Bike Trip Update:
The week of July 12th we did a family and friends 'Get Outside' bike trip. Although we had no 'paying' customers, we really wanted to experience the route. Thanks to Dean and Sandy, Monica and Marley, Carris and John and Pat Davis for participating with us on parts of the journey. The weather was fabulous and the route turned out to be better than we expected. The back roads of the Cedar, Ladysmith, Cowichan Bay and Mill Bay were fantastic, with lots of great vistas and interesting places to stop. Thanks again to our hosts at Kiwi Cove Lodge in Ladysmith, Affinity Guest House in Cowichan Bay and Rose Bank Cottages in Mill Bay.
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $13
UPC: 604174000974
Remarks: 'Floral, spicy, pear, apple skin, slate and citrus aromas. Ripe, round, fresh palate with good acidity and richness. Pear, citrus, butter, slate, quince, floral apple flavours. Good finesse, attractive style for food. Very good value. Exciting value/real wine'. We had this and the red version (below) a few weeks ago with a group of friends. We all thought it was superb. We served it with 'eggplant spaghetti', which is a recent favourite recipe of ours.
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Southern Rhone, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $15
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Peppery, smoky, dried herb, garrigue, licorice, black cherry, plum jam aromas. Ripe, round, supple and smooth palate with good richness and acidity. Big black cherry, plum spicy, floral, licorice, peppery, mineral, rooty flavours. Warm finish with great fruit and flavours concentration. An outstanding vintage and great value here, buy by the case'. Again well received by a number of folks with 'eggplant spaghetti'. An easy sipping red which appears to be readily available in BC.
MISSION HILL PINOT GRIGIO FIVE VINEYARDS 2008
Price: $16
UPC: 776545995322
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Flinty honeyed citrus/pear fruit that grabs your attention'. Another great Grigio/Gris from BC. We served this to a gang a an aperitif...they all loved it. Readily available throughout BC. A few other superb BC Pinot Gris/Grigio to keep in mind. Herder Pinot Gris, Sandhill Pinot Gris King Valley Family Vineyard. Kelsey and her boyfriend Raphael, brought a bottle of Skimmerhorn Pinot Pinot Gris and Skimmerhorn Marachal Foch down from Creston (they had been picking cherries) on a recent visit. Both were delicious wines and very much appreciated...sorry no label photo's.
DON MIGUEL GASCON MALBEC 2007, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Price: $17
UPC: 00722358070008
Score: 88/100
Remarks: 'Rich and balanced, it totally over-delivers for the price'. We love Malbec in our family, so this was a big hit with BBQ'd rib eye steaks. The tasting note on the label makes it kind of fun and a good conversation piece at a dinner party.
Bike Trip Update:
The week of July 12th we did a family and friends 'Get Outside' bike trip. Although we had no 'paying' customers, we really wanted to experience the route. Thanks to Dean and Sandy, Monica and Marley, Carris and John and Pat Davis for participating with us on parts of the journey. The weather was fabulous and the route turned out to be better than we expected. The back roads of the Cedar, Ladysmith, Cowichan Bay and Mill Bay were fantastic, with lots of great vistas and interesting places to stop. Thanks again to our hosts at Kiwi Cove Lodge in Ladysmith, Affinity Guest House in Cowichan Bay and Rose Bank Cottages in Mill Bay.
As always...I love to hear from you folks out there, how you are, how do you like the wine, and what is happening in your life...and if you have any friends who you think would like to receive these notes...to forward their name and email address to me...
