Wine Review – Chrysalis Vineyards 2014 Norton Estate Bottled

Chrysalis Vineyards claims that Norton is The Real American Grape. Normally, we shy away from North American varietals given their typically green/unripe characteristics. Saying that, the 2014 Norton Estate Bottled made us rethink our position… Name: Norton Estate Bottled Vintage: 2014 Producer: Chrysalis Vineyards Region/Country: Virginia, USA Grape Varietal(s): Norton Alcohol Level: 12.8% Consumed: At … Read more

Wine Review – 2016 Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut

The 2016 edition of Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Cut upholds the famous director’s legacy… Name: Director’s Cut Vintage: 2016 Producer: Francis Ford Coppola Winery Region/Country: California, USA Grape Varietal(s): Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot Alcohol Level: 14% Consumed: At home Recommended By: Found it at the LCBO (local liquor board) Cost: $42.95 CAD … Read more

Wine Review – 2015 Hogue Cellars Genesis Meritage

This 2015 Hogue Cellars Genesis Meritage offers complexity, intensity, and length coming from a blend of five Bordeaux grapes… Name: Meritage Vintage: 2015 Producer: Hogue Cellars Region/Country: Columbia Valley, Washington, USA Grape Varietal(s): 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc Alcohol Level: 13.5% Consumed: At home Recommended By: … Read more

Embraced by a New (Writing) Community

Joining a new community can be a daunting task. From our personal experiences, it can also be fraught with differing viewpoints, personalities, and cultures, some of which are inconspicuous and discovered on the fly. When we first joined the writing community by attending the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City, our initial foray … Read more

Wine Review – 2014 Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut

Maybe it’s a little cliché, but this Director’s Cut wine’s a box office hit… This Cabernet Sauvignon from Francis Fort Coppola impressed us with its complexity and structure. Despite the alcohol giving it away as a so-called new world wine, we appreciated its old world style. The nose offered a complex, interesting bouquet, consisting of … Read more

Wine Review – 2014 Brella Pinot Noir

A classic Pinot Noir from Brella in Willamette Valley, Oregon… We enjoyed Brella’s Pinot Noir, a very good representation of the varietal. It offered classic red fruit and mushroom notes, as well as nice degrees of balance and complexity. It shined on its own, but also paired nicely with a creamy, camembert-like cheese from Quebec, … Read more

Wine Review – 2015 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815

A bold, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon from Joel Gott Wines… If you enjoy big, fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon, look no further than this offering from Joel Gott Wines in Napa Valley, California. Well-balanced, complex, and well-made, this new world red offers plenty of aromas, most notably vanilla and cooked fruit, as well as an array of flavours, … Read more

Wine Review – 2015 Francis Ford Coppola Pinot Noir

A dry-to-off-dry Pinot Noir, with plenty of fruit and spice… This Pinot Noir from Francis Ford Coppola Winery left an impression through its vibrant red fruit, mostly raspberries and plums, and plentiful spice, largely allspice and cloves. Made in a new world style, this wine might not appeal to Pinot Noir purists. Saying that, we … Read more

Wine Review – Waterbrook Syrah 2014

A vibrant, complex Syrah from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State… This Syrah from Waterbrook Winery in Walla Walla Valley, a region located to the south of the Columbia Valley in Washington State, impressed us with its combination of vibrancy and structure. It offered an aromatic bouquet of dark currants, red currants, vanilla, and cedar … Read more

Wine Review – Cristom Estate Viognier 2015

A very good Viognier from Willamette Valley, Oregon… Name: Estate Viognier Vintage: 2015 Producer: Cristom Vineyards Region/Country: Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA Grape Varietal(s): Viognier Consumed: At home on a gorgeous, early summer evening Recommended By: Received it as a gift as part of a Wine Collective package Cost: $65 CAD Bottle Presentation: A … Read more