Tasting Room

 
 
 
 

This is where the Wine Beat community tasting notes are posted.

  • Recent Wine Beat Instagram posts are linked below.

  • Beyond that there are tasting notes arranged by region, wine type, or by grape variety.

 
Seven Directions Rosé 2018. In the quest for favourite summer Rosés of 2018 we have an early leader! The Seven Directions Rosé from Pinot Noir in their Tractor and Vines Vineyard is a Provence-style cracker of a Rosé. Raspberry and grapefruit on the nose then a bright citrus and vervy crisp palate followed by light as air finish. An immediate hit! ... but sadly a small production of only 185 cases. Back to the store I go before it is too late! Ethereal! . . . . #rosewine #rosé #topwine #pinotnoir #winemaking #bcwine #winebeat #winecellar #winetravel #okanaganwine #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #roseallday #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #okanaganvalley #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub #canadianwine
Château de Champteloup Anjou 2016. Cabernet Franc from the Loire. There is debate about where Cab Franc originally comes from but it is very much at home in the Loire, in particular in the Chinon region. How did they go wrong with this one from Anjou? And why did it get a gold medal in 2017 at the Concours Generale in Paris? I’ll never know. Lots of fruit and structure but it’s unbalanced. And there is some “homemade wine” aroma that I can’t quite put my finger on. Can be used in tonight’s tomato sauce. . . . . #cabernetfranc #loirewine #frenchwine #winemaking #vinfrancais #winelovers🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #winetime🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Marniskari Godori Saperavi 2015. Tart, impactful, bursting with flavours and rustic, this wine gives an insight into the wines made from Georgia’s iconic Saperavi grape. This may not be at the upper end of the quality scale - but for around $15 you can glimpse the immense potential. If only we had access to more Georgian wine!! Anyway, it’s a lot of wine for the money and if you are like me and like some farmyard funk and vegetal smack to your wines, this is fun wine exploration. Speaking of fun exploration, skip over to the website for our new article on the Kakheti wine region in Georgia. ...BTW I believe that Godori is the basket used to collect the grapes in the vineyard. . . . . #winesofgeorgia #saperavi #tbilisigeorgia #georgia🇬🇪 #winemaking #tbilisiphoto #redwine🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #georgianwine #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Rivera Estate Marese 2018 (Take 2) This is a joyful summer wine! Captivating palate with generous viscous mouthfeel (I assume from aging on lees) but then a singing acidity that comes zipping through and puckers your mouth. Definite apple flavours but also some cool sour peach. Floral and a bit of honey on the nose. This could easily be your favourite summer patio wine - or match with seafood, salmon burgers or BBQ chicken. Less than $20?! Luminous! BTW I’m keen to know who painted the fantastical view of Castel del Monte in the second picture. Does anybody know? . . . . . #casteldelmonte #pugliawine #vinobianco #vinoitaliano #winemaking #italianwines #italianwine #winecellar #winetravel #vinoitaliano #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #vinoblanco #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Matera, Basilicata. Southern Italy is a wine explorer’s dream. Packed with outstanding and unique places like Matera, Trani, Bari, the Amalfi coast and Lecche to name a few. And the range of outstanding local wines to discover makes for the perfect theme to anchor your expedition. You can scratch the surface of this remarkable part of the world and start your research with our podcasts and wine region articles from Campania and Puglia on www.winebeatpod.com . . . . #basilicataturistica #sassidimatera #southernitaly #italianwine #italytravel #winemaking #winetravel #vinoitaliano #winecellar #pugliamia #campaniadavivere #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #italytour #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #basilicata #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Rivera Estate Marese 2018. I’m SO excited I’m not even going to open this bottle until tomorrow! And then I’m going to post about it again! You know that feeling when you’ve been waiting and hoping your wine store will get a new arrival you love? Well today was one of those sweet days for me! Rivera Estate is one of my favourite Italian wine producers. What’s more, this is Rivera’s loving tribute to their local Castel del Monte white variety, Bombino Bianco. Check out the podcast interview with Marco de Corato from January on www.winebeatpod.com to hear the man himself talk about this wine and this grape variety! There’s also an article about the Castel del Monte wine region from January 13 under “1001 Wine Routes”. . . . . #casteldelmonte #pugliawine #italianwine #vinoitaliano #winemaking #vinobianco #italianwines #winecellar #winetravel #whitewines #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Quails’ Gate Pinot Noir 2009. There is a discussion about whether BC Pinots are age worthy. The answer is clearly yes if you go by the 2009 QG PN! Supple black cherry fruit with impressive, elegant tannic backbone and lots of earthy, smoky toasted notes. Venerable! . . . . #pinotnoir #bcwine #okanagan #winemaking #wineo #winelovers🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #winetime🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Domaine Fazi Rosé 2017. A super-light, pomegranate infused Rosé from Corsica. Inexpensive, pretty and breezy this is like an early reminder of long, hot summer patio days to come! Île de Beauté means Beautiful Island and is the general denomination for wines of Corsica that are not from a specific AOC. Crushable! . . . . #corsicanwine #corsica #vindefrance #roseallday #rosewine ##winemaking #frenchwine #winecellar #winetravel #winetime🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Bougrier Vouvray “V” 2017 A classic Vouvray Chenin Blanc with citrus and lots of apricot and deep honeysuckle. It definitely has that slight sweetness and round mouthfeel that marks the region. On the map in the second image you can see Vouvray is on the right near the cities of Tours and Amboise. Resonant! Thanks to @shanynward of @caskbarrel for the recommendation! . . . . #vouvray #cheninblanc #loirevalley #toursmaville #winemaking #vinblanc #loirewine #winecellar #winetravel #frenchwine #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #vindefrance #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub #winebeat
