during the WSET Level 2 course in Wines & Spirits … Read more
The View’s 2016 Pinotage Rosé combines a deliciously sweet nose with a crisp, tart mouth… We adored the vibrant crispness of this Canadian Pinotage Rosé made, interestingly, from a South African varietal. Contrary to what we have experienced with many wines, the label accurately described this offering, but we didn’t notice any cotton candy. Though … Read more
La Clape Grand Terroir, another solid offering from Gérard Bertrand, one of our favourite producers in Languedoc-Roussillon… We enjoyed this Rhône-style red blend, which offered a nice balance of dark and red fruit, combined with earth, leather, and tobacco notes. Made in a classic, old-world style, La Clape Grand Terroir offers pretty much what you’d expect from … Read more