Quails’ Gate Rosemary’s Block Chardonnay 2015. Bracing citrus and tropical fruit, richness in the body, subdued oak and clean acid structure. This shows how good BC Chard can be when you avoid too much new oak and you balance the natural cool climate fruit with acidic backbone. Impressive! . . . . #bcwine #chardonnay #whitewine #okanagan #winemaking #wineweekend #winelovers🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #winetime🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Little Farm Pied de Cuve Riesling 2016. Exhuberantly taut and piercing, this is a near-perfect dry Riesling IMHO. The bright fruit character is there (citrus, apple and kiwi) as are the light herbal and flora notes. Substantial yet razor sharp on the palate. I first had this at a Mexican restaurant in Vancouver and I’ve craved it ever since. Tense! . . . . #bcwine #whitewine #riesling #similkameen #winemaking #wineo #winelovers🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #winetime🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Crémant de Bourgogne Chartron et Trebuchet. We put this Crémant up against @bluemtnwinery when we had friends over. Check the last post.... I like Crémant wines from France because they are reliable good value bubbles - at around $20 this one is no exception. Nice green apples and brioche with some extra residual sweetness for a Brut. But, you may ask, does it compare with Blue Mountain? Not a chance! For those of you who don’t live in BC this amazing Canadian sparkling will be hard to find. You just might have to visit @okanaganvalley to find this gorgeous bubble!🇨🇦 Thanks @shanynward and @caskbarrel . . . . #bcwine #cremant #sparklingwine #okanaganwine #winemaking #canadianwine #okanaganlife #winecellar #winetravel #okanaganlifestyle #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Wish the guests would hurry up and get here! Blue Mountain Brut is a very sensual and sophisticated BC sparkling. I could drink it every day. As for the Chartron et Trebuchet Crémant de Bourgogne...well we will find out if our friends would just hurry up and arrive! Thanks to @shanynward at @caskbarrel for the suggestion on the Crémant! . . . . #sparklingwine #cremant #bcwine #cremantdebourgogne ##winemaking #wineo #winelovers🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #winetime🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Happy Independence Day to all my Greek friends!❤️🇬🇷❤️🇬🇷 . . . . #greece🇬🇷 #greecelover_gr #independenceday #march25 #25march #greece_travel #greekwine #prayforgreece #greecestagram #greece💙 #greekfood #athens #thessaloniki #volos #skopelos #greekislands
Two of my favourite BC Syrahs. The Maverick Bush Vines 2014 has got a very cool tartness, almost like pomegranate. So it’s not quite as round and full as many BC Syrahs are - a bit more wild with pepper and herbs and that dark red fruit edge. The Black Hills 2015 is just full on, high-quality, big Syrah fun - drink it as you tend the BBQ! . . . . #bcwine #canadianwine #okanaganwine #syrah #winemaking #winereview #wineworld #winecellar #winetravel #lovewine #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Wine Touring Northern Greece. The cool climate of Northern Greece means that some of the best wines of the burgeoning Greek wine renaissance can be found here. The Xinomavro variety wines of Naoussa and Goumenissa regions are world class. Absolutely exceptional wines are produced at @ktima_gerovassiliou . And then there are the startlingly delicious sparkling and still wines of @domainekaranika. 🎧Check out our recent series of podcasts on location in Greece and discover what is driving the upward trajectory of Greece’s fine wine!🎧 📸 Mount Olympus and Laurens Hartman with his trusty Landy! Podcasts on the website, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play . . . . #winesofgreece #greekfood #sparklingwine #greecetravel #winemaking #wineo #greekwine #winecellar #winetravel #winebeat #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel # winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Domaine Karanika. A set of beauties from Laurens and Annette Hartman! Check out the new podcast 🎧 with Laurens and grab a glass of Tsiporo or Grappa to sip along with us. Hear about the genesis and remarkable success of the best sparkling wine of Greece. It all takes place during a conversation fortified by fresh Tsiporo at the annual harvest party. Come up to the mountains of Northern Greece for this special episode of The Wine Beat Podcast! On the website, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play Thanks to @mycava.gr for the delivery! . . . . #winesofgreece #greekfood #sparklingwine #greecetravel #winemaking #wineo #greekwine #winecellar #winetravel #winebeat #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel # winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Domaine Karanika. Just uploaded: A new podcast with Laurens Hartman of Karanika. Hear about the genesis and remarkable success of the best sparkling wine of Greece. It all takes place during a conversation fortified by fresh Tsiporo at the annual harvest party. Come up to the mountains of Northern Greece for this special episode of The Wine Beat Podcast! On the website, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play . . . . #winesofgreece #greekfood #sparklingwine #greecetravel #winemaking #wineo #winelovers🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #winebeat #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel # winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub
Laughing Stock Blind Trust 2015. This is plump and juicy and fruit-forward. Lusciously packed with blackberry and plum and some chocolate. Nicely balanced and - well - nice. Easy drinking big Merlot/Malbec/Cab Sav blend. . . . . . #bcwine #canadianwine #okanaganwine #merlot #malbec #winemaking #wineo #okanaganlife #winecellar #winetravel #redwine🍷 #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #wineday #winereview #wineclub #winebeat
Little Engine Merlot 2014. This is a quite powerful Merlot, deep and black-fruited with good backbone partly from new oak aging. A bit jangly and awkward at first this wine rounds out and becomes quite nice with long decanting . Ageworthy no doubt. This is one for those who like some oak! . . . . #merlot #bcwine #canadianwine #explorebcwine #winemaking #wineo #redwine🍷 #winecellar #winetravel #okanaganwine #winetourism #winetastings #winelands #winelabel #winelove #winelist #winemaker #winemoments #wineme #wineislife #winebottle #winebottles #winewinewine #wineblog #wineblogger #winebeat #wineday #winereview #wineclub